Mage Legend
Chapter 100 - 30 episodes Identity_2

Chapter 100: 30 episodes Identity_2

"That might not be the case..." Deluo smirked, looking disbelieving.

After this little episode, the caravan resumed its journey. Lynch wanted to hurry and avoid Zilvra’s tracking, but that Dark Elf seemed to have her eyes set on him, commanding Riel’s caravan to follow him closely. The halfling had now been reduced to the role of a servant, his daily task being to follow Zilvra’s orders so she could enjoy the journey to its fullest.

But this service was worth it. Along the way, Lynch saw countless Petrified Lizard corpses lying by the roadside, all decapitated without exception. Zilvra would always point out the lizards when they approached, sharing stories of how she dealt with these creatures.

Occasionally, Zilvra would crack a joke or put on an innocent face. Yet, the closer they got to Ratris City, the less she showed these expressions and became more like a typical Dark Elf.

By the time they reached the Dark Elf City, the once disoriented adventurer had completely turned into a ruthless Dark Elf.

Lynch observed the city carefully. It was one of the earliest Dark Elf Cities established in the Underworld, and was once one of the most fortified refuges for surface dwellers. In the Underdark, darkness reigned eternally; the radiant stars would never appear above your head, with only bloodless and tearless hard stones around. There’s no warming sun to illuminate this world, only the faint blue glow of the ground’s moss casting an eerie hue in your sight. Clueless adventurers would light torches to brighten this world, only to reveal endless, stretching tunnels, perpetually swept by chilly underwinds like the mouth of this subterranean world, with stalactites suspended like razor-sharp teeth. This place endlessly devours the bodies and souls of those who wander in this realm.

In this world, apart from the occasional drip of water, only a profound silence remains. The silence lurks like a beast, stealthily following beside you, remaining inaudible yet imposing immense pressure.

Darkness prevails, yet you dare not lift a torch to bring light; silence reigns, but you dare not make a sound, for though darkness and silence are terrifying, they are not as formidable as the giant beasts attracted by torches and noise.

Whoever enters the Underworld cannot leave—either with their body or their soul—and the enshrined darkness corrodes the will of every passerby.

Constructing a city here was a colossal task. Lynch didn’t know how much blood was shed to establish Ratris City, nor how many lives were sacrificed to defend it. But he knew that even though this city was dubbed the "Horror of the Underworld," it deserved respect.

Several Petrified Lizards carrying cavalry quickly galloped by. Thanks to their suction pad-like feet, these lizards could swiftly traverse slippery surfaces and even traverse walls and ceilings of rocky caverns, making them preferred mounts for Dark Elves.

The two arrivals were merely civilian soldiers of a noble family. They were warriors belonging to a family, yet they wouldn’t receive the family’s surname—surnames were reserved for nobles. In their daily lives, they trained and carried out simple tasks, hoping to distinguish themselves in battle and earn a noble title from their matron, thereby elevating their status.

There couldn’t be any female civilians. In Dark Elf society, females underwent Priest training, either becoming fearsome Drow priests or failing and becoming sacrifices to their goddess. Dark Elves wouldn’t tolerate women being subordinate to men or any man reaching a position close to that of women.

Yet, Lynch always felt that Zilvra seemed more like a warrior than a Priest, a rarity among Dark Elf women—warrior roles were usually assigned to low-status men, and even if some female Drow had combat skills, it was part of special training in the path to becoming a Priest.

However, her demeanor confirmed she was indeed a Dark Elf Noble.

The two approaching Patrol Soldiers, seeing Zilvra, dared not make a sound and quickly cleared the way. Even though they moved swiftly and respectfully, they still received two lashings from Zilvra.

Lynch took this opportunity to find Riel. Only near the Dark Elf City did the poor Underworld Halfling leader find a moment’s reprieve to rest from serving Zilvra. He now held his bruised and swollen face, groaning in pain while applying Healing Ointment.

"What’s the deal with Zilvra? Is she really a Dark Elf?" Lynch asked for the three identity documents he should have received by now.

"Ah! If you had told me earlier you knew that wretch, oh, I’m in so much pain," Riel moaned as he applied the ointment, baring his battered and missing teeth, "If she’s not a Dark Elf, then no one is."

"But her skin, why is it that color? A disease?"

"Heh, you’re so close with her; why not ask her?" the Halfling chuckled softly, though combined with his pig-like swollen face, one couldn’t help but find it comically awkward.

However, a Mage wouldn’t foolishly seek that answer directly from the person involved.

Entering the city gates, Zilvra approached Lynch again, scrutinizing him up and down: "Now you’re in the Dark Elf City. Be careful about everything! Especially your face; don’t raise it too high. Seeing nobles like me, keep your head down and look at your toes! Also, you’re now a lowly Mage in the first family. If you want to survive, work hard!"

"I’m not some Mage of the first family; when did you force this title onto me?"

"Just now. I’m a Noble of the first family; naturally, you’re our family’s Mage. Remember the family name: Berni!" Zilvra tossed something over—a black square insignia, inscribed with the family name in Dark Elf Language. Zilvra fiddled with her hair: "Enjoy this city; we’ll meet again."