Mage Legend
Chapter 64: Episode 13: Entering the City

Chapter 64: Episode 13: Entering the City

"Hey, are you a mage?" "Ah! I didn’t know gnomes could be so tall. What do you usually eat?" "Wow, how did your muscles become so strong?"

Lynch was bombarded with Zilvra’s endless questions along the way. At first, he patiently replied with a few words, but eventually, the mage lost the last of his patience. Whenever Zilvra approached, the mage would ignore her, treating her as if she were invisible.

However, Deluo managed to keep up his usual enthusiasm, constantly chatting with the female drow following her. But Zilvra seemed not very interested in Deluo, possibly because mages are extremely rare in the Anriel World. Although Deluo is passionate as a warrior, his appeal was evidently less compared to the more mysterious mage with a perpetual serious demeanor, leading Zilvra to persistently try to engage the mage in conversation.

Lynch maintained his usual walking pace, quickly heading towards the city of Hanmosidun.

Two days later, they arrived at the city of the Gray Dwarves.

It’s more accurate to call this place a man-made large cave rather than a city. The Gray Dwarves have worked here for generations, continuously digging deeper into the rock layers each year. The newly expanded spaces become their new residences. This isn’t just a simple mining job; they must also face various terrifying creatures of the Underdark, predators lurking in the shadows, prowling among the stone walls, their greedy eyes constantly seeking to test their claws and fangs on these dwarves working outside.

It’s safe to say that every inch progressed, every stone mined, every new chamber carved, is bought with the dwarves’ blood and flesh.

Despite these harsh conditions, they ensure that all constructions balance practicality, quality, and artistry. This is precisely what’s most commendable.

Lynch now stood before the city walls of Hanmosidun. This was originally a cave entrance, without any cover. But such a large, open entrance, nearly a hundred meters in circumference, offered no protection for the dwarves inside the cave. Hence, they built a solid stone wall here, with crossbow arrow slots above and a dug-out moat with a simple drawbridge, forming the most basic defense.

Lynch and his group of four slowly walked onto the drawbridge, the iron drawbridge beneath their feet making thudding sounds. Several Gray Dwarf soldiers were inspecting at the city gate. Lynch thought for a moment, then donned the hood of his Mage Robe, concealing his face in the shadows. Zilvra watched the mage’s actions and, though unsure why, imitated him, covering her own face.

Two soldiers came over, standing in front of Lynch. They scrutinized this cloaked figure, for they’d never seen a traveler wearing such strange robes — it’s uncommon for surface world mages to venture underground, let alone visit a city inhabited by Gray Dwarves with minimal achievements in magic.

"What’s your business? Show your face; now is inspection time, and all weapons and belongings must be checked!"

Lynch didn’t make any movements, standing quietly before the Gray Dwarves.

Zilvra, being straightforward, simply said, "Oh," and pulled out her thin sword. The two Gray Dwarves took one glance and were startled: they caught sight of the silver hair peeking from Zilvra’s cloak, a distinctive feature of the Dark Elf. Moreover, judging by the weapon she drew, it was clearly the "Black Snake" thin sword exclusive to Dark Elf Nobles. They looked behind the unmoving mage and saw a large muscle-bound man standing coldly without a weapon, and a dwarf clinging to this cloaked man, looking up at his actions, seemingly waiting for their leader’s command.

Having a strong slave is simple, but having a gnome craftsman as an assistant is a bit more challenging. But the hardest feat would be having a female Dark Elf Noble as a subordinate—how powerful must this cloaked person be to achieve that?

Before Lynch could make any move, the two gate guards stepped aside, even leading the four towards the most bustling parts of the city.

Another guard, waiting until Lynch and his companions moved a bit further away, hurried to the lord’s residence in the city to report this strange occurrence.