Chapter 89: Returning Overnight

Seeing that Xia Duo had even brought up using a Magic Scroll, it seemed impossible for him not to return today; Jibu and the others could sense Xia Duo's firm resolve.

But the three were also worried about Xia Duo's safety, especially Jibu, as Xia Duo's safety was directly linked to him, so he made another suggestion, "Mage Xia Duo, why not let Aiwa go back with you?"

At some point, Aiwa had already arrived near the three of them; although he was somewhat dissatisfied with Jibu's forced arrangement for him, he still showed considerable tolerance toward this friend who had grown up with him.

Aiwa nodded and said to Xia Duo, "Mage Xia Duo, I can roughly guess what you want to do back there. If you want to return to town tonight, we must set off now. I will follow behind you."

However, Xia Duo expressed doubt, "I am riding a Summon Mount; can you keep up? There is still quite a distance from here to town!"

At this moment, Dien suddenly said, "Xia Duo, I also have a 【Summon Mount】 Scroll here. If Aiwa can use a Dimensional Bag, he should be able to use a Magic Scroll, right?"

Xia Duo was somewhat moved by Dien's kindness, because he knew that Dien himself only had one 【Summon Mount】 Scroll, which was his trump card for escaping danger.

Although it was unlikely they would encounter danger between tonight and tomorrow, as long as it wasn't one hundred percent safe, how could a rational Mage easily give up their own trump card!

At this moment, Xia Duo also felt a bit more recognition for Dien; perhaps the relationship between people develops in such situations.

"Thank you, Dien."

"No need to thank me. You have also given me a lot of help. Without you, I might not have been able to become an Official Apprentice even now!"

*Cough*—

Aiwa spoke up to interrupt their sentimentality, "I have my own scroll. Mage Xia Duo, just remember that you owe me 50 Gold Coins."

"No problem!"

Xia Duo was overjoyed. Compared to the cost of 50 Gold Coins, having a High-level Rogue accompany him was more important. Although his strength had increased significantly after the magical dream last night, who wouldn't want an extra layer of insurance!

In a few words, Xia Duo persuaded Jibu and the others. As for Sami, he just explained it briefly. Afterward, Xia Duo and Aiwa left the group and came to a stone pillar outside the village.

Although Xia Duo had never used a 1st Circle 【Summon Mount】 Scroll before, the scrolls purchased from the merchant association all had universal activation methods, and they were even exactly the same as what was taught at the Mage Tower previously.

As for the fine-tuning specific to this scroll, Xia Duo had not obtained it from the merchant association, but this did not affect his actual use; he just couldn't achieve one hundred percent success.

Fortunately, fate was still favoring him, and he succeeded on the first try; otherwise, he would have had to return to the village to borrow one from Dien.

【Summon Mount】 is a quite classic 1st Circle Magic; the feeling of summoning a living creature is completely different from summoning an inanimate object, which even gave Xia Duo a sense of the pleasure of creation.

This was a Forest Horse with grayish-brown fur, sturdy in build and well-developed in limbs; when he touched it with his hands, he could even feel a trace of warmth.

Not only that, Xia Duo even felt that he and this Forest Horse were of one mind.

Although he did not know how to run with four hooves, he could flexibly command the horse to perform various high-difficulty movements.

If it weren't for the fact that the Forest Horse emitted a faint blue light while in a focused state, Xia Duo would never have been able to distinguish it from a normal creature with the naked eye alone.

Perhaps this is the magic of Magic.

Just as Xia Duo had summoned his mount, Aiwa was already on horseback; he had also summoned a Forest Horse, and it was even sturdier and more imposing than Xia Duo's horse.

Xia Duo was just about to mount when his steed automatically bent its forelimbs, waiting for him to climb on. Xia Duo looked at the smooth back of the horse and, not minding the lack of a saddle, climbed on.

As soon as he got on, Xia Duo felt as if he were sitting on a sofa; it was very soft and comfortable underneath. Xia Duo tried to urge the mount to take two steps, and there was only a slight undulation, with no feeling of violent jolting at all.

Xia Duo was very satisfied and shouted to Aiwa, "Let's go!"

After saying that, he urged his mount to gallop toward the north.

……

Dusk was approaching, but thick clouds obscured the sunset's afterglow, making the whole world dim and gloomy. Worried that the town gates would close early, Xia Duo had no choice but to keep urging his mount to gallop away.

Tiny ice pellets hit his face like needles. Xia Duo just pulled his hood up to cover more of his face, but his eyes, which remained exposed, became the target of the ice pellets' desperate attacks.

Xia Duo dared not shift his gaze, staring fixedly at the road ahead and adjusting the direction of his mount at any time.

As he got closer and closer to Savile Town, the anger he had suppressed for a long time in his heart became more and more intense, but at the same time, his mind became clearer and clearer.

Xia Duo knew he could not directly challenge the order of the Territory, but under the cover of darkness, all sins could be hidden.

Along the way, Xia Duo did not say a word, and Aiwa was even more of a silent person. Both of them only knew how to bury their heads and hurry along. Just like that, before the town gates closed, the two returned to Savile Town from the East Gate.

The Orc Tide had made the once-prosperous East District exceptionally desolate. The armed forces of many merchant associations had suffered heavy losses and were now retracting their fangs to lick their wounds.

On the surface, no one could speak ill of the Lord, but privately, many merchant associations still brought various constraints to the Territory, which could be seen from the expressions on the faces of the merchants in the East District.

Aiwa had already disappeared at the gate, and Xia Duo entered the town area alone, though he knew Aiwa should be watching him from not far away at this time.

This made Xia Duo feel a bit at ease.

Arriving at a clothing shop in the East District, Xia Duo bought a piece of clothing similar to what the deceased Mage had been wearing and put it directly over himself.

He pulled out the hood from inside and wore it over his head. Afterward, Xia Duo walked quickly toward the Lao Nier Inn with his head lowered.

……

Night had fallen, and it was time for dinner; the Lao Nier Inn also began to become lively. Due to the war conscription, the number of Adventurers had greatly decreased.

But most of the territory residents taking refuge outside the town had not yet returned to their villages. Some young lads liked the atmosphere of the Lao Nier Inn, and in order to hear a few more adventure stories, they would come here to sit even if they had to hide it from their families.

Encouraged by the Adventurers, these lads turned their meager private savings into drinks that represented Courage, which made Lao Nier, whose income had been decreasing while his expenses were increasing, feel a little comforted.

Placing a heavy wooden beer mug in front of a young lad, he said, "Come, have another one. Lao Nier's ale is plentiful and cheap!"

The lad had already drunk quite a bit, but he couldn't resist Lao Nier's persuasion. He took out a few Copper coins, placed them on the bar, and then picked up the mug and drank it down in one gulp.

Just at this moment, Lao Nier suddenly noticed a person wearing a hood enter the inn. The brim of the hat was pressed very low, making it impossible to see their face clearly, but that outfit made Lao Nier feel exceptionally familiar.