Chapter 411
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Chapter 411: A Brief Rest
Following Amy into the Mage Tower, Jesse noticed that the grand hall on the bottom floor was beautifully decorated, he felt like he was back in a quaint tavern in Dalaran.
Of course, the decorations here are not as spacious as those in Dalaran, it feels like expensive and delicate decorations are squeezed together, leaving very narrow aisles.
After all, this is a tower.
Amy first had Jesse find a place to sit, then she ran into the stairs in the back, and soon came back holding something wrapped in paper.
She put the paper in front of her, carefully opened it, and then looked at the pieces of meat inside and said, "Try it."
"Is this the meat of insects?" Jesse asked, looking at what seemed like a pile of shredded chicken breast inside.
"Yes," Amy said. "Did you think I would put a scorpion as big as a small pig on the table for you?"
"Not really," Jesse said, feeling that although the pieces of meat in front of him were said to be insect meat… they looked and smelled pretty good.
Amy took out a piece from inside and immediately said to Jesse, who seemed eager to try it, "Go ahead, eat it quickly."
Jesse nodded and said, "Thank you, Amy."
"Why thank me? Taking care of my younger brother is just what I should do." Amy smiled and said, "I remember when I told you about coming to Nethergarde, and you said you wanted to come too. Back then, I couldn’t imagine when this day would come, but time sure flies by."
"A few days ago during a mission to fight off demon attacks, a Frost Mage named Amanthul from the Kirin Tor praised my performance. He wants to recommend me to become an official mage and after winning the war against demons, he plans to have me study with him in Dalaran."
Jesse glanced at her, wondering if she can really achieve all the goals she sets for herself.
"I envy you. Maybe the next time we meet, you will already be a mage in Kirin Tor."
Amy grinned smugly, and Jesse asked, "Tell me about the demons you encountered before. I’m new here and want to know what challenges I may face."
Amy nodded and explained, "The biggest threat facing Nethergarde and the nearby outposts is actually a type of bat-like demon, Jesse. Don’t think of them as the small bats that come out at night. Each of these demons is as big as a mountain lion, some even as big as a horse. They have large wings on their backs, and their mouths and eyes glow with fel magic flames."
"They pose a great danger to Gryphon Riders, archers on the walls, and mages. I recently joined a rescue mission for a few Gryphon Riders who were shot down and encountered a group of Vile Bats. One mage got caught, but thankfully he quickly used a Blink Spell to escape, although he broke his leg in the process, at least he survived."
"Darn." Jesse said, "I have no idea how to do a Blink Spell!"
"Don’t worry, I will protect you," Amy reassured him, "With my icy powers, no evil creature will be able to touch you."
Jesse noticed that after Amy came here, she had more confidence than before.
The two of them talked until late, from Jesse’s trip to the wetlands, to everything Amy saw after arriving at Nethergarde, until there were hardly any people left in the hall, before they decided to go to sleep.
It was impossible to get a single room in the castle, as many mages lived in each room. Jesse climbed up many floors along a spiral staircase before finding a place to sleep.
Passing by a window, Jesse looked towards the distant Dark Portal.
Regardless of the weather – sandstorms, storms, dark clouds, thick fog… the light of the Dark Portal was always there. As long as you looked in that direction, you could see the green curtain that could lead to another world.
It seemed so close, yet you could never touch it. The road from here to the door may have been filled with thousands of demons, with more still coming out from the green curtain.
In the morning, a mage came to the door and shouted inside, "Mages, the Gryphon Rider scouts have seen a demon army advancing towards the Leeram Mine. Everyone here should come down immediately. We must leave right away to defend that place. The mine produces materials for making runes. If it falls into the hands of demons, we may have to transport spellcasting materials from Stromgarde Kingdom to here."
The mages quickly packed their things, put on their clothes, picked up their magic wands, spellcasting materials, and spellbooks. When they arrived downstairs, they saw groups of soldiers in Lordaeron white robes ready on the square in front.
When they arrived here, they learned that a group of Stromgarde mages who had just arrived here yesterday were sent to a watchtower to the south. So, Jesse’s group of young mages, who had not been injured and had just rested well for a night, were chosen to support the mine defenders.
Besides the young mages, some mages from the Wizard’s Sanctum and Battle Mages were also included. Jesse saw Amy among this group of people, and it was obvious from her expression that she was looking forward to the battle.
After all, she couldn’t let down the request from the Kirin Tor’s ice mage. To prove her control over frost, there was nowhere more convincing than the battlefield.
Two Gryphon Riders had already set off from the city walls, while Jesse estimated about three hundred or more soldiers preparing to support the mine. There were also some cavalry ahead.
The road from here to the mine was well-made. Walking on the darkened soil path through the completely dead forest, Jesse even had a feeling of something sneaking out in the middle of the night… Of course, time was indistinguishable here, the pitch-black thick clouds obscured everything, whether the sun or the moon.
However, the world outside the castle was not entirely black. Jesse even felt that the light from the Dark Portal illuminated the entire Blasted Lands or perhaps it was the evil lightning constantly surging out of the clouds. The mages following the soldiers didn’t look happy, most of them were new recruits who had just arrived from Stonard. Jesse even remembered a few faces that had just come with them yesterday.
Just when Jesse thought they would silently reach the mine at the foot of the northern mountains, a mage beside him said, "As far as I know, there are quite a few defenders there. When we arrive, the demons are likely to give up attacking and retreat…"
"Don’t count on a good outcome," another mage said. "Demons don’t care about power imbalances. They have hundreds of fearless cannon fodder rushing up, as long as they can take out one of you, they achieve their goal…"
A lieutenant knight nearby growled unhappily, "You better save your breath for casting spells! Demons can also feel fear, demons can also be afraid. Just wait for them to charge up and throw your strongest magic in their faces. Whether we win or lose, let the Holy Light decide!"
