Badge in Azure Chapter 679 - Curse (Part 1)

Chapter 679: Curse (Part 1)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Saleen wrote a contractual scroll deftly, he felt it was amusing. He did not even know when he began showing an interest in the process of drafting a contract.
Isabella was a little confused, she did not even think of refuting Saleen’s words. The people standing behind Saleen did not conceal their scents, causing Isabella to feel like she had fallen into the lair of an ancient dragon.
Since Saleen wanted to subdue Isabella, his intentions would be detected by his own followers. Nicholas, as well as the demons, had released their mightiest pressures. They targeted only one person; Isabella.
After filling in the scroll, Saleen gestured at Isabella and Isabella came before Saleen. Across the table, she looked at the young mage. He was a city owner, a king…
“Sign it, aye. I don’t wish for you to lose your magical powers, that is a very cruel thing to do.” Even though Saleen’s words could not be considered hypocritical, Saleen was very clear that Isabella’s abilities would be of great help to himself.
Removing the curse of the divine spell, Isabella would be a grade-6 grand mage and a high grade swordmaster at the same time.
Muddled, Isabella had signed the follower’s contract drafted by Saleen, she could not find a reason to refuse. The terms in the contract were written clearly, there were no traps.
The competition outside had ended. Isabella was led up the stage by Saleen. Together with the remaining fifteen participants, they received the rewards distributed by Saleen.
These sixteen finalists had obtained the right to enter the army. With the exception of Isabella, the rest of them had chosen to join the army. A soldier in Metatrin City received more welfare compared to one in Qin. The main agenda of these participants was to join the army directly, there was no need for complicated verifications and training.
Once these people joined the army they would start off as junior commanders and manage dozens of people. This was much better than registering with the army recruitment center.
Even though the final match was ruined by Isabella, the people of Metatrin City now had great interest in the arena competitions. Tickets to the arena were separated into six classes. The cheapest cost only twenty-five copper coins, everyone could afford it.
After the final battle, the audience had dispersed, but Saleen asked the nobles to stay behind. He immediately conducted a meeting on the arena stage.
The meeting only had one objective. A piece of news had been delivered from the county king’s residence in Holy Rock City, the Qin emperor was sending a mission to Metatrin City.
Saleen had revealed this information in advance to the nobles so that he could placate their feelings. Other than the sixteen nobles he recruited, there was still a large group of nobles in Metatrin City yet to be rewarded. Saleen did not have many lands in his possession, so it was not very meaningful for him to only gift lands them to the people with titles.
Hearing this news, the nobles were clearly in high spirits. There was only one possibility as to why the mission was coming for Metatrin City, it meant that Holy Rock City had acknowledged Saleen’s status. That way, their titles would also be recognized.
Even if Saleen could not dominate the world in the future, they would still be genuine nobles. At least in the Qin Empire, they would enjoy privileges over the civilians.
At the same time, it meant that the Qin Empire and Metatrin Kingdom would not go to war for the time being. This meant that if Saleen started a campaign, his target would at most be Loulan or Laiyin Duchy. These nobles understood that Saleen’s powers still could not rival a large empire like Qin, so it was best that there was peace for now.
Even though the nobles had brought along a huge amount of riches, the loss of people was severe. A few years, or perhaps dozens of years, were needed to regain the capabilities. Before that, even if they wanted to follow Saleen to war, they did not have the ability to do so.
By establishing concrete relations with Qin, the flow of commerce between both parties would also be affirmed. This meant that everyone’s merchandise could enter the Qin Empire unhindered in the future, it would not get confiscated. The Qin people could also come and conduct trade in Metatrin freely. Once the exchange got legalized a large number of manpower and materials would naturally flow into Metatrin and everyone would have the opportunity to enjoy further development.
The nobles were most worried that Saleen would arrange for everyone to go to war in a moment of impulse because Saleen was still young. Even though everyone else was looking forward to war it was imperative to recruit sufficient soldiers first.
Isabella stood beside Saleen. Saleen resolved matters swiftly and decisively, it was way more impressive than how she handled the hundred over bandits. She finally had an eye-opener and the indignation in her heart had completely disappeared.
In the arena, thousands of spirits were cleaning the place. As the magic lamps were extinguished one by one, the mini shops in the arena were also shuttered.
After the nobles left, Saleen felt a little exhausted.
“Let’s go. Next time, I won’t be coming.” Saleen had wasted half a day there. If it was not for the many topics he had discussed with the nobles, this half a day would have been totally wasted for him. Saleen would rather look at Jola imparting swordsmanship to the guards than the swordmasters’ battles.
At least Jola was an authentic Silver Grand Swordmaster, whatever words he spouted would be very beneficial to a grand mage like Saleen. When the learning of magic had reached Saleen’s grade, only combat experience of a higher level would be constructive for Saleen.
Isabella followed Saleen’s entourage back to the temple, this was the first time she had gotten this close to the temple. Even though she had arrived in Metatrin City a long time ago, a one-mile area from the temple was out of bounds to normal people. This was the world of spirits, Caucasus people, and people from Sregl Island.
The presences of these three groups was relatively independent and sealed, it was not usually possible for outsiders to gain access.
One could neither disguise as a spirit nor a Caucasus person and it was more impossible for one to be related to the people from Sregl Island. For the past year after Saleen had constructed the temple, people had tried approaching it. People who tried to sneak in were captured by Sika’s and Daniel’s patrollers. No matter their motives, none of them could leave.
Seeing this magnificent temple, Isabella was simply amazed. Being a grade-6 grand mage in the past, she could faintly observe that the internal structure of the temple was slightly similar to a magical tower. The body of the temple was an enormous offensive-type structure. Even if the city walls got breached, the army could still retreat to this place and stop the enemy’s assault.
Defending this temple was way easier than defending the city walls.
Saleen only asked Nailisi and Nicholas to stay behind, but Isabella did not leave either. Seeing that Saleen did not instruct anyone to lead her away, she continued following Saleen.
Saleen brought the three people to the fourth story. The fourth story contained a huge number of laboratories and rooms for practicing swordsmanship, while the mages from Sregl Island lived on the fifth story. Selecting a more spacious room, Saleen told Nicholas, “Can you remove the curse on Isabella?”
“Of course I can, Sir. A grade-7 holy master can already remove such a curse slowly. If I do it, Isabella can regain her powers quickly.”
“What about Aini?”
Nicholas remained silent for a while, then replied, “It’s not entirely impossible, but… it isn’t worth it.”
“Why?”
“Aini has been injured for too long a duration and he is now a grade-6 mage. It will be meaningless for him to regain the magic chords. Rather than practicing elemental magic from scratch, he can simply continue on his current path.”
“I understand, then forget it.” Saleen also knew that he would have to consume a huge quantity of items if he wanted to help Aini regain his magic chords. This was not a problem, the problem was that Aini was already a grade-6 death mage, his achievements would not be any lesser than Saleen’s. Just like what Nicholas had said, it was not worthwhile re-cultivating elemental magic.
“Then give treatment to Isabella. Do it at a slower pace, you must ensure safety,” Saleen instructed. He and Nailisi waited at one side.
Saleen possessed the Elemental Eye, so he could observe any microscopic changes in energy. He wanted to observe this process closely to know more about the curse of a divine spell. If he could understand the guiding principles, he would not have to worry about such an attack anymore.
“Sir, I need a magic array that has elemental stability.” Nicholas understood Saleen’s intentions. Even if he wanted to explain to Saleen about workings of the curse, he was helpless. Such a skill could not be described using words, one had to experience it themselves.
With a smile, Saleen took out six magic nuclei and handed them to Nailisi, asking Nailisi to draw a magic array.
Isabella quickly stopped him, then said, “I will do it myself.”
She could tell that Nailisi held a high position among Saleen’s subordinates, “It will not be beneficial to me if this woman becomes a laborer for me.” Isabella took out her own magic nuclei, drawing a magic array with elemental stability atop a platform which was used by mages for meditation. This was a level-1 magic array used by a mage who did not own a magical tower for training.
In fact, this temple did not require such a magic array because the elements were very stable already. Saleen wanted to observe Nicholas’ treatment, so it was best to use a magic array to mark out a space. That way, he could observe in more detail.
As Nicholas gazed at Isabella drawing a magic array, he pondered about the treatment program.
Nicholas only needed to transfer the curse on Isabella into the Soul Bead and Isabella would make a full recovery. If that was the case, this process would hold no meaning for Saleen. Saleen hoped to observe the principles of the curse, so Nicholas needed to try his best to slow down the treatment process.
Once Isabella completed the drawing, Nicholas said, “Isabella, remove all the magic equipment on your body.”
Isabella was dumbfounded, but without any hesitation, she removed the magic robe, six rings on her fingers, and the necklace. Saleen noticed that Isabella had specially removed her shoes, exposing a pair snow-white feet.
This pair of inconspicuous shoes were also a piece of magic equipment and it had evaded Saleen’s Elemental Eye.
Saleen immediately did some self-reflection, “My Elemental Eye cannot see through all things.”
Nicholas pointed at the magic array, then said, “Stimulate it and sit inside. Kneeling or sitting is fine, just use whatever you are used to. Just enter into a state of meditation.”
Saleen smiled, “Nicholas is indeed an experienced senior, he knows why I am observing from the sidelines. He verbalized those instructions so that I can observe more thoroughly.”