Badge in Azure Chapter 1189 - Dice of Fate (Part 1)

Chapter 1189: Dice of Fate (Part 1)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The master and disciple pair rushed back to Metatrin City from the Frozen Sea. Their speed became faster and faster. The magic patterns absorbed from the volcano had been gradually digested by the Magical Element Tower and were being used to repair the damaged flight magic patterns.
Sky City’s mechanical core possessed a capability for memory. It was only now that Saleen knew how precious the piece of equipment was. It had been picked up from the bottom of the sea by Nailisi.
Saleen recalled the variety of strange signs exhibited by the mechanical core. He grew increasingly certain that, if he possessed sufficient power to place the magical tower on the floating island, the mechanical core would be able to regain its past glory, allowing the island to fly.
On the other hand, it was the flight magic patterns in the memory of the mechanical core that were not too important. They were nothing but a type of transformant for rules. For a mage who was at level 9 or lower, they would still hold some attractive power, but after seeing Jason’s divine crafting, Saleen’s sights aimed even higher. He no longer had much interest in simple transformant.
The Magical Element Tower flew high in the air. By the time it returned to Metatrin Harbor, a large vessel anchored at the port could be seen. In Metatrin, a battleship that was smaller than 100 meters long was considered small, and the vessel that had laid anchor outside the port was over 300 meters. Saleen looked down at the vessel, which was an armed merchant ship that had magic stone artillery, but they were not in position. They had adhered to Metatrin Harbor’s legislation that stated that any vessel approaching the port was not permitted to appear in an armed state.
The ship was entirely powered by magic. Only three masts could be seen, used to aid the vessel in adjusting its direction and increasing speed. After Metatrin Harbor gained a large magic array, freezing began a little later. Even so, there were very few large vessels coming to the port during the current season. Once they were frozen in the port, they were unable to leave for six months, resulting in significant losses.
Saleen’s Magical Element Tower was suspended high in the air, and the armed merchant vessel had not discovered it. Saleen’s legislation for the port was strict. If magic was used near the port for spying purposes, they would be sunk by magic cannons. No merchant groups had ever dared to infringe on the ban, specifically because there had once been a battleship that had come to the port to make trouble and had been sunk by the magic cannons. The people of Metatrin City had not asked for the battleship’s intentions or purposes, had simply used the magic compass to probe on the battleship for a moment, and then used 10 magic cannons to blast it at the same time, causing that unlucky vessel to sink to the bottom of the sea.
Furthermore, the surrounding boats that had intended to rescue the vessel had also been attacked by the magic cannons, resulting in a large number of casualties. If even a battleship had not survived, of course the merchant vessels that had come for trade and business would seek misfortune.
“It’s a boat from Alchemy City.” Jason saw the symbol on the boat. “It came from Devil’s Horn. Devil’s Horn and the Elemental Hand do not have a good relationship, but you should still be wary. If Alchemy City is in any danger, Sreeger Island’s mages are also suitable for providing aid. Unless…”
“Unless it is us who gains Alchemy City, isn’t that so?”
“Correct. Let’s return to the temple and look at what the people from Devil’s Horn came to do.”
The Magical Elemental Tower did not enter Metatrin City at a low altitude like before. Rather, it raised its altitude to more than 10,000 meters. Then, it released a strong mist, as if another cloud had been added to the sky and blocking it from sight.
The magic power of the Magical Element Tower attracted a large amount of water vapor. A heavy rain was brewing above Metatrin City. No one saw the descent of the Magical Element Tower. Although rain in this season was somewhat out of the ordinary, no one would have thought that it was due to the return of Saleen and the others.
The scene in the city square was one of complete leisure. The temple guard was not completely responsible for patrolling around the core of Metatrin City, but there were still some Caucasian warriors who were responsible for the square. A few magic wolves were also lazily lying around without a care for the impending rain. Only when the Magical Element Tower descended did the magic wolves become excited. They walked to the front and barked.
Some of the Caucasus warriors came forward welcomingly, while others went to deliver the news to Sika. When Saleen left, he had consumed a month’s time. It was clear that they were about to enter the cold winter season. The two children had also grown again.
The rain finally begin to fall, cleansing the city. Jason borrowed Sul to wait on him in his daily life and to protect him. He brought Sul and vanished from the highest floor of the temple. Saleen had returned, so Jason would no longer manage any of the affairs. It was his student’s city; he had just been helping for a short while.
Saleen also knew that his teacher had borrowed Sul for the sake of tempering him. When Sul was by his side, there would always be fewer opportunities for Sul. Even when he had brought Sul, he had not really gained any benefits.
Saleen returned to his own room. Sika was already waiting for him.
“Saleen, people have come from Alchemy City. Would you like to rest for a moment, or hear them out to find out what the matter is?”
“I will rest for a moment first,” Saleen replied.
Not expecting this answer, Sika asked, “You’re not worried anymore?”
“I’m going to see the children.” He pulled Sika along and walked toward the opposite side of the temple. The design of the temple’s interior had more and more magical factors. Anyone who wanted to go to Saleen’s children’s rooms was required to pass Saleen’s door. It was a one-way path. To leave not only required the temple badge’s magic imprint, but also Saleen’s or Sika’s permission.
The inside of the temple was tailored to open an area for Saleen’s two children, both of whom were taking a nap. Saleen and Sika sat in front of their beds and conversed softly.
Sika suddenly shut her mouth without mentioning the matter of people arriving from Alchemy City. It was not something that could be resolved within a couple of days. “Saleen, according to the Caucasian priests’ traditions, the children are two years old and ought to be given names.”
“Haven’t they already been given names?”
“This is for their true names, which possess the mysterious rules of fate. It is a secret that even astrologers cannot change.”
“So what does this mean?”
“We must decide now whether or not the children will become priests or something else. Naming is a very important event. I inherited my knowledge from what the ancients left behind. I want you to help me decide.”
“They won’t become priests. We can let them become mages, and we can instruct them together.”
“That’s good. Since we’ve decided they will become mages, we need to do this together…”
As Sika spoke, the carpet in the room was exposed, revealing the mage’s array underneath it. Numerous symbols and magic patterns alternated within the mage’s array. No one knew how much time Sika had spent drawing it.
“Saleen, for the sake of the two children, what can you give up?” Sika pulled Saleen into the mage’s array, causing Saleen to feel chills all over his body. It was the first time that he felt that the life energy in his body was out of his control since he advanced.
“I can give up everything,” Saleen replied without any hesitation. Although he was rarely with his children, he knew that for the sake of his children he would give up everything, including his life.
“That’s good. I want to create some dice of fate. Each die will have six faces, and each face will consume 100 years of our lives, or perhaps even 200 years. Are you willing to pay this price?”
“I am willing.” When Saleen’s voice descended, it was as if an energy storm erupted from his body. The power of life flowed into the mage’s array like a water tide. It was the same on Sika’s side.
Saleen didn’t panic, nor did he resist. His current life span had reached 3,000 years, so even giving up 1,000 years for the sake of his children was not an issue. He believed that he could quickly advance to level 11. When he followed his teacher on his last outing, Saleen had developed a strong sense of self-confidence.
The power of life of the two people tangled together, gradually forming a pair of transparent dice, which was supplemented according to life energy. The writings on top—written in mage’s script that was left behind by the ancient Caucasus people—became more clear.
Together, the two dice had 12 faces. The words on top changed continuously. Saleen was able to feel that his life was being burnt up to form the words on the two dice, and the more his life was being burnt up, the clearer the words on these dice became.
Saleen was faintly able to grasp something and, without hesitation, he utilized the power of constellations on his magic robe and sent even more life energy into the mage’s array. Sika’s face was full of delight, and she, too, went all out to transfer the power of life into the mage’s array.
The two children had already woken from their nap. In the silent room, above Saleen’s and Sika’s heads, the transparent dice shot toward the children, who giggled instead of panicking. The dice didn’t enter their foreheads, but they did leave a mysterious script on their foreheads. The script quickly faded, as if it had never existed. Sika slowly sat down on the ground.
The children smiled as they climbed down from their beds and ran toward their parents. Sika’s power was also recovered in a flash.
“Saleen, how many years did you give?”
“I gave about 2,400 years.” Saleen smiled, feeling the warmth of his child on his chest.
“I also gave 2,400 years of life. I still have 300 years to live, but once I advance to level 10, I will once again live longer than you.” Sika smiled.
“I still have 600 years. Once I advance to level 11, I can once again live for about three to five thousand years.”
As they shared the number of years of life they had each given up, neither of them felt a shred of regret. If they were unable to advance within this span of time, it was equivalent to them transferring their life to their children.
Saleen was able to find out from astrology that this type of dice of fate caused no harm. It was only harmful toward him and Sika. For the children, it was equivalent to inheriting all of his and Sika’s good traits. In the future, whether it was cultivating magic powers or learning priest skills, they would learn much faster.
The most important thing was that it was similar to a shaman’s witchcraft. It gave the two children’s souls an additional layer of protection. As Saleen and Sika’s levels increased, the protection would also become stronger. Any curse skills would be ineffective against the two children, unless the person who applied the curse was much higher than Sika and Saleen. For example, Saleen was at level 10. Anyone who wanted to curse his children would at least need to be level 13 to succeed.