Kai's sudden surge of tension and pressure didn't show plainly on his face—but Midichi, the Level 2 Holy Tower Mage, seemed to pick up on his unease. He chuckled casually, "No need to be nervous. I won't do anything to you. Besides, you deserve top credit for discovering a foreign Level 4 creature in the Yellow Sand World."
The Holy Tower Mage had actually made a round trip to the Dawn Holy Tower recently. The tower stood on the coast of the Wizarding Continent, south of the Underdark—quite a distance from here. Even with his Level 2 Mage's speed, it had taken him a solid month of rushing to get back.
Midichi hadn't returned to the Underdark just to intercept Kai; the boy simply had terrible luck, happening to be detected by Midichi's sensing magic as he made his way back. The real reason for Midichi's return was the upcoming battle in the Yellow Sand World. Battles between creatures above Level 4 were extremely rare. Midichi had participated in a few cross-plane wars before, but he'd always hidden far from the central battlefield. It was no wonder such beings were called "gods" in many ignorant worlds—below Level 3, or even peak Level 3, one couldn't even hope to such fights.
At over 500 years old, Midichi was a renowned prodigy in the Dawn Holy Tower, already at the peak of Level 2. His light-element magic had earned praise from several deans of the Dawn Holy Tower's Magic Academy, and rumors even claimed it had caught the eye of the tower master himself. Especially in the recent campaign to wipe out dark magicians in the Underdark and the upcoming battle in the Yellow Sand World, Midichi's role and influence were nearly on par with Romward, the Dawn Holy Tower's peak Level 3 Mage. His future was truly boundless.
For such a powerful Mage to show kindness to Kai seemed, by all accounts, an unmitigated good.
"You left the stone tower where I'd set up magic restrictions on your own, and then vanished without a trace. It seems you found what you were looking for?" Midichi's gaze drifted first to the flute hanging around Kai's neck, then to the brown jar slung over his shoulder. A Level 2 Mage's mental power was strong enough that, at this close range, Midichi could glean whatever information interested him without even using detection magic.
Of course, Midichi knew Kai had a spatial ring—but with the flute and ring interfering with each other, he had no idea Kai was also hiding a priceless spatial bracelet on him.
Kai remained silent, head bowed, in response to Midichi's question. The gap in their strength was so vast that he couldn't think of a single way to resist or even struggle. If Midichi wanted to, he could crush Kai completely and take everything he had. Not just Kai—even if his mentor Modesto were resurrected, he'd likely be no match for this peak Level 2 Holy Tower Mage.
Thankfully, Midichi didn't do any of that. He just studied Kai with amused curiosity for a while, and when the boy still didn't speak, he pointed to the brown jar behind Kai. "Who's in there?"
Midichi had clearly seen through the jar's true contents: ashes. This time, Kai finally spoke. He'd initially thought to say they belonged to a friend, but the words stuck in his throat. Under Midichi's curious gaze, he answered honestly, "My mentor."
Kai's honesty made Midichi look at him with newfound respect. Mages held their teacher-student bonds in the highest regard—it was the foundation of knowledge 传 (inheritance). Since ancient times, the reason mages had endured as a group was that elder spellcasters passed down their lifelong learning and profound truths to the next generation.
Midichi was undoubtedly a noble-hearted Holy Tower Mage. Even knowing the ashes likely belonged to a formal dark magician, he didn't make things difficult for Kai—in fact, he was faintly moved by Kai's act of carrying his mentor's remains. So even dark magicians valued their teacher-student bonds?
Midichi knew little about dark magicians; this was actually his first mission to wipe them out. On the main continent of the Wizarding World, dark magicians rarely appeared. Even when a wanted one surfaced, they were quickly captured or killed by Holy Tower powerhouses. The true breeding ground for dark magicians lay in the central-northern region of the Western Islands, west of the Wizarding World—a place known as the "Dark Domain." Even a peak Level 2 Holy Tower Mage like Midichi would struggle to gain the upper hand there.
The flicker of approval in Midichi's brows did little to ease Kai's stress. His life and fate were still in Midichi's hands. If Midichi demanded to search him, would he resist? And what about Qi, hiding in the flute? Even with an injured quasi-level magical beast owl by his side, could they stand against a peak Level 2 Holy Tower Mage?
Having grown up in a place like Menzoberranzan's Dark Magic Academy, Kai refused to believe any Mage—even one as humble and polite as Midichi—could stay calm upon seeing wealth worth over thirty Level 2 energy crystals.
Thankfully, Kai's worst fears didn't come true. Midichi didn't even ask to inspect the dark magician's ashes, even though they could have earned him a handsome reward from the Holy Tower.
"Reporting the Yellow Sand World intelligence in time earned me double praise—from the academy and the Dawn Holy Tower's master. Ultimately, all these rewards stemmed from the information you told me back then. Is there anything you want? I'll see if I can grant it." Midichi's words took Kai completely by surprise.
"Aren't you going to hold my status as a dark magic apprentice against me?" Instead of answering Midichi's offer, Kai blurted out the question weighing on his mind.
"Heh, what kind of dark magic apprentice are you?" Midichi laughed. "You're just a boy who was unlucky enough to be kidnapped into the Underdark. From your looks and demeanor… you're a noble, aren't you?" He even denied Kai's identity as a dark magic apprentice outright.
Midichi's answer made Kai exhale in profound relief. It also signaled that the Holy Tower Mage was choosing to ignore the jar of dark magician's ashes slung over Kai's back.
"I don't dare ask for any reward," Kai replied respectfully. "After leaving the Underdark this time, I only want to fulfill my mentor's last wish—scattering his ashes in the Endless Southern Sea—and then find my family."
Midichi nodded at Kai's answer, then shook his head. "As a Mage, are you really going to end your pursuit of truth here?"
Kai hesitated for a moment before answering, "My mentor… he left me a few magic books."
Midichi shook his head again. "The path of truth is endless. You can never reach great heights with just a few books."
Once more, Kai fell silent, head bowed, unsure how to respond.
Midichi continued, "Have you ever thought about joining another magic organization? Or a Holy Tower academy?"
His question made Kai look up at the Holy Tower Mage. Gazing at Midichi's sincere face, Kai shook his head. "Not yet."
"Hm. You have good talent and character. What about joining the Dawn Holy Tower? I could be your sponsor." Midichi smiled.
After a moment's thought, Kai still shook his head. "I just escaped Menzoberranzan's Dark Magic Academy. I don't want to join any organization right now. Besides, my family is north of the Underdark—but the Dawn Holy Tower is on the coast of the Wizarding Continent, south of the Underdark, isn't it?"
Refusing a Holy Tower Mage's kindness was a daunting challenge, but it was a choice Kai had to make. He had too many valuable things on him, and Qi couldn't be exposed casually. Midichi might be a good person—but were all Mages in the Dawn Holy Tower this easy to get along with? Kai wasn't that naive. He still remembered how Romward, the Dawn Holy Tower's peak Level 3 Mage, had almost killed them all—just a bunch of dark magic apprentices—outside the Yellow Sand World.
His identity as a dark magic apprentice was still a fatal flaw. And his bond with Qi meant he could never abandon the owl.
Kai's bold answer made Midichi's expression quite interesting. He even wondered if he'd misheard. "You really don't want to join? Even with me as your guide in the Dawn Holy Tower?"
Midichi's eagerness was practically written on his face—he was almost ready to ask Kai to be his disciple. Midichi had devoted over 500 years to magic; though he was 300 years younger than Modesto, he'd traveled far farther on the path of truth. Alchemy was just an aid for Mages to explore elemental mysteries; when it came to elevating one's life level and gaining power, the traditional path of elemental magic was still the most important. With Midichi's strength, he was more than qualified to be Kai's mentor. And his future was limitless—perhaps in a few decades, this Level 2 Mage would advance to Level 3 Grand Mage.
Even so, Kai shook his head firmly. "Thank you for your kindness, Master. But I already have a mentor."
Midichi sighed deeply. His gaze drifted to the ash jar behind Kai, and his thoughts wandered. His admiration for Kai had been sparked by the boy's devotion to his mentor. Midichi's own mentor had passed away 150 years ago, and he'd scattered his ashes in the designated place as instructed. Looking at Kai now, Midichi was reminded of his own past—and since Kai's character and qualities truly appealed to him, he'd felt the urge to take him as a disciple. What a shame.
Midichi assumed Kai's refusal stemmed from not understanding the weight of a peak Level 2 Mage's status, or the Dawn Holy Tower's prestige and power. But he didn't press further; the bond between mentor and disciple couldn't be forced. And Kai had a point—his identity as a Menzoberranzan dark magic apprentice was indeed a problem. Only when the stigma of the Underdark's dark magicians faded, or when Kai left the Underdark for another region, could that identity be truly erased. Otherwise, even in the Dawn Holy Tower, Kai would face trouble. Midichi could protect him for a while, but not forever. In the end, one had to rely on oneself.
Regretful that Kai had refused to join the Dawn Holy Tower, Midichi had no desire to stay longer. Besides, the battle in the Yellow Sand World might have already begun—he needed to reach Shadow Valley as soon as possible.
He gave Kai one last look and said, "This Holy Light Badge was made by my own hands. It contains a single-target Light Restoration spell. Think of it as a reward for telling me about the Yellow Sand World. And if you change your mind later and want to join the Dawn Holy Tower, this can also serve as a referral token."
After tossing Kai a silver badge glowing with rich light-element energy, Midichi turned to leave. But he paused, as if remembering something, and added, "You said your family is north of the Underdark—that's part of why you won't join the Dawn Holy Tower, isn't it? Well… I have acquaintances in several magic organizations north of the Underdark, including a newly established Azure Source Holy Tower there. If you want to join any of those organizations or the Azure Source Holy Tower, show them my Holy Light Badge. They'll give me face." With that, Midichi turned into a streak of white elemental light and vanished.
Kai bowed deeply in the direction Midichi had left, then looked down at the badge in his hand. "A Holy Light Badge… He really is a good man," he murmured softly before striding toward the final passage leading to the surface.
The darkness and peril of the Underdark were finally behind him. When Kai stepped out of the cave passage into the light, the brightness and warmth made him squint at first—but he quickly adjusted, drinking in the world before him. The gentle sunlight and pleasant temperature were infinitely more comforting than the blistering sun of the Yellow Sand World. Stretching out before him was an endless expanse of lush green fields, with a few winding rivers glinting in the distance farther on. Even the air smelled sweeter.
Kai took a deep breath and stepped forward boldly, ready to embrace his new life.
The surface was far more prosperous than the Underdark, and its biodiversity was beyond comparison. The Underdark's harsh environment and monotonous ecosystem meant its plants and animals were either extremely cold-tolerant or fiercely powerful—there were almost no gentle, weak creatures. The surface was different. In just the first three days after emerging from the Underdark, Kai had feasted on countless strange little creatures. Most were ordinary animals; enchanted creatures were rare, and magical beasts even rarer. Surface enchanted creatures and magical beasts mostly lived in deep mountains and dense forests—areas often labeled "Magical Beast Forests."
Since leaving the Underdark, the terrain Kai had seen had mostly been plains and hills. Even the few forests he'd passed were small, with no sign of powerful magical beasts.
"The Underdark is even vaster than I imagined," Kai sighed as he studied the magical map Modesto had left him, roughly figuring out his current location. "The underground world where Menzoberranzan was located was just a tiny corner of the Underdark's underground space."
After three days of nonstop travel, he'd barely covered a short distance within the Underdark according to the map. At this pace, it would take him at least half a year to reach the northern part of the Underdark.
"What a pity this area is still a haunt of dark magicians. The Holy Tower Mages and surface knights must still be searching and investigating nearby. If I could use Qi as a mount, I'd definitely move much faster," Kai thought.
Though the map showed a long journey ahead to the Underdark's north, Kai felt no discouragement—instead, he relished every moment, marveling at the scenery along the way. As a lawless region, the Underdark had a sparser population than other parts of the Wizarding World. 加上 (Coupled with) the constant trouble from dark magicians, stability was scarce, and population loss and migration were common.
As Kai continued his journey, he passed through several human cities. There seemed to be no ordinary human kingdoms in the Underdark; these cities were mostly self-governing. Even nobles only claimed titles like "city lord" or held key positions within the cities. Kai didn't know if these nobles were truly connected to Mages, but as he passed the cities, he did detect faint traces of magic elements. However, his identity was too sensitive to risk approaching those suspected spellcasters. He didn't even enter the cities—he simply walked around their edges.
It turned out that whether underground or on the surface, formal Mages above Level 1 were extremely rare and powerful. After traveling for a full month, Kai hadn't encountered a single formal Mage. Even the few magic auras he'd detected near the human cities were from apprentices—some probably weaker than him.
"I wonder what the overall strength of surface Mages is like. The Holy Towers must be gathering places for spellcasters of all elements, and their apprentices are probably stronger than those in the Dark Magic Academy I attended. But what about Mages in ordinary regions outside the Holy Towers?" Kai muttered to himself as he walked along the road.
"Hey, kid! Hand over everything you've got!" A loud shout shattered his thoughts. Before Kai knew it, five burly men had appeared in front of him—shirtless, wearing animal-skin clothes, and wielding axes and swords. Behind him, three more men had snuck up, cutting off his escape route.
The Underdark was infamously lawless; no kingdoms existed here, so public order was abysmal. This was the third time Kai had been robbed in a month. Near human settlements, security was slightly better—city lords and nobles would send their private armies to clean up the area from time to time. But once you strayed from the cities, trouble came thick and fast. Bandits and robbers were a common sight here. His mentor had once said that the surface's criminal organizations in the Underdark had ties to Menzoberranzan's dark magicians. Could these men be part of that?
Kai shook his head. Unlikely. The criminal groups connected to dark magicians must be large-scale gangs. Now that Menzoberranzan's dark magicians had been wiped out, those gangs were probably top targets for Holy Tower Mages. The fact that Kai had only encountered small-time robberies lately suggested the larger groups had already been taken down by powerful Holy Tower Mages.
Kai's silence made the five robbers blocking his path feel confused—and a faint sense that something was wrong. Anyone brave enough to walk the mountain roads of the Underdark alone was usually no ordinary person. These eight robbers had been working together for years; they'd started with twelve men. The ones who'd fallen had run into "tough nuts" during robberies. The five who remained had survived through various strokes of luck and even made a small fortune.
"Boss, look at what he's hiding in his arms," a thin, shrewd-looking robber whispered to the strongest man in the group, nodding at Kai.
Kai was still wearing the clothes he'd had in the Underdark—his black magic robe was tattered with holes, making him look ragged. Stuck in his arms was his Acid Staff.
The robbers had seen their share of things over the years, but they couldn't figure out Kai's background. Respectable Mages all wore grand robes—how could one look like this? And all the Mages they'd seen were older; none were as young as Kai.
While the robber leader hesitated, Kai made his move. These robbers were almost all ordinary humans. In Menzoberranzan, ordinary people lived in abject fear of dark magicians and their apprentices. It seemed only on the surface would ordinary humans dare to rob someone who looked like an apprentice—even a suspected one.
Three small Lesser Fireballs appeared, and the robbers around Kai paled. They'd barely shouted "Mercy!" when the fireballs shot forward. Kai didn't want to cause a commotion, so these weakened Lesser Fireballs were meant more for deterrence and dispersal than to kill. He'd handled the previous two robberies the same way—chasing them off rather than harming them.
But this time, Kai was caught off guard: among these unimpressive ordinary robbers, one knew how to use battle qi.