Gravity Mage with Level-Up System Chapter 1877: Part 1: A Helping Hand
Previously on Gravity Mage with Level-Up System...
Stone House
The middle-aged man met his end just like that. It was unlikely he would have ever imagined his death would come about in such a manner. I shook my head in acknowledgment.
"Old man, if your intention was to save the little girl, the solution was straightforward. You only needed to apprehend that individual," I reiterated to the old man.
Upon hearing my words, the old man turned his gaze towards me. He looked directly into my eyes, and it became evident that he believed I was not speaking in jest.
"Young man, I perceive you hail from a distinguished lineage. My offer remains open. Should you find yourself delayed in reaching your destination, I possess the means to expedite your arrival," the old man declared.
"And how might you achieve that?" I inquired.
Old man Barry's face broke into a wide, knowing grin.
He then asked, "Have you ever encountered the concept of teleportation? Or perhaps, Space Magic?"
My heart fluttered at the mention of Space Magic. Such knowledge is not easily acquired; it is considered forbidden magic. Wizards adept in its use are typically found only within the most powerful organizations. Could it be that this old man possessed such profound connections?
Yet, he was clad in simple, native attire. I remained uncertain whether to place my trust in his words. Consequently, I activated the system's probe function. The system confirmed that the old man was, indeed, telling the truth.
This revelation came as a tremendous shock. If the old man's claim held true, my journey to my intended destination could be significantly shortened. However, I was hesitant about disclosing the existence of the Opal Forest.
Therefore, I resolved not to reveal that particular detail. After a moment of careful consideration, I nodded in agreement to the old man.
"Very well, I shall remain here until your descendant has recovered. However, should I perceive any irregularities, I will depart immediately," I informed the old man.
A palpable sigh of relief escaped the old man. Together, we re-entered the stone house, where we observed the young girl peacefully asleep.
The old man's attention was fixed on the slumbering girl.
My mind raced: If this old man possessed knowledge of teleportation facilities, what about the Mage Union? Surely, they must possess similar capabilities.
They maintain contact with extraterrestrial species, and the Mage Union stands as the preeminent power in the world.
It is highly probable they possess such facilities, yet I had somehow overlooked this possibility. Perhaps Manager Lara had simply forgotten to mention it.
"What is occupying your thoughts?" the old man inquired unexpectedly.
Startled by his sudden question, I snapped back to my senses.
I responded, "Are you implying that you reside solely in this location? Surely, there must be another settlement, perhaps a village or a city?"
"We are not affiliated with any major city. We have our own small village, consisting entirely of tribal people. Regrettably, our village was subjected to an assault by the very individual who cast the malevolent spell upon her," the old man elaborated, offering a glimpse into his background.
His explanation clarified matters. I had already surmised as much from his rustic attire.
"Then, do you know the identity of this individual?" I pressed him.
I suspected the assailant might originate from the same region.
"My knowledge is limited. I only know that the assailant hailed from a country adjacent to the mountain range. Numerous tribal communities reside at the base of these mountains. Typically, such conflicts are rare."
"This is because each tribal chief is a formidable Forbidden Wizard. However, this particular instance involved a coordinated team that launched an attack on our village chief and us."
"One member of that punitive group inflicted an evil magic spell upon my descendant," the old man concluded his account.
Upon hearing this, I attempted to piece together the complete narrative. The system verified that he was not fabricating any part of his story. My expression grew grave.
The involvement of Forbidden Wizards introduced a significant complication. Extreme caution would be necessary.
It appeared prudent to enlist the assistance of the Zero Puppet. However, before proceeding, I needed to ascertain the absence of any Forbidden Wizards within the immediate vicinity.
Not long thereafter,
The young girl began to stir, showing clear signs of regaining consciousness. Emily was slowly returning to full awareness. Witnessing this, the old man's face lit up with a smile. It was the first genuine smile I had seen from him since our encounter.
"Elder," the girl whispered weakly.
"Emily," the old man responded softly.
'So, the little girl's name is Emily,' I mused to myself.
As Emily's consciousness fully returned, she began to survey her surroundings. Her gaze fell upon a stranger in the company of the elder.
"What became of my friends?" Emily inquired, her memory returning to the attack on their village.
That was the last fragment of her recollection. She had no awareness of being attacked herself; she was suffering from the effects of a potent poison.
This was a direct consequence of the dark magic spell.
"They are unharmed. We were simply separated during the chaos," the old man assured her.
"Is that so?" Emily responded.
*Puchak!*
In the very next instant, she felt a sharp sensation within her body. Pain emanated from her as she coughed up blood, her complexion rapidly deteriorating.
"Emily!" The old man cried out in alarm. He moved towards her, attempting to administer healing resources.
"Cease your actions," I interjected abruptly.
Hearing my command, the old man halted his movement. He had been on the verge of offering her aid, but then he recalled the young man's earlier successful treatment.
He withdrew the magical resources he held and turned to me, asking, "What should we do?"
"The potent venom within her has been temporarily subdued by the magical properties of the black lily. The conflict between these opposing magical forces is likely causing her considerable discomfort."
"So, it’s expected for her to experience pain and discomfort. If you wish to spare her from suffering, then we must locate the individual responsible," I stated. "In that case, penetrating the country will be necessary. It will prove challenging to find him," the old man responded. Upon hearing this, my brow furrowed. The middle-aged man with brown hair appeared to be associated with the malevolent sorcerer. He had been involved in abducting the girl. It was unlikely that the one who cast the magic spell intended for her to perish instantly. There must be something the old man is withholding from me, or perhaps the old man himself is unaware of the full extent of the situation. Old Man Barry observed the young man becoming lost in thought. Then, an idea struck him, and he inquired, "Young man, I neglected to ask. What is your name?" "My name is Frank," I replied. "Frank, that’s a fine name. From which land do you hail?" the old man inquired further. "Well, I'd prefer not to discuss that," I responded. The old man seemed to understand. He surmised that the young man was occupied with personal matters and decided against probing further.