Magus Reborn

104. Mana cannons (1)

As Kai looked through the refugees for any signs of an Enforcer, he had only hoped to find one or two of them, but the task unexpectedly led him to discover someone even more special— A young girl with all three mana organs present in her body.

She hadn’t awakened, but just one look was enough for him to tell that they were undamaged. She was also young, at the perfect age to start her journey.

The girl was simply untapped potential waiting to be discovered and even if he had no idea if her talent was exceptional, just her presence was a pleasant surprise.

As he approached the girl, she stood with shaky lips. Her blonde hair, tangled and streaked with the dust of training fell just below her ears. Her clothes were simple, well-worn tunic and trousers. From the bruises on her upper arm and her palm, Kai could tell that she was diligent in her training. Her green eyes looked up at him— Fear, written all over her face along with anxiety.

"Is there anyone in your family who’s a Mage?"

The girl hesitated, her gaze flicking to the side as she searched her memory. After a moment, she shook her head. "No, Your Lordship. My parents were traders. They—"

"Traders?" Kai interrupted gently, nodding thoughtfully. It wasn’t uncommon, though not the norm for a Mage to come out of the population of commoners. After all, the population of commoners were comparatively larger than others; it was normal to find a magic caster or two among them.

As Kai pondered the potential of his unexpected find, Rhea’s curiosity got the better of her.

"What do you mean by becoming your disciple?"

Kai smiled at her question.

"Well, Rhea. I’ve discovered that you have the potential to cast magic, even if you can’t do it right now. With the right training, we can ignite your Mana heart and awaken you into a Mage." He thought for some time, choosing the right words to explain the situation to her. "Being my disciple means I’ll teach you magic. It’s not the same as being a core disciple, which is a more formal, intimate and important relationship. This is a nominal position, but I will guide you through learning magic."

The girl’s eyes widened with hope.

"I’ll be able to do magic? Then I won’t be useless?"

Although the question caught him off guard, he shook his head. "Anyone who can do magic isn’t useless. You might not be able to cast spells right away, but with proper training, first-circle spells will be within your reach in no time."

Maybe it was too much for Rhea to take, but after staring into his eyes for a second, she immediately bowed deeply. "I will work hard, and I’m highly grateful for this opportunity, My Lord."

Kai chuckled softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Just call me Lord Arzan. No need to be so formal."

Her eyes widened further just when Kai thought it wasn’t possible. A slight gasp escaped her lips as Kai turned from her to Killian, who had been quietly observing the exchange.

"Killian, could you arrange a room for her in the castle?"

Killian nodded, stepping forward to handle the arrangements. Kai’s smile lingered as he watched the girl’s hopeful expression.

"From now on, your life will be different. Magic will open your eyes to the universe in ways you never imagined. It might be hard and mystical, but if you do well, greater things will await you."

Rhea’s mouth opened and closed as if she was unsure what to say. She kept bowing, her face changing expressions from fear to nervousness to pure gratitude as she finally understood the gravity of the situation.

Finally, she asked. "Lord Arzan... What is the universe?"

Kai laughed, not expecting that question. "Ah, that’s a big topic. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you about that too. For now, let’s start with awakening your dormant heart and attempting a first-circle spell. [Fireball] is quite beginner friendly. It’s simpler and a lot less intimidating than the universe."

Rhea blinked, giving a nod.

"You can follow Knight Killian from here. He will help you to settle down. Then, we can meet later to start," Kai said gently.

She again thanked Kai and quietly followed Killian.

As the girl disappeared into the distance with Killian, Kai couldn’t help but shake his head. The recruitment had bore better results than he had expected.

***

Adding another Mage to the city, especially one Kai could train, was probably the biggest boost to his defence. Rhea might not be able to do much in the beast wave, but she could definitely help out in the back.

At the forefront of the convoy, a flag fluttered with a crest. It was a black tree with a sword carved into its surface and he realised it was the symbol of House Blackwood. Kai’s heart lifted as he realised that the men he had been promised had finally arrived.

Following closely behind them, there was another series of carriages with a crest that stood out in particular. It was his own symbol and there was only one person Kai had permitted to use it.

"Malden is finally here."

He hadn’t expected Malden to come together with the men from Duke Blackwood. But his surprise hadn’t ended there.

At the very end of the procession, several other carriages belonged to neither party, their rough exterior indicating they belonged to mercenary groups. Leading them was Gorak’s team which had been in his service for a while now.

He had specifically asked both Malden and Gorak to bring them more mercenaries when he was in the capital because a beast wave was always good profit for them, though he knew their loyalty could waver at the first sign of danger.

But it was a risk that he was willing to take.

As the carriages rolled to a halt at the city’s entrance, Kai’s anticipation grew.

He decided to greet them personally. Using [Featherfall], he descended unharmed from the walls before any of his retainers could say anything, landing lightly at the forefront of the large group.

A knight, resplendent in polished silver armour, was among the first to notice Kai’s arrival.

The knight’s armour bore the same crest of Blackwood, and his stance was authoritative yet respectful. His helmet was held under one arm, revealing a middle-aged man’s face with a strong jawline and long hair that was tied in the back.

"You must be Baron Arzan Kellius," the knight said, showing no surprise at Kai’s sudden jump and looking over at his robes. "I am Knight Darian Legas, in service to Duke Blackwood. We have been dispatched to assist you."

Kai extended a welcoming hand. "Knight Darian, it’s good to see you. Your timely arrival is much appreciated."

Before Knight Darian could respond further, Malden emerged from the carriage carrying his unmistakable presence. With him was the mercenary leader, Gorak.

Malden’s face broke into a grin as he approached, though it was tinged with exhaustion and Kai could see dark circles under his eyes.

"Lord Arzan!" Malden called out, his voice carrying a cheerful lilt despite his condition. "You look as good as ever, even with the beast wave looming. I’ve brought what you asked for."

Kai resisted a chuckle. This man was all about complimentary words without paying heed to the situation. "I’m glad you made it. Did you manage to bring the shadow seeds?"

Malden nodded, a satisfied glint in his eye. "Yes, they’re all here. And as for the mercenaries, they’ve come in good numbers."

"However, they’d like to discuss their terms and compensation before joining the fight," Gorak walked from behind and added with a tight face.

Kai sighed at that.

The mixture of Duke Blackwood’s guards, Malden’s delivery, and the mercenaries created a chaotic but promising scene. Despite the excitement, Kai felt the dire situation slowly settle into his shoulders.

The merging of so many groups, though a boon, was overwhelming and required immediate organisation.

He rubbed his temples.

The convergence of these forces had been orchestrated, with the groups likely joining up for mutual protection on their journey. Nevertheless, it was a lot to manage all at once. He needed to streamline their integration into the city’s defence plans and ensure everyone was properly accommodated.

As he looked around without giving a direct answer, an idea sparked in his mind. He turned to Knight Darian and the others, who were still in the process of disembarking and assessing their new surroundings.

"Before we get too caught up in logistics," Kai said, raising his voice, "I’ll handle the arrangements for your quarters and oversee the unloading of goods. But first, why don’t you all come up to the wall? We’re about to run a demonstration that should be quite interesting."

Knight Darian looked puzzled. "A demonstration?"

"Yes, we’re testing a new artefact we’ve developed. It’s something you’ll want to see as our most important weapon against the beasts. It should be fun."

Darian’s face didn’t show any change, but Kai could see in his eyes that he was intrigued by the promise of an artefact. He nodded. "Very well, Lord Arzan. We’ll follow your lead."

With that, Kai led the way up to the wall, Knight Darian and the other key figures following closely behind. As they ascended, Kai could see their curiosity piqued, their earlier weariness momentarily forgotten in anticipation of the demonstration.

Upon reaching the top of the wall, the group was greeted by the sight of the mana cannons, now fully assembled and ready for action.