Chapter 5

The soldier was the first one to speak.

“My subordinates have been sent to all four corners of the Verdant Continent, in an attempt to round up willing recruits. Naturally anyone joining up will receive a reasonable wage. The validity of this threat is still in question, so his majesty is yet to decree conscription. However, I suggest those of you who wish to learn ways of fighting back, join up before you are forced to fight regardless. I’m sure a village such as yours, is well aware of the horrors of the latter.”

Amos the blacksmith twitched in anger after hearing what this soldier had to say. The man came across as the no nonsense type. Although his words were blunt, there was some truth to them.

“Whadya mean the validity of the threat is in question? You came all this way in an attempt to scare us or summit? Is it more taxes you lot want?”

The soldier glared at the merchant that made this statement. Before he could respond, the man in the white robes intervened. He seemed to have been around the same age as Astoria, but he had an aloof expression and came across as someone who tended to go with the flow. He had blonde hair and cloudy blue eyes.

“Now now everyone, let’s not get heated ahaha. The reason the validity of the threat is being called into the question, is because we were warned of the potential threat by a Warlock.”

The people at the Inn began to whisper amongst themselves. Although we were all aware of the existence of the Mages that were aligned with the prestigious Order of the White Mage and the Verdant Royal Family. Warlocks were few and far between, some even suspected them as being nothing more than a myth.

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“Ahahaha, you see, the distance between our two continents, combined with the lack of shipwrights and ships in general, would make it impossible for the CC to even attempt to invade. And following the tragedy, we have never ventured toward the mysterious CC again. However, Warlocks are not bound by allegiance to anything, nor are they bound to the restrictions of time and distance. Unlike we mages that rely solely on the 4 elementals to perform feats of magic. Warlocks use other and more sinister means. The warlock that reported the threat to the Order of the White Mage, had recently returned from the CC and claimed that the various tribes and clans had unified in an attempt to cross the Stygian Sea. He stated that the mastermind behind this, was a fellow Warlock named Caliban Crowley and that Crowley is seeking to usurp the throne from the Verdant Royal Family.”

What was this guy talking about? The easy going manner and almost distant way he spoke about such serious topics, rubbed me the wrong way.

“We are just humble village folk, why must we involve ourselves in a conflict that requires the use of magic?”

“Ahaha, you see, like the Verdant Royal Army, we at the Order of the White Mage, are also recruiting. While my buddy here, is looking for soldiers to fight against the goblin, orc and imp that will most likely make up the majority of the CC’s army. We at the Order of the White Mage, are opening our doors to anyone, with a high level of affinity with one of the 4 elementals, in an attempt to provide support type magic, to the brave men and women that will fight on the frontlines. We also wish to groom mages to go up against the more sinister enemies, that we are bound to encounter”

From what I’ve read in the books that Gladus had loaned me. The Order of the White Mage, was an elitist institution. It taught magic to those from certain Mage families. In fact, it is even sometimes argued that Warlocks came about, due to the strict and highbrow way that the Order of the White Mage, selected students and successors.

I don’t know much about the 4 elementals or whatever, but supposedly, it is possible and even guaranteed that everyone has some affinity with an elemental.

The amount of information provided by these two was a lot to take in. The village head stepped forward and told everyone that the two men would stay in the village for a number of days. He requested that we spread the information that we received here to our fellow villagers and those of us that wanted to enlist, should seek out the two men at his home.

The village head then proceeded to escort the men out of the Inn. time passed and eventually the remaining men and women began to trickle out of the Inn and only Gladus, Astoria and I remained.

We sat in silence, still digesting this information. Just when I was about to break the ice, Astoria spoke.

“I will be enlisting.”