Chapter Fourteen: Gathering Disciples

  Ankara smiled and nodded at me, saying: "Not bad, you last time went to the imperial capital to participate in the intermediate archer assessment, when you helped the city patrol officer solve the case on the main street in front of the inn, I happened to be passing by there and witnessed the whole process."

  When Ankara mentioned that matter, I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment and said: "It was a small thing, not worth mentioning, but did you come to me for that day's affairs? What is the reason?"

  Ankara shook her head and smiled, "At that time, I just thought you were a clever kid who knew how to think, and I was very interested in you. But later, I found out that you were with someone I know."

  "Do you know Uncle Luoke?" I asked curiously.

  "I don't just know your Uncle Locke, I'm also an old friend of your father's, haha, didn't expect that, did you?" Ankala said with a smile, stroking his two silver whiskers.

  "In those years, Ankala the Great Magician participated in the campaign against the Sel Empire as the only great magician of the empire and was assigned to my legion." The father explained beside him.

  "Your father was a great general, after all. He created the record of annihilating three legions of the Sel Empire's elite Black Iron Knights with just one legion." said the Great Magician of Ankara.

  "That we were able to achieve such a great victory was all thanks to your magical assistance; otherwise, the outcome would have been reversed." His father said respectfully.

  The two of them were flattering each other, making me feel uneasy standing beside them. Finally, I couldn't help but interrupt: "No wonder I felt like someone was staring at me when I entered the inn that day, it was you! Did you go find Uncle Locke later that night?"

  "Not bad, I didn't think you'd notice all this. Your intuition is indeed very sharp, and your inference is also correct. That night, I did go to see your Uncle Locke, and I even learned from him that you can communicate with elements." Ankala nodded slightly.

  "What's the communication element?" I asked in puzzlement.

  "Hmm, is it that bow and arrow skill you learned? Can you show me what you can do?"

  "Oh, I see. You want to see my archery skills, huh? I heard Uncle Locke say that's something he learned from the Elves. Come with me to the courtyard and I'll show you."

  I picked up the bow and came to the center of the courtyard, where there was a large tree outside. I opened the bow made by Uncle Locke, set an arrow on it, and recited the prayer of the Elf tribe. The wind element gathered on my arrow as my fingers trembled, and when the arrowhead had enough wind element, I released the bowstring. The arrow pierced through the big tree with a green trajectory.

  "With respect, Ankara the Great Magician, do you think it's impressive?" I asked with a somewhat smug tone. Ankara stood behind me and nodded slightly, saying: "I heard from your father that you used this skill to kill an undead magician?"

  I nodded and said: "Actually, if it wasn't for Dabo's help, I wouldn't have been able to kill him."

  "Unfortunately, that undead mage had left a soul mark on you before he died. If his fellow mages or friends were to meet you or find this place, they would know it was you who killed the undead mage. They will definitely come after you for revenge." Ankala suddenly said to me.

  "Father was shocked and pale: 'Respected Ankara, the great magician, did that undead wizard really leave a soul mark on my son? Is there any way you can help him erase this mark? Please help! I don't want him to be hunted by the undead wizard for his whole life!'"

  I recalled the words of the dying spirit mage, I remembered that green light that didn't enter my forehead, it turned out to be the mark planted at that time, and I was completely unaware, even forgetting that such a thing existed!

  Ankara shook her head and said, "The magic of the undead mage is very strange. The soul mark they leave behind cannot be erased. The mark itself does not have any harmful effects, but once it is left on someone's body, that person can never escape the pursuit of the undead mage's followers unless they all die out. Now the only way is for Alick to increase his strength himself, and become strong enough to make the undead mage's accomplices no match for him, so that he cannot avenge this person."

  His father listened to Anka's words and said somewhat despondently, "This kid doesn't have what it takes, he doesn't have the makings of a swordsman. Luo Ke also said that his future achievements in archery skills will probably be just a high-level archer. Such strength is fundamentally unable to contend with undead mages, let alone there may be more than one."

  Ankara stroked his own silver whiskers and patted his father's shoulder gently: "Don't worry, there is a way. I think your son has a natural talent for elemental communication. If he can follow me to learn magic, I guarantee that his future will be very bright. However, he must follow me, and it's likely that he'll have to leave you for a long time. Can you and your wife bear to part with him?"

  Father looked at Anka with surprise and said: "Of course, of course. Even if there was no such thing, it would be a great honor for our family to have a magician appear. And now we can get the guidance of the Empire's Great Magician. Alik, come here and pay respects to your teacher, you little rabbit are really lucky."

  I bowed my head and thought for a moment, whether or not to learn magic is actually no big deal. Although I know that magicians seem to be very powerful, but I don't have any specific concept of it. Moreover, I don't have any great ambitions, as long as I can find a girl like Serene in the future and live a plain life, I will be very satisfied. However, if I don't follow this old man, in the future when that undead magician's master comes, not only will I be doomed, but the entire village may also be unable to escape. By following this old man, at least for now, I can still be safe.

  Having made up my mind, I stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Ankaara, saying: "Respected Ankaara, great magician, Alick is willing to become your disciple and follow your teachings."

  Ankara nodded in satisfaction and said, "From now on, just call me Teacher Ankara. You have a good talent, but there's no such thing as gaining something without putting in effort. Once you embark on the path of magic cultivation, you can't regret it or be lazy, otherwise you'll end up with nothing. Tomorrow, follow me to my magic tower to cultivate, don't worry, even if the Great Necromancer comes, I'm not afraid of him."