Chapter 171: Departure

“My lord, you have mail,” Shatia said, entering the room with two letters.

Helag sat by the window, engrossed in a book. He turned at her voice, “Leave them there.”

After placing the letters, Shatia asked, “Anything else, my lord?”

“Make me a pot of coffee,” Helag replied, picking up the letters.

Shatia went to prepare coffee, gradually embracing her role as a maid.

Helag examined the letters, one from Bessie and the other from Lilian.

He opened Bessie’s letter first. It was lengthy.

The key point was that the potion Helag made worked; her injuries were fully healed.

Bessie had resumed normal meditation, with her mental power growing faster than before.

She mentioned nearing the mental power needed to become a formal wizard.

Helag felt relieved; Bessie’s recovery was excellent news.

Her talent was exceptional, and losing hope of advancement at such a young age would be devastating.

Bessie also shared minor updates from Moonlight Woodland, similar to before Helag left, with no major changes.

Newcomers joined yearly, while others suffered injuries or death from various tasks.

Everything was as usual.

Bessie planned to contract with Moonlight Woodland, granting her access to ancient and Amanda potions.

Though she’d need to stay a century, for a wizard apprentice like her, it was the best and only option.

Helag finished Bessie’s letter and opened Lilian’s.

Lilian had become a formal wizard two months ago.

She spent the time stabilizing her mental power and adjusting.

Lilian was fortunate, with Professor Nina guiding her, providing resources without Moonlight Woodland’s contract restrictions.

Most importantly, Lilian mentioned a possible opportunity to enter the Land of Dawn.

Augustus Academy, established by the Land of Dawn in the Barrens, had access to it.

The rule barring Barrens wizards from the Land of Dawn mainly restricted lower-level wizards.

But Augustus Academy could bring in exceptional individuals.

The conditions were strict.

Even for a promising wizard like Lilian, it was challenging, merely a possibility.

Lilian’s letter mainly shared wizard world information and intelligence.

Helag set the letter down, picked up a quill, and began replying, sharing his recent experiences.

He glossed over many details, briefly mentioning the Blackrock Valley attack.

After writing, he gave the letters to Lennon to mail.

With two months until the Death Swamp Ruins opened, Helag continued his routine while gathering more information on the ruins.

The ruins had existed for over a thousand years, their origin unknown.

Rumor had it they were once a planar rift, used for invasions into the wizard plane.

Wizards sealed the rift, but the rules remained chaotic, filled with mysteries.

The unique environment produced rare materials.

For a long time, the area was chaotic, with wizards fighting for resources.

The ruins’ unique environment made management difficult, attracting criminal wizards seeking refuge.

Eventually, it became a lawless city, with a sizable population.

After the Dawn War, wizard organizations like Moonlight Woodland and Green Cottage were exiled to the Barrens.

Wizards from the Land of Dawn established the Northern Mountains and brought the ruins under control.

They couldn’t move the ruins but could enclose them, setting restrictions.

They controlled the ruins’ opening, preventing unchecked resource extraction.

The ruins opened every ten years, with limited time and entry slots.

The Land of Dawn controlled slot allocation, requiring approval for Barrens wizard families and organizations.

…

Two months passed quickly. Helag stood with Brack and others at Blackrock Valley’s entrance.

Seven from the Terchy family, including Helag, were going to the Death Swamp Ruins: two crystallized wizards, two liquefied wizards, and three gaseous wizards.

Brack led the group. The other crystallized wizard was an elderly woman named Karen, her skin like withered wood, face deeply lined.

Karen, a Terchy family elder over two hundred years old, was powerful and the group’s trump card.

Her goal was to obtain rule-infused items for advancement.

Karen had been stuck as a crystallized wizard, unable to progress.

Despite her age, nearing life’s end, advancing to a second-level wizard would grant her longevity.

But the step was difficult.

Karen was determined. If she failed to find rule-infused items, she might not get another chance.

For her, this was an all-out effort.

“We should go. Helag, stay close to me inside, don’t wander,” Brack advised.

“I understand, Mr. Brack,” Helag nodded.

Brack trusted Helag.

Their time together showed Helag’s reliability and prudence.

His talent, strength, and character impressed Brack.

Brack saw more potential in Helag than Larry, who only noticed his potion talent.

Brack’s experience recognized Helag’s vast potential, with potion talent as a bonus.

Brack believed, given time and opportunity, Helag could achieve great things.