The Golem Mage

Pale and his team finally reached the city gates of Sweden city, the long towering gate was enough to keep them staring for a few more seconds, as just ahead of them were the city guards of the Sweden city, standing watch.

”Pale, with the way I’m seeing it, I believe we are the first team that was even able to reach the Sweden city, what do you think? Do you feel we are going to be in the first position?” questioned Luna Zero.

”We can’t tell for sure, but with Alec deciding to go solo, it’s clear we have a higher chance of being in the top 2, If you ask me, we either come in as the winners of the missions exercise with a small point lead over Beatrice’s team, or we come in second,” Pale replied.

”I still don’t understand why Alec would do such a thing, I heard he was a very calculative person and a great master of schemes, but It seems that all those tales about him are just bull as he is just another brute, trying to show off,”

Luna said as their team of mages acting as nobles arrived at the front of the city gates and showed their student badges to the guards.

The moment the city guard mages of Sweden city saw the badges, they saluted by raising their left hands to their chests.

This gesture was a sign of respect given to all War God Mage Academy students who had been fully drafted into the military system.

It meant that they would join cities to battle against the forces of the Abyss, the city guards always respected those who embraced and fought to kill the Abyss monsters, rather than those who stayed at the comfort of their homes, using their clan’s rank to seek out privileges and avoid contributing to the fight of their respective cities.

Such individuals were seen as inexperienced and those fearful of death, also known as greenhorns, so when the Pale group all lifted their student badges and the guards saw their ranks, they showed their respect,

As they were still student mages who could have attended any Mage Academy, but they chose the War God Mage Academy, which specialized in training students to become soldiers and help protect cities.

”Come this way, I will lead you all to the camp, your General has been waiting for you for quite some time now,” one of the city guards said as he began leading them into the city.

Pale couldn’t help but watch and observe everyone they encountered after entering the city.

Their clothing and choice of weapon, mostly short axes, signalled a collective agreement within the town. As It seemed like they had all decided on that weapon as the primary weapon of the city.

Spotting Luna up ahead, he approached her to continue the conversation that had been interrupted earlier when they were showing their badges at the city gates.

”You should be happy Alec decided to go on his mission solo without a team, I don’t know if it was out of arrogance he did what he did, but Alec isn’t one to show off, with him going solo, we have a better chance of winning the top spot in this mission exercise, and our clan will be forced to recognize our efforts,” Pale remarked, despite his explanation, Luna still seemed unconvinced, looking at him with confusion.

”What makes you think Alec would be a threat to our team if he had formed his own?, all he has are Tier 2 Mages from his clan, I bet he realized going against the other three commanders with such a team wouldn’t be easy and he wanted to avoid possible embarrassment,” Luna countered.

”In my opinion, his actions were quite cunning, by not accepting a team and going alone, he avoided any ostentation, He also ensured that his friend Lucas would take them in, If Lucas were to achieve a high position, they would still reflect positively on the Gordon clan, which Alec leads in the academy,” Pale elaborated.

”Even if they don’t achieve a high position, it wouldn’t affect him much, as he stands to lose nothing. I see the grand schemer in him now,” Luna said, touching her face and shaking her head in disbelief.

”I do know for a fact that the only teams that can threaten us now are Beatrice and Lucas, with Alec out of the way, he may be given a commander’s title, and is really strong as an individual but he is about to realize how unworthy he truly when competing against a group,” Pale confidently stated.

”I’m not too worried about Lucas team because more than half of his teammates are Tier 2 Mages, They won’t be able to recover quickly or kill monsters as efficiently as us, with a full team of Tier 3 Mages,”

Lucas explained as they finally arrived at the designated camp area for the War God Mage Academy squads assigned to the city.

Lucas couldn’t help but notice a lady with a scar on her face standing and waiting for them at the middle of the courtyard, donning the War God Mage Academy student robe.

Pale was certain he had never seen her before in the academy, so he glanced down to confirm she was indeed a student of the academy, but he was shocked to see the colour of her student badge – Burgundy, it was the rich and deep shade of red with hints of purple and brown.

It is a luxurious and elegant colour that exudes sophistication and warmth, it was like Imagining the deep red hue of a perfectly aged wine, with undertones of plum and maroon.

Just as Pale was getting over the colour shock, he noticed her rank was boldly engraved on the badge – Major.

”I shall leave you all here now,” the city guard bowed to Pale and his group as he exited the building allocated for the academy mages.

Pale had been expecting a traditional camp setup, but he was pleasantly surprised to see an actual house instead.

”Have you not been taught basic respect for your seniors or have you no regard for the rank I hold? Bow and give the proper greeting,” the lady coldly demanded, her voice reflecting her stern and cold demeanor.

Pale gazed at the lady in front of him, acknowledging her seniority, yet his pride prevented him from bowing to her.

He believed that bowing would diminish his standing in the eyes of his fellow squad members, since they acted like nobles.

”Apologies, Senior, We humbly greet you, but we have been sent here by our General...” Pale began to explain, but he was abruptly cut off when the entire group suddenly felt a massive wave of water looming above their heads.

Pale looked up in confusion, rendered speechless by the unexpected turn of events.

”I said, bow!” the lady commanded, just as the deluge of water came crashing down towards them.

Surprisingly, the water did not splash upon impact; instead, its weight forced Pale’s entire group to their knees, unable to disperse the force they bowed under the weight of the water.