"What do you think of magic?"

"Bombard the grass into white ground with powerful fireballs, deceive the world with psychedelic magic and chase power, win the cheers and admiration of the stupid nobles with the vaudeville tricks of the city, decorate your position and façade with the mystery that seems incomparably powerful to others, or destroy your enemies in battle and slaughter again and again, bringing ridiculous pleasure and satisfaction?"

Tails bowed his head thoughtfully.

But his heart was already trembling.

Magic.

Magic?

What the hell is magic......

"You know, I always thought that mages were men of great power, wielding a fireball at will," the prince sighed with some distraction, "or the old pedant who stayed in the tower and studied a spell that could destroy the world, or persistently pursued the truth...... But you tell me now......"

Ashida leaned back in his chair and snorted.

"Indeed, the Soul Tower's magical system is the greatest heresy in the history of magic, and at first it was not recognized by other mages: they ridiculed us as 'magetellers', and we ridiculed them as mere 'tricksters'. ”

"The Alchemy Tower, for example, stubbornly believes that magic is the study of the relationship between humans and nature, and the use of the latter's resources for their own use - it is not surprising that they have such thoughts, after all, the Alchemy Tower, known as the 'War Tower', rose in the war between humans and the ancient orcs, and started with killing and utility, based on survival and victory—very close to the kind of mage you are talking about throwing fireballs and specializing in spells. ”

"But we're different," the magician's tone was full of seriousness and caution, "the idea of the Tower of Souls eventually shook the entire history of magic, and even ascetics and alchemists were deeply affected. ”

Tails frowned, "You mean ......"

"If magic can't not satisfy one's desire for food and clothing, it will give the world some meaning, some possibilities for the future, and some ......value for human beings," Ashida turned her head and narrowed her eyes, her face calm, but it was stressful.

"Then we have painstakingly assembled mages, summarized calculations, studied continuously, passed on the seeds and ideas of magic one after another, and continued to pursue further in the midst of doubts and criticism...... What's the point of these things?"

"If magic is simply reduced to the slave of the user, turned into a tool for selfishness and the capital to show off status, as a cloak to earn dignity and capital to realize desires, as an excuse for the mage to be independent and claim to be detached," Ashida's expression was still stiff, but Tails inexplicably felt that there was a deeper layer of emotion hidden behind his countenance:" What is the difference between the existence of the mage and the princes and nobles who strive for power and profit, the farmer who seeks food and clothing, the warrior on the battlefield who kills the enemy and makes meritorious contributions, the merchant craftsman who is bent on profit, and the hermit who pretends to be profound?"

"Then what is the need and purpose for us as mages to pursue truth and correctness?"

"In order to live, to live better, to live more happily, to live to be shown to others, to become smarter and stronger, and then let countless people who are stupid and weak than you lie on the ground and marvel at your merits and worship your status?"

"No, Tails," Ashda said slowly, "it's not a mage, at least not a mage we recognize, but a silverfish with the word 'magic' written on the only fig leaf." ”

Tails pondered the other party's words and couldn't help but fall into a trance: "Is this also part of the Magician course?"

Ashida nodded solemnly, "Of course, and crucially. ”

"Don't let the established framework hold you back, Tails, let your mind fly. ”

Tails stared blankly at him.

The mage let out a slow sigh - Tails almost forgot the fact that he could still breathe, "Remember what I said? In the Tower of Souls, the idea of the Seat of Laws, magic is a choice, not a monotonous tool or means, and a mage is an identity, not a cheesy status or identity. ”

"And that's what I chose back then, and what I agreed with," Ashida looked him in the eye, "and my magic." ”

Ashida fell silent.

But Tails was immersed in the shocking dialogue and could not return for a long time.

"What kind of place is the Tower of Souls, Mr. Saxon?" he asked dreamily.

Ashdar paused.

Three seconds later, the magician slowly clasped his hands.

"Tower of Souls," Ashida said very slowly, her voice muffled, as if a layer of sandpaper had been placed behind her throat, "the mage's holy land, the apprentice's hope, the future of magic, countless thoughts and ideas collide fiercely there. ”

"What we thought was the truth was honed in lectures and discussions, and countless like-minded peers moved forward in each other's arguments. ”

"Every day is a new day, because there is always something new waiting for you, there is always a new person in the future, because there are always old things left behind, there are always old people left..."

At that moment, as if remembering something, Ashida stopped talking, but looked down at the chessboard.

It's like breaking some taboo.

His face darkened, and the blue light in his eyes faded.

Tails noticed the teacher's expression and the abnormality, and he wisely stopped asking.

Everyone has their own story.

But not everyone wants to talk.

Not to mention......

"I'd love to see it with my own eyes," Tails sighed, "It seems that the Tower of Souls is a great and beautiful place." ”

Ashida looked up suddenly

"Of course not," this time, the mage's tone became unusually cold, "even the Soul Tower has its own filth and darkness, ugliness and compromise. ”

"At the end of the day, mages are just humans. ”

"Remember, Tails, an organization, a place, a group, as long as it's made up of people," the magician stared at Tails, "it's never going to be so good." ”

"It's like you're in this maelstrom, in this game. ”

The prince raised his eyebrows, a little embarrassed: "Huh?"

But Ashida ignored him, just turned her head to look out of the box.

"Maybe that's the limit of human beings. ”

Tails swears, and behind the last word, he heard an imperceptible sigh from the magician.

In this picture under the setting sun, the face of the magician is still handsome, but there are some lines that are not usually there.

It's like a painter has a few more strokes.

"Class. ”

Ashida looked at the sinking sunset and said softly.

In the next second, before Tails even had time to show his astonishment, the figure of the magician faded away.

"Alas," Tails sighed helplessly, looking at the empty seat and the general's chessboard once again. ”

So, once again, Tails ended his day out playing chess, and accompanied by Justin and Wya, he was in high spirits and prepared for the return trip.

Enough surprises have been harvested today.

Maybe he shouldn't have burdened himself anymore, given the treacherous ...... in Longxiao City

Well?

Tails looked up strangely at the commotion ahead.

"What's going on?" Lord Justin, the former deputy commander of the White Blade Guard, walked past the prince and looked at the situation in front of him with uncontrollable anger.

At the door of the chess and card room, dozens of soldiers guarded by the Grand Duke held their weapons coldly and confronted a dozen strange soldiers from the alley next door.

Those soldiers were obviously not from Longxiao City, they were murderous and did not show weakness.

Behind them was a brown-black enclosed carriage.

Wyaa and Rolf looked at each other, not knowing why.

Tails frowned, and saw the leader of the strange soldiers—a female warrior with a round face.

"Prince Tails, I represent the Black Sand Collar. I would like to give you an invitation to talk," the current deputy commander of the White Guards, the detached Lady Chroess Mielke, waved her arms behind her, the carriage escorted by the Black Sand Collar soldiers, and said coldly:

"Viscount Cambida is in the carriage, and he invites you to step in and give him a few minutes to talk. ”

Tails was slightly stunned.

How......

"Talks?"

Tails was filled with doubts and caution in his heart: "What does Kambida want to tell me?"

"I don't know," Chloehi said softly, a cold glint in her eyes, "that's your judgment." ”

At this moment, the voice of Viscount Cambida came from the direction of the carriage from afar:

"I promise, Your Highness the Prince, that if you miss this carriage, you will regret it in the future. ”

"Trust me, it's crucial. ”

Tails' heart sank.

Regret is not enough?

"Why get into the carriage?" Tails narrowed his eyes and said warily, "We can go upstairs, or find another place." ”

"Why in the carriage?"

"Look around you," Chloe Ash glanced at the Grand Duke's guards with an unpleasant gaze, "Is there any private place in Longxiao City, within a radius of ten meters from you?"

Justin, who was in charge of defending Tails, grimaced.

Tails looked at Chloehi in disbelief, then at the carriage behind her.

Odd.

Black Sand Collar...... Talk to me.

At this time?

Hell, why isn't Putile here?

"Impossible!" the vigilant Lord Justin directly rejected the other party: "If you want to see the prince, you can ......"

"We've had enough of the blockade of Longxiao City," Chloe Ash didn't flinch, she didn't pay any more attention to her predecessor: "Your Royal Highness, this is the closest we've come to you in a month, trust me, we just want to talk to you." ”

Tails, who had countless thoughts flashing through his mind, was about to speak, but was preempted by Justin.

"Ash, I still remember what you were like when you were a child," I saw Lord Justin take a step forward, and the expression on his face became more and more ugly: "I don't have a good relationship with your father, and I'm glad that you became a White Blade Guard, so ......"

"Don't force me to do it. ”

Behind him, Tails took a deep breath.

So......

"Then you'd better do it now, Uncle Justin," Croesy snorted coldly, "or let the prince decide for himself—he's a guest, not a prisoner!"

Justin's face was cold, and he was about to press his weapon, and the Grand Duke's guards around him were also preparing to make a move with unkind faces.

Right now.

"Lord Justin!"

In full view of everyone, the prince took a gentle step forward.

Tails raised his hand and pressed Justin's shoulder.

At this time?

The prince looked at the carriage of the Black Sand Collar, and his thoughts swirled.

At a time when Exter's relationship with the Liberal Alliance was delicate.

When the news of Qiyuan City is uncertain.

When Longxiao City was in a dilemma.

The people of the Black Sand Collar want to talk to me, with a powerless and embarrassing enemy prince?

It's so suspicious.

Tails shook his head and said to Justin, "This is Dragons, they're the King's envoys, and it's unwise to engage in unnecessary conflict—and you know what kind of situation we're in." ”

Justin frowned fiercely: "But you know, they are Black Sand Collar ...... after all"

Huaiya couldn't help but speak: "With all due respect, Your Highness, your safety ......"

"Listen to me!" Tails turned his head and looked at his man.

"Facing the king, the Grand Duchess needs new information - no doubt this is an opportunity to see what they have in mind for Longxiao City. He said to Justin, who frowned, "For Longxiao City." ”

Justin choked at the words.

And she was right – I was a guest. ”

"Waiya, the carriage is here, and I won't disappear into thin air. Tails smiled at his attendant.

Justin and Wya's eyes looked at each other, both feeling uneasy.

"Besides," said the prince, calmly turning to Chloehi, looking at the soldiers behind her, "Ladies of the Black Sands, you will keep me safe, won't you?"

Croesy nodded, pressed his right chest, and said respectfully, "Swear by my life and the honor of the king." ”

"In a few minutes, you'll be out of the car safely. ”

Tails shrugged as he looked at Justin and Wya, who were still suspicious.

Rolf nodded at him.

"Go and inform the chief and the count," finally Lord Justin nodded hesitantly, but at the same time he cautiously ordered his subordinates, "make sure they know about this as soon as possible." ”

"Do you know how important you are, Your Highness?" Wya's face was ugly as he stared at the carriage, "As the Starfaller said, you can always give us a problem. ”

The prince smiled.

"That's why I need you, Waiya, and you, Midila. ”

He gently pushed away the two guards in front of him, and walked into the formation of the Black Sand Collar in the company of Wyaya and Rolf.

The squire officer with unswerving faces and the ghost of the wind were stopped in front of the carriage.

Tails tossed the book to Wya, and walked alone.

Whatever the Black Sand Collar has to tell you, Tails.

Be calm and cautious.

You have learned the power of Rumba, and you have seen the cunning of Kambida.

Face your worst enemy and be careful.

In the next second, Tails, whose heart was as calm as the surface of a lake, pulled the car door and boarded the car that was not even lit.

In the carriage, the silhouette of Kambida was sitting quietly in the dark, and the clothes on her body were faintly visible.

"I always felt that this was your revenge for refusing to talk to you alone on the road," Tails closed the car door, exhaled, and sat down across from Cambida: "Viscount Cambida......"

But then the prince struck!

That's not Cambida.

Is that......

"Long time no see, Tails," the other man gently lifted his gaze from the saber in his lap:

"Are you old enough to drink?"

Is that......

How dare they......

At this moment, Tails' brain was almost blank.

In the carriage, the owner of the Black Sand Collar and the thirty-sixth co-king of Exeter, Charman Rumba, opened a pair of cold and glittering eyes in the deep darkness.

(End of chapter)