Volume 4: A World in Chaos
Chapter 1: Confrontation
A dark gray cloak covered the tall and slender figure tightly, but when the other party turned around leisurely, the priest in purple still recognized at once the strange lord he had met in a bar that very morning. His deep gaze was as cold as snowmelt from ancient ice, sweeping over the priest’s entire body, as if he were looking at a lifeless corpse, sending an unexplained chill through him.
However, years of experience on the battlefield had given the priest in purple the composure to remain unshaken by the hostile gaze. On the contrary, it piqued his interest. The other party clearly held ill intentions toward him, but he wanted to know what exactly they wanted by bringing him to this remote place—threats? Extortion? A lesson? A warning? Or murder? Though the priest believed that if the other party dared to summon him here, they must have some advantage, there were only the two of them within a hundred meters. Did they really think his strength was enough to threaten or intimidate him, making him obey without question? Even at this moment, he still couldn’t figure out the true purpose behind being lured here.
“No, Lord Malon, please don’t speak so harshly. I invited you here at your request. When we met this morning, I noticed you were very interested in me. But the tavern was crowded, making it inconvenient. I knew you must have many questions, so I took the liberty of inviting you here. If you have any doubts now, you can ask me directly—I’ll answer everything without reservation.”
The young lord, wrapped entirely in his cloak, appeared very deferential, but the priest still sensed something odd in his words. For someone they had met for the first time to speak to him so openly and sincerely could only mean there was a huge conspiracy at play—either he saw the priest as a confidant or as a harmless corpse. The thought of a corpse made Malon even more vigilant. Could this guy really intend to kill him just because he asked a few extra questions in the tavern? But even if he were a dark mage, he probably wouldn’t think that far. Malon felt there must be something he didn’t know behind this, and now he regretted coming here alone.
“My Lord Baron, I’m somewhat puzzled about your identity. I can sense that you possess great magical power, and to be honest, your magical abilities lean more toward the dark side. I’m curious why, as a noble, you would ignore a rule widely followed across the continent—that honest and noble people avoid such despicable things. Don’t you think this goes against the principles passed down by the Kingdom of Nicossia for centuries?” Though he knew the other party had ill intentions, curiosity overrode everything, and Malon spoke his suspicions without hesitation.
“Heh, despicable things? How righteous of you to say that. Are dark magic and its practices truly vile, while your light magic is noble and pure? I see no inherent connection between the two. A person’s goodness or evilness depends on their own actions, not on the magic they practice. How absurd! There are many in your Light Church who engage in vile deeds under the guise of holiness. As for interpreting the principles passed down by the Kingdom of Nicossia for a hundred years, that power lies not with your Light Church—it belongs to the Kingdom of Nicossia to decide.” Perhaps having made up his mind, Komer spoke more boldly.
“Young man, your reasoning is flawed. Could a person of pure heart and noble character possibly practice necromancy, which involves controlling corpses and skeletons? Or learn dark magic that darkens people’s minds, turning them paranoid and evil? You dare question such an obvious truth? It makes me doubt whether your status as a baron is even genuine.” Malon seemed accustomed to such sophistry from others. He didn’t want to engage in further discussion; proving the other party’s true identity was enough. A dark mage, or even a necromancer, being a noble of the kingdom and a local lord—such shocking news would cause a stir anywhere. Even in Cyprus, where thoughts were relatively open, it would be intolerable. This would affect the entire family behind this man, and Malon’s gaze toward him even carried a hint of pity.
Komer also viewed this pitiful man with a strange sentiment. Since he had generously revealed all his secrets yet the other party remained so calm and conversational, it could only indicate confidence in his own abilities—there was no other reason. But he hadn’t considered that even after knowing his identity, he still decided to meet him. Could he really lack any confidence?
Perhaps two equally arrogant people came together, and everything had to end with a decisive outcome. Their gazes finally met again in the air, like two intertwined bolts of lightning that couldn’t be separated. After realizing the other’s formidable strength, both Comer and Malon unconsciously raised their assessment of each other. “Lord Malon, I think we truly need some way to prove or resolve the differences in our understanding. Do you agree with me?” Even at such a critical moment, Comer still maintained the courtesy expected of a noble. “Very well. I suppose Lord Baron invited me to this beautifully scenic place with this intention in mind. Of course, before we reach a conclusion, I’m very curious as to why you practice such dark magic. I can see that you possess a rare talent for magic. If you weren’t led astray but were pursuing legitimate magical skills, I believe you could surely secure a place in the entire continent’s magical community. Of course, it’s not too late for you to return to the right path. I hope you’ll seriously consider my proposal. As long as you’re willing to travel to Marco with me, I think everything can start over.” The priest in purple always retained his usual elegance. Though this calm composure might not necessarily mean inner peace, it still impressed Comer, who had already resolved to kill him. But now, it wasn’t possible to persuade either side to change the fate of this confrontation with just a few words. “Lord Malon, you may have heard the saying, ‘Those with different paths cannot work together.’ I’ve never considered the magic I practice to be vile or despicable. As I said earlier, a person’s purity of heart cannot be measured by the skills they practice. Just as a person who looks handsome and well-dressed isn’t necessarily pure-hearted, and a person who looks ugly and fierce with tattered clothes isn’t necessarily a villain, it’s absurd to judge a person’s nature based on a single skill or knowledge. Your Light Church seems too arbitrary and subjective, doesn’t it? Besides, there are countless people in this world who pretend to be one thing but are actually something else. Not everyone in your Light Church is necessarily noble-hearted—I know this all too well.” Comer’s eyes always carried a hint of mockery, yet his tone remained unusually calm and natural, as if he were having a friendly discussion with a friend about some academic issue.
Deep sorrow appeared in his eyes. At that moment, the priest in purple gave up the idea of persuading him. Although the other person spoke in a gentle tone, the determination evident in his words and actions was unmistakable. It was sheer delusion to expect to convince someone with such firm resolve and preconceived notions about the Holy Light Church just with a few words. Perhaps only by using force to make him submit based on his strength could this person truly be brought to calm and listen to orders.