Chapter 506: Intervention 5
TL: Rui88
Although Grand Duke Cabre had confronted the cowardice deep within his heart under Mariana’s guidance, the sudden implementation of the series of measures she proposed still made him hesitate for a long time.
Mariana understood his difficulty and continued to advise, “To recognise all the rights of magic users at once is indeed too sudden. Therefore, you can start with the army. Let magic users become a force to defend Eton. After they have established a certain record of merit and your people have seen their efforts and contributions, granting them rights on this basis will meet with far less resistance from the populace.”
“You are right, Teacher Mariana. If the mages can protect Eton from the iron hooves of war, the people of Eton are by no means an ungrateful sort.”
Grand Duke Cabre had been won over by the red-haired lady. She was truly worthy of being the powerful witch who had taught his wife.
Mariana smiled faintly. “This brings us back to our original topic: using magic to resolve the current crisis of the Crusader Army closing in on Eton.”
Helen asked anxiously, “But Teacher, how can we recruit a sufficient number of magic users in such a short time? After several years of vigorous searching by the Church, they are either dead or have fled. Those who are fortunate enough to remain hidden in Eton will do their utmost to conceal their identities and will suspect any recruitment effort to be a trap. Moreover, not all magic users can cast destructive spells; those proficient in combat are few and far between. Most of them would be less effective on a battlefield than an ordinary soldier.”
Mariana answered her student with complete assurance, “Since I have come to you, I have already made some preparations. I can gather about two hundred magic users who are skilled in combat, another fifty who are skilled in enchanting, and… some other support-class magic users. I can also contact a nearby mercenary group. These people can assemble in Hydra within a week.”
“Oh! So quickly?”
As if grasping a life-saving straw, Cabre said with immense gratitude, “Teacher Mariana, before your arrival, I thought I could only rely on Hieronymus to face my unknown fate!”“Hieronymus?” Mariana asked, “Does Your Majesty refer to the holy sword passed down through the generations of the Duchy of Eton?”
“Yes.” A trace of pride appeared on Grand Duke Cabre’s face. “It is the sacred sword that was blessed by a god, the very one my ancestor relied upon to carve out the territory of Eton.”
The holy sword of the Duchy of Eton, Hieronymus, was one of the legends of Horn Bay. It was said that this wondrous sword had been blessed by the Lord of Light. Not only was it sharp enough to cut through iron as if it were mud, but its wielder would also feel their body filled with immense power and a vigorous will to fight.
Of course, the Grand Duke also knew that no matter how skilled a single person’s martial arts were, they would have little effect in a battle between two armies, which was why he had been quite pessimistic even with this sword.
“Hahaha!”
Mariana began to laugh.
Grand Duke Cabre and Helen looked at her in confusion.
“Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness.”
Mariana stopped laughing and regained her previous composure.
“Although I do not wish to discourage you, the so-called holy sword Hieronymus… is now nothing more than an ordinary, well-crafted sword.”
“Impossible!”
Cabre looked at Mariana, somewhat angered. “Several generations of my ancestors have used it to defeat enemies who were originally stronger than themselves, and they left behind written records describing the wonders of this sword.”
Mariana said, “Those records are all true. In their era, the sword was indeed as miraculous as recorded…at least in the eyes of the world. But by your generation, that is no longer necessarily the case.”
Cabre was confused by her words. “What do you mean?”
“That sword… was not blessed by a god. The reason it could display such great power was due to the effect of magic. And the magic on that sword had a time limit. By now, its power should be all but gone.”
Magic? It was magic again.
“How could this be?”
Cabre was utterly shocked. Had his family been revering a magical item as if it were divine all this time?
“If you do not believe me, you can take Hieronymus and another sword of good quality…I trust there is no shortage of fine blades in your treasury…and strike them blade against blade. See if the edge of Hieronymus chips. If it were as powerful as the legends describe, it should not chip at all.”
The expression on the Grand Duke’s face was uncertain. He walked over to the table where the holy sword was placed and slowly stroked the hilt of Hieronymus. He had kept it by his side ever since leaving the treasury.
He suddenly turned and asked Mariana, “If it is as you say, then how do you know of this?”
Mariana smiled and said, “I also heard it from my mentor. The truth of this sword has been passed down in our line of teaching.”
Beside them, Helen tilted her head in confusion. She had never heard her mentor speak of this. Of course, it was possible that Teacher Mariana had not had time to tell her before they were separated.
But was Teacher Mariana so certain that what her own mentor said was true? After all, such a long time had passed.
“Very well!” Grand Duke Cabre seemed to have made up his mind.
“Guards!” he called to the attendant who had been waiting outside.
“Go and fetch my Artier.”
Artier was one of Grand Duke Cabre’s favoured swords, and it too was a fine, sharp blade.
In less than a few minutes, Artier was in the Grand Duke’s right hand.
With a ringing sound, Cabre’s left hand drew the holy sword Hieronymus.
He silently studied the holy sword for a few seconds, then put force into both hands simultaneously, and the two sharp swords hacked against each other, blade to blade.
Grand Duke Cabre’s brow furrowed tightly, and Helen let out a gasp.
Only the red-haired lady wore a knowing expression.
The holy sword Hieronymus had actually been chipped by the other sword. And although the other sword was also chipped, its nick was clearly smaller than the one on Hieronymus.
“So this is the truth,” the Grand Duke murmured to himself.
Without its magical enhancement, the holy sword was actually inferior to a normal, good sword.
“Yes, Your Majesty, this is the truth.”
Mariana said, “If you will allow it, I can temporarily restore it to the Hieronymus of legend…the divine sword that could cut through iron as if it were mud. Of course, the effect will only last for about a minute.”
“Please, Teacher Mariana!”
The Grand Duke placed the sword on the table. He wanted to witness the wondrous effects of magic with his own eyes.
Mariana nodded. “As you wish. Please stand back a little.”
The Grand Duke did as she instructed, while Helen stared intently at her mentor, learning.
And so, Mariana began her work.
The purpose of her trip to the Duchy of Eton had now been mostly achieved.
Next, she would make the ruler of this duchy bow completely before the great power of magic.