Black Hearted Mage

The crater was like a huge cage to Caesar's grandfather and father. Elves were extremely proud and would not talk much to half-elves, let alone two ordinary humans.

Rodman was a half-elf, and for the same reason, he didn't want to stay in the crater. Caesars had the same experience: the elves were truly xenophobic.

Caesar's grandfather and father had long wanted to leave the crater, but they had no place to go. Now that they had a large house, their thoughts were already flowing.

"Grandfather, Father, when you go out, don't tell anyone that you have been to the crater, otherwise you will be in big trouble. There is a high probability that you will be captured and tortured!" Caesar warned.

"It can't be that serious?" Old Ludwig said in surprise.

"It might be even worse than this. If you keep your mouths shut, you can live comfortably as noble lords. But if you don't, you'll be secretly captured!"

Many forces want to obtain the secrets of the crater, and some are willing to take risks for this.

"We won't say anything and won't have any dealings with other nobles!" Old Ludwig vowed.

"When do you want to go to Violet City?" asked Caesar.

"Of course the sooner the better. We don't want to stay here for another day. Those people don't allow us to go to the forest in front or go outside. We've had enough of it here!" Old Ludwig complained.

"You must know that after leaving the crater, no one will protect you anymore. From now on, you will have to rely on yourself for everything!"

"I know, this place is just like a big prison cell, we've had enough!"

"Okay, that's all you need to know. I won't say anything more. I'm going to the Magic Tower. You guys should pack up first!"

As Caesar said this, he walked out of the stone courtyard and headed towards the magic tower not far away. No matter what, he had to tell the three old elves.

The three old elves in the Magic Tower seemed to be in deep meditation. They were nowhere to be seen on the lower floors, and there was no response when contacting them through the communication stone. Caesars couldn't go above the third floor because he didn't have the strength required to enter the fourth floor.

After wandering around the Magic Tower, Caesars returned to the Stone Courtyard. He used the Message Stone to contact Phyllis, and within two hours, a carriage from the Thorn Flower Company arrived.

"Kaissa, where are you going?"

The man who came was Rodman, who was wearing leather armor. He knew Caesar's grandfather and father, and he had come here several times to deliver things.

"Rodman, let's go to Violet City. My grandfather and father are tired of staying here!" Caesar replied.

"Oh, then hurry up and get in the car. We're leaving right away. We've already conducted two cleanups outside the crater, and almost all the spies we could find have been killed!"

Rodman said that casually, but old Ludwig's brows suddenly furrowed tightly. At this moment, he suddenly realized and completely understood what Caesars' reminder to him meant.

"Rodman, wait for me for a moment. I want to take away the two thickest golden-eyed black snakes. Even if there are really daring thieves coming, my grandfather and others don't have to worry!" Caesar said, then turned and walked towards the yard. The big iron cage with the golden-eyed black snakes was right by the wall.

Rodman nodded hurriedly upon seeing this. In his eyes, Caesars was nothing short of a monster. The feared golden-eyed black snake, in Caesars' presence, was as docile as a sheep. This was truly beyond imagination, and even words could not describe its level of obedience.

Time passed minute by minute, and after about two hours, the sun gradually set, and a flaming sunset glow appeared on the horizon, and the whole world was dyed with a light orange-red glow.

At this moment, it was already dusk, and the carriage carrying everyone finally slowly drove into Violet City and finally stopped in front of the closed gate of the Bano family.

Before anyone else could make a move, Caesars hurriedly said, "Grandfather, Father, please stay in the car. Don't rush to get out. I'll go knock on the door!"

Before he finished speaking, Caesars jumped off the carriage and walked straight to the heavy wooden door. He raised his hand and slammed it hard on the huge bronze door knocker, making a crisp and loud knocking sound that spread far into the silent dusk.

The heavy door made a sound, and the peephole on it was pushed open. The Bano family's butler poked his head out, his eyes instantly falling on the person standing outside. When he saw that it was Caesar, a look of surprise and awe flashed across his face. Without even asking a question, he quickly opened the tightly closed door as wide as possible.

At the same time, Rodman, seated in the carriage, gently flicked his whip, the crisp crack echoing through the air. With his movement, the swift, sleek horse, with its vibrant coat, began to tread, pulling the carriage slowly into the spacious courtyard of the Bano family. The clatter of the wheels was remarkably clear in the still air, as if heralding the beginning of a new story.

The next morning, just as the sun rose, its gentle rays bathed the earth. Busy figures appeared in the Bano family's backyard. They were a group of skilled craftsmen, arriving as scheduled. They carried a variety of tools—hammers, saws, ladders—and their faces shone with concentration and dedication. Their mission was to demolish the sturdy wall, rising over ten meters. While the task was undoubtedly challenging, it was not a difficult one for the experienced craftsmen.

An elderly and prestigious craftsman stood steadily by, his hands behind his back, watching the work progress intently. Under his methodical command, the craftsmen worked together, and the demolition work progressed smoothly.

Caesars was in the other courtyard, the courtyard of Viscount Bruce's mansion. He had just emerged from his tent and, after a moment's curious glance, finally settled on an empty corner of the backyard. He planned to build a two-story stone house, which would serve not only as his daily living quarters but also as a place for deep meditation.

The days passed, fleeting like a fleeting moment. Unnoticed, seven years had slipped by. The small stone house originally conceived by Caesars had also weathered the test of time. The marks of time gradually crept onto its walls, leaving the once smooth stone surface covered in a thick layer of moss. From afar, it resembled a painting from a distant era. Yet, beneath this seemingly peaceful exterior, awe-inspiring changes lay hidden.

In the evening, as the sun set, its afterglow shone upon the small stone house. Suddenly, a powerful elemental energy surged from within like a surging tide, as if the entire house were ignited by this energy. The magic power originally surrounding the stone house, influenced by the magic power within the stone house, violently swirled, forming a visible magical vortex.

The magic vortex lasted only a few minutes before quickly disappearing. Caesars, dressed in a black robe, pushed open the wooden door of the stone house and walked out. Two golden-eyed black demon snakes, thicker than thighs, lay on either side of the wooden door.

Kaisas had been promoted to Grand Mage, and over the past seven years, he had used up most of the magic crystals he had prepared. He had new dark spells to learn, which required more soul power. Soul energy would allow him to grow stronger faster, but it also meant he had to embark on a more decisive path.

Caesars, with his long hair down to his knees, was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, holding a gray-white magic gem in his hand.

"Kaisas, you finally came out!"

The man who came in looked a little old, wearing a silk robe. He was Kaisas's father, Ludwig Jr. There was another person coming in the distance. He was already white-haired and leaning on a cane. He was the somewhat plump old Ludwig.

"Father, Grandfather, I have been promoted to a great magician!"

At this moment, a young woman, holding a child in her arms, was walking towards them from a distance.

"Okay, okay!"

Old Ludwig laughed heartily.

"Who is that woman behind?" Caesars asked with a puzzled look.

Little Ludwig smiled foolishly, old Ludwig's face turned red, and Caesar's heart skipped a beat.

"Kaissa, she is your new grandmother, and the one she is holding in her arms is your uncle!" said little Ludwig.

"No way! Grandfather, you are so amazing!"

Caesar was shocked. He initially thought that his father had married, but he didn't expect that old Ludwig had come back to life.

"Caesars, you have a sister too!" Old Ludwig said with a hot face.

"Grandfather, Father, you two are making a fuss about leaving the crater. Aren't you just looking for a woman? No, I didn't leave you many gold coins!"

Caesars rolled his eyes at the two of them. A few years later, they had both established careers and started families. However, before he entered deep meditation, the gold coins he gave them were only enough for daily expenses, not enough for them to live lavishly and find women.

"That Madam Kaschi sends 10,000 gold coins every year!" Old Ludwig replied.

"How did you divide the gold coins?"

Caesars looked at the two men with a smile. They had to keep their wine and snacks separate, otherwise they would argue over who drank more. This amount of gold coins definitely wouldn't be placed in one person's hands.

"Half each!" said old Ludwig with a red face.

"Be generous, I won't blame you. I promised you silk robes and the best rum, and I kept it!"

Caesars looked at the people before him, recalling the past. He was now a great magician, with a life span of over five hundred years. As his strength grew, his life span would gradually increase. However, his grandfather and father only lived for about a hundred years.

After hearing what Caesars said, Ludwig and his son's eyes filled with tears, and their sad past came to their minds.

Caesar looked at the young woman holding the child, and it was impossible for him to call her grandmother.

"Let's go to the castle and talk. Ask someone to prepare hot water for a bath. I haven't taken a bath in years!"

Although magicians can use cleaning magic, it is never as thorough as taking a bath.

Time flew by, and after seven years, he finally succeeded in his promotion. If he had chosen to meditate deeply in the Magic Tower, he might have achieved the same goal in less than two years.

Unfortunately, reality is always filled with frustration and choices. For Caesar, protecting his loved ones was more important. Even though he knew meditating in Violet City would take up a significant amount of time, he remained there without hesitation.

As night fell, Caesars, fresh from his bath and dressed in a loose robe, slowly entered the spacious and luxurious living room. He could hear bursts of laughter and chatter from the living room as Ludwig and his son enjoyed a heartwarming family moment. Gazing at this happy scene, Caesars couldn't help but feel a sense of loss, as if he had become an outsider in this castle, completely out of place in the joyful and peaceful atmosphere.

Caesars silently walked to the sofa at one side of the living room and sat down, gently pulling out a yellowed, ancient notebook from his pocket. This notebook was a precious treasure left by his ancestors, recording countless profound and unfathomable magical techniques. He carefully opened the pages, his gaze resting on a chapter on dark spells mastered only by the great magician level.

The first thing that caught his eye was the complete introduction to the Dark Spear spell. This single-target spell was like an indestructible blade, its attack power surpassing even the blazing power of fire spells. For Kaesus, who had already mastered the Dark Spear, learning the complete Dark Spear spell was not difficult. After all, the two spells shared many similarities, practically sharing the same lineage.

Continuing to flip through the pages, Kaisas found another eye-catching group spell—Dark Mist—that piqued his interest. The name of this spell alone might seem harmless, but in reality, it was a terrifying spell capable of widespread destruction. Its attack power was two or three times greater than that of the more common Corrosive Cloud!

The final spell, Soul Drain, can be categorized as either dark magic or necromancy. At the Grand Mage level, this spell can only be cast on a dying target. Once promoted to Magister, it can be cast directly in combat, regardless of the target's health.

After carefully memorizing the three spells, Caesars put away his magic notebook and prepared to return to his small stone house.

"Caesar, don't go! Can you help them see if they have magical talent?" When old Ludwig saw Caesar was about to leave, he spoke shamelessly.

"They are too young. They can't even walk yet. We have to check their magical talent when they are seven or eight years old. I will check them then. You can rest assured!"

Caesars smiled slightly, shook his head helplessly, and walked out of the living room.