Black Hearted Mage

When the first rays of sunlight pierced through the morning mist and shone upon Blackrock City, a dilapidated carriage had already left Blackrock City and was slowly moving north along the uneven gravel road.

The carriage's body was made of wood, and the workmanship was very crude, looking like a few pieces of wood with iron nails. The wheels were made of ironwood, which was strong and durable, but due to lack of maintenance, they made a creaking sound.

The driver was an elderly, one-armed man, thin and emaciated, with a kind face that gave him an amiable air. He wore a long linen robe, his dry white hair cascading down his face, and wrinkles etched across his forehead. His eyes, though cloudy, betrayed a profound wisdom and experience. His right arm was missing, yet he still expertly steered the carriage.

As he drove, he would occasionally glance sideways at the baby beside him. The child looked only five or six years old, with fair skin, delicate features, and a pair of bright, large eyes that sparkled with intelligence. His hair was black, soft and smooth, falling over his shoulders like silk. He wore a simple gray linen short coat and gray linen trousers. His clothes were clean and tidy, though they were heavily wrinkled.

The carriage was loaded with a dozen large, rusty iron cages, each covered tightly with worn animal hides. From time to time, a hissing sound could be heard from beneath the hides. These cages looked very heavy, as if they were filled with something.

"Grandfather, how long do we have to go?"

The baby opened his big black eyes and looked around curiously. He was full of novelty in everything around him and would ask his grandfather some questions from time to time.

The old man smiled and replied, "We are going to a very far place, which will take two days." He touched the baby's head, with deep love in his eyes.

"This road is so bumpy, they can't sleep well!"

The baby turned around and looked at the big iron cage behind him, then he grabbed a small black snake from his sleeve and played with it in his hand.

When the old man on the side turned his head, his eyelids twitched.

"You bastard, you've got the black snake on you again! Put it in the cage now! What if it bites me?"

The Black Demon Snake is a rare venomous snake native to the Roland Continent. Its strong venom and dark attributes make its bites almost 100% fatal. The Black Demon Snake is considered one of the most dangerous magical beasts on the Roland Continent.

"Grandpa, it escaped from the cage by itself. Look how small it is!"

The little chubby hand held the tiny black snake and showed it to the old man. The snake was smaller than the hole in the cage and could move in and out freely.

"Put it away, you bastard! I don't have any snake repellent on me!"

The old man screamed in panic, his face turning pale as paper, his body trembling. He stared around in horror, his eyes wide open, as if he had seen something terrifying. His hand, which had been about to jump off the carriage, clutched the edge tightly, as if struggling against some invisible force.

His eyes revealed a deep fear, as if he was recalling the painful experience he had suffered. His lost left arm was the one that had to be cut off after being bitten by a black snake.

After being bitten by a black demon snake, the initial pain isn't intense, but the wound quickly becomes numb. After about two minutes, the entire body becomes stiff, and the skin gradually turns bluish-black. Once the toxin reaches the heart, it turns black. If bitten by a black demon snake, the injured part must be amputated immediately or a powerful antidote must be consumed within two minutes. Otherwise, death awaits.

Only great alchemists could create a powerful antidote, and the number of such masters on Roland Continent could be counted on one hand. Setting aside the price, the key point was that even ordinary people couldn't buy it, even if they had gold coins.

At this moment, the boy suddenly pulled out a linen bag from his arms and put the little snake in it. He tied the bag carefully, then turned to look at the old man, his eyes shining with confidence.

Milkman smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, Grandpa. I've got it in the bag."

The old man's eyes widened as he stared at the baby in disbelief. His voice was filled with anger and helplessness. "You kid, you really don't know your place! Do you know how dangerous the black demon snake is? I lost an arm because of it. Your father lost his right leg because it bit him on the calf!"

The old man's tone was filled with worry and reproach; he didn't want the baby to take any risks. But the baby didn't care. He gently stroked the bag and comforted him, "Grandpa, it's not like I haven't been bitten by them before. The mother snake bit me when I was picking up the eggs. It just itched a little!"

The old man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, while secretly looking at the happy little kid next to him. The old man forgot about it, and he looked at the little guy as if he had seen a monster.

You know, he's been raising black snakes for decades. He's even witnessed a baby get bitten by a snake, yet he didn't show any symptoms of poisoning. This inconspicuous little creature has already broken the black snake's deadly iron rule.

The story of the old man's family and the black demon snake is a truly tragic one. The old man's ancestors had made a living by catching snakes, but for some reason, the snakes were becoming increasingly scarce near Black Rock Mountain. He had to switch to raising black demon snakes, but his fate remained unchanged. His family was bitten while catching snakes, suffered accidents along the way, and even encountered misfortune while feeding them.

Now, besides the old man and his grandson, there is only one son left in the family. The old man has lost an arm, and his son has lost a leg. Only the baby is intact.

The old man coughed violently, his chest aching once again. This was the aftereffect of the black snake venom. He knew that if he didn't get the treatment potion, he and his son would have little time left.

"You idiot, you were bitten by a black snake and weren't poisoned. Never tell anyone. You went to the Northland Tower to feed the black snake. Those magicians are not good people. If they knew your secret, they would probably dig out your heart and study it. Although black snakes are dangerous, you can avoid being bitten by them if you are careful. But people are different. Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, it's useless!"

"Grandfather, you've told me this a hundred times, and I've memorized it. People are treacherous, more vicious than the Black Demonic Snake!"

The baby raised his head and looked at the old man. He felt that the old man was becoming more and more nagging.

"Kaissa, just remember this! Our Ludwig family was once noble, and it was my grandfather's father who lost his fiefdom and title. He was a complete fool, falling into a trap set by others and giving away everything!"

"Don't worry, Grandfather! I'll let you and father wear silk robes, drink the best rum, and of course, eat roasted fat goose!"

"Okay, but before that, what are you going to do?"

The old man smiled happily. He didn't know whether the baby would succeed, but it was a good thing to have ideals.

"I will pretend to be stupid, a fool, and not let others know that I can read. I will secretly learn knowledge in the high tower in the north and secretly become a master wizard!"

The baby was talking happily when the old man's eyelids twitched again. A pitch-black snake head emerged from the little guy's collar.

"You little bastard, your father and I may not die of illness, but we will be scared to death by you sooner or later!

"Grandpa, it got into my clothes on its own. I didn't put it in there!"

Milkman grabbed the little black snake and put it into a linen bag, which he then placed inside the wooden box. He knew that these black snakes were sold to the North Tower, where they would be used to buy healing potions.

"Grandfather, why are so many snake breeders in the tower dying?"

"Hehe, the Northland Tower is a place where people are eaten. If all the snake breeders hadn't died, it wouldn't be your turn to go there. You have to disguise yourself well, so that you can survive in the tower and have the chance to become a master wizard!"

Although the old man spoke lightly, he felt helpless. Raising black demon snakes in Blackrock City was no longer easy, and the number of demon snakes near Blackrock Mountain was dwindling. This meant that his grandson might need to find a new source of livelihood in the future.

The old man also had his own selfish motives. He had dealt with the Black Demon Serpents for decades and possessed a deep understanding of these mysterious creatures. He had heard numerous legends and stories about them, and knew they held a special connection to all things of darkness. And now, the Black Demon Serpents' closeness to his grandson made him wonder if perhaps Caesars's constitution was unique, and perhaps that was precisely why the Black Demon Serpents trusted him so much.

However, Old Ludwig understood that even with Caesar's unique physique, they still couldn't change the status quo. Blackrock City's resources were limited, and living conditions were harsh. He didn't want his grandson to be trapped there his entire life. Therefore, he sincerely hoped that his grandson could escape the confines of Blackrock Mountain and pursue a wider world and a better life.

The Northern Tower's recruitment of snake breeders was undoubtedly a rare opportunity for young Caesars. If selected, he would not only continue his work with black demonic snakes but also gain access to greater knowledge and skills, potentially even achieving a higher status and higher pay. This would be a crucial step in changing his destiny and a crucial opportunity to realize his dreams. No matter what, Old Ludwig was determined to ensure his grandson seized this opportunity.

Young Caesars felt sleepy, so he climbed onto the animal hides at the back of the carriage and lay down. Old Ludwig glanced back and shook his head helplessly. His grandson was too young, and he was beginning to regret his decision.

The shabby carriage creaked slowly as it moved forward. Its wheels rolled over the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. The Blackrock Mountain region was protected by towering towers. There were no bandits or soldiers collecting tolls. Only the occasional passing caravan or traveler broke the tranquility.

Two days later, just after sunrise, the carriage slowly made its way through a fog-shrouded canyon. Across the canyon lay the Northland Tower, a mysterious and majestic structure towering into the clouds, inspiring awe. The road through the canyon was a continuous uphill climb, but fortunately, it was very smooth; otherwise, the old horses pulling the carriage would have been unable to cope.

"Grandfather, there's only a light mist outside. Why is it so thick here in the canyon?"

Kaisas asked with some confusion. He looked out the window and saw that the fog was so thick that it was difficult to see the road ahead.

"This is the masterpiece of the tower wizard—the Misty Canyon. Anyone who is not allowed to enter the tower cannot leave this canyon!"

Grandfather answered seriously, his eyes revealing a hint of awe, as if he was full of respect for this mysterious place.

"Is the thick fog here caused by magic?"

Kaisas looked at the thick fog around him and asked in surprise. He had never thought that magic could create such a thick fog.

"Yes, this is the work of the tower mages. They used magic to create this misty canyon to protect their territory from outside interference."

Old Ludwig told Caesar that only those who were recognized by the tower could pass through the thick fog and find the path to the tower. Otherwise, people would be lost in the thick fog and could never get out.

Upon hearing this, Caesars couldn't help but sigh. He realized that this mysterious northern tower wasn't just an ordinary building, but a place imbued with magical power. And the test he was about to face might be even more difficult than he had imagined.

“Grandfather, how many snake breeders would come here?”

"I don't know, we'll find out when we get to the Northland Tower!"

The carriage continued its journey through the misty canyon. After nearly half an hour, it left the dense fog and reached the Northland Plateau. Six massive black conical stone towers stood nearby: one the main tower, the other five auxiliary towers. They towered majestically, like giant beasts guarding the Northland Plateau.

On the Roland Continent, there are three universally recognized as the most powerful magical forces. Among them, the North Tower is an organization of magicians renowned for their in-depth research and exceptional achievements. This independent organization exists in the northern part of the Roland Continent, unaffiliated with any nation or faction. The mages of the North Tower are dedicated to exploring and practicing magic, pursuing ever-higher realms of magical prowess.

Corresponding to the North Tower is the Roland Empire's Magic Guild. While nominally an independent magical power, it is in reality closely tied to the Roland Empire and subject to certain constraints. The Roland Empire provides gold coins to the Magic Guild, and its magicians provide various magical services to the Roland Empire, including protecting national security and curing illnesses.

The Violet Alliance Kingdom, located in the south, has its own Mage Alliance. This alliance brings together many outstanding magicians who are dedicated to the research and application of magic. The Mage Alliance plays a vital role in the political and military affairs of the Roland Alliance Kingdom.

In addition to the three major magical factions mentioned above, several other mage organizations and individuals have also emerged on the Roland Continent. However, if one were to identify a truly powerful mage force, it would be the Holy Roland Empire's Royal Mage Corps. Because the Holy Roland Empire maintains strict confidentiality regarding the Royal Mage Corps, the outside world is unable to ascertain their exact size and strength. Only those fortunate enough to become members of the Royal Mage Corps know the true workings of this organization.

In general, the magical forces on Roland Continent are numerous and unique. These forces compete and cooperate with each other, jointly driving the development of magic on Roland Continent. Whether it's the North Tower, the Magic Guild of the Roland Empire, or the Mage Alliance of the Roland Alliance Kingdom, each has demonstrated extraordinary strength and influence in their respective fields.

The Roland Empire is located in the north-central part of the continent. Its territory is vast, and it possesses a powerful military and a prosperous economy. It has a profound cultural heritage and is more powerful than other countries.

The Saint Laurent Empire is located in the eastern part of the continent, where the climate is pleasant, the land is fertile, and agriculture is developed.

The Violet Alliance, located in the southern part of the continent, is composed of hundreds of nobles who work together to resist external pressure. These nobles are the remnants of the Roman II Dynasty and do not recognize the current Roland Empire.

The three nations have a complex relationship. They constrain each other and compete for resources and territory. However, they also cooperate when necessary to address common threats. Furthermore, conflicting interests between the nations occasionally lead to wars. These wars often involve disputes over territory, resources, and other issues.

In addition to these three major countries, there are more than a dozen kingdoms of varying sizes scattered across the Roland Continent. These kingdoms vary in size and strength. Compared to the three major countries, these kingdoms have less influence and are often influenced and controlled by the larger countries.