Chương 458: Chapter 457 – Aging

As the last of the Wood Elks were cut down the S Rank and SS Rank mages ended their spells and surveyed the damage. What little of the landscape that could be seen beneath the multitude of Demonic Beast carcasses was scorched and scarred from the ferocity of the spells released. Mage Fletcher began collecting and storing the remains of the Demonic Beasts in her personal spatial storage while the others grabbed a few apiece to store in their own spatial artifacts.

Once the battlefield was cleared, all of the mages took a moment to rest. The battle may have been short, but it was far from easy. Only the coordinated efforts of all of them, as well as their best spells being used repeatedly allowed them to win the day. However, even with their victory over this group of Demonic Beasts, their auto-mappers showed two more groups of the same size between them and the guardian.

They had yet to set eyes on the guardian of this floor but considering it was sure to be an SS Rank Demonic Beast, they were not in a rush. Too many of them were already on the brink of exhaustion. Slow and steady was the way to clear these floors and there were more than just their lives at risk should they rush and make a critical mistake.

"Mage Harris," Mage Veers said, approaching where the SS Rank Time mage was resting, "I was wondering if I might have a word."

"Of course, Mage Veers. Until recently, you were the newest member of the Assembly, but you are still the youngest of the S Rank mages. Feel free to ask whatever you wish."

"I cannot pretend to understand what it means to be a Time mage, but I know from my own affinity the cost of unusual magic."

"You are worried I am too old to shoulder the burden of my magic?"

"Our people need you. You have led the S Rank Assembly for longer than anyone knows. Yet you have seldom actually used your magic. Advancing to SS Rank, casting spells as you have, even killing the guardian on the previous floor, unless someone was paying close attention, they would not see how you have struggled."

"I am old, Mage Veers, I will give you that. As a new S Rank mage you surely are now aware that you have the potential to live for a thousand years. And a peak S Rank mage, as I was, can live for close to two thousand."

"But you are a Time mage," Mage Veers smiled.

"Yes, I am a Time mage and I have managed to live for over four thousand years."

"If I may ask, how have you lived for so long?"

"Now that is a question. In part by slowing time around myself as much as I can when I am alone. The world passes normally, but I can slow my progression. I had hoped to find a successor over the years, but like your own affinity, there are few who share mine and those who do, must be carefully vetted." Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Is it not possible to reverse your aging? I know you have the ability to age someone; I thought you might have the ability to unage them?"

"Yes and no," Mage Harris admitted.

"In my Time Domain, I can alter the age of anyone inside, even make myself younger or age opponents till they die. But once I end the spell, everything is returned to normal, except for things no longer alive. It was how I was able to kill the last guardian, but since the effects are not permanent, it is not a solution for old age. The other spell that has the potential is Rollback, but its effects are so small, you gain virtually nothing."

"How does Rollback work? Is it reversing the flow of time?"

"Yes. But the mana it requires and for just a few seconds of reversing time makes the spell a last resort only. I can Slow and even Still time for a much lower cost. And as you have surmised, using magic has become taxing to me. Even with the higher potential to live longer now that I am SS Rank, I am afraid I have long surpassed how long we mages were meant to last."

"The guardian of the fifty-first floor was just a low SS Rank Demonic Beast, this floor is sure to have a stronger one, maybe even a mid SS Rank. Can you handle the strain of such a battle?"

"I have a few fights left in me," Mage Harris said, trying to keep the weariness out of his voice.

"Perhaps I should pass my strength on to you, instead of waiting for another time mage. If you can rise higher in Ranks, no one would question if I were to choose you as the next leader of the Assembly."

"What about Kieran Moretti or Julia Levine, they are both SS Rank now. Wouldn't one of them be more fitting to lead the Assembly?"

"Both from noble families, though Julia started her noble house, so she is less mired than the rest, still she put her lot in with Mage Wells. Choosing her would alienate just as many as choosing Kieran. No, it needs to be a common born mage, that has proven to be levelheaded and have an affinity no one wants to cross. I'm afraid you are the only one that meets that requirement."

"What about Mage Wells?" Mage Veers questioned.

"Putting aside that he is too young and not even an S Rank, choosing him would fracture the Assembly for sure."

"Even with everything he has done here? Opening up this labyrinth for A Ranks to advance. For S Ranks to advance."

"He has certainly earned a fair amount of support with his actions, but the Mage Association and the Sorin and the Bianco families will never accept him. No, you are the better choice for a successor. Respected by the Mage Association and your affinity, even when you were an A Rank, was feared by the Assembly.

"It was difficult to get you access to Silver Spire's S Rank dungeon, but worth the cost now that you have stepped into the S Ranks. Though, now I see I might not have needed to. If we had waited a few weeks, you could have come here with the A Rankers and advanced. Then I would not have been forced to pardon Mage Sorin for his attempt to destroy Atlantis."

"Does Mage Wells or the rest of the Atlantis council know he was behind the attempt?"

"I suspect they do, but they have said nothing. I believe they are truly trying to bring all of humanity together, which sadly means ignoring Sorin's declaration of war."

"Doesn't that make Mage Wells a better successor?"

"You are just trying to get me to live long enough that he has a chance to reach S Rank and be chosen."

"You can't fault me for wanting you to stick around for as long as possible."

"No, I can't. Once the A Rankers finish their training and catch up to us, make sure Mage Wells sticks close to me. I might not be able to live long enough to name him my successor, but I think I can at least pass some things on to him."

"I can do that," Mage Veers agreed.

"Now, what are we going to do about the next wave of Demonic Beasts, they look to be a swarm of bats."