Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 238 Frame-up
A country manor about ten miles away from the capital of Saint Valen, Jinhui City.

It is a secluded place, nestled in a fertile river bend and surrounded by lush forests.

The main body of the manor is a classical-style tower villa building. The stone exterior walls are covered with lush vines, adding a touch of vitality to the villa.

A group of teenagers, about fourteen or fifteen years old, sat around the fireplace in the villa's hall, discussing something with concern.

"Teacher Morel has been in Jinhui City with those investigators for three days. Why hasn't he returned yet?"

"No news has been sent back. Could something have happened to the teacher?"

"Teacher Morel used to be the palace magic advisor. Those investigators from the capital and the church's inquisitors shouldn't dare to be disrespectful to him, right?"

The teenagers talked about it a lot, but they still had no clue.

This is a small magic academy privately established by a spellcaster.

The only teacher in the academy, Morel, used to be the court magic consultant of Jinhui City. After retirement, he vacated his country estate and recruited some children of commoner origin who had the talent of spellcasting, and provided them with free magic enlightenment teaching.

A week ago, a strange plague broke out in Jinhui City, and soon after, infected patients began to appear in the surrounding villages and towns. However, this remote country manor was lucky enough to avoid the danger of the plague spreading because it had rarely come into contact with the outside world.

But within two days, a team of church judges and noble guards from the royal capital came with an investigation order personally signed by His Majesty the Grand Duke and took the old wizard Morel away, claiming that he needed to accompany them to Jinhui City to cooperate with the investigation.

This group of young magic apprentices suddenly lost their backbone. Although two older boys among them took the initiative to stand up, comfort everyone and temporarily maintain the affairs of the academy, as time went by, Teacher Morel never returned and no news came back. Everyone had a vague ominous premonition in their hearts.

"I... I want to go home. My home is in Liuye Town. I heard that the plague has broken out there. I'm worried about my parents and my sister..." The youngest child muttered timidly, his eyes filled with tears.

"I want to go back too... My family lives in Jinhui City, in the lower town... I heard that many people have died there."

The two older magic apprentices who stood up to maintain order were the children who had followed the old wizard Morel the longest. The boy was named Taren and had passed the assessment and had the status of a formal magic apprentice. The girl was named Lilith and was about to obtain the status of a formal apprentice this winter.

Lilith pulled out a handkerchief and tried to comfort several sobbing young classmates. "Before leaving, the teacher told us not to leave without permission. Right now, there are infected patients everywhere, both in the city and the surrounding countryside. The situation is volatile and very unsafe."

Tarun, on the other hand, was much more resolute. He said in a deep voice, "Although the servants have secretly left, the food stored in the manor is enough for us to last for several months. Wait patiently for news from the teacher. Don't let your mind wander. Continue to complete your daily homework and never slack off in your meditation guidance. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me and Lilith."

With that, he gestured for Lilith to continue comforting the anxious young apprentices while he left the villa and went to inspect the outside of the manor. After the last few servants urged the groom to drive away, Tarun closed and locked the manor gate. Even at night, he did not forget to get up several times to repeatedly check the security of the doors and windows throughout the villa.

Just as he was rechecking the outer courtyard gate, he suddenly saw through the iron fence that in the distance, on the only straight road connecting to the manor, smoke and dust were billowing and horses' hooves were flying.

A figure in a standard black robe rode on horseback and galloped towards the manor gate.

The hooded man on horseback raised his hand and a beam of white light flew out, hitting the large brass lock hanging on the door bolt with incredible precision. With a clang, the lock was smashed directly, and then both the man and the horse crashed into the manor.

The black-robed man dismounted and flung his hood aside, revealing a head of messy red hair. "How many apprentices are there in the academy now? Gather them together as soon as possible and leave with me!"

Tarun glanced at the Union emblem embroidered on his sleeves and thought to himself: What a young mid-level spellcaster...

"Sir, are you from the city? I wonder if my teacher, Mr. Morel, is safe?"

Durt Holden frowned slightly and said in a cold voice, "Civilians were instigated to attack the Union's branch in Jinhui City. The spellcasters remaining in the branch were forced to fight back. As a result, they were convicted by the nobles and the church of violating the covenant by harming civilians without authorization. Now, the Judgment Army and the Battle Priests are leading the Royal City Guards to besiege the spellcasters trapped in the city..."

He ignored Tarun, who was stunned by the news, and turned to walk straight to the villa, continuing, "A large number of spellcasters in the city have been attacked and arrested. Your teacher is unlikely to be spared. They are now attacking us without any scruples. I risked my life to escape the city to evacuate the young apprentices of the magic academy near the royal city..."

The Federation's public magic academy closest to the royal city had been raided and purged by the Inquisition overnight, leaving heavy casualties within the academy. Without the slightest hesitation, Durt immediately rushed to the private academy that had not been affected, hoping to transfer the apprentices there before the Inquisition arrived.

Lilith, who was guarding the hall, also heard the conversation between the two outside the door and said in a trembling voice, "Where else can we move to? To the nearby wizard kingdom of Daeus?"

Duarte shook his head and said gloomily, "It's impossible to go... I'm afraid all the roads leading to Daeus have been blocked. The church and the nobles of Saint Valen are just waiting for the spellcaster to come to them."

He pulled out two crumpled pieces of paper from his pocket and said in a deep voice, "It's too late to wait for support from Alayeh Headquarters. We're heading north, where the blockade and control measures are much more relaxed. Someone has already contacted a prominent figure at the border for me. He will provide us with safe haven. As long as we can escape safely and persevere until we reach there..."

Taren nodded and immediately gathered the young apprentices staying in the manor together, telling them not to carry too much luggage to avoid being a burden, and only to carry enough water and food for three days.

Durt looked at the group of thin and childish magic apprentices standing in front of him and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

I hope that Mr. Fran McCaughlin in Alayeh can really point out a way out for him and these innocent children this time...

(End of this chapter)