How to Live as a Wandering Knight

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 (𝟕)

Suetlg soothed Mahreet with a familiar expression. As a wizard who had lived a long life, Suetlg had often received such gratitude.

Johan was a knight, but it was good to watch once if he was going to handle magic in the future.

To handle magic means to receive both fear and respect from others.

Even a wizard like Caenerna could be thrown into the water if unlucky, what about an inept wizard?

A wizard must know how to soothe and captivate their opponent.

“Rise. Your body might not have fully recovered yet.”

“That. . . Now that I think about it, my body feels heavy and my head aches.”

‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦.’

“Yes. It’s because the malevolent spirit has left. But you are young and healthy, so you will recover soon.”

Grateful for Suetlg’s words, Mahreet repeatedly expressed his thanks. Suetlg gave him a few more pieces of advice.

Do not wear unnecessary ornaments, do not fall for anyone’s temptation, and drink salt water in a silver cup with the moon reflected in it every fortnight. . .

Listening, Johan became curious and quietly asked.

“What is that, the last thing? Is it some kind of magic?”

“Nothing really. But it eases the mind. That man looks rough but is very fearful and superstitious. Doing this will calm his mind so he won’t fall for suspicious whispers.”

Suetlg’s words were true.

After all, Mahreet was moved as if he had heard some great secret.

He immediately called the mercenaries to lift the blockade on the bridge and treated Johan with great respect.

It was as if a commoner was serving a knight.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

“Caenerna would know more about summoning spirits or malevolent spirits than I do.”

“. . . . . .”

Caenerna sighed tiredly at Suetlg’s words.

“You think it’s too much to ask me to reveal my magical visions to someone else?”

“Don’t beat around the bush. I’m a wizard too.”

Caenerna’s words might have worked in the Emperor’s court, but this was a mercenary tent.

Moreover, the ones present were Johan and Suetlg.

Her words were least effective on them.

“And I’m not asking you to teach me your vision. Just a few simple pieces of advice.”

“If it’s about exorcising a malevolent spirit, a priest might be a better choice. I could write you a recommendation if you want.”

“If it was about exorcism, I would have sought a priest. But this knight needs a method to control them.”

Caenerna wondered why Suetlg was doing this.

A knight, not a wizard, what difference would a few pieces of advice make in controlling a spirit?

It could even be more dangerous if done rashly.

Was he trying to endanger Johan?

But Suetlg hadn’t given any sign of that.

Then was it for his own curiosity?

No, the philosopher of the Ipaël River had no interest in spirits or malevolent spirits. If he had, he wouldn’t have been beloved by the river.

“It’s probably useless even if you listen. . .”

“It is useful. I’ve subdued a malevolent spirit.”

“?!”

Caenerna was truly surprised at Johan’s quiet comment.

This knight subdued a malevolent spirit?

“Not exorcism. . .?”

Exorcism could be done by non-wizards with some luck, but subduing a spirit was a different level.

How did he do it?

Suetlg smiled wryly. It was always pleasing to see a wizard like Caenerna curious.

“Curious?”

“. . .Yes, I am.”

“We answered your questions sincerely. Don’t forget that.”

Caenerna was annoyed by Suetlg who even made debts in such situations, but she couldn’t help it.

She was genuinely curious. Caenerna nodded.

“This knight subdued the spirit with a strong voice and the power of his soul.”

“Indeed. . . A natural talent. . .!”

Others might have scoffed, but they were wizards. Caenerna understood immediately.

Moreover, the strength of Johan’s soul was impressive. She had never seen such a soul even in the Emperor’s court.

“And also violence. . .”

“Violence?”

“Nothing. Just a joke. Now, will you give the advice?”

“. . . . . .”

Caenerna ran her fingers through her red hair and let out a languid sigh.

“Just the two of us. Without that wizard.”

“As you wish.”

Suetlg, having no real interest, quickly left. Caenerna pondered where to start.

She murmured an indecipherable spell in a low voice, and flames sprang from her hand, splitting into several streams and decorating the inside of the tent.

Surprisingly, the fire did not burn the items in the tent.

“Do you realize what I have just done?”

“Did you command a spirit?”

As Caenerna chanted a spell, a wave of power emanated from deep within her. Johan’s perception of the mystical had grown stronger since subjugating the malevolent spirit Valkalmur.

‘𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘥𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵.’

“Yes. I have made a pact with this spirit. I cannot tell you the method. It’s complex and not something that can be shared with others.”

“I’m not curious about that.”

Now, for Johan to contract with a spirit using complex spells and magic circles, it would take ages.

He just wanted to skillfully control whatever he caught.

“I pay the price and make a request, and the spirit fulfills it for a fee. There are things a spirit cannot do, and sometimes, there are things it can do but won’t. Spirits are capricious.”

Equivalent exchange.

There was little difference between spirits and malevolent spirits. Although a spirit becomes a malevolent spirit when it is nasty and evil, from a human perspective, spirits often felt malevolent too.

The key for Johan was to understand what the spirit could do and pay the price for it.

In cases like Johan’s, where one discovers and subjugates the true name of a malevolent spirit, one could be said to have absolute control. However, this didn’t mean tasks could be ordered without any cost.

“Then?”

“Since it was subdued within the soul, the energy of the soul must be paid as a price.”

Handling a spirit beyond one’s capabilities could result in spitting blood and collapsing.

However, for a strong knight like Johan, he could easily recover with just a little rest.

“You will have to understand for yourself what the malevolent spirit can do. But don’t forget one thing: always remember that what you’re controlling is a spirit.”

Wizards who became arrogant from controlling spirits always met their downfall. They deluded themselves into thinking they were masters of the spirits.

‘𝘐𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴?’

Arrogance was a word too distant for Johan.

“Valkalmur.”