Chapter 378 – Rebellion?!

Joshua was chatting with Grey Mage through the magic network when Frost Owl's message came through.

Joshua had always been curious about the identity of Frost Owl. After all, all of the figures that the Heresy Tribunal targeted always constituted great threats to the Nation of the Holy Church.

These 'most wanted' figures were no doubt great potential allies for Joshua.

Joshua first used Tylene to find out the exact location of the leaf of Tylene's World Tree. The answer was that Frost Owl was located in the Nation of Frost.

The only thing Joshua remembered about the Nation of Frost … was that the country was an enemy of the demons.

There was no reason for a leaf of the World Tree to travel that far, but Frost Owl's account had only been registered a few days ago. Joshua could not find out any information about his identity through his messages.

In the end, Joshua had to turn to Grey Mage, who also bore an owl-like nickname ('Ash-colored Owl') on the mage forum.

"The Nation of Frost? I did commission one of my disciples to bring a leaf of the World Tree to the Nation of Frost two months ago." Grey Mage's reply instantly gave Joshua the answer he'd been looking for.

"To whom?" Joshua immediately asked.

"Someone who is second only to Yellow Mage out of all the young mages I have ever met in terms of talent. Not only in the order system, but also in frost magic."

As soon as he mentioned his former pupil, Grey Mage couldn't stop typing and kept telling Joshua how good the former disciple was.

"Stop! Stop!" Joshua immediately cut off Grey Mage's incessant speech. The sage acquiesced and stopped pouring non-stop praise on his disciple.

"Where is your disciple now?"

Joshua immediately asked the million-dollar question.

"Xavier comes from the royal family of the Nation of Frost. Because of the power struggle in the Nation of Frost, her mother sent her to Norland to study back when she was very young. She studied here for twenty years until the ambassador sponsored by the Nation of Frost in Norland discovered her talent. She should have become the twelfth prince of the Nation of Frost now." Grey Mage gave a short account of prince Xavier's life, accompanied by a thumbs up emoji.

"You used 'she' in your message, but then used 'prince' in the latter part of your message." Joshua noticed the error in Grey Mage's brief overview.

"Many years ago, only men could inherit the throne of the Nation of Frost." Grey Mage replied. "That was back when Xavier was born. Her mother was ambitious and decided to raise her as a male."

"Okay, I understand. But is it okay to tell me this secret?"

Joshua had heard a secret that he could blackmail the princess with.

"You are not such a vile man, Joshua. Besides, my disciple is not really attached to the throne." Grey Mage finished his sentence with a winking owl emoji.

"..."

After Joshua saw this message, he immediately closed the window and went to his chat with Frost Owl. Whether teacher or apprentice, both of them had similar habits in terms of spamming emojis.

The latest message from Frost Owl officially confirmed that the princess of the Nation of Frost had been targeted by the heresy tribunal.

The Nation of Frost and the Holy Church were supposed to be allies, so there was no reason for them to take action against the princess. But ...

Joshua might be able to take advantage of this.

The latest news from Frost Owl suggested that she was in a very bad position.

Joshua put his hand on the virtual keyboard and began to write his reply.

"Those inquisitors are very dangerous. where are you in Norland? Perhaps I can help you."

"Norland? Thank you for your kindness. I am not in Norland, but I have read the diary you recommended and I have a general idea of their powers."

This message was followed by an emoji of an owl squinting its eyes, and then she sent another message to Joshua.

"Firebringer, It's a bit strange to call you by this name, but why do you know so much about the heresy tribunal?" The message was followed by an emoji of an owl cocking its head.

Here it comes …

Joshua's hand rested on the virtual keyboard for a moment before he wrote his next message.

"My friends were hunted by the heresy tribunal several times. They have lost loved ones to inquisitors, and their homes have been burned to the ground by them."

"The Blackwood elves? I even thought those images you posted before were false, I'm really sorry ..."

Frost Owl quickly guessed which kind of friend Joshua was referring to.

"No need to be offended, it's all behind us now. The inquisitors are a ruthless bunch of executioners. They are very dangerous, and it would be unwise to face them alone. You should inform your friends first."

"I was planning to do that, but I don't know how to convince them."

She had read in the Diary that inquisitors had the ability to change their appearance. Unless she killed one by her own hands, she would be unable to prove to the others that some of her knights had been 'replaced'.

"The inquisitors have weaknesses, as mentioned later in the diary. All it takes is a little prod for them to reveal their true colours."

Joshua sent the message along with another audio file he had saved in his magic network terminal.

"Take this, it will help you unmask the disguisers. But I don't recommend opening it unless you really have to."

This time, Frost Owl didn't ask any questions unlike the first time. She just pressed the download button.

"Can you tell me your real name, Firebringer? I hope to thank you in person one day." Frost Owl replied quickly.

"Wait until you are free from the inquisitors' threat. Stay alive first."

Joshua sent his customary 'funny dwarf' emoji, and Frost Owl sent an emoji of an owl bowing its head in thanks.

The Nation of Frost had always been a great threat to the demons. Even Joshua's eldest brother Knox was unsure if he could hold out in this year's annual border war.

Although Joshua's feelings for the Demon Realm were not strong, it was his home and Joshua had to buy enough time for the Demon Realm to develop.

Having the princess of the Nation of Frost get entangled with the inquisitors was a good place to start. With enough luck, Joshua could even create some civil unrest.


T/N: ... look, Xavier CAN be an unisex name, alright. I'll consistently refer to Xavier as a 'she' from this chapter onwards