Supreme Magus novel Chapter 798

Chapter 798 The Root of the Problem Part 2

"None of the three great Countries can allow the Undead Courts to have such a stable foothold. Not with the current migration of undead both boosting their numbers and resources.

"If Erlik gets his hands on the plants’ Gate network, he will achieve a high seat in the Courts, and in turn the Courts will become able to travel Garlen without restrictions, something that so far we managed to prevent."

"Draugr Treant?" Quylla said. "I thought that plants couldn’t be turned into undead."

"That’s only part of the truth." Lyta said. "Unlike you fleshlings, our bond with life is so strong that undeath can’t reach us unless we wish so. For the same reason, those of us who choose to give up on life are scorned and expelled from our society.

"Yet our law only applies to those too weak to face its enforcers. By defeating Leannan’s constables, Erlik has gained the right to defy her law and challenge her rule."

An eerie silence fell in the room. The rumors about the Lich ravaging the Empire were already bad. No one had any idea how the Empress managed to hold her own alone against such an ancient and powerful being, nor they wanted the phenomenon to spread.

Undead claiming the land of the living would mean having all races being raised as cattle to feed an ever-growing horde of living corpses.

"Okay, the situation is dire, but I don’t understand why you are here instead of the army or the Spellbreakers, Headmaster Marth, nor how Quylla can help you." Lith said.

"She’s working hard to learn tier five magic, but she’s far from being a Battle Mage. Not to mention that you shouldn’t even be aware of this."

"Lith, even though the outcome of Laruel’s internal strife will affect the Kingdom, the city isn’t part of it. We don’t meddle with other states’ affairs, nor we can afford wasting manpower while dealing with the invasion of undead and preparing to colonize Jiera." Marth explained.

"I’m not here as a fighter, but as a Healer. As Lyta has just told you, plants value strength above all. If Leannan needed the help of humans to keep her throne, her subjects would deem her as weak as unworthy, giving Erlik the victory by default.

"This is an all-out war and Erlik is abiding by the plant folk code of honor just enough to not lose his right of conquest. In other words, he’s bending the rules as much as he can.

"Erlik knows that he can’t beat Leannan’s army, since only plants can take part in the conflict and undead plants are too few to win the battle. So, he devised a way to grow the numbers of his followers without breaking the rules.

"He has engineered Jiera’s plague so that it now affects only plants, but it doesn’t kill them, it just partially turns them into undead. Yet since innocent citizens are being turned against their will, Leannan could ask the three great Countries for help.

"Not against Erlik, but against the disease. Due to their extraordinary regenerative abilities, plant folks usually don’t need Healers, so they know little about light magic. The Kingdom sent me here because I’m both a Healer and a Spellbreaker.

"If necessary, I can covertly help Leannan and defend myself in case Erlik plays dirty. Moreover, I need Quylla’s help because she’s the most brilliant mind of her generation and, unlike you, she knows very well plant folks’ biology."

"I’m flattered by your offer, Headmaster, but why me?" Quylla asked. "Professor Manohar is the most brilliant mind of this century and even though he knows nothing about plant folks, you could easily bring him up to speed..."

Quylla suddenly realized that maybe Manohar was already there. Maybe the legendary god of healing had finally hit a wall he wasn’t able to overcome.

"You’re right." Marth sighed. "Gods, I hate that man so much. Here’s what happened..."