บท 197: 197 - Return
As Victor spoke, a tinge of reminiscence graced his features. He had limited knowledge of this ancient history. The continent had witnessed an enduring war, all for the sake of acquiring more belief.
Eventually, the church unquestionably triumphed, ending the chaos among the myriad nations, unifying eleven kingdoms and dozens of duchies into one colossal empire.
"So, those dark gods are powerful wizards who failed to vie for belief?" Lynn speculated.
He began to comprehend why the church relentlessly suppressed and purged wizards.
Firstly, every potent wizard posed a potential threat as a contender for belief.
Secondly, if another method outside belief could grant immense power, the church's influence would undoubtedly diminish.
As for those with considerable talents, they could be assimilated into the theological system through belief, serving as bishops or cardinals.
"That's one way to put it. However, from what I know, many of those dark gods hail from a presence beyond this continent," Victor's expression turned grave, swiftly continuing his explanation.
In essence, spirit magic was a shortcut to power, but it was akin to honey laced with poison. It ensnared individuals in the rapid surge of power. Even this belief system was not flawless.
Those dark gods sought to leverage the connection of belief and harvest devout souls to augment their power, inevitably undergoing an influence in the process.
Its horror lay in its subtle influence on the objects of belief since the believers worshipped what they perceived as divine.
As of now, Victor had not heard of any method capable of completely eradicating this soul contamination.
"Personality alteration?" Lynn shuddered involuntarily.
In other words, the price for rapid empowerment was the loss of oneself?
The fate of the dark mage, Merk, was the perfect demonstration. As his power grew, his likeness drew closer to that of an elemental spirit, and his temperament underwent a drastic change.
"Even the one revered by the church..." Lynn intended to mention Aila but recalled Victor's caution to Kashimo about not revealing the full name, quickly changing his words. "That individual, too?"
"Perhaps," Victor shook his head. "She has delved deeper into this path than anyone else. After winning the war of belief, hundreds of years have passed. No one knows her current state, but one can only imagine that her power has grown to terrifying levels."
On the sidelines, Harof affirmed, "Even she might not have entirely resolved this issue. Otherwise, the land of wizards would have been obliterated."
This prompted the Magic Council to impose strict requirements on the study of spirit magic, reaching its peak after the catastrophes caused by the spirit school.
(TL/n - Soul/Spirit/Psychic all are the same and they're the type of magic that uses brain waves and not the elements available in nature. You can progress faster in psychic magic by devouring other wizard's spirits but as the number of devoured wizards increases you'll face soul contamination. To avoid this the wizard council stop anyone from practicing Psychic Magic.)
It proved that wizards, limited by their talents' inability to ascend, were capable of anything.
"What about the Source of Magic? I've heard that wizards in Greenville break their limits using this magical potion, enhancing their mental strength. The material contains something called 'spirit essence.' Is their ascension achieved by merging souls too?" Lynn couldn't help but inquire.
"No, spirit essence isn't entirely equivalent to the soul. It's just a residue of spiritual power and magic, relatively safe but shouldn't be continuously consumed. It needs to be used effectively with the corresponding potion," Harof explained.
"Thank you for clarifying, Councilor," Lynn nodded, feeling somewhat reassured.
Then Harof subtly inquired about the current situation of the Society of Mystical Arts. The pressure from the church was too heavy, and the wizards' land alone wasn't enough to counter it.
Lynn understood Harof's underlying intentions but made no promises. He deflected, mentioning that the legendary wizards of the Society were mostly engrossed in magical research and rarely interfered with external affairs. They might not even be on this continent. However, he might be able to contact some colleagues willing to resist the church.
***
The next day, to dispel the gloom caused by the dark gods' incident, an immensely grand celebration took place within Greenville City.
The apprehension of the Cult of Apocalypse envoy, Kashimo, and successfully saving others like Raphael from Ogest undoubtedly cast them as the heroes who saved Greenville City. Almost everyone in the team received a Morning Star medal.
As the most significant contributor, Lynn was nominated for the Silver Moon medal individually.
It was evident that securing the highest honor in the land of wizards wasn't an easy task. Lynn reckoned that he'd have to take down Ogest himself to come close to achieving it.
Thankfully, he remained indifferent to these honors. What pleased him most was the Council's approval of his request to exchange for a new Sun Crown medal.
After all, he had activated the defensive spell stored within the medal—the "Victor's Barrier"—to save the Wizard's City. It wouldn't sit right if it wasn't reimbursed.
Considering the anomalies in the Misty Sea, Lynn didn't linger in Greenville City. On the fourth morning, he submitted his resignation to the Council, prepared to return to Iyeta Harbor.
In the evening, an airship hovered over the city square.
"Your Excellency Lynn, are you leaving already? There are still many calculus and curve equation questions I haven't had the chance to consult you about," Tike expressed regretfully.
In recent days, his study of calculus had consumed him. It was akin to uncovering the singular path to the microcosmic realm. Tike believed many spell models could be reconstructed using calculus, enhancing their power while reducing casting requirements.
Unfortunately, the master guiding them, Master Leibniz, seemed very occupied. Occasionally appearing in the Sea of Arcane Mathematics (Magic Web), he merely tossed them new math books, leaving them to ponder slowly.
Tike dared not say more or ask more, as each math book was immensely profound in knowledge, formulas, and theories. He couldn't fathom the amount of effort put into compiling them. He could only feel ashamed that their progress was exceedingly slow, unsure when they could truly engage in the research to establish the calculus system.
Lynn had become their savior, the only person in Greenville who understood these calculus books and provided answers.
According to him, mathematics was a mandatory subject for all members of the Society of Mystical Arts. He had also had the fortune to study with Master Leibniz for some time, hence understanding a bit of related knowledge.
However, after several consultations, Tike discovered that Lynn was too modest. It wasn't just a bit; he seemed to know everything.
If it weren't for the limited capacity of an airship, Tike would have desperately wanted to accompany Lynn to the Iyeta Harbor.
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