ushernet Chapter 220: Introduction to Spirit Studies (2)
Chapter 220: Introduction to Spirit Studies (2)
Chapter 220: Introduction to Spirit Studies (2)
“What the...?”
Karyl was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe he would return empty-handed after all his efforts.
Could there be another mechanism... Ramine, is there anything else you can sense in this tower?
[Asking me won’t help. You know better than I do. There’s nothing here.]
“...”
Karyl bit his lip.
Unlike Kaye Aesir, Quenite wouldn’t bury something so deeply...
Feeling like a fool, Karyl shook the blank pages of the Introduction to Spirit Studies one more time.
“Detection.”
In a last-ditch effort, he cast a detection spell, but the pages remained blank still.
There’s nothing in this tower. Not even a hidden mechanism.
Unlike in the past, when he couldn’t control mana, Karyl could now survey the entire tower in an instant. However, this ability only deepened his disappointment.
“I’ve been duped... This was a complete waste of time.”
Frustrated, Karyl scratched his head and returned the book to its original place.
“I never thought the woman hailed as the greatest spirit scholar on the continent could set up something even more deceptive than Kaye Aesir’s tricks in Einheri.”
[The Quenite I know wouldn’t do something like this...] Ramine muttered, sensing something amiss in Karyl’s words.
“Ahh...”
Karyl let out a low sigh. He had hoped that the Introduction to Spirit Studies would provide some clues, but now he was back to square one.
Growwwl...
At that moment, his stomach growled loudly.
“...”
Karyl realized he hadn’t had anything to eat since arriving at Fasio Han’s mansion, spending several days in the realm of his subconscious.
To live and to fight, one needs food and rest—even while climbing the hellish Tower of Pharel to go back in time, Karyl never forgot those two essentials. But now, he realized he had neglected them.
I wasn’t in a hurry. If anything, I was too absorbed. Karyl smiled bitterly.
How long had it been? Since reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship, he hadn’t put this much effort into learning something new.
After gaining dragon mana and learning the Colorless Air Sword of Calnere with Allen’s help, Karyl kept relying on the sword even to master mana. In retrospect, this attempt to master spirit power was his first opportunity to exclude the sword entirely from his magical practice.
[Absorbed... I thought you might be exhausted from failure, but you’re actually enjoying yourself. Truly, you’re an impossible fellow.]
Karyl chuckled at Ramine’s remark.
[So, what’s next?]
With a lighthearted expression, as if he had already decided, Karyl replied, “Shall we get something to eat?”
The midnight infiltration seemed to end in failure, known to no one.
* * *
“Fresh vegetables just arrived today!”
“We have new skewers! Come and get them!”
As the late night passed and the sun rose, the market in Azor buzzed with people. Unlike the strictly hierarchical empire or kingdoms, the magic city of Azor had no nobility class.
Though Tatur had declared itself a Free State, it still bore the remnants of its past as a lawless land without a social hierarchy. The people there each carried their own stories, and because of that, a cheerful atmosphere like this could never take root.
This is a good sight.
Karyl couldn’t remember the last time he had been surrounded by a crowd of ordinary people like this. Even after returning to Tatur, he had mostly kept to his office and then gone straight to Antihum after a few meetings.
People like these are one of the reasons I have to change the future...
Karyl remembered the saying that haste makes waste; he realized he might have been too focused on moving forward. Although this situation wasn’t exactly fitting, acknowledging his failure with Quenite’s book made him feel like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
“Your order is here.”
After taking in the scenery, he smiled as he looked at the steaming food before him. It was his first proper meal in Azor.
Although Karyl had forcibly taken over the mansion, Fasio, upon seeing Allen Javius, had actually treated Karyl’s group with utmost hospitality. However, unlike Israphil, Karyl had refused all meetings and focused solely on learning magic, spurred on by his consecutive failures.
Come to think of it, the Eastern Land has been unusually quiet...
Karyl cut a piece of meat from the plate and took a bite. For a random spot at the outskirts of the city, the food was surprisingly tasty.
I hope the envoy from the Eastern Land hasn’t returned home yet.
Karyl stared at the gleaming liquid.
When water was added, the taste changed, but the light doesn’t change anything. Something was added, yet the liquid remained the same.
Thump... thump...
The pages weren’t blank.
Karyl’s lips curled into a smile.
Nothing changed despite something being added... That’s why the pages appeared blank!
[...?]
Ramine remained silent, confused by Karyl’s rambling.
Thud!
As though possessed, Karyl suddenly stood up, toppling his chair. Everyone in the restaurant turned around at the noise and looked at him, but Karyl paid them no heed and dashed out instead.
“Give the change to that kid! Let him get whatever he wants!”
Before leaving, Karyl tossed some coins to the owner without even looking at him.
“What? Yes...?! Si-Sir!”
The owner was taken aback when he realized that all the coins were golden.
* * *
[You... You’re not planning something crazy, are you?]
“Heh... Hahaha...!”
Karyl ignored Ramine’s question, unable to stop laughing to himself.
“Right. Why didn’t I think of that?”
[I’m getting worried... This doesn’t sound good.]
“The book Quenite left behind. Just because the pages were blank doesn’t mean there was nothing there. It’s quite the opposite. It’s perfectly mixed.”
Just like with the mixture from this plate, this was about blending seamlessly with the light, maintaining one’s essence without imposing it. Quenite was trying to convey that this was the basis for dealing with spirits of different natures.
“Spirits exist in our world, but not as tangible forms. Unlike the five major elements, light and darkness are on a completely different spectrum.”
[What on earth are you thinking?]
“Ramine, the reason you can’t harmonize with the opposing forces is that my Arcane mana is too powerful. So, if I suppress your flame... no, if I make it transparent, like light and darkness, then it will work.”
Ramine seemed completely lost, unable to grasp what Karyl was saying.
“Even Allen will be stunned.”
Crash—!
Karyl burst through the door of the mansion. Allen, who was still teaching Israphil, glanced up, breathless.
“Causing a ruckus first thing in the morning. So, did the spirit give you the answer you wanted?”
“No.”
“Hmm...?”
Karyl’s lips curled into a smile.
“What I’m about to do is something she’s never even thought of.”
“She?” Allen looked at Karyl with a puzzled expression.
Although a legendary spirit sorcerer, Quenite was still human, meaning she could only use one element. However, Karyl was different.
“When light combines, it eventually becomes colorless[1]. Ramine, I couldn’t absorb your power because of my Arcane mana, so I shall give you the remaining elemental powers.”
[You’re crazy!] Ramine yelled, realizing what Karyl was planning.
“From now on, I’ll mix all seven elements. Each with equal strength. No complaints then, right?”
[What nonsense! It’s hard enough with two forces, and now you want to mix six more? Over my dead body!]
As Ramine shouted desperately, a small flame figure tried to escape from the Ein Trigger. However, before it could even jump over Karyl’s shoulder, the small flame was caught by Karyl’s hand, writhing.
“From now on, I will fill my mana with the power of all the Spirit Kings. You should be proud to be the first one to become part of my power,” Karyl said, looking at Allen Javius—or rather, he was specifically looking at Duaat, who formed Allen’s structure.
“With dragon mana, it’s possible to wield all the elements... But to take it further and combine the powers of all the Spirit Kings... that would mean controlling them all.” Allen laughed incredulously. Yet, watching Karyl propose such an outrageous idea sent chills down his spine.
“I’ve never seen anyone as greedy as you in my life.”
At that, Karyl’s lips curled into a grin.
1. Yes, that is what the original says. Yes, we know how light actually behaves. ☜