Chapter 56: The Two Paths of Genius

A sudden, searing weight settled upon the violet crystal medal in her palm.

Lia lifted her gaze, fixing it upon the elderly man before her.

“Why tell me this?”

Her voice remained utterly devoid of inflection.

A fleeting spark of approval flickered in Augustus’s eyes.

“The medal doesn’t record honor; rather, it signifies that its holder possesses the power to shake the very foundations of the world.”

Turning, he moved with measured steps towards the colossal floor-to-ceiling windows at the hall’s periphery, leaving them with only the sight of his aged back.

“The first to possess it was a man named Edwin.”

“Much like yourself, a genius born but once in an era.”

“In his era, magic was chaotic and fragmented. Fire mages couldn’t grasp the principles of frost, nor could force mages comprehend the mysteries of the elements.”

“Everyone believed magic to be a divine inspiration, a legacy of bloodlines, an inexplicable miracle that defied unified understanding.”

“Until Edwin put forth his ‘Etheric Wave Theory’.”

At the mention of that term, a profound ripple stirred within Lia’s heart.

‘Ether? Was this not the very theory from her previous life’s scientific history, one later disproven but which, for a specific period, had unified the entire scientific domain?’

‘To think that mages in this world, centuries ago, had embarked upon such a strikingly similar path, transforming this hypothetical medium into an observable and exploitable reality through the sheer force of their mental power.’

‘So, was this world’s “ether” an objectively existing substance, or rather, a “conceptual entity” born from a collective consensus of mental power?’

Unaware of Lia’s internal musings, Augustus continued his discourse.

“He posited that the world we inhabit is not an empty void, but rather teeming with a medium he termed ‘ether’.”

“All magical phenomena, be it the burning of flames or the levitation of rocks, are fundamentally the result of mental power guiding ether to produce waves of varying frequencies.”

“With an unprecedented mental model, he unified the underlying logic of the three major schools: Force, Elemental, and Transmutation.”

“He enabled a fire mage to comprehend the runic structure of an ice spell.”

A distinct reverence permeated Augustus’s voice.

“He established the foundational order for the entire magical world.”

“Every spell model we use today is built upon his theories.”

“He brought an end to the age of magical ignorance, ushering in the Era of Truth that continues to this day.”

“Subsequently, he broke through the Ninth Ring, ascending to the realm of legends.”

“He was the star we all looked up to.”

A profound silence permeated the vast hall.

Klein’s gaze remained fixed on Lia, never once straying.

“And the second?” Lia inquired, breaking the silence.

Augustus fell silent for a protracted moment.

When he finally spoke again, the light filtering through the windows seemed to dim by a subtle degree.

“The second was a man named Weber.

Weber’s genius lay not in comprehending the world.

But in understanding ‘ourselves’.

He turned his gaze inward, towards the spellcasters themselves. He sought to understand: What exactly is mental power? How do our thoughts, our consciousness, interact with ether?

He proposed the hypothesis of the ‘Consciousness Field’.

He believed that every sentient being radiates a unique consciousness field outwards.

When a sufficient number of consciousness fields resonated under specific conditions, they could form a far more magnificent collective consciousness field, one capable of warping reality.”

Augustus’s tone grew frigid and hushed.

“He succeeded.

Initially, he utilized this theory to forge a profound unity among an entire legion of soldiers, allowing them to move as one, sweeping unopposed across battlefields.

But his ambition did not stop there.

He theorized that war, strife, and suffering all stemmed from the insurmountable divisions between individuals.

By merging the consciousnesses of all people, by forging a singular, supreme collective will, he believed a perfect world, free of lies and conflict, could be created.”

“He began secretly implementing his ‘Ascension’ project. Within the capital, he sought to establish a gigantic consciousness resonance array, one designed to encompass the entire city and forcibly unify the thoughts of millions into a single will.”

“He sought to become a god.”

A profound repugnance permeated Augustus’s voice.

“In his eyes, it was salvation. In our eyes, it was annihilation.”

“In that conflict, the Academy deployed its full might; three Ninth-Ring Archmages united their powers, yet they barely managed to halt him. Weber’s magic, however, was exceptionally bizarre, rendering him nearly immortal and indestructible. Ultimately…”

Augustus’s gaze subtly, almost imperceptibly, swept over Klein.

“It was Klein’s own teacher who, at the cost of their life, banished Weber’s soul and consciousness field together into the boundless void.”

Augustus turned his gaze back to Lia, his formerly gentle eyes now sharp as twin daggers.

“Weber became the greatest traitor in the kingdom’s history, a name utterly forbidden.

Edwin, with his theories, brought order to the world.

Weber, with his theories, nearly brought about its end.

Now, it is your turn, child.”

Augustus’s voice resonated through the hall.

“Your theories, whether describing the laws of celestial motion or serving as tools for calculating the changes in all things, possess a power no less potent than the ‘Etheric Wave Theory’ or the ‘Consciousness Field’.”

“They, too, are a key.”

“Will you use it to unlock an unprecedented new era, or to unleash Pandora’s Box, bringing ruin to all?”

“The choice, child, rests with you.”

The apex of the White Spire fell so silent that one could hear the beat of their own heart.

Just then, a calm yet undeniably resolute voice sliced through the frozen atmosphere.

“She will not.”

Klein stepped forward, his figure becoming a solid barrier shielding Lia.

He met the gaze of the Ninth-Ring Archmage, speaking each word deliberately.

“She is not Weber.”

Augustus observed Klein, then glanced at Lia behind him, whose expression remained unchanged.

The mountainous pressure suddenly dissipated.

A smile resurfaced on the old man’s face, as if all that had transpired moments before were but an illusion.

“Very well.

Klein, I have always trusted your judgment.”

He looked at Lia, his eyes regaining their initial benevolence.

“Child, do not be frightened by the tales of two old men. The medal is merely a medal; your future lies solely at your own feet.

I am but a garrulous old man, accustomed to offering a few extra words of caution before young talents take flight.

The Academy will provide you with the utmost protection and resources. Your journey will not appear in any public documentation until you deem it necessary.

Go forth, and pursue what you wish.”

Klein offered a slight bow to Augustus.

“Headmaster, we shall take our leave.”

Without affording Lia another chance to speak, he immediately activated the teleportation array.

A flash of light enveloped them, and the two found themselves back in the high tower’s study.

The familiar furnishings and scents diluted the heavy sense of history that had permeated the White Spire’s apex.

Lia opened her hand, gazing at the violet, star-shaped medal in her palm.

Under the soft light of the study, it refracted a mysterious halo.

“You trust me that much?” Lia asked, without lifting her head, her voice directed as much at the medal as at him.

“I believe what I’ve seen,” Klein replied.

“What have you seen?”

“Everything you’ve done since becoming my apprentice.”

Klein stepped before her, his shadow completely enveloping her.

“Weber desired to control everything, while you merely wish to understand everything.

That is the fundamental difference.”

With a flick of her finger, Lia put away the medal.

She lifted her head, a smile playing on her lips.

“What if I’m merely pretending?”

“You’re not good at pretending,” Klein’s answer came without a hint of hesitation. “You haven’t even begun to master the art of concealment.”

Having said this, he turned and strode towards his own room, leaving behind a tall, upright figure.

“The two theories the Headmaster mentioned, the ‘Etheric Wave Theory’ and the ‘Consciousness Field’,” Lia’s voice called from behind him. “Could you provide me with the relevant materials?”

Klein’s footsteps halted.

“Those are ancient theories, centuries old. Many parts have been proven incorrect, or have far more refined supplements. Why do you wish to examine them?”

“I want to see,” Lia’s voice was tinged with excitement, “where exactly those geniuses… went astray.”

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