Chapter 49: The Weight of Mastery and a Seeker’s Plea

“Thank you for your guidance, Lia… Master.”

‘Master,’ those two words, though light as a feather, struck Lia’s shoulders with the weight of mountains.

She froze completely.

Instinctively, she tried to step aside, attempting to evade the crushing weight of such an immense honor.

Yet, a barrier of mental force subtly materialized beside her, gentle but unyielding, pinning her firmly in place.

It was Klein.

He hadn’t moved a single finger, yet that condensed mental force acted like an invisible hand, pressing her into that profoundly uncomfortable position.

Lia could only stiffen her small frame, accepting the heavy reverence with a blank expression, all while her mind screamed in silent frenzy.

Erlar and the other Five-Ring Mage straightened up.

The fervor on their faces was almost palpable, congealing into a tangible flame, and their gaze upon Lia no longer held any hint of viewing an apprentice.

Instead, they gazed up at a monument of truth, rising majestically from the mundane world.

Without another word, the two bowed deeply once more, then turned and departed with swift steps.

Their retreating figures carried an air of resolute determination, as if embarking for a new world, prepared to shatter into dust rather than ever look back.

Only after those two figures had completely vanished did the remaining apprentices in the classroom dare to whisper, their gazes, a mixture of awe, confusion, and envy, darting quickly over Lia before they, too, swiftly slipped away.

The vast lecture hall was soon left with only the two individuals on the platform.

Klein casually waved a hand.

All the writing on the black crystal board instantly vanished, restoring its surface to a mirror-like sheen.

Lia could finally move.

She whirled around abruptly, tilting her head back with all her might, her neck taut as she fiercely glared up at Klein’s chin.

The accusation in her eyes was almost overflowing.

She resembled a cat forcibly dunked into a basin for a bath, its fur bristling all over, yet utterly devoid of menace, instead exuding an adorable, indignant fury.

Klein lowered his gaze, observing her puffed-out cheeks; something flickered within his deep blue eyes before swiftly settling into stillness.

“Let’s go.”

He uttered the two words, then led the way off the platform.

Lia gritted her back teeth, but ultimately resigned herself and followed.

‘When under another’s eaves, one must bow their head.’

The two walked one after another along the cobblestone path in the twilight.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long before them.

One tall, one short.

One ahead, one behind.

Golden-red light bathed the ancient buildings of the Royal Academy of Magic, imbuing them with a warm and tranquil hue.

Occasionally, late-returning apprentices would pass by; upon recognizing Klein’s distinctive black mage’s robe and the Eight-Ring emblem, they would immediately bow from a distance, then quickly avert their gaze and hurry around them.

Lia trailed behind Klein, deliberately stepping on his shadow, one foot after another.

The little figure in her mind was incessantly shaking its fists.

‘That guy, he’s definitely doing this on purpose!’

‘He just loves seeing me in this exasperated state, wanting to resist but not daring to!’

‘How utterly twisted!’

Just as she was calculating whether to secretly add an extra spoonful of salt to Klein’s dinner that night, the figure ahead suddenly halted.

Lia, not paying attention, bumped squarely into Klein’s solid back.

“Oof.”

Clutching her aching nose, she peered out to look ahead.

In the middle of the path ahead, someone stood, having appeared without warning.

The temperature of the surrounding air seemed to drop several degrees the moment he appeared.

It was a middle-aged mage, appearing to be around forty, with a tall, upright stature and a solemn face, clad in a well-tailored grey mage’s robe.

Along the edges of the robe, seven brilliant silver magic patterns were embroidered.

A Seven-Ring Mage.

He radiated no hostility; his stance and demeanor were remarkably restrained and polite.

Yet there he stood, perfectly centered, directly blocking their path.

The tranquil atmosphere in the air was subtly shattered.

The middle-aged mage’s gaze first landed on Klein; he bowed slightly, performing a standard and impeccable mage’s salute.

“Lord Klein.”

His voice was deep and steady, inherently commanding.

Klein merely gave a slight nod, his deep blue eyes calm and unperturbed, yet Lia could sense the reassuring aura around him turning cold and sharp.

Subsequently, the Seven-Ring Mage’s gaze moved past Klein’s shoulder, shifting to Lia, who was shielded behind him.

His eyes held a mixture of scrutiny, bewilderment, and an awe reserved for confronting unknown truths, yet conspicuously lacked any trace of disdain.

He bowed once more; this time, it was directed at Lia.

His courtesy was equally thorough, perhaps even a shade more solemn than when he addressed Klein.

“Lia… Master.”

Lia’s eyelid twitched violently.

‘Oh no, not again.’

Now, every time she heard those two words, ‘Master,’ her back teeth ached.

“Is there a matter?”

Klein spoke, his voice three degrees colder than before, carrying an undisguised air of dismissal.

“Yes.”

The middle-aged mage straightened, his gaze returning to Klein’s face, though his words were clearly directed at Lia.

“I have come for my impudence, and also for the confusion in my heart.”

He paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

“Regarding the treatise titled ‘Principles of Calculus,’ I have already perused it.”

“Master Horace himself endorsed it, and the esteemed Lords of the Mage Association have acknowledged its value; I, therefore, should have no objection.”

His tone was utterly sincere, devoid of any hint of provocation.

“However, I cannot bring myself to accept it.”

The middle-aged mage’s brows furrowed deeply, his solemn face revealing a struggle and anguish of the intellect.

“To divide a continuous process into countless invisible, infinitesimally small fragments.”

“To use a concept of ‘limit’ so abstract as to be almost void, to define an instantaneous change.”

An irrepressible tremor entered his voice.

“I refuse to believe the world is structured this way! The world is continuous, magic flows ceaselessly, and change itself is an unbroken process!

For twenty years, I have researched ‘Water Mirror Resonance,’ the core of which is maintaining an absolutely smooth and continuous flow of magic to create a flawless mirrored surface.

Yet, according to your theory, the smooth curves I pride myself on are supposedly pieced together from countless broken, tiny straight lines? This… how can this be possible!”

“To my mind, this has already departed from reality, becoming a mere numerical game!”

Lia instantly understood.

‘This was a challenge.’

‘And not just any challenger, but one of considerable standing, who was also logical.’

He didn’t disbelieve the new theory’s computational results, but rather, on a philosophical level, at the very foundation of his worldview, he found its core tenets unacceptable.

Such an opponent was far more formidable than the obstinate traditionalists who merely roared “heresy.”

“So?”

Klein’s voice now held a distinct chill, as if he were looking at an ant blocking a dragon’s path.

The middle-aged mage’s chest rose and fell as he withstood that invisible pressure, his gaze burning intensely as he looked at Lia.

“Therefore, I have come to request a debate with the originator of this theory, Master Lia.”

He emphasized again.

“This is not about victory or defeat; there are no rewards, nor are there any penalties.”

In his eyes burned a fervent thirst for truth, the unique obsession and zeal of a seeker of the Way.

“I simply… cannot reconcile myself.”

“I implore you to give me an answer, one that can convince me. Otherwise, my path in magic will stagnate here and now!”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Blue Teaser

BLBoys LoveDevoted Top

Read Now →
Not interested