"The accurate usage of formalities and the mastery of titles and honorifics at different levels is a complicated subject," Anthony wiped the small blackboard behind him, "Before we begin the course, I would like to introduce a respected deity to you."
Anthony fished out a badge from his chest pocket. On it was a sacred logo in the shape of a book which had a dim luster.
"Can you recognise this?" Anthony asked softly.
"I recognise it! This is the emblem of the almighty God of Knowledge, Oguma!" Leylin nodded earnestly.
The smile on Anthony's face spread even wider, "That's right! All of us scholars believe strongly in the almighty God of Knowledge, Oguma, who is also the origin of all knowledge."
He shot a profound glance at Leylin, "It is also the religion that the Faulen family believes in. Do you pray frequently?"
"I've seen my parents do it!" Leylin replied. After all, you couldn't expect much of a child.
"Very well. Now, follow my actions." Anthony's expression grew sincere, pure, and holy, "Almighty God of Knowledge, you are the origin of all knowledge, the controller of truth…"
Leylin was secretly rolling his eyes vigorously, but he could only follow Anthony and pray, "Your glory will be scattered upon the entire world, driving out barbarism and ignorance, and bringing about the golden age of civilisation…"
A young voice continuously reverberated in the small drawing room. Jonas and Sarah, who were hiding outside the door, had smiles plastered on their faces.
'So apart from giving me language lessons, this teacher is also here to give me lessons on the divine…' Leylin was secretly gloomy, but didn't express the slightest bit of impatience on his face. Instead, he was conscientious and focused, at which Anthony couldn't help but nod approvingly to himself.
In actual fact, Leylin knew that there was totally no way for him to avoid this. After all, the influence that the deities had on this world was honestly too deep. If he wanted to continue living under his false identity, he had to transform into a believer.
A person without faith in the World of Gods would be considered a freak, and would have absolutely no room for survival.
Fortunately, the deities only had great influence on and branded the souls of their own devout followers and fanatics. They didn't pay much attention to the general believers who had only been slightly influenced by the glory of the gods.
What was even more ingenious was that unless one assumed the position of a priest, it was practically impossible to tell the extent of faith that one had. Anyway, all he had to do was just pray at fixed times and occasionally make donations at the church. Leylin felt that he could totally act out such superficial deeds very well.
Based on what Leylin knew, the God of Knowledge, Oguma was a deity that many noble families and scholars believed in. It could be said that he was rather someone all cultured people believed in.
Of these two specific types of people, one set cared only for their interest while the other laid special emphasis on practical laws. They definitely weren't as religious as they claimed to be. Leylin wouldn't stand out if he mixed with them, thus this deity could be said to be the best option.
'There's only one other option in the Faulen family's territory… The God of Sufferance Erma…' Leylin shuddered.
Erma was a deity brimming with devotion and sacrificial spirit. Most of her teachings advised her believers to exercise patience and compliance, making her a deity that many rulers liked to introduce into their territory.
Naturally, the same applied with Baron Jonas. These two churches were the only ones currently in his fief, resulting in a scenario where the upper class prayed to the God of Knowledge and the farmers and sailors prayed to Erma.
Although the Baron also wished to introduce the church of the Goddess of Wealth Waukin into his territory, he hadn't been successful.
The island's trading industry wasn't very prosperous yet, and was even boycotted by the combined resistance of both the current churches. The wealthy pastors who knew how to earn money more than they knew how to preach naturally wouldn't be attracted to this place.
'Excellent!' Upon seeing a white cloud of holy light floating up from the religious emblem and draping itself over Leylin, every single wrinkle on Anthony's face was smoothened out with a smile, "The almighty God of Knowledge has received your prayers. In the future, you may follow your parents to the Knowledge Shrine and Church to participate in scripture-related activities and donations."
"That would be my honor!" Leylin replied methodically as he secretly rejoiced, 'Sure enough, my soul is now wholly native to the World of Gods, and I haven't aroused even the slightest amount of suspicion from Anthony. As long as I maintain this level of faith in future, and do not attract his attention, there definitely won't be any problem.'
Of course, Leylin also knew that he had no path as a priest. After all, priesthood demanded great faith. Not only were priests expected to understand the entirety of their deities' doctrines and follow them, even their souls belonged to the deities themselves.
If his own soul was laid bare under the gaze of the deities, Leylin wasn't certain if he'd be able to conceal the truth.
'However, with my attitude, I'm afraid that I wouldn't be able to achieve even the lowest level of a priest…' Leylin grew speechless at these own thoughts of his.
"Alright, let's begin today's lesson. I'll just mention that the remuneration I get from your father is three golden coins every time the hourglass runs out!" Anthony started to write on the blackboard. He wrote in cursive, which appeared highly complicated and beautiful.
"Three gold coins?" Leylin deeply exhaled. Even a young child like him knew that the purchasing power of gold coins in the World of Gods was extremely high.
"Knowledge is priceless…" Anthony nodded satisfactorily at Leylin's show of poor manners, then began the morning's lesson.
This level of teaching was simply considered nothing in Leylin's eyes. He had even specially lowered his speed of learning by a great deal in order to conceal how exceptional he truly was.
Even so, the abilities that he displayed had earned exceedingly high praise from Anthony. He strongly commended Leylin in front of the Baron and his wife, and even predicted that he would become a mighty scholar one day, which made Lady Sarah's eyes twinkle with delight. The Baron lifted Leylin up and tossed him around in the air many times.
After enjoying a sumptuous lunch under the maids' care, Leylin followed the Baron to a small field behind the manor.
This was the place where farmers usually lay their grains under the scorching sun. It was very spacious and empty, a wooden frame upright at the side holding hammers, daggers, pikes, knight spears, and other kinds of weapons.
A warrior dressed in leather armor was already waiting in the centre of the field.
"Leylin, this is the chief imperial bodyguard of our family. You may call him Uncle Jacob!" The Baron introduced him to Leylin.
Leylin could distinctly sense a menacing aura from him, one that could only be cultivated by traversing mountains of corpses and oceans of blood. He also felt his formidable strength; Jacob clearly possessed some sort of extraordinary ability, and was a Professional.
"Uncle Jacob!" Leylin immediately shouted sweetly.
"Your Uncle Jacob has always been in charge of the patrol team at the harbor. I specially transferred him here to take responsibility and teach you martial arts. He is your instructor from today, understood?" The Baron's voice grew stern.
"Teacher Jacob," Leylin secretly rolled his eyes as he greeted him seriously once more.
"Jacob, I'll hand Leylin over to you!" Jonas hit Jacob's shoulder
"Rest assured, Sir, I will definitely teach the young master all that I know!" Jacob straightened his chest.
After the Baron left, only Leylin and Jacob were left on the small field. "Before we start on the warrior training, I have a question for you, young master. Do you know what a Professional is?"
Jacob had a very boorish face. Having had a long-term job that required him to oppress others, he was brimming with a deadly aura. Even if he tried hard to make himself look gentle when he smiled, his looks would intimidate many imps, so much that they would cry.
"I've heard about it before…" Leylin scratched his head.
"A so-called Professional is someone who possesses formidable strength. Even in other countries, they receive preferential treatment, especially so for Professionals who are rank 5 and above." The muscles in Jacob's right hand bulged, as though trying to make him more persuasive. They were covered in a misty brilliance.
"Look carefully! This is an ability that only rank 5 warriors and above possess. Fighting Spirit!" With a loud bellow, Jacob smashed his fist onto the ground.
*Rumble!* Smoke and dust scattered throughout the air, as though a small-scale earthquake had occurred in the field. When the smoke and dust dispersed, a huge sunken pit could be seen next to Jacob.
"Wow..." Leylin's jaw dropped open, and he appeared to be extremely shocked. He reacted in about the same way as other children would, but he was actually secretly estimating Jacob's capabilities.
'Such destructive power… It's almost the same as knights who've activated life energy. There's no doubt about it; the harsher restrictions on extraordinary powers in the World of God means that Jacob's true strength should be even greater than this. He should be close to a rank 1 Magus in strength…' Leylin made secret calculations as the A.I. Chip immediately revealed Jacob's stats.
[Jacob, Warrior. Rank: Rank 5 or above (insufficient information). Estimated stats, Strength: 3, Agility: 2, Vitality: 3, Spirit: 1.5. Evaluation: Dangerous!]
Leylin sighed in silence. At the same time, he had also roughly gauged Jacob's strength. 'This body is too weak. Even the A.I. Chip's scanning abilities are limited.'
"I'm only a warrior, thus I can only show you the strength of a warrior, young master." Jacob said regretfully, "There are many different types of Professionals, who possess strange yet mysterious abilities."
It was clear that Jacob was faithfully fulfilling his duty and using his formidable strength to lure the young master into walking on the path of strength.
"Then… what is your rank as a warrior, Uncle Jacob? Can you tell me?" At this point, Leylin fully put his advantage as a young child to use, and constantly tried to acquire information.
"Me? I'm just a mere rank 6 warrior!" Jacob laughed, seemingly embarrassed.
-x-X-x-
"A rank 6 warrior? How about my father? What rank is he? Is he rank 15?" Leylin appeared very innocent and vulnerable. After all, in the hearts of children, parents were unequalled.
"Rank 15?! Cough cough…" Jacob almost choked on his saliva, "Esteemed young master, Professionals above rank 5 are already valued by nobility. Those beyond rank 15 are treated with excessive respect even among the highest strata of society. There are very few of them on the continent…"
"Is that so?" Leylin stroked his chin. He'd heard about this ranking while he had still been a soul seed, and it seemed like after borrowing a medium to use, the strength of his soul seed was not half bad.
Of course, no matter how powerful he was, he was still a foreigner. Nothing could be hidden from the glory of the gods, and he would easily have been destroyed.
"Uncle Jacob, what happens after rank 15? Are there more powerful beings?" Leylin was like a little guy filled with curiosity.
"After rank 15… ah…" Jacob's eyes were dim, "Then there are only the Legends! Legendary beings can make whole kingdoms retreat, and are the most powerful forces of the continent…"
"Legends?" Leylin's eyes flashed.
"Alright! Let's start training today. First is long-distance running!" At this moment, Jacob realised that Leylin's questions had pushed him off topic. He turned grim.
"Fine, fine…" Leylin began to run around cheekily like a little cheetah full of energy, his smooth motions causing Jacob's eyes to brighten.
...
Deep in the night, in the baron's study room.
Jonas sat behind the work desk, arms crossed as he looked deep in thought. "You're saying Leylin's body has good potential, and if he were to go through warrior training, he he has high prospects?"
Jacob stood before Jonas, speaking sternly. "Yes, my lord! The energy in young master Leylin's body flows very smoothly. On top of that, with a great body from birth, I'm certain that the young master will gather fighting energy and break through to become a rank 5 warrior in ten years if he perseveres with warrior training!"
"Alright. You may leave," Jonas waved his arms tiredly. Only after Jacob bowed and left could he laugh wryly. "Outstanding literary talent and an outstanding physique! Leylin, you truly are a gem gifted to me by the gods!"
Jonas grabbed at his hair in frustration. Every parent hoped their child would be a genius, but when Leylin was outstanding in both of these respects, Jonas grew distressed as to how best to nurture the boy.
"It's obviously necessary to continue the cultural lessons, but what about the warrior training?" Jonas knew Jacob's strength well, and if Leylin truly had talent, it would be a waste for him to be training under Jacob.
On top of that, warriors had low status in the World of Gods given how common they were. While they could grow extremely powerful at the higher, more profound realms, one would unavoidably be treated like cannon fodder in the beginning. Jonas was hesitant about it.
"What are you worrying about?" At this moment, a gentle voice was heard from outside the study room, and Jonas' eyes brightened.
"Ernest! Welcome!" Jonas stood up while beaming sunnily, watching a figure walk out from the shadows.
The figure had a head of long, soft, silver hair. His eyes were filled with wisdom, and while he looked young he had a great aura. He wore a yielding gown similar to those of scholars, and had a mysterious golden decorative motif on his chest. Powerful magical force twined around his body, giving him a very menacing aura. Evidently, Ernest was a powerful magician.
This was a magician! The spellcasters of the World of Gods grasped powerful abilities in magic, and were existences that could control the natural elements around them. More importantly, every spellcasters was extremely well-learned. Their breadth of knowledge was above that of many famed scholars.
Of course, due to the great amount of resources and time that had to be poured into magic, magic was a Profession of nobles. Regular commoners definitely couldn't pay the expenses required to study and conduct experiments.
"We meet again, Jonas!" Ernest smiled gently, giving his friend an enthusiastic hug.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get here in time when your child was born. Experiments that probe the abyss are too complex and time consuming…" Ernest looked sorry.
"Treat this Ring of Light as my belated gift!" He passed a glimmering silver ring to Jonas, "Though the light spell in this can only be used thrice, it's not bad for a child's toy…"
"Thank you very much, on behalf of Leylin as well!" Jonas took the ring carefully, moved by the present. With his knowledge, he knew that even a temporarily enchanted item like this could easily fetch ten gold coins.
Magical items were that expensive! Often times, they could not even be sold due to their exorbitant prices.
With the Faulen family's background, they would at most befriend a few useless magic scholars, and it was impossible to make connections with powerful spellcasters like Ernest.
Meeting him was a pure coincidence. After finding out his true identity, Jonas had spent much effort to build up a great friendship with him.
After they sat down, Ernest continued his query, "Jonas… What's worrying you?"
"Well…" Watching the powerful spellcaster, Jonas had to conceal the glimmer in his eyes. He laughed wryly, "You know Leylin is already five, right? His talent is worrying me. I'm worried he'll lack the guidance he needs, which will cause him to walk the wrong path and not be able to show his outstanding talent…"
Jonas mentioned Leylin's display in detail. It had to be said that even while he was hiding a lot of information, Leylin's was definitely a talent amongst the natives here.
As Jonas continued, Ernest's eyes brightened, "Tomorrow! Let me see the child tomorrow. If he really has talent, I can consider taking him in as my student!"
"Thank you so much!" Jones stood up, elated.
"It's nothing!" Ernest smiled slightly. He had already noticed Jonas' objective, but he didn't particularly mind. He had gotten a huge sponsorship from Jonas before, and taking a child in as a student wasn't much in return. Of course, the child needed to have talent in magic, even if it was at a low level.
The next day, Leylin was informed that all of his classes were postponed, and that he was going to meet someone important.
"Leylin, my child!" Jonas stood before Leylin, looking extremely serious.
"I will bring you to see a powerful magician later. Even in the entire continent, he is a very terrific person, so you must be respectful. Is that understood?"
"Yes, father!" Little Leylin nodded vigorously, looking forward to this. 'A magician? A spellcaster in this world? I can finally walk the path of the elements again…'
Leylin was more than aware about whether he had talent in casting spells. In addition, he didn't have plans on choosing a different profession having restarted his life. He was a Magus, and it was much easier for him to reach the peak of the path of magic.
Of course, he had not considered becoming a Warlock once more. He had gone through a great number of trouble to break his bloodline shackles in the past, and wanted nothing to do with it again. Hence, becoming a magician was currently Leylin's best choice.
"I hope you'll become a powerful magician. If that happens, our Faulen family…" Jonas' tone held hope and anticipation as he rubbed Leylin's head, bringing him to the drawing room. In there was a magician with long silver hair, gazing over him with eyes as intense as lightning. Goosebumps arose on Leylin's skin.
"Ah!" A low hum could be heard from his lips.
"Come! Leylin, this is your uncle Ernest!" While perplexed by Ernest's expression, Jonas immediately hinted at Leylin to greet him.
"Good morning, Uncle Ernest!" Leylin bowed respectfully, his bright eyes full of curiosity.
"Good child, come here." Ernest's eyes were filled with excitement. Even Jonas could tell that he was holding his emotions back.
"Hold this!" Another silver ring appeared in his hands. Unlike the previous one, this looked like an exquisite work of art, and had a glistening gem embedded at its crest. Jonas could tell at first glance that this was a magic item with a permanent spell inside. Compared to the one from before that could only be used thrice before it was rendered useless, it was at least ten times the value.
"Thank you, uncle!" Leylin respectfully took the ring, while he held it with contempt in his mind.
'A magic artifact that can be used only when my spiritual force has reached a certain level? What a primitive method of sensing…'
The moment he held the ring, the energy pathway and structure within was laid bare before Leylin's eyes. 'I'll take this chance to show off my ability then!'
-x-X-x-
*Bzzt bzzt!* A bundle of bright white light emanated from the ring on Leylin's hand. Piercing white light startled Baron Jonas, blinding him temporarily.
Baron Jonas rubbed at his reddened teared-up eyes, finally managing to recover from the blindness caused by the light spell. What he saw in front of him after that was a wizard who was at a loss for words.
Dear gods! Jonas rubbed at his eyes, watching Ernest in front of him while unable to believe his eyes.
Was this the wizard that he knew? Everyone knew that wizards were the symbol of wisdom and calm. There were few matters that could make them lose themselves, forget leaving them at a loss.
"Haha… very good, Leylin. You did well!"
"Ernest… do you mean that… Leylin passed?" However, Jonas no longer thought of the other matters, because he had already come up with another possibility at the sight of Ernest's expression.
"Passed? Ah, of course! His talent is so great that he might even have a place in the Magic Association! Even my mentor would be jealous of me taking in such an excellent student…"
Ernest spoke sternly once he calmed down, "Jonas, my friend! It is my responsibility to inform you that your child Leylin has great talent in the path of magic! Even now, his spiritual force far surpasses those of his age, and with the correct guidance I believe he might even break through to the realm of a grandmaster, or even…" Ernest's body was beginning to twitch without his knowledge.
"Alright, alright! Well then, Ernest, are you willing to take my son as your student?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?" Ernest already considered Leylin the student who would carry on his legacy. Had Jonas not allowed it, he might even have resorted to force to acquire him.
"Then that's great! I want to announce this great news to everyone. I'll hold a celebration!" Jonas' face glowed red with pride. The fact that the young master of the Faulen Family had been taken in as the student of a powerful spellcaster definitely raised the family's status and influence in the kingdom.
Jonas was already becoming impatient, "Well then, are there any other procedures for Leylin to study under you, what about fees?"
"We can talk about that later. For now, please give us some time alone…" Ernest respectfully waved his hand, and an invisible force pushed Jonas out. The door closed itself automatically.
"Don't be surprised. That was merely the effect of 'Mage Hand'. It's a parlor trick." Ernest turned, putting what he believed to be his kindest smile on his face as he consoled the startled little guy.
"Ye- yes, mister!" Leylin shrunk back on himself as if in fear, yet his eyes secretly held a shrewd expression, 'A.I. Chip, has this been recorded?'
[The wizard's spellcasting has been recorded. Storing data!] The A.I. Chip quickly answered.
'Great! However, the power of this spell is rather...?' Leylin could clearly tell that something was different about this person. Even in the Magus World, high-ranked Magi needed to practice for a long time in order to cast spells with such instantaneous effects.
'No! He doesn't have the ability to cast spells instantly. It's like he had already prepared this spell beforehand and stored it. With a designated gesture and command, the spell model was activated…' Leylin himself was an expert in of spells, and he immediately saw through the process.
'Though I'm not too sure about the theory behind it, this seems to be the way spells are cast in the World of Gods. Compared to the Magus World, there seem to be many differences.'
"This… this is magic?" The young voice quivered, yet it held a curiosity within.
"Yes, this is magic! With just a slight move of a finger, you can call on the power of nature!" Ernest rubbed his hands, and flames appeared in the air, turning into a little bird, a man, and many other shapes. Finally, it abruptly dissipated, turning into a small flame.
Seeing that he had successfully captured the little guy's attention and admiration, Ernest's lips curved in a proud smile.
Yes, with just the slight movement of a finger, immense power could be called upon. There was no need to be like those warriors or other physical Professionals, labouring, bleeding, and sweating like a fool. Such things were very crude and violent.
Besides, even the lowest ranked wizard would gain many benefits from copying scrolls or performing alchemy. Compared to the Professions of those low lives, magic was obviously a more mysterious and noble path. Of course, such a thing would capture a child's heart.
Ernest felt very good about himself, having arrogant thoughts. Of course, the terrifying expenses and harsh requirements for talent while one studied to become a wizard was something he ignored.
"Then… Can I become a wizard?" Finally, Ernest heard Leylin's apprehensive words, which made him feel like he was in the clouds.
"Of course, my child! You have the talent to be an outstanding wizard! I, Ernest of the Burning Shadows, am very willing to be your guide on the path of magic!" Ernest did his best to seem solemn.
"But… there's something I need to remind you of. While you have an astounding talent, you'll have to put in more effort than ordinary people. The path of wizards does not allow for laziness," Ernest expression was stern as he began instruction…
Soon enough, news of young master Leylin of the Faulen family coming under the tutelage of a powerful wizard spread its way around the port.
In the World of Gods, wizards usually represented power, mystery, and power that could not be withstood.
Wizards represented torrential power and mystery in the World of Gods, a strength that could not be withstood. The Faulens had produced a magic student, and he was even very talented. That meant that there was a huge likelihood of the appearance of a powerful wizard in this family!
This potential immediately caused many to disregard the fact that this family was a new and upcoming noble family. Many traditional nobles began to accept the existence of the Faulen family, and many made plans to extend an olive branch to them.
Baron Jonas cleverly made use of this opportunity, helping the Faulen Family gain many advantages, bettering the lives and the environment of the family.
Of course, this had nothing to do with Leylin. He was far too young and could not help out in matters of the family. The only thing he did was to accompany Ernest to attend a banquet, gaining the blessings of everyone in the land.
Bishop Tapris, who followed Oghma the God of Knowledge, personally came forward to express his regret.
Leylin's powerful spiritual force did not only give him talent as a wizard. If he could accept the teachings of the God of Knowledge and abide by them in body and mind, he would have a smooth path to priesthood, and he could even advance faster than other priests. With such a great seedling snatched away by a wizard, Tapris naturally felt very regretful.
It was a pity that he would never know that it was impossible for Leylin to rely on the God of Knowledge, nor would he ever become even a rank 1 priest…
After they made their relationship as master and student official, Leylin's lessons as a wizard began. Under Jonas and his wife's enthusiastic attempts at making him stay, Ernest had decided to remain in the manor, completing his duty of instructing Leylin in magic.
In actuality, he was a wizard without a fixed residence and did not possess anything like a magic tower. Based on the intel Leylin had received on the sly, mostly from his mentor letting it slip by accident, he was only rank 9 and far from rank 15, the rank of a grandmaster wizard. He was even further from becoming a Legend.
If they wished to build a magic tower, unless they were favoured children backed by the most powerful of organisations, even grandmaster wizards had to save up for centuries.
Leylin maliciously thought that Ernest had nowhere to go, which was why he had no choice but to freeload at the Faulen family's place. Of course, even a rank 9 wizard was an outstanding person on the Faulen territory, hence Jonas and his wife both agreed to it. Both sides were willing.
Leylin's magic courses were scheduled for the morning. His culture teacher Anthony could only come in the afternoons, and Jacob was laid off his initial job of instructing Leylin in his path as a warrior. If not for Leylin coming up with the reason of needing to train his body, using half an hourglass' time everyday, he would probably be patrolling the ports.
"Spells are actually gods' gift to wizards. The Weave, created by the mighty Goddess of the Weave Mystra, is the source of all magic…" In the very first lesson, Leylin almost choked as he heard Ernest stating this seriously.
"Spells? Gods' gift? The Weave?"
"Yes!" Ernest looked extremely grim. It seemed like these were his true thoughts.
"Alright!" Leylin nodded seriously, but he was snickering inside.
'It's obviously his own strength, yet he has been shackled. How should I judge him…' As Ernest spoke, Leylin acquired a better understanding of the wizards in the World of Gods.
The spellcasters here, or rather wizards, essentially used meditation to increase their spiritual force, communicating with the devil web that was everywhere to create spell models and then store them as magic.
This conclusion left Leylin speechless.
-x-X-x-
"In that case, master, if a wizard can only store magic one day before using it the next, then isn't it necessary to determine which spells to use on the day before? And once the spell slots have been used up…" Leylin raised his hand and asked.
"Yes! All wizards need to prepare all the magic they will use a day prior. It's important to know which spells to prepare, and as for the issue of spell slots being used up…"
Ernest looked very stern. "Remember this well, Leylin! Once a wizard uses up all his spells and has no scrolls or magic artifacts on his body, he is no different from an ordinary person. Hence, you can never let yourself get into that situation. This is very important! I've seen many who used up all their spells and were unlucky enough to be gnawed down the core, without a scrap of flesh left on their bones!"
"I understand!" Leylin sat back down speechlessly.
'Based on what he said, wizards actually use their spiritual force as a currency to buy the authority to use magic from the Weave. While this method makes the requirements to become a wizard less stringent, this is basically a nightmare for those who are talented enough to build spell models by themselves…
'So in general, wizards are impotent and diminished versions of Magi?' Leylin felt disconcerted. 'So while it allows those without enough aptitude to use magic, this Weave is inflexible and confines true talent in magic!'
Leylin's eyes flashed, 'Perhaps this is the goal of the gods, to prevent the rise of a wizard who is too powerful. Could this be an effect from the final battle with the Magi? In that case, I should look up the history of this Weave Goddess. If my guess is correct, she must be a new god that only gained popularity after the ancient final war!'
Despite knowing this, Leylin obviously would not stick out his neck and try to change things. His goal was to remain low-profile as he grew up, and he absolutely would not do something like challenging the gods.
Before having the confidence to break through the power of laws, he had no choice but to explore the path of wizards.
"Next… I'll teach you a meditation technique, and then you can start making contact with the Weave…" Ernest continued to teach from the lectern, unaware that this pupil that looked studious on the outside was exploring many new ideas.
'Meditation here isn't too different from Magi's meditation techniques, but the effects are slightly weaker. Of course, coupled with the laws of the World of Gods, there are many areas I can learn from. As for the Weave…' Leylin's spirit began to extend outwards.
Using the method that Ernest had taught him, his spirit seemed to touch upon a powerful existence. It was a network of invisible energy shaped like a spiderweb, and it enveloped the entire World of Gods with its powerful energy.
Even the surface density of the energy pathways left Leylin's scalp prickling.
'Are those nodes spell slots? I never thought that just the surface layer of the Weave would be enough for me to feel stunned like this,' Leylin watched the Weave, his eyes full of admiration as he grew more convinced in his guesses.
'So powerful… It must have been created as a joint effort by the gods. Mystra should be one of the most powerful of peak rank 8s, which is why she was selected to manage it.' Leylin knew very little about the gods. All he knew was that there were a few stages to the most powerful of them, second to the World Will that was the Supreme God. Unlike in the Magus World, there were greater gods, the middle gods, and the lesser gods.
Mystra was definitely among the most successful of the greater gods, having tremendous divine force. Even if Leylin's main body were to fight her it was unlikely that he'd hold the upper hand.
"I've already given you the meditation method. Next up is to continue practising the use of your spiritual force and making contact with the Weave. Other students might need up to three months, but you'll be able to do it in a month!" Ernest spoke frankly.
All of a sudden, a strange undulation spread, causing his expression to change.
"Weave! You've made contact with the Weave!" Ernest charged forward, grabbing Leylin's slender arm. His eyes went read, "Leylin, is it really your first time touching upon magic?"
"Of course, master! I've rarely even left the manor since birth!" Leylin's eyes gleamed as he answered innocently.
"Then tell me! Are you the illegitimate child of the Weave Goddess?" Ernest asked extremely seriously…
...
Come fall, there were scenes of a great harvest everywhere. Grain and flour filled warehouses, and many farmers looked gleeful at the sight.
This harvest was enough for them to pay their taxes, and would even leave enough food for them to live through the winter and plant seeds at the beginning of spring. At this thought, they could not help but begin to pray, singing praises in the favour of the gods, as well as the benevolence and generosity of the lord.
With the profits from having a port and with many residents moving from the continent to the island, the Faulen family's taxes were set very low, which could be considered a very benevolent act from them.
Haystacks were piled up high in the training grounds of the manor, forming forts in varying shape. Two figures were now clashing on the ground.
"Pay attention to your centre of gravity, I'm coming!" Along with the warning, a blonde teen in white training clothes brandished a metal sword like a viper, twisting his body in an arc in mid-air, spinning around to arrive next to his opponent and thrusted his sword forward at an unexpected angle.
Leylin's opponent seemed middle aged. His face had marks of age on it, his hands were full of calluses, and he now looked as if he was battling his greatest enemy.
"Hah! It's this way!" He called in a low voice, holding the heavy sword in his hand horizontal.
*Clang!* The two swords produced a dull sound as they collided with tremendous force.
"Crap!" The man's expression changed and he slipped. Having lost his centre of gravity, his entire body was thrown off balance.
*Boom!* He felt a tremendous force slam into him, but the force turned gentle when it hit his chest, and he seemed to be sent flying away rather delicately, as if he was light as a feather.
When the middle-aged man opened his eyes once more, the blonde teen's metal sword was already at his chest, "You've lost, Jacob."
"Yes, young master Leylin, I've lost!" Jacob laughed helplessly.
"Your earlier parry was not agile enough, and you lacked instinct in your movements!" In front of him was obviously Leylin. However, Leylin was now guiding Jacob in detail as if he was the teacher instead. Jacob listened obediently, watching him in admiration.
After sending Jacob away, Leylin picked up a white towel and wiped off the sweat on his face before walking into the bathroom. The steady rise of the cloudy steam made the room look a little hazy.
Coming before a precious mercury mirror, he judged his appearance. He had curling golden hair, blue eyes, and a handsome face which inherited his parents' excellent features. While the fine hair near his lips betrayed his true age, it did nothing to conceal the mature charm he possessed.
'It's been ten years since I've started training to become a wizard!' Leylin sighed. Hr followed it up with an order, 'A.I. Chip, show me my current stats!'
[Leylin Farlier. Age: 13. Race: Human. Rank 5 Wizard. Strength: 1.5, Agility : 1, Vitality: 1.3, Spirit: 5. Condition: Healthy. Innate skills: Sturdy, Erudite. Spell Slots: Rank 2 slots (1), rank 1 slots (2), rank 0 slots (3)]
After fumbling around for many years, Leylin had developed more functions for the A.I. Chip, and even the stats were now more detailed. He turned his attention to the description of his innate skills.
[Innate Skill. Sturdy: Host has persevered through warrior training, and possesses a sturdy physique. (Strength +0.5, Vitality +0.3)]
[Erudite: Plentiful experiences and great knowledge has allowed the host's willpower and spirit to expand and become more resilient. (Spirit +1)
'The stats that the A.I. Chip shows includes the bonus from my innate skills…' Leylin looked rather solemn, "In other words, besides the strengthening of my spiritual force from birth, my body is practically comparable to a regular adult?"
After the passing of so many years, Leylin found that due to the limitations by the world's laws, it was extremely difficult for humans to raise their strength.
There seemed to be some kind of bottleneck when raising any of his stats, and once they reached an average of one his progress had stalled. Only his spiritual force, which was related to him being a wizard, was still somewhat increasing, but it too seemed to have reached a bottleneck.
'When it comes to my body's stats, Jacob still surpasses me in many ways. The reason I could defeat him was technique… Is this some added bonus from being a warrior?' Leylin stroked his chin, sinking into deep thought.
While the increase of his strength would be shocking to his peers, this did not satisfy him.
"Perhaps I should find an opportunity and go on a trip outside!" Leylin inwardly made a decision as he bathed in the warm water. He naturally had ideas about how to increase his strength, but he obviously could not implement them at home. Travelling abroad now seemed to be a rather good idea.
-x-X-x-
'A.I. Chip, how's the progress on the analysis of the Weave?' Leylin inwardly asked, closing his eyes.
[Beep! Analysis prioritises concealment of the host. Current progress: Rank 0 Weave 87.69%, Rank 1 Weave 37.61%, Rank 2 Weave 2.33%!] The A.I. Chip quickly replied.
This was one of the many reasons why Leylin was advancing so slowly as a wizard, and he was very interested in the existence of the Weave. If he was able to completely analyse the Weave without being discovered by Mystra, it would make it extremely convenient for him to cast spells.
Even with such a huge project on his hands, Leylin was still able to reach rank 5 as a wizard. This display was already enough for Ernest to rave and exclaim that he was a genius, even a monster.
Wizards in the World of Gods were ranked according to their level of contact with the Weave. Those below rank 3 could only make contact with its surface, memorising and using rank 0 spells. They would acquire a deeper understanding of it upon reaching rank 3, gaining the ability to use rank 1 spells.
Leylin was now a rank 5 wizard, able to make contact with the second layer to use rank 2 spells. He was doing rather well for himself. On top of that, being a wizard in itself gave him great status. If he was lucky, he could even be conferred a lordship as he was in a large noble family, and it was highly likely that he'd gain his own land with meritorious deeds, passing it down the generations.
This was the dream of commoners. It was a pity though; at this level everything was like the dirt on the ground to Leylin, filling him with disdain as he trod on it.
'Ranks 1 to 5 are considered normal in the central continent, and those from rank 6 to 10 are considered elites. From 1- to 15 are experts and those above are true powerhouses who enjoy great reputation in the continent. Even if they aren't considered Legends, they are the apex of power, and those who appear most often. Legends could care less about worldly matters, placing their ambition and hopes on obtaining divinity, perhaps igniting their godfire and obtaining a place as a deity…'
This was Leylin's current understanding of the power hierarchy in the World of Gods, obtained from the intel he had acquired as well as his own conjectures. Gods were set on a pedestal here, living in their divine eternal lands while their churches and priests raised followers for them.
The prime material plane prevented all powerful forces from entering, and even if a god were to make a material body and descend they would only have the strength of a peak Legend at most. Of course, they held another title; they were called Saints. Even if their real bodies descended they would still have the same name.
Hence, there were many situation in the prime material plane where high-ranked Legends besieged Saints and caused their fall. Sometimes they even managed to rob them of their divine force. Those gods would basically not let their real bodies descend and could only do that with their clones.
'Legends are the most powerful in the prime material plane. If I can become one quickly, I'll have enough power to protect myself. Besides, I need to do that to gain divine force.' Leylin stroked his chin. As he had gotten enough nutrients growing up, he was already rather tall for a 13-year-old, as could be seen in the mirror. Besides his face being immature, he was practically a little adult.
'Is the reason for the bottleneck in my stats that I've yet to fully develop?' Leylin pondered over his situation, 'Based on this progress, it'll probably take centuries of training to reach the rank of Legend. That's too long, and I haven't even considered what comes after…'
Leylin conjectured that the Legends of the World of Gods were quite similar to Morning Star Magi. They possessed abilities that surpassed imagination, and while one used legendary magic the other used Arcane Arts. In addition, they both met the bare requirements for entering the ancient war campaign, and after advancing, they would undergo a massive transformation.
'Compared to the rankings of Magi, the division of ranks in the World of Gods are greater in number. In addition, those high-ranked Legends have abilities comparable to rank 5 Radiant Moon Magi…' Even in the prime material plane, there were many powerful beings amongst the natives of this world. While there were high-ranked Legends, there were still many children of gods, divine beings, and even demigods.
Based on Leylin's thoughts, their abilities would not lose out to rank 6 Breaking Dawn Monarchs, or even a near rank 7 like him.
"The World of Gods is filled with danger," Leylin sighed. Not only were there churches and followers all over the continent, the gods had eyes everywhere in their children and family. The moment abnormalities were discovered, and he attracted the attention of the gods… Leylin instantly felt his scalp prickle in fear.
'Perhaps… Adventuring is not a good option. There are many ways to increase the lifespan of wizards. I can use time to train… Besides, my main body can afford to wait for me!' Leylin changed his mind.
Without external dangers, he didn't mind spending more time if that would ensure his safety.
"Young Master Leylin, your afternoon classes are starting! Don't make Master Anthony wait too long!" A gentle voice was heard from outside, and Leylin was pulled back to reality.
"Alright!" Leylin found a towel and wiped at the droplets of water on his body, and then headed to a room outside.
There were two maids with pretty faces and blushes on their cheeks. They went forward, using their tender little hands to straighten the creases on his clothes.
In a feudal family, the family head and young master's personal maids were very important. They not only had to serve their masters in their daily lives, but also take care of their master's bodily needs. If nothing went wrong, this role was usually taken on by the daughter of the housekeeper.
The Faulen Family obviously could not do away with this custom. Leylin's two personal maids were the daughters of the main housekeeper Leon. It was obvious that they had already prepared themselves mentally and were even slightly excited, but Leylin had no plans to do anything.
'I'm only thirteen. Although young masters might have become experienced in that area at this age, they can't be compared to me…' Leylin knew how to control himself.
"Claire, Clara! Has Master Anthony arrived?" Leylin watched these two sisters, and only when the flush spread down to their pale necks did he ask them teasingly.
"Ye- yes, young master!" Claire blushed as she answered, feeling slightly relieved yet also disappointed.
"I can't let my teacher wait for too long…" Leylin smiled as he left, not forgetting to tease them for a while.
"But this'll only go on for these two years…" Smelling that sophisticated aroma, Leylin mumbled to himself.
...
Rays of sunlight shone in through the window, brightening up the hall.
"Mentor Anthony!" Leylin respectfully bowed. While he'd already learnt all the knowledge that the scholar knew, Leylin did not act too rudely since manners were compulsory for nobles.
"Leylin, you did well!" Anthony was already an old man, his kind voice low and his eyes shining. It was obvious that he truly liked this student.
"I've already taught you everything in terms of etiquette and speech in the continent. Today, we shall delve into its history…" Anthony produced a thick yellow tome that looked like a dictionary and placed it on the desk.
History was a rare subject even among nobles, only a few scholars focused on it. However, Leylin differed from the rest; he was extremely interested in this subject.
"History is confusing and tasteless. Many nobles hate it. Can you tell me why you chose this?" Anthony caressed the cover of the volume, looking rather nostalgic.
"It's because knowing history makes one wise. It's like a mirror that allows us to know ourselves better. No matter how foolish or absurd a situation, it's already occurred in the past. We need to prevent such things from repeating."
"A novel idea… cough cough… that makes sense… cough cough…" Anthony's face was flushed, but he suddenly began to cough, his body bending into a stooping position.
"If you can see that, you're definitely my student… Of course, you have Ernest as your master and might not think much of this, but I hope you'll take this!" Anthony's hands trembled as he produced a white silken bundle and unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing the emblem within.
"This is the proof of my glory as a scholar, presented to me in the king's capital by the God of Knowledge. It is now yours… Cough cough…" Anthony's hands trembled as he placed the emblem in Leylin's hands, "I believe you will not tarnish its glory!"
"I swear on it!" Sensing that this old man's life force was already fading, Leylin answered seriously.
While he already had a wizard for a mentor, Leylin had not abandoned his studies of culture, and Anthony taught him very seriously. It could be said that in these 8 years, the old man had already spent a lot of effort on him.
'What a great teacher!' Leylin judged inside, but had no plans of helping him. On one hand, he wanted to avoid revealing himself, and on the other, the concepts in the World of Gods were different. In the eyes of believers, death was merely another beginning. With the guidance of a priest, their souls would rise with glory to the land of the gods, where they could live an eternal life.
-x-X-x-
The followers of the gods would definitely be redeemed after death. That was the basis of the teachings of the gods. For this reason, the teachings of the gods spread throughout the world, causing the rise of numerous zealots who were willing to give up their lives for their beliefs.
Any research relating to the soul was made taboo here, and was considered to profane the dead or the gods.
'How foolish they are to place their hopes on someone else…' Leylin sighed, but did not try to change this mindset. He knew very well how difficult it would be to change an ideology that had turned into a culture over tens of thousands of years.
For this reason, his master Anthony faced death in a very calm manner, and it did not interfere with his daily work.
"Perhaps some day in the future… Your name shall be carved in the church of knowledge, and if my name were to appear in the introduction, I'd have no regrets in my life…" Anthony stated his wish.
The church of knowledge had a wall of glory, where the many names of those who helped pass on knowledge and wisdom were inscribed. It was considered the greatest honour amongst scholars in the continent.
Anthony's hope was that when others saw Leylin's name there, they would find his own in the introduction, where he would be mentioned as a young Leylin's teacher.
"I will work hard, master!" Leylin was speechless, but he could only answer in a vague manner.
"Good! Let us start today's class. Flip to page…" After hearing Leylin personally agreeing, Anthony's face glowed the red of fire that had just been fed oil. The tiny bit of life force he had emitted a vigorous energy.
Leylin listened to him and turned to the page, and an ancient map appeared before him. Due to the many fingers that had touched it, the lines of the map were incredibly blurred.
The black lines of charcoal drew the outline of a broken continent, with many little islands like stars surrounding it. The edges of the ocean were full of darkness, marked out with symbols of danger and the unknown.
"The history of our prime material plane is the history of great discovery. From the beginning, where there were written accounts of the redbud flowers up till today, the continent has evolved to the state that you see right now…" Anthony spoke unhurriedly, "The rise and fall of many nations resulted in many dangers to the continent. You'll find the changes to the borders of these nations on the next page… Now, I'll need you to mark out where we are on the map!"
"This…" Leylin watched Mentor Anthony speechlessly while he kept rolling his eyes inside.
"Our Faulen Territory is in the territorial waters of the southeast part of the Dambrath Kingdom. It was a newly developing land that was found and occupied after the kingdom's third sailing expedition…" Leylin pointed to a corner in the northeast on the map, where there were the vague words of 'Dambrath'.
Due to the the scale, the entire Dambrath Kingdom was just a grain in the vast ocean. While this was what Leylin said verbally, his eyes were beginning to blaze with excitement and fire.
The World of Gods was vast beyond words, and there were even kingdoms established by the beastfolk and elves. Similar to the Magus World, there were things like the underground, where many dark races resided.
On the surface of the continent were hundreds of kingdoms and dukedom, and an inexhaustible number of villages.
Humans, beastfolk, elves, dwarves, pygmies, goblins, jackalfolk, death spirits… all sorts of races and gods of varying types showed the legends that had happened on the continent.
There were hot-blooded adventures, secret conspiracies, many races, various cultures and even wars and peace between gods!
Every dimensional being, whether devils, demons or anything else, were all watching this area with lustful eyes, hoping to gain a portion of it despite the watchful eyes of the gods.
"This is… the beginning of the legends…" Leylin's heart blazed. He was already itching to begin wandering around the continent.
Of course, this desire was quickly suppressed by the cautiousness that lay in his genes.
With his might as a rank 5 wizard, he might be considered an elite in adventuring groups in this dangerous continent, but there were far too many existences that could take his life.
"Alright! Let us take a look at the Lionheart Nation at the middle of the map. On the calendar year 37628 of the holy calendar, 30 years ago, Lionheart King Charlie…" Anthony began his lessons while Leylin listened attentively.
However, Leylin's thoughts were wandering.
'The holy calendar! That's the calendar established by the gods. While on the surface, it began because of the birth of the gods, in reality, the first year is actually a year after the end of the ancient Final War!'
This dark history was obviously not written in historic records. This was information Leylin had gathered through his resources, as well as Ernest and Anthony accidentally letting this slip, and a conclusion that he had eventually come to.
'The ancient Final War practically left the World of Gods in ruins, and the continent was even split into several parts. Civilisation was destroyed in the prime material plane in an instant, and they sunk into their darkest time. Many gods fell, but there were also those who were fortunate enough to gain their divine powers and rose rapidly, igniting their godfires and becoming new gods. The Goddess of the Weave Mystra is the best example! They must have established the holy calendar after the new gods created their churches!'
Leylin's eyes were shining, "Hence, amongst the gods, given the division of the ranks of the gods, which is that between the old and new gods, the old gods must have powers that generally surpass that of the new gods…"
Evidently, if Legends in the prime material plane wanted to slaughter gods in order to obtain their divine powers, the new gods were their best choice, which also applied to Leylin.
'On top of that, in the World of Gods, it's already been 37,000 years since the ancient Final War?" Leylin stroked his chin, "Looks like time flows differently in the God of Worlds as compared to the Magus World…' After the class was over and he had sent Mentor Anthony away, Leylin returned to his room.
"Young Master! Young Master! You have received a letter from Miss Isabel!" At this moment, Claire jogged over, holding a pink letter in her hands. She was breathing raggedly, her chest was bouncing, and even her little face had flushed pink and filled with beads of sweat.
"Thanks for your trouble!" Leylin touched her hand, causing the maid to flush pink bashfully and run off.
"Hehe…" Having teased her successfully, Leylin chuckled in satisfaction as he sat back on the couch, tearing open the pink letter in his hands.
"To my beloved cousin, Leylin Faulen,
Dearest Leylin, are you doing well? Do you still need to have your diaper changed? It's been about five years since I left the Faulen Island, but I still can't get used to the darkness and dampness of this city, especially the moss on the ground that practically extends all the way to my room…"
On the letter was a little girl's immature handwriting. She began with banter, but that then turned into longing and complaints.
"Has it been five years?" Leylin sighed, recalling the time he'd been with Isabel. While she liked to bully him, she obviously felt protective of him.
However, she had her own family as well, and when Leylin was eight, they had come to get her. While leaving, Isabel had bawled. Leylin still remembered the feeling of her grabbing his hand tightly.
'Based on Father's arrangements, I will enter the Grain Goddess' church and become an apprentice priest. I've heard that rules are very strict there, and I hope I'll still get the chance to communicate with you through letters… Isabel.'
"Becoming a priest?" Leylin nodded. In noble families, besides the first son needing to take over the feudal status, the rest of the children seldom received money and were even chased out of their homes.
If the second son was intelligent, they would study management and become the housekeepers of some noble family. The rest might become knights or enter churches.
The daughters would take on the great responsibility of getting married to other families. It was very common for there to be old husbands and young wives, or old wives with young husbands.
For Isabel, being able to study as a priest meant that she would have power of her own, as well as support from the church. Even if she would need to marry someone in the future, this was not half bad.
But… At the thought of the shrewish cousin of his who would need to bemoan the state of the heavens and fate of the people, carrying the name of the gods by her lips all day long, Leylin had the urge to laugh.
After reading the letter, Leylin went to the side in his home.
There was a small-scaled smelting room. On the laboratory table with a metal surface were numerous valuable glass apparatus.
Just purchasing these items had led to the earnings of the Faulen Family diminishing for a few months.
Besides, Leylin was still starting out with the miniature versions. The real stuff was with his mentor, Ernest.
With such terrifying rates of expenditure, it was understandable that many magicians came from noble families.
Besides the lucky, only nobles would be able to bear the terrifying cost of the materials for casting spells and experiments.
-x-X-x-
A pungent herbal odour wafted through a dimly lit room, mixing with the strong smell of incense. The two scents mixed to leave one light-headed.
An old scholar lay on a bed with an exquisite brocade silk quilt draped over him, on the last leg of his life. The atmosphere was heavy, and light sniffs sounded out on occasion before they were suppressed.
Leylin was clad in black ceremonial attire as he stood amongst the guests, expressionless as he watched the old man on the bed. There was no sign of the inexperience on his face from before, and instead he seemed more mature, like a handsome young man.
It was obviously Anthony on the bed. This scholar was a normal human after all, and his life force had been diminishing for a long time. Being able to hold on to till date was already something that greatly surprised Leylin.
On top of his role as a student about to send his master off, Leylin had a more important matter to attend to.
At this moment, Anthony's body twitched and his throat moved. There was a slight flush on his face, and it was obvious that death was near.
"Priest! Get the priest!" His wife shrieked, and the children around her burst into tears.
The crowd split into two, revealing the sorrowful face on Bishop Tapris. "The gods will watch over you from the divine kingdom."
"Thank you! Thank you, Lord Bishop!" Anthony's wife wept. As a bishop of the god of knowledge, Tapris evidently had a high status on Faulen Island, and being able to have him attend meant Anthony was given face. While Leylin suspected this had to do with his powerful family, it was still a good thing, no?
Tapris waved his arms, showering him in holy light and stabilising Anthony's condition. Afterwards, the scholar began his last prayer. It might instead be called a narration of his memories. "My life… began at the island of Sicily…. "
"Leylin, my student, I hope to see the day you succeed. Even in the divine kingdom, I'll be rooting for you!"
"I understand, master!" Leylin quickly hastened forward, the A.I. Chip's detective abilities being raised to the maximum.
Tapris was moved by Anthony's mention of Leylin, something he'd done even after reciting his will. It showed how well Anthony thought of his student; his own investment hadn't been wasted.
"I… I see the glamour of the gods…" Anthony struggled for the last time, raising his palm. The light in his eyes dimmed, and his arms powerlessly fell to the side of the bed.
"Nooo…" "Anthony…" "My dearest Anthony…" Many cries began to sound in the room.
Tapris' face grew even more pious as he began Anthony's eulogy, "He was a learned scholar and a good samaritan, one who was willing to help others. As a follower of the god of knowledge, Anthony Blunton used his entire life to pass on the teachings of the gods. The gates to the divine kingdom shall open for him in death…"
'It's here!' A trace of emotion flickered in Leylin's eyes. Through his powerful senses, he saw huge, shining golden gates. The gates opened to a bright holy light, within which Anthony's soul rose from his body on its own. After taking another peek at the world of the living, he threw himself inside…
'The divine kingdom, situated in a plane above the prime material plane…' Leylin sighed inside.
'Normal followers' souls must first enter the soil and, after being evaluated by the God of Death, advance into the divine kingdoms of the various gods. However, Anthony's soul bypassed that procedure. Is this a privilege from the bishop?' Leylin wondered.
After the souls of followers reached the divine kingdoms, they would in theory become petitioners, henceforth breaking away from mortality. As long as the god and their divine kingdom were not destroyed, they would basically exist together with the god.
To a certain extent, this was a sort immortality, but they could not be bothered by external forces.
'It's rumoured that high-ranked petitioners can undergo a transition in terms of their souls, becoming something like a holy spirit… Every such one is a precious asset of the god, but their numbers are…' Based on Leylin's thoughts, these holy spirits were souls that could not die nor be extinguished, very similar to materialised souls.
This meant that, in theory, every holy spirit was comparable to the truesoul of a Breaking Dawn Magus.
'While the formation of holy spirits relies entirely on external forces, there is the benefit of living a stress-free immortal life while depending on the gods. Over time, the defences of the gods' divine kingdoms must have grown extremely terrifying…'
With a limitless number of believers, holy spirits, and the power of being the authority in that realm, gods were basically invincible in their own divine kingdoms. Even the more powerful deities couldn't easily dispose of the weaker ones if they were in their own realms, and they would have to pay a terrible price.
As for those Magi who had accidentally intruded into a divine kingdom… the result was obvious.
'Evidently, master Anthony's soul has a ways to go to meet the requirements to become a holy spirit. The mighty god of knowledge, Oghma, would obviously not make an exception for him… But with the bishop paving the path for him, he'd probably be in a better situation than many petitioners.'
After the divine lights retracted and the guiding force disappeared, Leylin's tense body relaxed. Bishop Tapris approached him then as well, having completed the ceremony, "Leylin!"
"Lord Bishop!" Leylin bowed to him respectfully. After all, he was a follower of the god of knowledge even if in name.
"Anthony was a pious follower. He will definitely be treated well in His kingdom, there's no need to worry…" Tapris consoled him, and seemed to have more to say.
Leylin and Tapris left the room, heading to a garden. Those people around had voluntarily left this area to them. "If I don't remember wrong, you've already held your coming of age ceremony. You're now a true man!" Bishop Tapris shifted the topic to Leylin.
"Yes, it was conducted last month…" Leylin answered modestly. Based on the customs of this world, boys would be considered adults once they hit 15, and could marry and have children.
"I was by your side when you were born… At that time, you were a little guy, still in your infancy. You've gotten so big in the blink of an eye…" Bishop Tapris laughed gently, as if reminiscing. As a rank 10 priest, the years did not leave marks on his face. In reality, he was much older than Anthony.
"But… I rarely see you attending celebrations at the church. Baron Jonas might be busy with work, but Lady Sarah is a very devout follower…" Tapris' voice showed a hint of disapproval.
"My apologies, lord bishop! I often conduct experiments with master Ernest and I must lose track of time…" Leylin quickly apologised.
A look of helplessness appeared on Bishop Tapris' face. Wizards in general had the least piety in them. Many of them were just general followers, and he'd long since expected this. In reality, while the entire Faulen family might be followers of the god of knowledge, they had never completely lost themselves in the teachings of the god.
In many areas on the continent, the worldly authority that nobles had were perpetually in conflict with gods' authority. Even Baron Jonas had brought in a new god, Ilmater the Crying God, while the church of knowledge already existed. He planned to build a church of wealth, allowing other gods to spread faith in them amongst the followers.
This was the instinct of a noble, but Tapris obviously couldn't accept it. His plan was to pull in the next generation head of the Faulen Family.
It was a pity that wizard Leylin was just like his father. While he never forgot to donate and make sacrifices to the church, he rarely took part in zealous religious ceremonies. On top of that, he was a wizard and had help from his mentor… Tapris' expression grew darker.
"My apologies for my rude actions, Bishop Tapris! Please allow me to donate ten gold coins to the church to repent for my sins. On top of that, please inform me the next time there are celebrations and gatherings!" When it came to matters of faith, Leylin had long since planned to treat them with less importance. However, since Tapris had brought it up, he had no choice but to do this.
Anyway, he already had plans to go to the church's celebrations every once in a while, pretending to be a follower.
"Good! There will be a holy baptism seven days later. It is a day in remembrance of the god of knowledge's feat in reforming the demon, Angmar. The church will hold a grand celebration, so I hope to see you there…"
"It would be my honour to. I'll definitely go!" Since this was a personal invite from Tapris, Leylin agreed straightforwardly.
"Good!" Tapris nodded, and was then asked away by someone who had been waiting for him beside them. Besides Anthony's funeral, there were many matters he had to attend to.
After the Lord Bishop left, Leylin remained in the garden, watching the white rose behind the wooden railing while deep in thought. 'He wants me to go there personally? What is that supposed to be? A warning?'
In reality, with his status as a noble the power of the church was not as immense as one would expect it to be. If Tapris dared overstep his boundaries, he would definitely be jointly resisted by the entirety of the nobility in the Dambrath Kingdom.
-x-X-x-
The battle for authority between gods and royalty had always been a problem. As the next leader of a low-grade noble family, Leylin was considered royalty. Tapris could not do anything to him, at least not out in the open, else the royalty would declare war on him. Even the pope of the god of knowledge would only choose to sacrifice Tapris and pacify the royals.
'Besides… it's not like Oghma is the only god on the continent. There are still many new churches that are crying out, trying to gain more followers. Of course, this is only what might happen in the worst-case scenario. Things probably won't get that bad…' Since he could now predict Tapris' future actions and the worst consequences, Leylin felt at ease as he returned to the manor.
He first met with his master Ernest, and mentioned Tapris' demand. He thought nothing of it and answered with a grunt, and then sent Leylin out. It seemed as if he was preparing to immerse himself in a very important experiment, and his mind was wandering while he was speaking to Leylin.
'Perhaps I'm motiving master to work harder as well. A few days ago, he was saying he was about to reach the fifth level of the Weave or something like that…' Leylin's rapid progress must have been a huge motivation for Ernest, who had been stuck at rank 9 for a while now.
In reality, he was actually far from truly reaching the fifth level of the Weave. Leylin cleverly hid a portion of his own strength as well, else Ernest would probably want to commit suicide from the humiliation.
Half-reclining on the sofa in the room, Leylin waved his arms and got Claire to come over and massage his head while he communicated with the A.I. Chip.
'A.I. Chip, what's the recent progress on the analysis of the Weave?' he commanded with his eyes shut.
[Beep! Progress on analysis on the Weave: Rank 0 Weave 100%. Rank 1 Weave 41.22%. Rank 2 Weave 2.3%.]
After seeing these numbers, Leylin sighed noiselessly.
'Two years have already passed, but there hasn't been progress in the two layers after rank 0. The analysis of rank 2 has completely halted…' Though Leylin knew that this was due to his command to maintain stealth, he still gre dejected by it.
'But analysis of the rank 0 Weave has finally reached 100%! What kind of surprises will it give me?' Thinking this, Leylin instructed, 'Give me the information on the rank 0 Weave.'
In that instant, Leylin felt like his line of sight was drowned out by words of laws. All of them held the power of laws, and Leylin felt like he was losing himself within.
[Beep! Analysis of rank 0 Weave complete. Obtained all rank 0 spell models!] The A.I. Chip intoned loyally while opening up a subdirectory. Within it were rank 0 spells of varying types, all arranged in an orderly fashion.
Resistance, Acid Splash, Caltrops, Detect Poison, Detect Magic, Daze, Dancing Lights, Flare, Light, Ray of Frost, Electric Jolt, Sonic Snap, Ghost Sound, Silent Portal, Disrupt Undead, Touch of Fatigue, Mage Hand, Arcane Mark, Prestidigitation...
A whole array of rank 0 spell models of varying types that included spells Ernest may or may not have taught him before were displayed on the A.I. Chip.
"Based on what master said, wizards can be separated into varying factions. There is abjuration, conjuration, enchantment, transmutation, divination, evocation and necromancy, which comes up to a total of eight schools. There are also spells which everyone can use… A wizard can choose to train in two to three spell schools before one's energy is completely exhausted. Master Ernest, for instance, is versed in evocation and transmutation spells, and he can't even use the spells of other schools at all…" Leylin muttered, "But now, I've grasped control of all the rank 0 spells of the eight great schools as well as those that can be used by all wizards…"
[Beep! Host has obtained all rank 0 spell models. Removing restriction on rank 0 spells. Host has obtained authority to cast all rank 0 spells without any restriction! Exempted from effects of forgetting spells!]
Having conquered one layer of the Weave, the benefits that Leylin obtained were terrifying. While he could not match up to the controller of the Weave, Mystra, having these benefits made it simple and very convenient for him.
This means that besides being proficient in all rank 0 spells, I won't need to prepare rank 0 spells the day before and can use them on the day itself…" Leylin was rather excited. The flexibility this allowed was enough for many wizards' eyes to go green in envy.
"Furthermore, not needing materials when casting spells and not forgetting spells…" Leylin's eyes brightened. Many rank 0 spells required magic materials to cast, something that wizards usually spent the most of their money on. Forgetting spells was also what had many wizards fuming with rage. After casting a spell, wizards would completely forget the original spell model and would have to relearn and memorise it.
From Leylin's point of view, the controller of the Weave had drawn all their spirit and soul strength and slowly exploit them. The gods who were at the top of the Weave were practically vampires.
However, with these effects, Leylin could now do away with the limitations of the rank 0 spells.
"Since I've only analysed the first layer of the Weave, this only works for rank 0 spells… But wizards have always been wise about what spells to cast. Even a rank 0 spell can turn the tables if used correctly…" While he would only have these effects when it came to rank 0 spells, that was already enough for Leylin to be elated.
After completely analysing the rank 0 Weave, Leylin could even steal other wizards' spell slots and get them to cast the spell in their memories for him. It was a pity that Leylin was not the Goddess of the Weave. While he could make things convenient for himself, it was best not to go too far.
If he did so, the wizards who noticed something was off would definitely investigate and report it to the gods. It was much too easy to be discovered, which was why Leylin dared not do this.
"At the last part, once the A.I. Chip completely analyses the Weave, I might be able to challenge the Goddess of the Weave herself…" Leylin's eyes flashed.Meanwhile, white rays of light flickered at his fingertips.
"Ah…" Claire, who was massaging Leylin, let out a shriek.
"What, have you never seen the power of spells before?" Leylin watched her teasingly. Before the coming of age ceremony, his two personal maids had fully committed themselves to their duties and helped their young master become a true man. Of course, this was only in terms of his body.
"N- No…" Claire's eyes were filled with envy. The power of magic obviously left her intoxicated. Due to the harshness of the Weave of this world, wizards cherished their spell slots like they did their eyes, planning their spells everyday. Nobody would be like a spendthrift like Leylin, playing with magic even if it was only rank 0 magic.
"There's something more fun!" Leylin watched Claire, a teasing look on his face, "Mage Hand!"
The sounds of girl's screams and coquettish laughter transmitted from the room, causing the maids who passed by to turn red…
Sudden, hurried footsteps destroyed this beautiful scene.
"Young master, young master, something's happened!" Clara, the other sister, ran in. She'd even forgotten the courtesy of knocking. She was met with the sight of her sister all flushed, and her young master, who was in a state of undress.
Though it wasn't as if she'd never seen this, Clara still turned red. "My- My apologies…"
"There's no need to bow. Tell me what happened!" Leylin stood up leisurely. He knew that for Clara to become so frantic, it must be something very serious. In comparison, his entertainment obviously came second, and Claire focused on not herself, but arranging Leylin's clothes.
"Miss Isabel has already reached the manor. Madam Sarah has requested you to go over quickly!" Clara calmed her ragged breathing and finally managed to present the information in its entirety.
"Cousin Isabel?" Leylin was confused, "Wasn't she apprenticing as a priestess for the Goddess of Agriculture? She can't leave for three years, so why's she suddenly here at the Faulen lands? She's obviously not here on a vacation…"
Hurriedly pulling on a coat, Leylin went to the other side of the manor. For safety during their training and experiments, he and Ernest stayed far away from the couple.He headed to outside the drawing room and saw his housekeeper, Leon, standing outside resolutely while looking sorrowful and strong.
This housekeeper was also Claire and Clara's father.
"What happened? Is this about Isabel's family?" Leylin approached him and asked.
"Miss Isabel is inside. Please persuade her! I'll let Madam tell you what happened." Housekeeper Leon bowed low.
'What is this? I have a bad feeling…' Leylin had an ominous feeling that there was trouble incoming, but he still walked into the drawing room while bracing himself.
"Mother! And… Cousin Isabel!"
After greeting his mother, Leylin glanced towards the other person in the room. However, she had changed so much that he could not believe his own eyes.
-x-X-x-
Isabel stood in the drawing room, and she still had the long golden hair and blue eyes that Leylin was familiar with. However, her pretty face was stern and icy, and her sharp gaze held an aura of danger.
She wore tight-fitting soft leather armour and had a black scabbard for a longsword at her waist, her slender legs forming a beautiful arc. Leylin sensed an iciness and despair in her temperament, as well as the flames of revenge hidden deep within. There was also evil.
"Long time no see, cousin Leylin! I'm so glad you're still doing well!" Isabel drawled in a hoarse voice. Her icy gaze seemed to melt a little while watching Leylin, becoming more welcoming.
"Aunt, I'll be off now!" Isabel bade Sarah farewell, while the rims of Sara's eyes turned red.
"What happened?" After Isabel left, Leylin's expression turned dark.
"Ahh… my pitiful little sister…" Madam Sarah began to weep, and Leylin could only stay by her side.
Through the inarticulate descriptions from his mother, Leylin somewhat guessed the situation. Cousin Isabel's family had been struck by a disaster months ago. Her family had been massacred in cold blood, and there were traces of demons and devils left behind at the scene, which meant it might have something to do with an evil deity's ceremony.
Practically no one survived other than Isabel, and that was because she'd been at the church of the Goddess of Agriculture.
While Isabel's father was not a true noble, he did have a temporary status as a baron. While this status would only last for his life, these actions immediately resulted in anger from the church and royalty, and the town hall even announced that they would find the murderer.
There was another issue. Her family had always been a liaison between the Faulen Family and the Dambrath Kingdom on the continent. The consequences of this act was that the Faulen Family would lose all means of contact and news from the continent. Needless to say, there were also many troublesome matters which needed settling. Whatever it was, having a devil involved made things complicated. Leylin's father in this world had already set sail after he had gotten this information, planning to go to the continent and solve the problems.
"You have to console your cousin Isabel properly. She only has us left, and I heard that she even had to deal with an attempted assassination just recently! Oh, my poor child…" Madam Sarah wept, while Leylin nodded seriously.
Cousin Isabel just now obviously lacked the temperament that a priest should have. Evidently, the revenge she wanted to exact, or perhaps the series of shocks she had endured after the incident had caused her to walk the path of blood and vengeance. Who knew, she might even be involved in some ceremony or sacrifice to the gods.
"Hm? This timing… does it mean Bishop Tapris already knows about this?" Leylin came to a sudden realisation. With the communication between churches, it was very possible that he had received the news before Leylin had, which made his recent invitation very interesting.
"A storm is coming…" Leylin walked out of the drawing room. As he watched the overcast skies, his expression became as gloomy as the weather.
'Something seems off…' Leylin touched his chin, 'Her family can almost be seen a branch of our Faulen family in the Dambrath Kingdom. This act against them seems to be aimed at us…'
'Are the up-and-coming Faulen lands now being coveted by the nobles? Or is this an effect from us eliminating a few pirate crews sometime ago?' A multitude of possibilities arose in front of Leylin. When he regained his senses, he was already standing in front of Ernest's room.
"Is it Leylin? I still have important experiments to finish…" Ernest's annoyed voice could be heard from within the room.
"I'm sorry, master, but I feel like we need to have a serious talk," Leylin's smile had no effect on him.
"Fine, but only for half an hour!" The door was pulled open, revealing Ernest's haggard face. His hair was messy, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
One could see filthy clothes and all sorts of junk everywhere upon entering the room. There was practically no place that was clean save for the laboratory.
Leylin flung a grey shirt that had been tossed onto the sofa away and sat down. Ernest seemed to think of something at this point and wiped his face, watching his prodigious student.
"Leylin! You seem to be have met with some trouble… does it have to do with the church of knowledge you mentioned in the morning? It shouldn't trouble you this much; is it something else?" Ernest was rather concerned when it came to this student of his, someone who had a bright future ahead of him.
"Yes. It's a huge problem…" Leylin laughed bitterly and began to narrate the situation.
"So you want me to act and maintain the safety of the manor?" Ernest's brows fluttered, as if he had seen through Leylin's plans. It had to be said that this was perhaps the best choice.
"No, no! I actually want to ask master…" Leylin shook his head instead and requested something else, causing Ernest to watch his student in wide-eyed shock.
A moment later, a gigantic flying bird soared from the manor, with was a figure seated atop it.
"My student really knows how to order his teacher about…" This figure was evidently Ernest, though he was now hastening his journey and cursing along the way.
"The strength of Father's guards and a rank 9 magician should be enough to take care of the dangers and challenges…" Leylin muttered as he stood by the window, watching the bird shrink into a tiny black dot as it flew away.
If he was the one who had orchestrated the elimination of Isabel's family, causing Baron Faulen to lose his connection to the mainland, it would only be the first step. Next he would create traps and hinder the baron who was heading towards the continent,
The Faulen family was a noble family that was new and still developing. Once Baron Jonas died, there would only be a widowed mother and an orphaned son left behind. He didn't have any support either, and was the easiest to deal with.
Hence, protecting the baron and his men was the key in this situation. And the only high-ranked power the Faulen Family could rely on right now was the rank 9 wizard Ernest.
"The meagre benefits of our island and port are far from being sufficient for those great nobles. The power that the other party holds shouldn't be too powerful. Hopefully, with master Ernest's strength coupled with that of the family, we should be able to successfully take care of this matter…" Leylin's eyes flashed.
Of course, while he focused mostly on Baron Jonas, it wasn't as if he prepared nothing for the Faulen Family. Initially, he had planned to get Ernest to handle everything. In the worst case scenario, Leylin and his mother themselves would be safe. Perhaps this was something Baron Jonas realised as well, which would be the reason he hadn't invited that old friend of his on the journey. However, Leylin had spoiled his plans.
"With master Ernest, there's no need to worry about the baron, but the defences of the manor are diminished by a great degree…" Leylin sighed, "I'll have to make up for it myself…"
Leylin had always been training his abilities as a wizard on the sly, but he'd never had the chance to use them in real battles. Of course, with his experience prior to this reincarnation, this wasn't a huge issue. He rather anticipated practicing on a few dumb bandits and the like.
"Alright, now to see what master left for me…" Leylin returned to his room and fiddled with a few artifacts on the table. Ernest was no fool, and he'd obviously made preparations for his student's safety by leaving behind a few protective artifacts.
"Hm, let me see…" Leylin's eyes were filled with curiosity as he tidied up the artifacts on the table. Ernest had only left three artifacts behind. There was a black ring and two unknown scrolls with some magic patterns on them, emitting a mysterious luster.
"Appraisal!" Leylin tapped on them, and several streaks of white light burst out, returning with information about them.
"A magic ring with a protective shield that displaces attacks, as well as two rank 4 spell scrolls. Mm… One's a Stone Skin spell while the other is an offensive Blizzard spell..."
Given the types of the spells, Ernest had evidently made them himself. They were the best quality artifacts he could make given his rank, and on top of that there was the additional costs from the high rate of failure.
Leylin put on the ring and played around with the scrolls in his hands. In many cases, rank 4 magic scrolls could even turn the tides of battle from defeat to victory, and Leylin was very aware of what they were worth. Though many of the materials to make the scrolls had been supplied by the Faulen Family, Leylin still felt his heart warm.
"These things give me some more security… I might need to modify the plan…" Leylin muttered to himself as he returned to his room, sending the sisters away.
"A.I. Chip, show me my current stats!" Leylin commanded.
[Leylin Farlier. Age: 15. Race: Human, Rank 6 Wizard. Strength: 1.6. Agility: 1. Vitality: 1.5. Spirit: 6. Condition: Healthy. Innate Talents: Sturdy, Erudite. Spell Slots: Rank 2 Spell slot (2), Rank 1 Spell slot (3), Rank 0 Spell slot (???)] The A.I. Chip loyally intoned.