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Chapter 163: Serie's Question
"How surprising," Serie's clear, cold voice broke the tranquility of the magic practice, just a short distance from them, Flamme was practicing a brand new magic.
Serie's tone carried a hint of imperceptible admiration. "Her talent is the second best I have ever seen among humans."
Kurtz glanced at her, not responding.
He knew who the first referred to, undoubtedly himself.
Serie's gaze shifted from Flamme to the sky, as if recalling: "Humans, though weak and short-lived, always manage to give birth to beings that defy convention."
Perhaps it was truly as Kurtz had said, humans would be the most dazzling existence on this continent, and indeed, they had already begun to be.
Only a little over a thousand years had passed, and the traces of humanity had begun to spread across the continent, a stark contrast to their scarce presence a millennium ago.
Even around the forest where she and Kurtz resided, human villages had appeared.
Meanwhile, Serie's statements continued: "A thousand years ago there were Norn and Eric, mortals who fought against gods, and a thousand years later, Flamme appeared, and…"
She paused, her gaze returning to Kurtz. "And you. Your very existence is a mockery of all creatures in this world who hold a narrow view of humanity."
"I think Flamme should be considered an exception," Kurtz calmly replied.
He knew better than anyone how dazzling Flamme's talent was in human history, but it was probably the only case.
In the original historical trajectory, she almost single-handedly ushered in a new era in the theoretical and systemic construction of human magic.
This achievement was, in itself, a miracle born from the convergence of many factors.
"An exception?" Serie's lips curved into a self-mocking smile. "I think it's still not as outrageous as you are."
Flamme's talent was indeed excellent; she could cast Light Arrow magic soon after beginning to learn magic, and this year, her third year of studying magic, she was already proficient in several different elemental types of magic.
The only thing she might lack is practical combat experience.
After all, although Serie often trained and sparred with her, they always held back, never truly putting her life in danger.
Serie was already considering whether to take Flamme to find some monsters or demons for some practical experience.
Kurtz raised an eyebrow, looking innocent: "Me?"
"Look," Serie raised her hand and pointed at Flamme. "She took a week to learn Light Arrow magic initially, and you?"
A complex look flashed in her eyes, a familiar surprise from witnessing countless inhuman feats. "You just took one look and learned it, even improving upon it. The gap between you two was already a chasm before she was even born."
Flamme's progress was indeed rapid, but that was all.
In the face of Kurtz's talent, this rapid progress seemed ordinary.
Perhaps what Flamme now mastered was just the tip of the iceberg of what Kurtz had achieved in the same amount of study time back then?
Serie did not want to dwell on this.
"There are also differences between people," Kurtz shrugged, trying to gloss over it with a light remark.
"Indeed," Serie nodded in deep agreement, with a strange sense of resignation. "Sometimes, the gap can be as vast as heaven and earth, so great that the pursuit itself seems meaningless."
She let out a soft breath, tinged with a hint of helplessness.
Once, she might have held onto the idea of "living long enough to eventually surpass this man," after all, she was an elf, an almost eternal elf!
As long as she lived long enough, she would eventually leave this man behind.
But after Kurtz also broke free from the shackles of time, she completely gave up.
In the face of pure talent, eternal time also lost its greatest advantage.
Flamme's training seemed to have entered a critical stage.
She tried to compress the flames in her hand into a ball, but the turbulence of the fire element exceeded her current control limit.
With a "hiss," the uncontrolled magic exploded violently!
The scorching flames mixed with a shockwave spread outwards, and Flamme was directly knocked to the ground, her small face pale, her palms burning red, clearly burned by the backlash.
Serie frowned, about to step forward.
Kurtz, however, was a step faster than her, his figure flashing to appear beside Flamme, and the light of healing magic instantly covered her burned hand.
"Compressing fire is a bit more complex than light; you can't rush it," Kurtz comforted. "Take a break first, and try to feel the flow of magic when it went out of control just now."
Flamme looked at the healed scars on her hand, and under Kurtz's soothing words, the panic in her heart also subsided.
She nodded, walked to the side, sat down, and closed her eyes, beginning to recall.
Serie remained where she was, watching Kurtz comfort Flamme.
For some reason, she felt a little displeased.
She was here first, after all.
Feeling her mood begin to sour, Serie turned and walked deeper into the forest. Kurtz seemed to sense it and followed her.
The two walked one after another for a long time until they reached a clearing in the woods before Serie stopped.
She turned around and looked directly at Kurtz: "Why?"
Kurtz met her gaze: "Why what?"
"Why are you so insistent on interfering with my teaching of Flamme?"
Serie originally did not want to question Kurtz, preferring to let time slowly determine Flamme's future path.
However, after seeing Kurtz's concern and comfort towards Flamme just now, she couldn't help but ask her question.
"Her hatred is her driving force. I don't see any problem with her using that hatred to make herself stronger.
Moreover, I could have ignored your actions, or waited for her to make her own choice, but now I want to know your reason for doing this."
Her gaze was fixed on Kurtz, as if trying to dissect his calm exterior to uncover his true thoughts.
"Are you worried that my methods will cause her to go astray? Like those foolish mages who can't control their own power?
Even if that happens one day, it will only be her own problem, a consequence of her insufficient skill."
Kurtz was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering something, then he slowly spoke: "Serie, you are right. If Flamme truly goes astray in the future, it is indeed due to insufficient skill, a result of her failure to control her own power. But…"
He changed his tone, looking at Serie with utmost seriousness: "But there's a prerequisite for that, and that is if no one interferes. That's entirely different from you letting her only pursue the power of hatred."
[End of Chapter]
T/N: How are you doing? Are you living or Giving? Hmm? :)