Chapter 44: The Guide

Ten o'clock on the evening of June 3rd. While the entire city was still basking in the unprecedented triumph of the "Homecoming Concert," while people were still intoxicated by the classic greatness of the two symphonies — *From the New World* and *Ode to Joy* — while the streets and alleys frequently echoed with songs from the *Ode to Joy* and the soaring, desolate melody of the second movement of *From the New World*, those dwelling in Altor's dark corners had already resumed their customary routines, seizing this rare opportunity to hold clandestine gatherings. Inside a seemingly ordinary civilian dwelling in the Purple Lily District, roughly a dozen mysterious figures had assembled in a hidden basement. Most wore similar black hooded robes, while a few wore masks of various animals — bears, goats, and other creatures beloved by children — readily available on the street. "Hanged Man, why hasn't the Sage arrived yet?" a female figure whose face was concealed beneath a hood whispered. Despite her voice being altered, its underlying sweetness was still discernible. Her black robe could not entirely conceal the curves beneath. They sat around a circular table lit by several white candles, strewn with books, papers, and materials. The Hanged Man replied in his distinctive, cold, eerie voice: "Mercury, how should I know? The Sage is already an official magician. He has every right to arrive at the last possible moment." After becoming an official magician in the danger-riddled city of Altor, the Sage had not withdrawn from this circle of Magic Apprentices. Instead, he had taken on a teacher-like role, guiding the other apprentices and exchanging arcane potion recipes with them. He had quickly become the de facto leader of the circle, benefiting numerous apprentices. The Hanged Man himself was drawing ever closer to the rank of official magician, and he vaguely sensed that Mercury, Morning Star, and Reindeer had all dramatically improved in power. He was unsure whether they had already become official magicians themselves or had simply enhanced other abilities through potions and Magic Circles. "Five minutes left. If the Sage still hasn't arrived, we'll have to leave," said the man in the black robe wearing the Reindeer mask, his voice hoarse, before Mercury could answer. The other Magic Apprentices nodded in agreement. Gatherings of this sort tolerated absolutely no tardiness, because lateness invariably meant something unexpected had occurred — there could be no half-measures of hope. Hearing Reindeer's words, Morning Star smiled bitterly: "This life of constant vigilance and fear is truly suffocating and exhausting." "If you don't want the suffering, then just be like Fire Wolf," the Hanged Man retorted coldly. Instantly, all the apprentices who had been murmuring among themselves fell silent. Though there was no definitive evidence and no one had personally witnessed or heard the full account of what had transpired in the Melzer Black Forest back then, a handful of simple, easily verified facts confirmed that Fire Wolf had been a traitor lurking within their ranks. For instance, Fire Wolf had volunteered his knowledge of the ruins. The opposing force had included a large contingent of the Night Watch. Since then, the Professor had never appeared again. And the Professor had been "honored" with a place on the Purification List — something they had learned from official magicians in other circles. Mentioning this matter, Mercury — who tried to sound hoarse but whose voice still carried traces of its captivating sweetness — sighed softly: "What a pity a traitor appeared among us, forcing the Professor to hastily leave Altor before he could tell us the location of the Arcane Council headquarters. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to feel so lost and oppressed, unable to find that 'radiant paradise,' feeling as though there is no path forward." Speaking of the Professor, her voice brimmed with profound reverence — born from firsthand experience of his vast knowledge, from the terrifying magic she had witnessed with her own eyes, and from the fact that he had actually ascended the Purification List. Several newly recruited apprentices had often heard the name of this "Professor" from the existing members and were filled with curiosity. But they harbored not the slightest doubt in the descriptions given by Mercury and the others. Making it onto the Purification List proved everything — he was a figure of terrifying renown, spoken of with the same awe even by magicians from other circles! "Back then, I thought the Professor was merely an ordinary mid-level magician. I never imagined he was far more terrifying than I could have conceived..." the Hanged Man mused in his cold voice, when suddenly a distinctive knock echoed from the basement entrance. "The Sage has arrived..." The apprentices collectively breathed a sigh of relief and rose to their feet, quietly awaiting the Sage — for he was an official magician, while they were merely apprentices. Mercury cautiously walked to the door of the secret chamber and called out in a low voice: "Sage?" The house was a two-story civilian dwelling with a basement, featuring numerous windows and entry points. Because of this, they had not set up their first checkpoint at the front door. Instead, they had placed arcane traps along the corridor leading to the secret chamber, and relied on the knock and a verbal exchange to confirm identity, allowing them to detect threats early and escape from the basement using pre-prepared magical means. "It's me." The Sage's aged voice came through. The familiar voice, the calm tone, combined with the faint spiritual perception that detected no anomalies, allowed the apprentices to lower their strained nerves. Every time someone arrived, they tightened like bowstrings — an indescribable sensation of agony. Mercury disarmed the arcane trap and opened the door to find the Sage wearing his black arcane robe, his face shrouded in the shadow of his hood. "Good evening, Sage." Every apprentice pressed their right hand to their forehead and bowed deeply, greeting the Sage with the ancient magician's salute. When they straightened up from the bow, however, they all drew a sharp breath — for standing beside the Sage was another mysterious figure cloaked in a vast, cold black arcane robe. They had been completely unaware of this person's presence just moments ago. In their hazy spiritual perception, the space around the Sage had been entirely empty! "Sage, what is the meaning of this?! Why have you suddenly brought a stranger?!" Mercury's voice rang out in anger, the accusation sharp. This was the most forbidden thing at gatherings like these. Bringing someone else without prior notification was absolutely impermissible. The Hanged Man and the others were both indignant and anxious, but none voiced their accusation as Mercury had. The Sage was an official magician — he alone could annihilate every apprentice present. "Mercury really has been hiding her strength. She may already be an official magician..." they thought silently, watching this exchange. The Sage chuckled: "Mercury, don't be agitated. He is no stranger — he has attended our gatherings before." "What? Who?" Mercury and the other apprentices asked in unison, stunned. "Mercury, Hanged Man, Morning Star, Reindeer — don't you remember me?" Lucian spoke again in the deliberately distorted cold, hoarse voice he had used before, while releasing the full force of his powerful spiritual energy without restraint. This was no longer the pressure of will brought about by magical artifacts — this was the genuine imposing aura of a mid-level magician. The Hanged Man and the others felt the black-robed magician before them to be cold and terrifying, like an abyss that could never be plucked to its bottom. Merely seeing him, merely sensing his aura, sent their entire bodies trembling, a bone-deep coldness spreading to every part of their being. Had he been actively pressing down rather than merely radiating his aura, they would have already collapsed with their legs giving way, let alone gathered the concentration to cast a spell. A mid-level magician — an absolute mid-level magician! A mid-level magician of the gulf between heaven and earth that separated them from Magic Apprentices! Only Mercury maintained something approaching composure. Though she instinctively took two steps back, her exposed slender hands trembling slightly, her reaction was more astonishment than suppression. She stammered: "Professor? Professor! You're the Professor!" The only unfamiliar mid-level magician she knew was the Professor! "I'm glad you can recognize me," Lucian answered with a sinister smile, though he understood perfectly well that Mercury had not identified him through his deliberately distorted, cold hoarse voice — the kind commonly heard in magical circles — or through his slightly augmented height. Hoo...! A chorus of shocked, fearful gasps filled the room. "The Professor?" "The Professor?!" One after another, disbelieving voices rose. This was the terrifying figure whose name had cast a shadow over Altor's magical circles and the Night Watch for over three years! There were only a handful of mid-level magicians in Altor still, but not a single one who had been placed on the Purification List! None had imagined that today they would encounter this horrifying magician ranked three hundred and sixtieth on the Purification List — the one Mercury and the others had long spoken of with a mixture of reverence and awe! The Sage had anticipated this reaction. He smiled: "Let us welcome the Professor's return. This time, he brings us news of the Arcane Council headquarters!" It really was the Professor — it really was the Professor! The apprentices suddenly felt a surge of pride. The fact that they could share a circle with a renowned figure on the Purification List — it was truly an extraordinary honor. At the same time, their spirits were thoroughly invigorated, because news of the Arcane Council headquarters was the dream of nearly every one of them! As someone who had lived through it himself, Lucian understood, comprehended, and sympathized with their circumstances and psychological state. That was why, even setting aside all other reasons, he would have passed on the location of the Arcane Council headquarters under another identity — telling them the way and the path, giving them the chance to embrace the light. After the apprentices pressed their right hands to their foreheads and bowed respectfully to Lucian, the Sage made introductions: "Professor, among the Magic Apprentices you knew a few years ago, some left because they found Altor too terrifying or saw no hope for their future — like Oak and White Glove. Others perished during adventures in the Black Forest or nearby ruins — like Owl and White Honey Sugar. So those who remain are Mercury, the Hanged Man, Morning Star, Reindeer, and myself. The rest are newer members..." As the Sage introduced them one by one, Lucian felt a quiet pang of emotion. The first Magic Apprentice he had ever known — "Owl," Smale — had died in an adventure. He wondered whether that comical Lord Doro had managed to escape. As for how White Honey Sugar had died, the Sage could hardly know as much as Lucian himself. After the introductions, once the Professor had taken a seat, Mercury's sweet voice could no longer contain its urgency: "Professor, will you truly tell us the location of the Arcane Council headquarters? Are there any conditions? If it is within my ability, I will absolutely fulfill them!" She pressed the question, unwilling to lose this chance as she had the two before, when delay had cost her everything. Under the eager gazes of the Sage and all the apprentices, Lucian chuckled: "There are no conditions. This is something every magician ought to do. Every magician should have the awareness of a guide — only by leading one another forward, continuously guiding those who follow, can our Arcane Council grow and flourish to stand against the Church. Moreover, as a magician who is frequently hunted, I sympathize with your plight, and I am willing to help." I am certainly not the type of fellow that Pale Hand would send — someone like Felipe. After a brief silence, Mercury's voice trembled with something close to tears: "Professor, I don't know how to express my gratitude. Thank you — truly, thank you. Can you, can you tell us now?" That darkness, that oppression, that suffering, that constant taut-wire tension — no one who had not experienced it could possibly understand. "Professor, if we reach the Arcane Council headquarters, we will never — never forget what you have done for us!" Even the cold, deathly Hanged Man could not contain his emotion, his gratitude overflowing openly. Once every apprentice had expressed their thanks, Lucian carefully considered and verified their reactions, then smiled: "The Arcane Council headquarters is in the Holm Kingdom, across the Strait of Debate. It is a floating city near the capital, Rantato, called Allinger."