The scene had fallen quiet. Due to Lucian's appearance as a stranger, several magicians and apprentices were warily scanning their surroundings, fearing an ambush by the Church.
Amid the cold gazes of the other magicians, the curious, excited, or bloodthirsty looks of the vast majority of magic apprentices, and the chattering teeth of Fatty and his companions as they prepared to distance themselves, Lucian calmly produced his invitation. "I am a specially invited guest of Viscount Karlandia."
Hearing Lucian state his reason in such a composed and unhurried manner, the mummy-like elder leading the group relaxed his expression slightly, gesturing for the magic apprentice beside him to take the invitation and unfold it.
That tall black top hat was slightly askew, like a cornered mouth curled upward, giving off an eerie sense of humor. The elder glanced at it, then looked around at the other magicians. "This invitation was not issued by me. What about you?"
The other magicians looked at the invitation the apprentice was holding up to his chest and one by one shook their heads. "These are not any of the invitations we sent out. The markings are completely different."
The elder tugged at his stiff, mummy-like facial muscles. "Sir, your invitation was indeed not snatched from anyone else, but that still doesn't prove it was sent by Viscount Karlandia. To ensure everyone's safety, shall we wait together for confirmation from the Viscount and Butler Ned? You may call me Ceci — a fourth-circle magician."
Regarding this mysterious magician, Ceci had always been somewhat wary.
"Mr. Ceci, as a guest who has intruded uninvited, I have no objections. You may call me 'Professor,'" Lucian replied with a pleasant demeanor.
The necromancer, accustomed to a dour disposition, gave a slight nod. "Professor, your cooperation is most satisfactory. By the way, are you a formal magician?"
Through their conversation and Lucian's attitude, Ceci was beginning to half-believe that he was indeed a guest invited by Viscount Karlandia, so he inquired about the man's identity to determine how to address him. An apprentice and a formal magician were figures of entirely different stature. However, since they were still strangers, he couldn't directly ask about the man's rank and could only make such a vague inquiry.
"Of course," Lucian answered succinctly.
Ceci and the other necromancers grew even more amiable, politely saying, "We hope to exchange knowledge of Arcane Magic with you at the banquet."
They harbored no suspicion that Lucian was an impostor, because the gulf in magical knowledge between a formal magician and an apprentice was vast — a conversation of just a few words made it abundantly clear. This was at the very least a guest of considerable strength and standing.
As for Fatty, Bread, and the other magic apprentices, they were somewhat astonished. The Professor who had been so warm and friendly in conversation with them was actually a formal magician?! His attitude toward apprentices was entirely different from that of the haughty, dour magicians standing nearby!
"In fact, I am not a necromancer," Lucian said without concealing this point. Although he had read the Book of the Dead and possessed a fair understanding of human anatomy, his habitual reliance on knowledge from his previous life — the inability to arrive at reasonable hypotheses regarding the analysis of the soul and consciousness — meant that when it came to necromancy, he was no different from an apprentice encountering it for the first time.
Moreover, according to the Book of the Dead, its study — whether Meditation or spellcraft — required prolonged exposure to rotting corpses and other such materials, making it very easy for one to become infected with terrifying toxins and miasma. Apart from resisting through advancement, only a handful of rare potions could treat such contamination. Therefore, with the Book of Astrology and Elements available for study, Lucian had no intention of risking it by delving into the Book of the Dead for now, and had merely transcribed a few necromantic analyses whose requirements were less than revolting.
Ceci's mummy-like face once more showed surprise. "If you're not a necromancer, what are you doing risking your neck to attend a Feast of Death? Looking to trade materials and artifacts? Learn a few necromantic spells?"
The other necromancers and apprentices also found it somewhat peculiar. Magicians who specialized in the necromantic school were generally shunned by their peers in other disciplines, who considered them filthy, foul-smelling, and wicked.
Before Lucian could answer, the great castle doors emitted a heavy grinding sound, and the etiquette-conscious Butler Ned appeared at the entrance.
He wore the same attire as when Lucian had last seen him and spoke in his measured, deliberate manner. "The Professor is indeed a specially invited guest of the master."
"Since the Viscount himself extended the invitation, then we are at ease," Ceci said on behalf of all the magicians and apprentices.
Ned inclined his head slightly. "Furthermore, the Professor also hails from the Continental Magic Parliament headquarters — he is a magician of formidable strength."
"Continental Magic Parliament headquarters? Formidable strength?" The necromancers and apprentices, who spent their years dealing with corpses, tended toward the gloomy side. Even upon hearing this unexpected news, they merely murmured among themselves while looking at Lucian.
The old necromancer Ceci, however, keenly noticed the word "also" in Butler Ned's words. With a frown of confusion, he asked, "Why would there be another magician from the Continental Magic Parliament headquarters?" Accustomed to evading the Church, he seemed to have caught the scent of conspiracy and conflict.
"The Professor simply happened to pass through and happened upon the gathering," Ned said, speaking what nobody believed. "Moreover, his formidable strength is widely acknowledged. He has already been placed on the Church's 'Purification Roster,' ranked three hundred and fifty-ninth."
"What?! The Purification Roster?!"
Even the dour necromancers could not help but stir at this explosive revelation. Though they had no clear idea which powerful figures actually appeared on the Purification Roster, they all knew that anyone on that list was, without exception, a high-tier existence capable of influencing — or even destroying — an entire country.
In this regard, the Church's "credibility" had always been beyond reproach.
Their gazes toward Lucian took on an extraordinary air of reverence. Especially considering the rude encirclement they had just carried out, many necromancers felt a twinge of unease. They had never once encountered a figure on the Purification Roster — this man was at minimum a high-tier magician, wasn't he?!
Ceci did not doubt Butler Ned's words. After a moment of thought, he said, "Professor, please forgive our earlier discourtesy. We have always held the Continental Magic Parliament headquarters in the highest regard."
He suspected that the Professor before him and