— Apologies in advance, I'll be taking half a day off tomorrow morning's chapter, as I need to sort out the outline going forward, polish the details and pacing, and keep the rhythm tight. I'll make up this chapter next weekend.
………………………………………………………………………………
The moment Lucian slipped the Holme Crown Ring onto the middle finger of his right hand, he immediately felt his spiritual power condense. His body was as though scoured by a clear spring, washed clean of hidden wounds and grime, brimming with vitality—so much so that he nearly believed both his mage and knight ranks had advanced in one leap.
"Truly worthy of a seventh-grade Perfect-rank magic ring. The three constant magical effects were clearly forged with my specific situation in mind." The corners of Lucian's mouth curled upward without his even noticing, his money-loving, collection-hoarding side making him visibly delighted. "With the 'Elemental' ring, I should only need about two or three years to elevate my soul and spiritual power to Third-Circle standards. If I supplement that with magical potions purchased using Arcane Points, perhaps I can become a mid-level mage before I even turn twenty."
If he had been simply studying *The Book of Celestial Bodies and Elements*, then with his spiritual power talent—above that of an ordinary Magic Apprentice but far short of anything called strong or genius—it might have taken twenty or thirty years before he could hope to advance to mid-level mage, and even then the odds would have been slim, unless he resorted to the myriad dangerous, sinister, and bloody magical rituals used to transform the body and soul over those years.
But with the mathematical knowledge from the Soul Library and other assets at his disposal, Lucian found it far simpler to parse the complex curves, surfaces, and other components that made up mid-level magic. The constructions came easier, the demands on his soul and spiritual power were drastically reduced, and with roughly ten years he could reasonably hope to strike at the Third-Circle. Now, with the Brooker Meditation technique, with the "Elemental" ring, with a variety of magical potions and material resources, and with the bridge of magical research that linked his own knowledge to the laws of this world—becoming a mid-level mage within one or two years and soaring through the blue skies was no mere dream.
Of course, any bottleneck advancement carried the possibility of failure, and the risk only grew with each step beyond. Failure when advancing to High-Level Mage, Grand Magus, or even to the Legendary realm could mean death—and the danger likely increased at each tier.
"A magic ring of this grade is worth at least several hundred thousand Gold Thalers or Arcane Points—the value of an entire prosperous city together with all its surrounding estates, towns, and villages. Equivalent to the total assets of a wealthy Viscount or a rather impoverished Earl. Compared to that, the Magic Council's reward is pitifully small. No wonder the Holme Crown is the highest honor in the Elemental and Alchemical disciplines—the value of this ring alone makes that abundantly clear."
Lucian studied the ring on his right hand, his thoughts racing: "I hear the other awards modeled after the Holme Crown also come with seventh-grade Perfect-rank magic items. The Immortal Throne gives a talisman or necklace, the Silver Moon Medal and the Ice-Snow Medal award insignia, the Wizard's Laurel bestows crowns, headpieces, mage hats, spectacles—anything wearable on the head—and the Arcane Scepter grants a magic staff. They're all extremely expensive, immensely valuable, and wonderfully effective. If I could get my hands on one…"
The more he thought about it, the more Lucian felt his mouth watering. He had to clear his throat and force himself to stay calm.
Across from him, Morris noticed Lucian staring blankly at the Holme Crown Ring and could more or less guess what he was feeling. His heart ached as though pierced by a knife. Forging this ring hadn't been especially difficult for a Grand Magus of both the Elemental and Alchemical disciplines, but achieving Perfect-rank with three constant magical effects required materials that were exceedingly precious and rare—often priceless and without market. Most of the time, not even an entire country could trade for them.
Thinking of how the Elemental Will's and the Holme Royal Magical Court's demiplane storerooms had been stripped of so many materials—storerooms he visited daily just to admire—Morris felt genuinely close to vomiting blood. Fortunately, given the frequency, the Holme Crown was awarded only once every ten years, so it wouldn't drive him mad.
Once the awards ceremony concluded, the vast majority of arcanists vanished within five minutes, not one to be seen. They were in a hurry to try out Lucian's purification approach for those various elements.
Lucian reluctantly set down his right hand and was about to seek out Lazarus to return to Allendel together. At that moment, Gaston—his hair streaked with grey, a pair of peculiar deep-yellow eyes, and a prominent hawkish nose—approached alongside a stunningly beautiful, mature woman with golden hair and green eyes.
"Evans, how do you find the Elemental Will? Any interest in joining?" Gaston asked straightforwardly. Morris, who had not yet left, watched with a smile.
Lucian had submitted the periodic table of elements precisely to earn the Elemental Will's attention. Without a moment's hesitation, he answered, "I'm very interested in Elemental Magic, and my exchanges with the arcanists of the Elemental Will these past few days have been most enjoyable. I would be delighted to join."
Gaston nodded with satisfaction, then glanced at Morris. Morris let out a hearty laugh and extended his right hand: "As Chairman, on behalf of all the arcanists of the Elemental Will, I welcome your membership, Evans. As a welcoming gift, you may head to the Elemental Will's headquarters—the Holme Royal Magic Tower—and select potions, materials, or magic items worth two thousand Arcane Points."
For a low-level mage, the Elemental Will, much like the Pallid Hand, would typically offer items worth only fifty to two hundred Arcane Points. Lucian had yet to update his Arcane badge, but in everyone's eyes he was already a bona fide Fourth-Rank Arcanist—bolstered further by the halo of prestige that came with the Holme Crown.
"Are there any obligations?" Lucian asked earnestly after the handshake. He was quite fond of the custom of receiving gifts upon joining, but he understood the principle well: eat another's bread and you're constrained, accept another's gifts and your hands are tied. The poor necromancers of the former Wilfred territory were a case in point.
Morris straightened the collar of his purple Elemental Magic robe and replied with a smile: "We provide protection for our members and ensure they can grow smoothly within the Magic Council. In return, we expect members to contribute to the organization. Generally, this takes the form of assigned tasks. Of course, if you feel a task is too dangerous, you may pay an appropriate fee to exchange it. We won't force members to take on anything they're not confident in. For the time being, Evans, you're still a First-Circle mage. For a genius of your caliber—tremendous potential but insufficient strength—the tasks we assign will be purely research-based until you become at least a mid-level, or even high-level, mage."
"Then I'm relieved. Thank you, Lord Morris." After a moment's thought, Lucian decided against producing the other Holme Crown Ring that Natasha had given him.
Morris patted Lucian on the shoulder: "You possess keen perception, rigorous logic, and a humble disposition. I have great hopes for your future. I want to see you forge ahead on the path of Arcane with a solid, steady stride. Well, head to the Holme Royal Magic Tower later to register and collect your rewards. Florence here will fill you in on the details—specifically regarding your tasks."
With that, he tore his gaze away from the Holme Crown Ring with considerable effort and departed the hall alongside Gaston, leaving Lucian alone to face the mature and striking Florence.
Florence regarded him with a faint smile, her beautiful green eyes making no effort to hide the way she looked him over from head to toe. Finally, with satisfaction, she began counting off on her fingers one by one: "Handsome, elegant, polite, articulate, sharp-minded, modest and tasteful—and famous to boot, with status to match. Lucian, you're every lady's dream suitor. Honestly, I'm half-tempted to ask you out on a date." She had dropped all formality and called him by his first name outright.