Ten o'clock on the night of June 3rd. While the entire city was still immersed in the unprecedented grandeur of the "Homecoming Concert," while people were still intoxicated by the classical greatness of the two symphonies "From the New World" and "Ode to Joy," while the streets and alleyways frequently echoed with the singing of "Ode to Joy" and the sweeping, desolate melody of the second movement of "From the New World"—the people in the dark corners of Altor had already resumed their customary routines, seizing this rare opportunity to hold a secret gathering. Inside what appeared to be an ordinary commoner's house in the
"Hangman, why isn't the Sage here yet?" a mysterious woman whose face was concealed beneath her hood but whose shapely figure was faintly discernible beneath her black robe whispered in a low voice. Though altered, her voice still carried a hint of sweetness.
They sat around a round table upon which several white candles burned alongside books, papers, and materials. Hangman replied in his distinctive, cold, eerie voice: "Mercury, how should I know? The Sage is already a formal mage—he has every right to arrive at the last moment."
After becoming a formal mage in the danger-riddled city of Altor, the Sage had not withdrawn from this circle of magic apprentices. Instead, he guided the other apprentices with an almost teacher-like态度 and exchanged several potion recipes with them. As a result, he had quickly become the de facto leader of this magic circle, benefiting many of its members. At the very least, Hangman himself was drawing ever closer to the rank of formal mage, and he vaguely sensed that Mercury, Morning Star, and Reindeer had all improved their abilities dramatically. Whether they had already become formal mages or had simply bolstered other aspects of their capabilities through potions and magic circles, he could not say.
"Five more minutes. If the Sage still hasn't arrived, we'll have to leave," said the black-robed man wearing the Reindeer mask in a hoarse voice before Mercury could answer.
The other magic apprentices nodded in agreement. This kind of secret circle gathering absolutely did not tolerate tardiness—lateness almost always meant something had gone wrong, and there could be no侥幸.
After hearing Reindeer's words, Morning Star gave a bitter smile. "This life, where you have to be constantly vigilant against danger, always living in fear—it's truly suffocating and exhausting."
"If you don't want to suffer and feel oppressed, then just be like Fire Wolf," Hangman coldly mocked.
Immediately, all the magic apprentices who had been discussing in hushed voices fell silent. Though there was no definitive proof and no one had personally witnessed or fully heard what had happened in the Melzer Black Forest years ago, several simple, easily obtainable facts were enough to determine that Fire Wolf had been a traitor lurking within the magic circle. For instance, Fire Wolf had volunteered to reveal the location of the ruins. The battle had been fought against a large number of Night Watch members. After that, the Professor had never come again. And the Professor had been "honored" with a place on the Purge List—which they had learned from formal mages in other circles.
Mentioning this matter, Mercury, whose voice was effortfully hoarse yet still carried a few sweet, appealing notes, let out a soft sigh. "It's a pity there was a traitor among us. The Professor had to leave Altor in such a rush that he didn't have time to tell us the location of the Continental Magic Parliament headquarters. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to feel so lost and suffocated, unable to find that 'radiant heaven,' feeling as though there's no path ahead."
When she spoke of the Professor, her tone carried deep reverence—born from personally experiencing his vast knowledge, from witnessing firsthand his terrifying arcane magic, and from the fact that he had ascended the Purge List!
Several newly recruited magic apprentices had frequently heard the name "the Professor" from the original members and were filled with curiosity. But they harbored not the slightest doubt in the descriptions Mercury and the others provided. Making it onto the Purge List proved everything—this was a figure of terrifying stature whom even formal mages from other circles spoke of with awe!
"I always thought the Professor was just an ordinary mid-level mage. I never imagined he was far more terrifying than I could have imagined…" Hangman remarked in his cold voice. Suddenly, a distinctive knock sounded from the basement entrance.
"The Sage has arrived…" The magic apprentices exhaled in relief, rose to their feet, and quietly prepared to welcome the Sage. He was a formal mage, after all, and they were merely apprentices.
Mercury cautiously approached the chamber door and called out in a low voice: "The Sage?"
This was a two-story commoner's house with a basement, featuring numerous windows and entrances. Because of this, they had not set up their first identification measure at the main entrance. Instead, they had placed magic traps directly in the corridor leading to the chamber, using a knock and a question to verify identity so they could detect danger early and escape from the basement using prepared magical means.
"It's me." The Sage's aged voice came through.
The familiar voice, the calm tone, and the fact that their mental sense detected nothing unusual—all of this allowed the magic apprentices to set down their anxious hearts. Every time someone arrived, they tensed that string taut, and it was truly an indescribable feeling of suffering.
Mercury dispelled the magic trap and opened the door, finding the Sage dressed in a black mage's robe, his face hidden beneath the shadow of his hood.
"Good evening, Sage." Every apprentice placed their right hand to their forehead and bowed deeply, greeting the Sage with the ancient mage's salute.
After they finished bowing and raised their heads, they all drew in a sharp breath—because standing beside the Sage was another mysterious figure shrouded in a cold, wide black mage's robe, and none of them had detected anything wrong at all. In the faint impressions of their mental sense, the space around the Sage—in every direction—had been completely empty!
"Sage, what is the meaning of this?! Why did you suddenly bring a stranger?!" Mercury's voice rose in angry accusation once she recovered. This was the greatest taboo at gatherings like these. Under no circumstances was someone allowed to bring another person without prior notice.
Though Hangman and the others were indignant and worried, none of them accused the Sage aloud as Mercury had—for the Sage was a formal mage, and he alone could destroy every magic apprentice here.
"Mercury really has been hiding her strength. She may have already become a formal mage…" Watching this scene, they thought in silence.
The Sage chuckled. "Mercury, don't be agitated. He's no stranger—he's attended our gatherings before."
"Huh? Who?" Mercury and the other magic apprentices asked in astonishment.
"Mercury, Hangman, Morning Star, Reindeer—don't you recognize me?" Lucian spoke again, deliberately twisting his voice into a cold, hoarse tone, while simultaneously releasing his powerful mental force without the slightest restraint. This was no longer the pressure of will借助 by a magical artifact—it was the genuine aura of a mid-level mage.
Hangman and the others felt the black-robed mage before them to be cold and terrifying, like a bottomless abyss. Simply seeing him, sensing his aura, made their entire bodies tremble, an innate chill spreading to every part of their being. If he had been exerting only his aura without truly pressing down on them, they apprentices would already have gone weak in the knees and collapsed, let alone having the focus to cast any spell.
A mid-level mage—an absolute mid-level mage! A mid-level mage, existing in an entirely different realm from magic apprentices!
Only Mercury remained somewhat composed. Though she had unconsciously retreated two steps and her slender, exposed hands trembled slightly, her reaction was more astonishment than suppression. She stammered: "Professor? Professor! You're the Professor!"
The only unfamiliar mid-level mage she had ever known was the Professor!
"I'm glad you recognized me." Lucian answered with a sinister smile, though he understood perfectly well that Mercury had not identified him by his deliberately distorted, hoarse voice—of the kind commonly heard in magic circles—or by his once-again artificially heightened frame.
Hah—!
A series of shocked, fearful gasps rang out.
"The Professor?"
"The Professor?!"
One after another, incredulous voices sounded. This was the terrifying figure whose very name had hung over Altor's magic circles and the Night Watch for over three years! There were only a handful of mid-level mages remaining in Altor, but not a single one who had been placed on the Purge List! Who would have thought that today they would encounter this dreaded mage—the one Mercury and the others had long revered—ranked 360th on the Purge List!
The Sage had anticipated this reaction. He smiled and said: "Let us welcome the Professor once more. This time, he will bring us news of the Continental Magic Parliament headquarters!"
It really was the Professor. It really was! The magic apprentices suddenly felt a surge of pride—they were in the same circle as a renowned figure on the Purge List. It was truly a great honor.
At the same time, their spirits were thoroughly lifted, because news of the Continental Magic Parliament's headquarters was what nearly all of them had dreamed of!
As someone who had walked that path before, Lucian understood, empathized with, and pitied their lives and state of mind all too well. So even without any other reason, he would have used an alternate identity to pass along the location of the Continental Magic Parliament headquarters to them—telling them the way, the method, the route, giving them a chance to embrace the light.
After the magic apprentices greeted Lucian with their right hands to their foreheads in a respectful bow, the Sage made introductions: "Professor, of the magic apprentices you knew a few years ago, some left because they felt Altor was too terrifying or saw no hope for their future—like Oak and White Gloves. Others perished in adventures at the Black Forest or nearby ruins—like Owl and White Honey Sugar. So the ones still here are Mercury, Hangman, Morning Star, Reindeer, and myself. The rest are newly joined members…"
As the Sage introduced them one by one, Lucian felt a quiet pang of emotion. The first magic apprentice he had ever met—"Owl" Smale—had actually died in an adventure. He wondered whether that hilarious Lord
After the introductions, once the Professor had taken a seat, Mercury's sweet voice could not help but betray an urgent anxiety: "Professor, will you really tell us the location of the Continental Magic Parliament headquarters? Are there any conditions? If it's within my ability, I will absolutely do it!"
She seized the opportunity to ask, unwilling to let it slip away as she had twice before.
Beneath the eager gazes of the Sage and all the apprentices, Lucian chuckled softly. "There are no conditions. This is something every mage ought to do. Every mage should have the conscience of a guide—only by passing the torch, continuously leading those who follow, can our Continental Magic Parliament grow and stand against the Church. Besides, as a mage who is frequently hunted, I sympathize with your situation and am willing to help."
I'm certainly not some
After a brief silence, Mercury spoke with a voice on the verge of tears: "Professor, I don't know how to express my gratitude. Thank you—thank you so much. Can you… can you tell us now?"
That darkness, that oppression, that suffering, that constant feeling of tension—only those who had experienced it could possibly understand.
"Professor, if we can reach the Continental Magic Parliament headquarters, we will never, ever forget your help!" Even the cold, deathly Hangman could not control his surge of emotion, his gratitude plain on his face.
After every magic apprentice had expressed their gratitude, Lucian carefully reflected and weighed their words, then smiled: "The Continental Magic Parliament headquarters is in the Holm Kingdom, across the Bian Strait. It's a floating city near the capital, Rentaat, called Allingre."