KNOWLEDGE

Lynne remained in his comatose state for another week before finally opening his eyes. As he groaned lowly, he saw two familiar pairs of eyes staring at him intently. As the blurry figures came to be, he recognized First Prince and Anna, their faces full of both worry and relief as they looked at him. He quickly scanned his body and nearly felt like vomiting blood when the results came in. Holy crap, what the hell is this? Half my organs are shattered, blood is barely flowing through my veins, and eighty percent of my bones are broken! Screw you you damn Paths, I hope you rot in hell!

“Brother Lynne, Brother Lynne!” First Prince worryingly called out, still not daring to touch Lynne, as he knew very well the extent of his injuries.

“Damn my ancestors, I can’t move a freaking inch!” in the rare moment, Lynne revealed his character as he cursed outwardly, his voice lavished with anger. “Who the hell suggested that was a good idea? I’ll find them and cripple their lungs, damn bastards! Oh my God, look at my body. I lost all my handsomeness! Shit, how in the seventh damned hell will I charm the nameless lady now? Damn you!”

“Eh...” both Anna and Elynal stared at him in shock, as they knew Lynne to be a rather amiable person, just one that went kind of crazy when it came to money and women. Even if shameless, they never heard him curse so loudly.

“Ah, Seniors, I implore you give me a slap on the face so I can go back to sleep!” Lynne suddenly pleaded, his voice softening. “I can’t stand to look at myself like this! Ah~,” he suddenly sighed with such sadness it caused those who heard it to nearly wish to cry. “What has become of me? The handsome, courageous youth destroyed beyond recognition…”

“Do-don’t worry Brother,” First Prince said, corners of his eyes twitching; you truly are shameless! “They are just minuscule wounds. With some rest, you’ll recover in no time!”

“Ah, yes, yes!” Anna also quickly agreed and nodded. “Elynal is right! Just a week or two and you’ll be back on your feet!”

“Damn my feet, I no longer even feel them!” Lynne cursed again, kitting his brows tightly together. “Where’s that damnable old man? I’ll shave his damned beard and shove my ear wax up his nose! Damnable Master, where are you?!”

“Ho ho,” strange laughter suddenly filled the room as the old man slowly entered, stroking his beard. It was, naturally, Principal Seed. “Quite strong words you’ve said, disciple.”

“Who’s your disciple? Damn you old man! Why didn’t you warn me?! Screw you! The moment I heal, I’ll destroy your damned garden and leave!” while Anna and Elynal were shocked beyond belief, unable to process the fact that an ordinary youth was cursing one of the strongest people in the world, the said person merely continued laughing, as if accepting Lynne’s curses. In truth, he felt that was the least he could do, as he couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain Lynne went through.

“Ah, Anna, Elynal, leave us be.” the Principal said softly as he sat down next to Lynne’s bed. While still drowned in utter confusion and bewilderment, the two slowly left the room, leaving behind Lynne and the Principal. While Lynne stared daggers at the old man, the Principal still carried a soft smile on his face. “I truly didn’t know,” he then said, hint of sadness in his eyes as he looked at Lynne.

“If I had known…” he paused for a moment, sighing. “I cannot imagine what you went through. When I first saw your body, it was truly a horrifying scene, but, in the end, it’s only physical pain. I knew very well that that was the least of the worries you had. In the end, I truly do not even wish to know the mental sufferings you endured for those seven days. So, if you wish to curse me, curse me till your heart’s content.”

“Ugh, you and your damned reason,” Lynne spoke, his voice clearly softening, but his expression still remaining firm. “Ah, whatever, what’s done is done. But damn me if I ever go through anything similar again in my life.”

“How are you feeling?” the Principal asked.

“Broken? Are you blind old man?” Lynne scowled. “… I can imagine you spent no less than countless resources to heal me. Thank you.”

“Ha ha,” the Principal laughed as he heard Lynne’s words. “Indeed, I spared no effort. However, my effort would have been for naught if it wasn’t for that friend of yours.”

“Friend? Oh, you mean the damned monkey?”

“Indeed,” the Principal nodded. “I haven’t a clue how, but he’d leave each morning and come back every night, bringing hundreds of excellent herbs. The poor thing didn’t sleep for five days and was running to lord knows where. Finally, it collapsed from exhaustion.”

“… looks like I owe him quite a bit.” Lynne sighed as he spoke. While he and the monkey spent quite a lot of time together, and have grown closer, Lynne still had restrains and considered it a simple business deal. Looks like, unbeknownst to him, the little monkey felt a bit more.

“Friends are there because they are friends, young one, not because they want favors. Do not worry too much about it.”

“Hm.”

“Have you grasped the paths?” the Principal finally asked the burning question.

“Grasped? Are you insane?” Lynne scoffed, a mocking smile appearing on his face. “I barely smelled its fart. You were the one telling me how ‘amazing’ and ‘mindblowing’ and this and that the ‘Origin Paths’ were, and now you’re asking me whether I grasped them? Damnable old man, I’ll seriously cut your beard off.”

“Ho ho, someone’s become naughty,” the Principal laughed softly, clearly not taking Lynne’s words to heart. “Alas, you can only try your best. In a month’s time, my sect will start an expedition for the younglings to grow and explore the world, and I’ve already reserved a spot for you. Month’s time will be more than enough for you to recover and stabilize your condition, and the expedition will be a perfect way for you to test your new abilities.”

“Eh, all in due time. There’s still that promise you made to me.”

“Oh, indeed there was such a thing. Are you truly that impatient?”

“Stop jumbling around old man and give me my promised treasures!”

“Ho ho, the impatience of youth,” the Principal flickered his sleeves lightly whereupon two bright flashes of light appeared, congealing into two items.

The first one was a rather small scroll, its edges tattered, seemingly completely ordinary on the surface. It was no larger than one’s palm, and it contained indistinguishable characters here and there. It was deep-brown in color, and was clearly rather old.

The second one was dagger; Lynne immediately recognized it – it was actually exactly the same as his Celestial Void Dagger – the weapon he used to kill the creature back in the forest. However, outside of the appearance, this dagger was clearly much better; its shine was more refreshing, and its purple tint not as dimmed as on the one Lynne owned. Its blade also appeared much sharper, and the hilt also contained two coiling serpents rising upwardly.

“This scroll is called Heaven’s Writ,” the Principal spoke as he pointed at the hovering scroll. “Although I have used it all my life, it can still be used five more times. If you pour your Mana into the scroll, regardless of their rank, all creatures and beasts outside of the Sacred Ones will bow down to you and follow you for a day, obeying your commands – even if that command is to commit suicide.”

“Should you ever find yourself in a predicament, it can truly save your life,” Lynne noticed a clear tinge of appreciation in the Principal’s eyes when he looked at the scroll; he didn’t doubt that that little scroll saved Principal’s life many, many times. “Alas, I am truly too old, and this thing has little value to me. It is best if its last tinge of shine is showed in the hands of youth.”

“This dagger is called Imperial Decree Dagger,” he then pointed towards the dagger next to the scroll, his lips curling up in a slight smile. “It’s Six Times Refined treasure, and perhaps one of the best spacial daggers currently in possession of mankind. While its requirements are rather stingy, and you have no way of using it at the moment, I don’t doubt that within a year you’ll show its might to the world.”

“It has ability to tear through any spacial barrier, regardless of how it was formed. Its speed is also unmatched, but, unfortunately, due to its sheer power, its concealment abilities are rather lacking. Unless it’s in the heat of a battle, it’s nigh impossible to actually surprise any decent Magus with it. Nonetheless, even if it’s not used as an assassination tool, it’s still a very powerful weapon. As for the ‘Spell Arts’ I’ve promised, we’ll discuss those when you recover.”

“Ah, old man, you truly are generous,” even Lynne couldn’t help but sigh as he watched the two treasures hover in front of his eyes. To speak nothing of the dagger, even that seemingly simple scroll held such power within itself. “What are Sacred Ones, though?” Lynne suddenly asked, as he realized he never heard of the term before.

“Oh?” the Principal arched his brow at Lynne’s question, tinge of surprise flashing through his eyes.

“Don’t look at me like I’m an idiot,” Lynne smiled bitterly. “I barely just started having interest in Magic less than a year ago. I can’t even list you Magus ranks properly, let alone anything else.”

“Ho ho,” the Principal laughed strangely as he listened to him. “Worry not, all knowledge can be attained eventually. As for the Sacred Ones, it is no big secret, as anyone who studies Magic is aware of them. They are creatures and beasts who have attained so-called ‘immortal sentience’. Rather, to be blunt, they are the first of their kind. So to say, if one eagle is ordinary, regardless of its strength, the first of its kind – even if weaker – is considered Sacred One, as they have the purest bloodline.” the Principal explained slowly.

“Naturally, chances of encountering Sacred Ones are extremely low, and even if you do, they are rarely aggressive type. As long as you don’t provoke them, you should do just fine.”

“Oh… so there’s something like that…”

“Ah, young one, there are many, many things like that in this world,” the Principal sighed softly as he looked at Lynne, somewhat envious of the latter’s ignorance. “Did you know that, once upon a time, attaining the rank of an Archmage was considered defiance against heaven, and that those people were considered gods in the eyes of others?”

“What?!” Lynne revealed a shock expression as he listened to the Principal’s words.

“Hm,” Principal nodded solemnly, seemingly reminiscing about the old, old times. “By each generation, someone would always become the strongest. If for nothing else but pride, men and women alike, since the time immemorial, have sought to reach higher than their ancestors. Each time someone would proclaim they’re the strongest, someone else would swoop in and reach higher ground.”

“Even today, during the era known as Magical Prosperity, people are still the same. You should be aware of the Four Realms of Magic, no?”

“Hm.” Lynne nodded.

“To this day, there has been none that has gone beyond the Grand Realm. My Master once told me that the Realm of Divinity truly exists, but that it’s a realm attainable only by those who were born in it. Even legends such as King Tar, an existence who followed three ‘Origin Paths’ at the same time, was unable to bridge the gap between two realms. In truth, many suspect that this Divine Realm is just something mankind made up, as to always have a goal to strive towards.”

“However, I very much believe it is real,” the Principal’s voice suddenly grew solemn, as if he had remembered something from the past long gone. “And while I have no chance of attaining it, or even witnessing it in my lifetime, I know, in my heart, that one day, someone, someplace, will break the shackles that bind us. As to who… only time will tell.”

“Why are you telling me all this?” Lynne asked, thoroughly shocked by the new knowledge he attained.

“To broaden your horizons, naturally,” the Principal smiled weakly as he spoke. “I know very well how deep the shadow in your heart runs, and that one day, sooner or later, you’ll have to face your demons. However, I do not want you to stake your life on something so barren. A world is a massive place Lynne, and regardless of where you go, you always need to know that it’s never the end.”

“… are you subtly asking me to give up?”

“No,” the Principal shook his head. “Whether you give up or not, no other person can make that decision for you. What was done to you is truly heartbreaking, and I am certain that, if you had the strength, you’d repay in kind, regardless of what would that do to your heart and mind. But… I do have to ask you to refrain…” the Principal sighed, seemingly lamenting over something, as he continued. “The world, at the moment, is growing increasingly unstable. Whether it be Northern or Eastern Wastelands, two massive patches of land we know very little of, or even the things beneath our own eyes, the world is truly shaken.”

“By what exactly?” Lynne inquired, curious.

“Even I haven’t an answer to that. Tribes of the North are noble, honorable people. We have coexisted with them for countless eons, and even I, personally, have brothers and sisters living there. Whatever madness caused them to invade south… is truly not a simple thing. As for the East, we know little to nothing about it. At best, we know that at the borders, countless powerful Mages that were banished from the continent live. As for its depths… I’m afraid only the winds know.”

“Perhaps, the calamity of Highlind was but a prelude, as heinous as that sounds, to a much grander catastrophe. I only ask you be patient; even if you grow powerful enough, seek those who ought to be sought, and amend those who ought to be amended.”

“I learned a lot today,” Lynne spoke after short silence. “And I have no plans on doing what was done to my home. Heh, even if I did, perhaps I’d wait ten lifetimes before I’m able to. However, I’m not a forgiving person. It was still my home. I still had friends there. I watched two people I was rather fond of sacrifice their lives in front of my eyes just to save me. Regardless of whether it was for the manual or for some grander scheme, collapsing the entire Kingdom, brutally murdering its people… that is not something that can be either forgotten or forgiven.”

“Ah, at least I can rest knowing you aren’t as despicable as they are,” the Principal chuckled weakly as he spoke. “Alas, your goal might, in the end, help Elynal remove his own demons.”

“What is the deal with him anyway?” Lynne asked.

“If he wishes to tell you, he will. If he doesn’t, then you can but wait. Ah, I’ve said what I had to say. Rest now. Focus on healing your wounds and comprehending the knowledge you attained. I expect great things from you, young one.”

“Hm.”

As the Principal left the small room, Lynne fell into deep contemplation. He truly had learned many things today, things he never would even dream up as real. He also slowly realized how little he was, and how insignificant his own dreams were. However, rather than discouraged, he was slightly pleased. He always liked living a simple life; if Highlind was never threatened, he’d perhaps still be living with his father, wasting away the hard earned money. Still, even if he couldn’t have such a life, he still hoped he’d evade whatever calamities are approaching, and still weather the storms as they pass. In the end, how much could he truly affect the outcome of any of those things?