Words of Sublimation (Please Vote)

"Investigators," or rather, "Time-Space Explorers," were not a special profession of Saint Byrens Comprehensive College. Ring Arcanists whose Core Ling Runes involved concepts related to time, or who had obtained Spirit Runes related to time, could use the one-time relic known as a Time Key—whose level fluctuated from Poet Level (Level 5) to Angel Level (Level 1)—to travel through time and enter points before the Sixth Epoch to explore the past.

Time Keys were one-time relics, and different keys opened gateways to different eras. All Time Keys were connected to the fallen Old God, Father of Infinite Tree.

This was an exceptionally powerful Old God who belonged to the camp of Good Gods. Coming into contact with related knowledge or traces gave one a chance of obtaining a golden Miracle Spirit Rune. According to legends and records on some ancient Stone Slabs, Father of Infinite Tree fell during the Chaotic Era of the Fourth Epoch. However, through His own concept of "infinity," He merged His body into the continuous infinite spacetime, thereby connecting the past and future.

Time Keys were relics left behind by that fallen Old God. Since the fallen Old God existed within continuous spacetime, Time Jumps initiated using His relics were not limited to points before the Fourth Epoch, when Father of Infinite Tree fell.

For some unknown reason, however, no Time Key capable of returning to a point in the past of the Sixth Epoch had ever been discovered. This was also an important subject in Ring Arcanist research into time.

In short, the Doctor had Shade draw those two Spirit Runes. While reporting the matter of Shade's Core Ling Rune to the Academy, he also briefly explained this common knowledge to him.

Spirit Runes belonged to a language of the past and were basically never duplicated. Unless one had seen a Spirit Rune with the same meaning, it was impossible to fabricate one. This could therefore prove that someone was not lying.

But before Shade could ask questions like, "What about temporal stability?" or "Could a Time Paradox occur?" the Academy's reply had already arrived:

"If Shade Suellen Hamilton is willing to join the History College, the History College is willing to list him as a key trainee and, after he joins the Academy, provide him with a Keeper of Secrets Level relic for self-defense."

"What does that mean?"

Shade looked towards the Doctor.

"They value your talent, but it still does not change your status as a Correspondence Student Ring Arcanist. Being a key trainee means you do not need to complete additional mandatory Practical Credit assignments, and books at Saint Byrens will be a little cheaper. As for the Keeper of Secrets Level (Level 3) relic, it means exactly what it says."

The Doctor shrugged.

"They have always been like this—never stingy with talented people, but never willing to break the rules either."

"So I should agree?"

"Unless you have a reason to refuse."

Miss Writer answered simply, brushing the golden hair at her temple.

"There are always some key trainees every year, but I do not think there is any downside to it."

Thus, Shade successfully became a first-year Correspondence Student Ring Arcanist of the History College under Saint Byrens Comprehensive College.

To become a Ring Arcanist required contact with the Four Elements, and Ring Arcanist advancement likewise required the Four Elements.

At every Ring, one had to inscribe at least one each of a golden Miracle, a silver Blasphemy, a brass Brass Enlightenment, and a black iron Black Iron Whisper Spirit Rune upon one's Destiny Ring, accumulating enough spirit to complete the Ring's sublimation.

The amount of spirit accumulated at any given Ring had an upper limit. Therefore, there was no difference between inscribing four Spirit Runes and inscribing four hundred Spirit Runes before sublimating. In fact, inscribing too many Spirit Runes had drawbacks, because the Spirit Runes needed for advancement at each Ring had to be inscribed during that Ring.

Under normal circumstances, inscribing Spirit Runes was not a simple matter. Properly balancing the number of Spirit Runes against one's research into Thaumaturgy and spells was also extremely important.

Ring Arcanists from the First Ring to the Fourth Ring were called Low-Ring Arcanists, those from the Fifth Ring to the Eighth Ring were mid-ring, and those above the Ninth Ring were High-Ring Arcanists.

This division was not based on the numbers themselves. Rather, during the Fourth Ring sublimation and Eighth Ring sublimation, aside from the required four Spirit Runes, all sixteen Spirit Runes of that stage were required to form a linked meaning with the Ring Arcanist's own Core Rune, one Rune from each Ring. This was known as the "Words of Sublimation."

In Doctor Schneider's group, only the Doctor himself, who was at the Fifth Ring, had completed four sublimations.

When he advanced from the Fourth Ring to the Fifth Ring, he used the First Ring's Black Iron Whisper—Running, the Second Ring's silver Blasphemy—Malice, the Third Ring's Brass Enlightenment—Hound, and the Fourth Ring's golden Miracle—Light, together with his Core Rune, Dream, to construct the Words of Sublimation for advancing from Low-Ring to mid-ring—

The Hound of Light Runs Through Malicious Dreams.

The types of Runes in the Words of Sublimation were not restricted. The Doctor merely happened to fulfill all four types.

If one did not meet the conditions for the Words of Sublimation, one could never advance from the Fourth Ring to the Fifth Ring, or from the Eighth Ring to the Ninth Ring. Moreover, because the four Spirit Runes used had to come from four different Rings, there was no opportunity to make up for it later.

The choice of Words of Sublimation could draw upon examples from In the Past, which had formed the Canon of Sublimation containing several thousand recorded entries. Ring Arcanists searched for examples based on their own Core Runes and began preparing from the start of each stage. Therefore, every faction treated its own Canon of Sublimation as its most important Secret.

The three stages of Low-Ring, mid-ring, and High-Ring could use the same Core Ling Rune to link together the Words of Sublimation. Thus, having more Core Ling Runes only provided more options and did not greatly affect the difficulty of advancement.

If one did not wish to rely on the experience of past Words of Sublimation, or if one's Core Ling Rune was too rare and no examples could be referenced, then one could only try independently. With enough luck, one could always gather the conditions for sublimation.

However, Shade would not be qualified to consult Saint Byrens's Canon of Sublimation until half a year later, in order to determine the choice of his most important First Ring Spirit Rune. The Academy was also concerned about the reliability of Correspondence Student Ring Arcanists and needed to make sure that Correspondence Students who became Supernatural Beings would not change their minds. Besides, Ring Arcanist advancement was difficult to begin with, and half a year was not much of a delay.

Although the number of Spirit Runes at each Ring was unrestricted, obtaining Spirit Runes was quite difficult. In addition to required credits earned through academic examinations and Practical Credits earned through Academy assignments, Academy grade advancement also required one's grade to correspond to one's Ring count.

Thus, spending two or three years in a single grade was perfectly normal. If one could not find the Spirit Rune sequence planned for the Words of Sublimation at the Fourth Ring, then even if one met the conditions for all four types of Spirit Runes, one would still delay advancement.

Of course, matters concerning textbooks, basic Ring Arcanist courses, the Keeper of Secrets Level relic promised by the History College, and the History College's Investigator assignments would all be discussed three days later, after the Academy had organized Shade's teaching materials.

At that time, there would not only be the Academy's curriculum and training plan, but all four members of the group would also be present to give Shade advice.

Therefore, after confirming that he had joined the History College, Doctor Schneider announced that Shade could leave.

"Leave now?"

Shade had been memorizing all this common knowledge only a moment ago, so he asked in surprise.

"Is there something else you need to do?"

The Doctor asked in surprise as well.

"I mean, I joined the Academy, and that's it?"

It was Miss Louisa, being a woman, who understood what he meant.

"Mr. Hamilton, the enrollment process really is just this. Let me repeat what the Doctor said: remember, we are Correspondence Student Ring Arcanists, and our connection with the Academy is not close. We train ourselves, obtain knowledge from the Academy, and the Academy gives us practical assignments to fulfill our credit requirements. We are only correspondence students."

"All right, then."

Shade, who had been sitting for almost an entire afternoon, stood up. The Doctor and Miss Writer also rose to see him off. The latter had come to see the Doctor about something today, so she could not leave yet.

Just as Shade was about to reach the room's door with the two of them, the Doctor suddenly said again:

"One more thing. There are two taboos you need to remember. Saint Byrens Comprehensive College stipulates that all Ring Arcanists of this Academy are forbidden from setting foot on the New Continent. This is an Academy taboo. The common taboo for Ring Arcanists is that Ring Arcanists are forbidden from committing suicide.

"Setting foot on the New Continent will be considered by the Academy as automatically relinquishing student status. A Ring Arcanist's suicide will, at the very least, cause a crisis no less severe than a Keeper of Secrets Level relic losing control."

The "New Continent" referred to land discovered beyond the present "Old Continent" during the great geographical discoveries fifty years ago, somewhat similar to the geographical discoveries of the previous world. But there were no humans on the New Continent, while its resources were extraordinarily abundant.

"Why?"

Shade asked in confusion.

"We do not understand the Academy's rule. As for the prohibition against suicide—"

Miss Louisa looked at the Doctor.

"The Doctor believes it is probably related to 'Another Me.' If we commit suicide, Another Me might do something."

The Doctor shrugged.

"That is all for now. We have never encountered a Ring Arcanist who committed suicide.

"Shade, remember to come here at ten o'clock on Wednesday morning, three days from now. Besides Academy matters, you will also need to learn about the group's regular Study Group and our fixed academic-year assignments. Oh, and in the next few days, you can study your own Spirit Runes yourself. I'll lend you this notebook."

Only then did he remember to move behind the desk, take a black-covered notebook from a locked drawer, and stuff it into Shade's hands. It looked quite old.

"You can try developing Thaumaturgy based on Spirit Runes yourself first, but since you have only just obtained power, it probably will not go smoothly. Your most important task over these three days is to rest. Becoming a Ring Arcanist damages both the soul and body. Use the three days of bed rest to read the notebook. You will probably sleep until noon tomorrow. See you in three days, and remember, you need to repay 10 pounds within a month."

The farewell had come somewhat suddenly, but Shade knew he had intruded for too long. He gathered his chaotic thoughts and said very seriously:

"See you in three days, Doctor Schneider. Miss Louisa, thank you."

"You need not thank me. I only came today as a witness."

Miss Writer said, though she appeared to be in a very good mood.

"You need not thank me either. As I said, I only wanted to find a fifth Ring Arcanist for the group."

The blue-eyed Doctor looked at Shade and answered very softly.

PS: The truth behind the Ring Arcanist system is related to this book's worldview. The Words of Sublimation have an origin; they cannot simply be pieced together at will.