Burning Desire

"Black Tide Society?" Lude asked, his curiosity piqued. "Is there some sort of connection between you and the Black Tide Society?"

"Indeed." Lord Hypnos took a sip of his amber-colored liquor. "I haven't mentioned it yet, but I am the Grand Mentor of the Lord Society. You likely haven't heard of this organization, as up until now, I have been its only member."

"Only one?" Lude blinked. "With all due respect, given your strength, I would have thought you could easily build an entire organization."

Lord Hypnos chuckled at this. "Although the Lord Society and the Black Tide Society share the same roots—both being offshoots formed after the collapse of the Saint Hydra Society—a thousand years of tempering have led us to different goals and distinct styles of conduct."

"Saint Hydra Society?" Lude frowned slightly; he had seen this name in Professor Beshe's archives.

"The Saint Hydra Society was founded in the year 416 of the Holy Solar Calendar by Lord Weiwen in the Duchy of Malta. Initially, it was an academic organization dedicated to searching for and collecting ancient texts, organizing and compiling them in an attempt to bring order to the chaotic field of arcane knowledge."

"But after sixty glorious years, in the year 476 of the Holy Solar Calendar, a despicable assassination changed the Saint Hydra Society forever."

"The death of Lord Weiwen led to the total fragmentation of the society. The leaders of the nine major academies all established their own secret societies. Lord Weiwen's daughter and his apprentice each held conflicting accounts, both claiming legitimacy while accusing the other of orchestrating the assassination."

"The final result was that both sides took half of Lord Weiwen's legacy and declared themselves eternal enemies."

"Lord Weiwen's daughter renamed herself Master Nemesis and, in the name of the goddess of vengeance, founded the Radiant Light Society, which specializes in the Illumination Art. Lord Weiwen's apprentice styled himself Lord Apophis and, with the goal of seeking the Path of Ascension, founded the Lord Society, which specializes in the Iron Ferrule Art."

"After that, the two sides clashed many times, until finally, in the year 1054 of the Holy Solar Calendar, the descendants of Master Nemesis fulfilled her long-cherished wish."

"The Radiant Light Society completely destroyed the Lord Society and seized their half of the legacy. As for the Lord Society, it was nearly wiped out—nearly. The Templars of the Radiant Light Society killed Lord Holder, but they overlooked his dying apprentice."

"Since then, the Lord Society has hidden in the shadows and restructured itself."

"We no longer expose our identities. We develop peripheral organizations extensively but limit the information they possess. We have reduced our membership, no longer recruiting the riff-raff like the Black Tide Society does, but instead passing down our knowledge through a master-apprentice lineage."

"To this day, only two people know that the Lord Society still exists: one mentor and one apprentice."

"The sole purpose of the Lord Society now is to continuously accumulate strength until we can finally destroy the descendants of the Radiant Light Society. We must not only reclaim the legacy of our predecessors but also obtain the other half of Lord Weiwen's legacy to open the gateway to the Path of Ascension!"

Lude nodded. Although this was only Lord Hypnos's side of the story, he had at least managed to clarify this piece of history.

This knowledge was incredibly valuable to Lude; at the very least, official history recorded none of this, and even Siana knew nothing of the Black Tide Society's history. It seemed the waters of this world ran deep, but that also meant the ceiling of this world was undoubtedly high.

"However," Lude hesitated for a moment before asking, "I am curious, why are you telling me the history of the Lord Society?"

The Lord smiled and took another sip of his drink.

"Remember?" he said. "Only two people know of the Lord Society's existence: one mentor, and... one apprentice."

Lude was startled. "You mean..."

"Indeed." The Lord chuckled with the composure of one who had everything under control. "That is why I said I was lucky to run into such a fine seedling just by stepping outside."

"So..." Lude hesitated again, but asked, "Why me?"

"Why you?" The old man raised an eyebrow. "Is that question a challenge to my judgment, or are you simply lacking in confidence?"

"Decisive in character, meticulous in action, sharp in mind, tireless in learning, clear in desire, focused in goals, and most importantly, ambitious. A young man like you would be coveted by any secret society, let alone the single-lineage Lord Society."

"That is true," Lude laughed. "Not to mention the body I inhabit, forged from top-tier materials."

The fact that Lord Hypnos could define his character so accurately meant that he had likely been watching him ever since he left the Black Tide Society. The anomaly of his body was obvious to anyone, so it was better to be open about it.

What Lude truly needed to hide, from beginning to end, was the Heart of the Furnace—that ancient relic so precious even the Black Tide Society coveted it.

However, Lord Hypnos shook his head with a smile.

"Power can be seized, and knowledge can be studied. At our level, we have always valued character and one's inner heart above all else."

"Outstanding people will rise to the top anywhere. A young man like you, ambitious and capable of execution, will surely have a seat at the banquets of our peers in the future, provided you enter the door of the hidden world and do not perish prematurely."

A pale white light ignited in Lord Hypnos's eyes, as if he were trying to see right through Lude.

"Look at that, what a beautiful flame of the soul. Beneath its calm burning lies the desire to dominate everything. You asked why I chose you? I will ask you one question, and you will know."

"Do not lie. Answer me directly: after feeling my power, what was the first thought in your mind?"

Lude pondered for a moment, then spoke without reservation: "It is shameful to admit, but I had only one thought: I was thrilled that an individual in this world could command such power, and excited that the path I pursue is so vast and magnificent."

The old man nodded gently. "No fear, no confusion, no evasion—only the spirit of 'a great man should be like this.'"

"It may be hard for you to understand as someone who has just entered the hidden world, but if one cannot recognize their own desires, face their own heart, and establish their own path, even the greatest talent will be nothing more than a reflection in the mirror."

"The stronger the desire, the firmer the heart, and the clearer the path, the more brilliant the flame of the soul that can be birthed."

"That is why Arcanists are also called Ascendants—those who have understood their own hearts and stepped onto the Path of Ascension. They possess the qualifications to reach higher levels. However, there are gaps even among Arcanists; those with small, easily satisfied desires can never give birth to true powerhouses."

"As long as you do not die young, you will eventually become one of us. This body has merely shortened the time it will take."

"So, are you willing to become my apprentice?"

Lude fell into deep thought, for the word "apprentice" was not a light term like "student."

In High Gothic, the word carried immense weight, implying a transmission of mission and responsibility almost akin to that between father and son.

Everything—resources, power, tradition, and even enemies—would be inherited through this title.

Yet, Lude soon smiled with relief. He realized he had no real choice. Lord Hypnos had made it clear: among the living, only one mentor and one apprentice could know of the Lord Society. What other choice did he have?

Should he choose to face the threat of the Radiant Light Society's descendants alone, or face the Lord Hypnos standing right in front of him?

He answered solemnly: "It is my honor, Teacher."