Magic's Path

Magic's Path

The Roland Family's idiot young master had driven away his learned teacher in anger, and it had practically become the most famous joke in the Imperial Capital these past few days.

Many bored people discussed the matter with barely concealed glee. After all, Count Raymond of the Roland Family was currently enjoying unparalleled glory. Seeing such an important man suffer misfortune suited the dark mentality of certain idle folk quite well.

Besides, Count Raymond had made a mistake himself. His lavish reward for anyone who could make his child speak had become a novelty, a piece of news neither too big nor too small. Because of that, the Roland Family's idiot young master had suddenly become famous, becoming a topic people delighted in discussing.

Over the past two years in the Imperial Capital, many families had even taken to saying out of habit when they had children, "Oh, it doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl, as long as the child is healthy... Just don't give birth to a little idiot like that unlucky Roland Family."

That day, Young Master Du Wei received another visit from his father. This time, the person who came with the count was someone Du Wei disliked very much. The man wore a gray robe and a gray pointed hat. His fingers were withered and thin, and his eyes were murky.

The fellow gave off an unpleasant aura of decay and age. The chilling presence around him also made Du Wei sneeze hard.

"Mage Clark, this is my son." The deputy commander-in-chief of Imperial Command, the Imperial military's second-ranking figure, spoke very politely to the man beside him. "Please see whether he has even the slightest potential on the sacred path of magic."

It seemed the count had run out of options. The person he had invited to teach his son this time was the famous Mage Clark of the Imperial Capital.

If "mage" could be considered an occupation, then it was undoubtedly one of the most respected professions. Though that so-called "respect" contained more than a trace of fear.

Anywhere in the world, mages were symbols of high status. They could stand on equal footing with any noble and receive the most generous treatment. A powerful mage could play a role in war comparable to that of a small army! Every mage was also someone rulers of every nation eagerly sought to recruit! Not only because mages possessed abilities beyond ordinary people, but also because they posed no threat to a ruler's power!

Mages spent most of their lives studying magic or meditating to accumulate magical power. Nearly all mages had little desire for worldly things. They did not covet wealth... because a competent alchemy mage could use magic to turn common stones into gems or gold! Precious jewels were nothing more than magical tools to assist them.

Nor did mages desire power. Their lives were devoted to pursuing the mysteries of magic as their greatest goal, and they had no regard for worldly ambition. That was precisely why those in power favored them.

It could be said that throughout Roland World, mages belonged to the noblest profession. They were eagerly recruited by all powerful figures and enjoyed the finest treatment!

But... the count did not want his son to become a mage! Not if there was even the slightest other choice!

Because nearly all mages were feared... as monsters! They were cold and unsociable by nature, eccentric, and unwilling to deal with people. They liked to isolate themselves and immerse themselves in magical research. No noblewoman would want to fall in love with a monster who hid in a laboratory all day. No noble banquet would invite an icy mage to ruin the atmosphere. No emperor would grant a mage a title or appoint one as an important Imperial minister!

And Du Wei was, after all, his own son! He was the heir of the Roland Family! He would need to fall in love, marry, have children, continue the family line, and attend all kinds of social functions among nobles...

But what could he do when his son was an "idiot" who could not succeed in martial arts or academics? It seemed becoming a mage was the last remaining path to achieving anything at all!

If the great Roland Family could produce an exceptional mage in its history... while it would be somewhat out of place, it would still be acceptable!

With hopeful eyes, the count watched Mage Clark lead his son into a prepared, enclosed little room.

"All right, boy." After entering the room, Mage Clark immediately took out a small bottle. He poured a little golden powder onto his fingertips and swiftly drew a large circle around the room. Then he turned to Du Wei. "I have cast a Silence Spell. No one outside can hear what we say in here."

Then the mage, whose face carried a grim chill, walked up to Du Wei and looked at the little fellow before him. "Now tell me, boy. What is magic to you?"

What was magic?

The question made Du Wei hesitate. Honestly, he was rather interested in this world's "magic." After all, he knew many magnificent legends about it. But what exactly was magic...? In Du Wei's impression, when so-called mages used magic, they usually chanted something aloud, like, "O God of Wind, heed my summons..."

Then came flying sand and rolling stones, ghosts wailing and demons howling, and the like.

Seeing the child remain silent, Clark assumed the question was simply too profound for someone so young. He smiled, then spoke in a deep, slow voice. "Magic is the mystery granted by the omnipotent gods to humanity, allowing us to unlock divine revelations! It is the path by which humanity pursues the ultimate power of this world! It is the source through which we understand ourselves, understand the world, and uncover the greatest gift bestowed upon humanity by the gods!"

Clark, dressed in gray robes, spoke with a hint of holiness in his voice. Unfortunately, Du Wei was not impressed by those words. To him, that lofty-sounding speech felt rather pretentious.

Young Du Wei did not reveal anything on his face. The child's silence also made the arrogant mage mistake it for fear of him. He was very satisfied with the reaction of the count's heir. Then the mage took out a crystal sphere the size of a fist from within his voluminous gray robe.

"Mental strength is one of the standards for measuring whether a person has talent for magic... Though it is not the only standard, it is the most important one. Now, let me test your magical aptitude..."

Du Wei finally spoke, voicing the question in his heart. "Mental strength? Magical power? But doesn't only a mage possess magical power?"

Clark's eyes widened. "Who told you such absurd nonsense? Damn it, are there people in Count Roland's household who lack even this much common knowledge?"

The mage was angered by such a basic mistake. "Mental strength is what ordinary people call it. To mages, mental strength is magical power! Through meditation, mages can continually strengthen and increase their mental strength, then use mental strength beyond that of ordinary people to sense this world, sense the mysteries within nature, and sense the various forces of the natural world. Only those with powerful mental strength can do this! As mental strength continues to grow and accumulate, a mage can perceive the world's many magical elements more clearly... So-called magic is merely the use of certain methods that allow a mage to command, with mental strength, or borrow a portion of the natural world's power for their own use—this is magic."

Du Wei sighed. "I understand... Mental strength is magical power. And so-called magical power is actually a lever. Mages use that lever to borrow the power of nature."

A trace of surprise appeared in Clark's murky eyes. "Hard to believe. Oh, a child barely over five years old... Oh, you are very clever. Then why do others call you an idiot?"

Du Wei did not answer that question. He merely looked silently at the mage. The proud Mage Clark would not waste time on such a trivial matter. He was only mildly surprised before setting the question aside.

"This world, this natural world, contains far too many magical elements. Every bit and drop of them is a source of power. Rain and lightning, blizzards and gales, even the changing of the sun, moon, and stars, the blooming and withering of flowers and grass... all of these are sources of power within nature. An outstanding mage can fully sense every subtle, clear change in the world. That 'lever' you mentioned is a very interesting metaphor. Simply put, the stronger the lever you possess, the greater the power of nature you can mobilize. If the lever is too weak, the natural power you can mobilize will be very limited."

Du Wei sighed. "So that was it. I thought a mage's power came from their own 'magical power.'"

Clark frowned again. "I have to wonder who told you something so lacking in common sense. What I just explained is basic knowledge known even by the lowest-ranking magic apprentice! 'Power comes from one's own magical power'? Good heavens... I must correct you. Remember this well: human strength is limited. Even the strongest person is still limited! Mages can accomplish things ordinary people cannot. For example, a powerful mage may level a small mountain with a wave of the hand, or summon a storm... but that is absolutely not the mage's own power. Through magic, they borrow the forces of nature within this world! And this world was created for us by the gods. Therefore, at its root, when mages use magic, they are borrowing the power of the gods! Remember, humanity was created by the gods, and humanity can never possess the power of the gods! That is a taboo! A mage's power comes from nature, from the gods who created this 'nature'!"

He lowered his voice and frowned. "I find it strange that the Roland Family would have a child like you, so thoroughly mistaken about such basic knowledge. If, after you come of age, you still say outside that a mage's power comes from themselves... I cannot guarantee you will not be burned alive at the stake before a temple! Because at its root, your words are questioning the gods!"

Du Wei closed his mouth. His eyes became blank again, and he lowered his little head, skillfully concealing his expression.

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