Spirit-Summoning Ritual

"Can I try your Enchanted Item?" Vivian asked, looking at the Brass Ring on Duke's hand.

She wanted to test whether her mental power was enough to use an Enchanted Item after advancing to Great Knight.

Duke nodded, took off the Brass Ring, and put it on Vivian's finger.

Vivian looked at the Brass Ring on her hand. After a moment, she said, "I can see them—the floating words. Amokoyelensa..."

As soon as she finished speaking, a layer of golden light emerged around her, just as it had around Duke before.

Vivian rubbed her temples, looking somewhat exhausted. "The Morian on it was inscribed with mental power. Only people with sufficient mental power can see it, and its meaning can be understood directly through mental power."

"Where is Morian from?" Duke asked. It was the first time he had learned the name of the language on the ring.

"My father told me about it. Morian is the common language among Wizards. He has an introductory Morian book. I learned it a long time ago, so I'll teach you later," Vivian said.

After Vivian had been tested as a child and found to possess considerable mental power aptitude, Count Hardy had deliberately nurtured her, teaching her Morian from an early age in case it would be useful someday.

After Duke and Vivian sparred for a while, both of them were drenched in sweat.

That evening, Vivian brought over an ancient-looking book. Its cover had many root-like tendrils, making it look extremely strange.

Duke reached out and touched it, only to find that the tendrils were actually alive. They automatically brushed against his fingers.

Vivian seemed used to it. She simply slapped the tendrils away, then opened the cover.

The writing inside was similar to that on the ring, all tadpole-like symbols that made his head spin just from looking at them.

Starting from the basics, Vivian patiently taught Duke the language.

Duke discovered that the writing was not actually difficult to master. There were only thirty-two basic letters in total. Once he learned some fixed combinations and their pronunciations, he picked it up quickly.

After he grasped some basic grammar, a new branch appeared on the Skill Tree.

[Morian: LV1 (1/100)]

As long as there's a progress bar, this will be easy, Duke thought.

No matter how difficult the language was, as long as he worked hard enough, he would eventually grind it to max level.

Before they knew it, they had studied until late at night. Vivian's golden hair fell loose like a golden waterfall.

She only took off her helmet in front of Duke.

"That's enough for today. Keep this book, and ask me if there's anything you don't understand." Vivian looked at Duke, candlelight reflected in her clear, beautiful eyes.

Duke glanced at the Morian progress. It was already more than halfway full. As long as he remained in a learning state, his proficiency would increase. It leveled quickly.

Vivian had originally been preparing to leave, but she suddenly turned around and threw herself into Duke's arms. After holding him for a while, she left.

Three days later, at Maple Hill Castle.

Under Vivian's guidance, Duke met Count Hardy.

The last time they had met at the ball, they had only exchanged a glance and barely spoken.

Count Hardy was a middle-aged man in his forties with a square, stern face. His hair and beard had both turned gray, and he carried an imposing presence without even showing anger.

Duke noticed that Count Hardy did indeed wear a Red Glove on his left hand.

The Red Glove had a distinctive design, embroidered with numerous patterns. It looked like something a noble young lady would wear.

"Father, I want Duke to participate in the Spirit-Summoning Ritual with us," Vivian said softly.

"Hm." Count Hardy turned to Duke, his gaze seeming as though it wanted to see straight through him. He stared at Duke for a long while.

Only after some time did he speak. "Fine, but you are not to speak carelessly without permission. I have not seen Lady Grace in twenty years. You must all show her respect and never offend her."

Vivian was not wearing her armor today. Instead, she wore a white gown embroidered with golden trim, a classic outfit for a noble young lady.

She was dressed very formally today. It was Duke's first time seeing Vivian like this.

"Rest assured, Count. I won't speak out of turn," Duke said respectfully.

Before bringing him here, Vivian had already told him about today's matter.

The so-called Spirit-Summoning Ritual was a method Wizard Grace had left for Count Hardy, allowing him to contact Grace from afar.

However, this method could only be used once, so Count Hardy had never used it all these years.

He had encountered many crises before and had repeatedly stood at the brink of life and death. Even so, he had never used the Spirit-Summoning Ritual to seek help.

Count Hardy had saved it all for this day, waiting only for a descendant with Wizard aptitude to appear.

It was not until Vivian was born that he finally saw hope.

To Count Hardy, territory and wealth were unimportant.

As long as a Wizard could emerge among his descendants, it would be a tremendous opportunity for the entire family, enough to change the fate of generations to come.

Before such an opportunity, territory and wealth were not worth mentioning.

Count Hardy had painstakingly planned for so many years for this very purpose.

The reason he could be so generous to his people was also because he did not value such things and did not care about worldly possessions.

Most nobles were miserly. Their pursuit of wealth was utterly fanatical, and it was impossible for them to provide those beneath them with particularly good treatment.

Thinking back to the Wheat Cakes he had once been able to eat his fill of in the wheat fields, Duke finally understood.

Because Count Hardy's experiences were different, his perspective differed from that of ordinary nobles, and naturally, so did his pursuits.

Count Hardy had originally refused to let Duke participate, but Vivian kept pleading with him, leaving him no choice but to agree.

How could Count Hardy, as her father, fail to notice Vivian's unusual behavior? Yet he did not reveal anything. Instead, he was rather satisfied with Duke.

Duke had been born with Wizard aptitude, possessed excellent knight aptitude as well, and had an exceptionally clean background. His life from childhood onward could be clearly traced.

Count Hardy could rest easy with someone like that. More importantly, he knew that if both parents possessed Wizard aptitude, their descendants would most likely possess Wizard aptitude as well.

That was the most important reason he had not rejected Duke.

The Spirit-Summoning Ritual was held in the castle's basement. Only Count Hardy, Vivian, and Duke were present, while several Knight Level guards stood watch aboveground.

There was no need for guards underground. With the strength of the three of them, no one could cause trouble.