Chapter Summaries

Roland drafted the Seris Proficiency Grading Examination Standards, and the Seris School and Compilation Committee refined and approved the proposal. The chapter ended as the first diagnostic examination results came in, with scores that surprised the committee.

• Roland outlined nine Seris proficiency levels, including character knowledge, literature, translation, and calligraphy requirements.
• Princess Rosa became Roland’s personal secretary and copied his proposed standards for the Compilation Committee.
• Roland and Lie Yi refined the examination syllabus, agreeing on selected classical passages and including Seris calligraphy in the assessment.
• The Seris Language Research Association gathered feedback from its branches and approved the standards within ten days.
• Gennobion praised Roland’s proposal and efficiency after hearing about the standards’ progress.
• The Joint Research Association prepared a diagnostic examination, and its unexpected results came out a day later.

After the Compilation Committee’s exam exposed how poorly its members knew written Seris and runes, Roland defended the standards and helped spark a wave of study at West Hill Manor. He developed a more systematic approach to Seris analysis and sent an introductory article to Runes, where Anna recognized it as an important submission from Roland.

• Roland announced the committee members’ low exam scores, while Gennobion stood out with a score qualifying him for level five.
• Roland decided not to lower the exam standards, and the committee members began studying Seris calligraphy and other skills more eagerly.
• Rosa tried eating with chopsticks to improve her finger dexterity, and Roland taught her Seris-style stir-frying after discovering how unfamiliar the technique was to her.
• Roland proposed teaching Hierarchical Analysis alongside Constituent Analysis and wrote an introductory article, then asked Rosa to review it for Runes.
• Anna received the manuscript at Runes and concluded that its perspective and significance pointed to Roland as its author.

Roland and Swein collaborated to improve the Tongues spell, then Roland secretly tested a wish-based language-acquisition enhancement on Princess Rosa. Arkham XIV received word that his plan had succeeded and, encouraged by the image on his Phantom Magic Card, showed a confidence he had hidden from the Atrelin People.

• Roland’s article on analytical language models helped Swein improve Tongues, including its parsing of unfamiliar languages and its ability to retain understanding beyond the spell’s duration.
• Swein invited Roland to collaborate on the Tongues of Seris project, and Roland supplied examples of linguistic ambiguity in exchange for Swein’s improved spell model.
• Roland combined several spells to develop a first-stage language-acquisition enhancement, and Princess Rosa volunteered to become its first test subject.
• Roland and Rosa secretly conducted the trial in his office, while a watcher observed them and reported to Arkham XIV that his plan had succeeded.
• Arkham XIV straightened with newfound confidence and imagined Brother Zheng encouraging him through the Phantom Magic Card.

Roland successfully tested a spell that gave Gennobion a proficient command of Seris and used the experiment to deepen his own magical understanding. In return, Gennobion revealed clues to the lost National Grand Library of the Lochia Dynasty and said that finding it required three tokens.

• Roland tested Princess Rosa’s Seris ability and confirmed that his language spell had worked.
• Roland used his own magical energy to give Gennobion Seris, and Gennobion experienced visions and found the language’s ideas enlightening.
• Gennobion offered information about other texts that could help complete the Lainer Encyclopedia, then asked to speak with Roland privately.
• Gennobion told Roland that the Lochia Dynasty’s National Grand Library had escaped into the sea of stars during Atrelin’s attack and might return in the present era.
• Gennobion said Roland needed the Book of Radiance, the Sword of Light, and the Counterlight Armor to find the library.

Roland investigated Gennobion’s claim about the National Grand Library and uncovered evidence that the Arkham Family had once fought Atrelin and that Lainer history had been rewritten. The chapter ended with Jiduo'en asking Roland how he would treat the Lainer people's history.

• Roland consulted Ovesto and Pollas, who suspected Gennobion was a Lochia Dynasty descendant and advised investigating his clues without risking Roland's life.
• Leon sent people to search for the National Grand Library, while Ovesto shared records about the Lochia Dynasty's magical wonders and its connection to the Arkham Family.
• Arkham XIV learned the library might reveal his ancestors' history, then visited Pollas and left the Governor's Residence looking confident.
• Jiduo'en told Roland that historical sources suggested Grand Duke Arkham had defended the Lainer people and gained the throne, contradicting the account that his family had betrayed the Lochia Dynasty.
• Princess Rosa overheard Jiduo'en's disclosure, and Roland acknowledged that evidence indicated the Lainer people's history had been altered.
• Jiduo'en asked Roland how he would treat the history of the Lainer people.

Roland refused to rewrite Leiner’s history to favor its people, prompting Princess Rosa to urge Jiduo'en to use the encyclopedia and shared interests with Atrelin to restore their history. As Roland’s work continued, old friends visited him in Leiner, and he was surprised by the arrival of Sophia and Polina.

• Roland told Jiduo'en that he could not disregard the truth or act against Atrelin’s interests, and Rosa encouraged Jiduo'en to pursue Leiner’s history through the encyclopedia and cooperation with influential Atrelin factions.
• Jiduo'en realized that archaeological discoveries and arcane achievements could give Leiner and Atrelin common interests, while Rosa returned to Roland and agreed to prepare for the committee’s meeting and holiday.
• At the committee meeting, Roland announced a New Year holiday, and he later discussed Lunifis’s research on analyzing languages and their progress on Seris True Word spells.
• Poietes visited Roland with the bard Armand, and Roland arranged help for their travels through Leiner with Rosa and the Corlens Family.
• After seeing off Poietes and Armand, Roland learned that two more friends had arrived and recognized them as Sophia and Polina.

Roland helped Sophia and Polina bring ballet to the Lainer World, and their lavish performance at Terry City’s New Year’s Gala captivated the audience. The gala ended with Roland being formally announced as a new member of the Atrelin Arcane Committee.

• Sophia and Polina told Roland that their ballet performances had succeeded in Atrelin but that they wanted to expand into the Lainer World, and Princess Rosa suggested they debut at the New Year’s Gala.
• Roland agreed to support them, while Leon and the Savaran Daily publicized Polina’s upcoming performance and her connection to Roland’s newly invented ballet.
• On New Year’s Day, Roland attended the gala with Trina and Princess Rosa, where Polina performed a magical staging of Swan Lake before an astonished audience.
• The host praised Roland as ballet’s creator and teased him about Polina, then announced that Roland had been appointed a new member of the Atrelin Arcane Committee.

At the New Year’s Gala, Roland was publicly named a High Mage, Associate Professor, and Alternate Committee Member, earning the respect and congratulations of Atrelin’s leaders and Lainer World’s royalty. After receiving a Higher Tier Mage Robe crafted by Ovesto, Roland attuned it while Oksaya’s jealous remarks drew a furious reprimand from Grand Mage Watson.

• The host announced Roland’s appointment as an Alternate Committee Member and his advancement to High Mage, astonishing the gala guests and impressing Princess Rosa, Trina, and Lainer’s leaders.
• After the gala, Pollas congratulated Roland, explained his new spell benefits, and presented him with a Mystic Spell Robe made by Ovesto.
• Roland read Ovesto’s congratulatory letter and attuned the robe, discovering that its Level 7 Monster Summoning ability could call upon pact partners chosen by his teacher.
• Oksaya complained that Roland might soon rival Gallo for a Full Committee position, and Grand Mage Watson angrily scolded him for criticizing the committee and provoking Gallo.

Roland agreed to fund Sophia and Polina’s cultural enterprise and urged them to build an influential business promoting Atrelin culture in Lainer World. He introduced them to Dunhuang dance and began planning an elaborate performance that would combine dance with magic.

• Roland visited Sophia and Polina backstage after the gala, then invited them to discuss building their careers at his Manor.
• Newspaper coverage turned the ballet and its performers into sensations, and Sophia and Polina received a flood of invitations.
• Sophia and Polina visited Roland at Tyrell Mountain Estate and proposed opening an opera house and teaching dance.
• Roland agreed to support their venture and suggested using performances, endorsements, and luxury brands to shape Lainer’s tastes and promote Atrelin culture.
• Roland described Seris classical dance, especially Dunhuang dance, and used magic to show Sophia and Polina an animated sequence of costumes and movements.
• Polina discussed using spells for the Flying Apsaras, while Roland proposed an extravagant production using flight magic and angels from Heavenly Mountain.

Roland attended a meeting of the Lainer World Mage Council, where the two Mage Towers discussed funding and valuable magical resources. The council established a competition between the towers beginning in three years, leaving Gallo confident that the Orthodox School would defeat Roland’s newer Seris School.

• Roland arrived at the Mage Tower and joined Lie Yi, Morella, and Blaise before the council meeting began.
• Gallo warned Oksaya that Roland was building the Seris School’s influence through culture, commerce, and education, and urged their side to develop its own brand.
• Pollas proposed that the council allocate surplus resources worth over five million gold coins, along with assets yielding more than a million gold coins annually, through an incentive plan.
• Gallo proposed a winner-takes-all competition between the two Mage Towers, and Roland pressed for rules that would ensure fair participation and assessment.
• The council agreed to hold the first competition in three years, with accumulated prizes worth eight million gold coins and later annual contests.
• Gallo concluded that the established Orthodox School would beat Roland’s newer Seris School, regardless of the competition’s format.

Roland helped Sophia and Polina launch Seris-inspired cultural ventures, providing designs and ideas that sparked a fashion craze in Savaran and Terry City. Gallo decided to imitate Roland’s cultural campaign and ordered Oksaya to help create works that could become timeless classics.

• Roland reassured Lie Yi that the Seris School had three years to develop and train students, then went to visit Sophia and Polina’s company.
• Noble admirers crowded around Roland at the company, and Sophia rescued him before he completed his business with her.
• Roland arranged his investment and gave Sophia designs for Seris instruments, clothing, and other cultural ventures.
• Sophia, Polina, and the company’s staff praised Roland’s designs, while Polina noticed the especially detailed Court-Style Silk Dudou sketch.
• Seris-style fashion and classical dance spread through Savaran and Terry City, impressing nobles and scholars.
• After hearing about the craze, Gallo told Oksaya to help create plays, dances, and outfits that could become timeless classics.

Roland successfully tested Greater Teleportation and continued studying Dimension Door by adapting its spell model with Seris Runes. As he pursued a Chinese-language magical system, Princess Rosa appeared at his office door.

• Roland chose Greater Teleportation as his special promotion quota and arranged to apply for authorization.
• Roland traveled safely from Terry Manor to West Hill Manor in his first practical trial of Greater Teleportation.
• Roland studied Dimension Door and used Seris Runes to explore adapting its spell model through interlanguage.
• Roland reflected on how Seris Magic could support an independent magical tradition using Chinese, then noticed Princess Rosa at his office door.

Roland discussed building a magic education system for Lainer World and proposed simplifying Seris into simplified characters to make learning and mass education easier. The chapter ended with Lie Yi and the other mages questioning whether simplified characters could retain the magical resonance of older scripts.

• Roland praised Princess Rosa's hanfu, discussed her work on the Lainer Encyclopedia, and offered her a formal position as his Mage Tower assistant; she accepted.
• Roland met Lainer Council mages and persuaded them to consider teaching in Seris, then prepared plans for the Mage Tower and the new academic year.
• At a West Hill Manor meeting, Roland and the others debated how to recruit mage apprentices, and they agreed to a low-cost system that would rely on apprentices assisting Full Mages.
• Uboer described how Tongues helped students learn Seris quickly but failed to teach deeper meaning, and Roland explained that the spell had inherent limits.
• Roland proposed introducing simplified characters to make Seris easier to learn, but Lie Yi raised concerns that simplification could weaken the script's magical resonance.

Roland defended his plan to simplify Seris characters as a way to make the language and magic easier to learn without weakening its magical power. He presented Lie Yi and other scholars with the completed Seris General Character List, leaving them deeply shaken by its thoroughness.

• Council and Joint Research Association members debated whether simplifying Seris characters could damage the language’s magical power.
• Roland privately explained to Ovesto that simplified characters would help popularize Seris and strengthen its reach while preserving its magical potential.
• Oksaya criticized Roland’s plan, and reasonable newspaper arguments against simplification made Lie Yi, Swein, and others reconsider it.
• Lie Yi brought Blaise, Uboer, Jiduo'en, and other scholars to urge Roland not to rush the reform, but Roland revealed his completed Seris General Character List.
• The scholars examined Roland’s scheme and acknowledged its completeness, while Lie Yi said he was deeply shaken.

Roland introduced simplified Chinese characters and vernacular Chinese as a paired effort to modernize and popularize Seris writing and magic. Lunifis completed her history of magic incantations and confirmed that vernacular Chinese could preserve Seris’s meaning and sustain its Ultra-Magic.

• The Savaran Daily published Roland’s Seris General Character List, prompting excitement from Rosa and Gennobion.
• Gallo and Oksaya completed a revised Ous Alphabet Phonetic-Symbol Scheme, then learned that Roland had published a rival simplification scheme.
• Roland explained vernacular Chinese to Lie Yi and the mages at West Hill Manor, and said Lunifis would assess its use in incantations.
• Arcane researchers and Seris Language Research Society members reacted to Roland’s linguistic analysis and called for more members to join his work in the Lainer World.
• Lunifis finished her History of the Development of Magic Incantations and told Roland that vernacular Chinese could preserve Seris’s meaning and sustain Seris Magic.

Roland studied Lunifis's history of magical incantations and shared his ideas about vernacular Chinese and spellcasting with scholars and bards. As debate spread through arcane circles, Morella discovered that vernacular Chinese could combine a magic card's description and incantations into a new storytelling-style spell.

• Roland read Lunifis's theory that incantations regulated a caster's mental power, then sent his notes to Ovesto, Lie Yi, Poietes, and Armand.
• Poietes and Armand discussed how vernacular language could shape poetry and incantations, while Armand defended colloquial writing as a literary trend.
• Arcane researchers tested simplified characters and vernacular Chinese, finding that their magical resonance exceeded 95 percent and generated widespread debate.
• Gallo and Oksaya learned that Lunifis's work had further boosted vernacular Chinese and felt frustrated by Roland's progress.
• Morella and Blaise experimented with Morella's mythic Zhurong card, and Morella combined its description and incantations in vernacular Chinese, creating storytelling-style incantations.

Roland and Blaise tested Morella’s storytelling-chanting technique by dueling with Phantom Magic Cards, and Roland used the mythic Xingtian card to summon a powerful Spirit of Xingtian into the real world. As the spirit remained after the duel ended, an altar at the Tiniara Restoration Army’s headquarters began shaking and Selad woke.

• Blaise told Roland that Morella had made card-based spellcasting practical with a new storytelling-chanting method, and Roland agreed to give him a favorable licensing deal.
• Roland altered the inscriptions on his Xingtian card, and he and Blaise prepared to test it in a Phantom Magic Cards duel before a crowd at West Hill Manor.
• Blaise summoned a warrior, mage, and priest, while Roland deployed Xingtian and Tribal Warriors; Blaise’s attacks defeated Roland’s ordinary troops and general.
• Roland activated Xingtian’s special effect, then chanted to channel mana through the mythic card and summon the Spirit of Xingtian.
• The Spirit of Xingtian defeated Blaise’s three summoned kytons and remained after the duel arena vanished, while an altar in the Tiniara Restoration Army’s headquarters shook and Selad woke.

After Roland demonstrated that Phantom Magic Cards could summon pact spirits, Gennobion proposed that the Lainer people adopt the system alongside Seris magic as a path to developing their own magical strength. As discussions continued, Selad arrived in Terry City with Restoration Army experts, apparently drawn by Xingtian’s manifestation.

• Selad learned from Madlan that Xingtian had manifested near Savaran, and he decided to investigate personally.
• After Roland and Blaise’s duel, Roland explained how they had adapted dark-game summoning rules, then recalled the summoned Xingtian spirit into a card.
• Gennobion proposed Phantom Magic Cards and pact spirits as a possible primary system for the Lainer people, prompting Roland and others to consider the idea.
• Grand Mage Watson backed considering the system for integration with Seris magic, while Gallo warned that Xingtian might be tied to divine power; Watson dismissed his concern.
• Morella met with Roland and Blaise to support Gennobion’s proposal, and Selad arrived in Terry City with several Restoration Army experts.

Selad led his followers to New City to seize Roland’s Xingtian card, believing it belonged to their god, while Roland learned more about the Phantom Magic Card system and recruited Blaise and Morella as core members of the Seris School. Selad finally ambushed Roland’s carriage, only to discover that Trina was guarding him.

• Selad’s group investigated Phantom Magic Cards and decided to take the Xingtian card back to their altar as a vessel for their god.
• Blaise explained the cards’ ties to legends, faith, and the Pan-Plane Phantom Magic Card Association, and Roland invited him to become a core member of the Seris School.
• Roland tried to enhance Blaise and Morella’s cards; although they could not enter the Dark Game, they gained spirituality, and both men joined the school as core members.
• Roland began modifying rare Mythic Cards and contacted Katona and Hilt to promote the Seris card series.
• Selad sensed the location of the Xingtian card and ambushed Roland on his way home, but Trina recognized him and Selad was shocked to see her there.

Roland and Trina fought Selad and the Tiniara Restoration Army, driving off Selad but leaving Trina gravely wounded. As Roland helped her recover, the Xingtian Card began drawing blood-red energy from the defeated warriors.

• Trina attacked Selad and his warriors, while Roland recognized their Xingtian Totem as a power like his own Xingtian Battle Spirit.
• Roland escaped the warriors’ assault with Dimension Door, defeated two with Fireballs, then returned after strengthening himself with spells and potions.
• Roland and the cat-eared guards overwhelmed the remaining warriors, and Roland knocked one unconscious with Antonia’s magic book.
• Trina transformed into her dragon form and battered Selad, but Selad struck her with a Cleave-Head Spell, broke free, and fled.
• Roland healed Trina with a Greater Healing Potion and a leaf, and she explained that Selad had fled because he feared her supposed divine technique.
• The Xingtian Card rose from Roland’s pocket and drew blood-red radiance from the defeated tribal warriors.