Chapter Summaries

After surviving an attack, Roland learned that his Xingtian card had advanced in rank and concealed the incident’s connection to the Tiniara Restoration Army. Blaise proposed using the card to study how faith empowered Phantom Magic Cards, and Roland set out to lure Selad into negotiations.

• Roland found that the Xingtian card had gained a star after killing two attackers, while Trina defended her strength and agreed to keep protecting him.
• Roland told the arriving Mage Corps that the attack was minor, redirected their investigation toward an earlier Ratman plot, and asked them to keep the incident quiet.
• The next day, Roland instructed Aier to arrange a villa, a combat-capable magic vehicle, and replacement supplies while he recovered from spellcasting.
• Blaise examined the upgraded card and advised Roland to use it as bait to encourage the Tiniara Restoration Army’s followers to worship and wield it.
• After learning that his captured attackers were Mata Tribe warriors loyal to Selad, Roland released one with a demand that Selad bring a sincere offer and negotiate for the card.

Roland tested Xingtian’s growing strength, discovered he could create rule-recognized equipment cards, and sparked excitement among card enthusiasts and investors. He then met Selad to offer him a card and ask the Tiniara Restoration Army leader to cooperate in magical research, with the group serving as subjects.

• Roland and Blaise tested Xingtian against Hollow Corpse Monsters, and Blaise observed that Xingtian’s combat power and Ganqi had become more substantial.
• With Blaise’s guidance, Roland created equipment cards for Xingtian’s axe and shield, and an Identification Spell confirmed they were genuine cards recognized by the rules.
• Blaise publicized Roland’s success, exciting card enthusiasts, while Hilt Company executives decided to invest in Lainer World’s card industry and support Roland’s effort to influence its system choice.
• On February 18, Roland left West Hill Manor with Trina and Blaise to meet Selad near Terry City and offered to transfer him a card.
• Roland told Selad he wanted the Tiniara Restoration Army to cooperate in magical research, then clarified that they would be the research subjects.

Roland discovered that Seris biographies could awaken the spirits of the dead as Heroic Spirit cards, then developed the Seris Deification Technique to harness the cultural resonance behind apotheosis. After establishing a repeatable method, he turned his attention to obtaining Selad’s secret to perfect the spell and explain Xingtian’s manifestation.

• Selad demanded that Roland first make Talmud and Gian into Heroic Spirits before he would believe him, while agreeing to cooperate.
• Roland wrote biographies for Talmud and Gian, and both accounts awakened the dead warriors as character cards despite their zero-star ranks.
• Roland concluded that the cards’ power came from resonance across universes connected to the Mata Tribe and began developing a spell to harness it.
• Roland created the Seris Deification Technique by adapting the Dream Spell, though Blaise could not reproduce it without the necessary cultural understanding.
• Roland arranged for Rosa to help prepare the research for submission to Magic and decided he needed Selad’s secret to refine the spell and strengthen the resonance.

Roland traded Selad the Xingtian Card while planning to use the Mata Tribe’s faith and card offerings to expand his own power. He then prepared Investiture of the Gods as a way to explain the Seris Deification Technique, and the story ended as the novel appeared on the Seris School’s official website.

• Roland gave Selad the Xingtian Card after hearing about the Mata Tribe’s inherited connection to Tiniara’s faith, and Blaise realized Roland intended to benefit from the offerings and related cards.
• Roland told Blaise he planned to copy Investiture of the Gods as a story that could help readers understand the Seris Deification Technique and inspire a new Phantom Magic Card series.
• The Magic editorial department unanimously advanced Roland’s paper on the Seris Deification Technique through secondary review despite concerns about its divine-magic subject matter.
• The editor-in-chief and Swein learned that Roland’s paper attracted little public attention, though Phantom Magic Card enthusiasts discussed trying the spell.
• A visitor told Swein and the editor-in-chief that the Seris School had published Roland’s episodic novel, Investiture of the Gods.

Roland’s Investiture of the Gods sparked intense discussion, prompting scholars and officials to read religious and political ideas into the novel and ask him to explain Seris beliefs. Meanwhile, Archbishop Pana’s struggling Church of the God of Light learned that Roland had arrived in Lainer World and had shown goodwill toward the faith.

• Readers across Nevis praised Investiture of the Gods, interpreting its magic, military campaigns, and divine investiture through their own interests.
• Gallo recognized the novel’s blend of classical and vernacular Seris as evidence that the Seris School had developed a literary foundation.
• Gennobion argued that the novel presented a pantheon and proposed adapting its ideas for religious reform and Phantom Magic Cards.
• Rosa persuaded Roland to give the Compilation Committee a lecture on Seris religious beliefs the following morning.
• Archbishop Pana listened as diocesan representatives reported poor missionary results and discussed the obstacles posed by Lainer’s nature-spirit traditions.
• A church representative pointed out that Roland had recently arrived in Lainer World, was friendly toward the Church, and had previously donated gold coins.

Archbishop Pana sought to bring Roland closer to the Church despite Bishop Meihard’s denunciations of his religious ideas. After meeting Roland to offer help with the Lainer Encyclopedia, Pana privately asked him to write his biography for a Phantom Magic Card.

• Bishop Meihard accused Roland’s Seris School stories of blasphemy, but Archbishop Pana argued that the Church should guide and recruit Roland rather than treat him as an enemy.
• After hearing that Roland had published Investiture of the Gods, Pana postponed his itinerary and arranged a personal visit, while Meihard published a denunciation that stirred debate across the magic network.
• Roland discussed Pana’s intentions with Aier and told her to stay out of sight when the archbishop came to visit.
• At West Hill Manor, Pana offered books and Church members to help the Compilation Committee, then privately asked Roland to write his biography for a Phantom Magic Card.

Roland received materials on holy emblems and Divine Script from Archbishop Pana after drafting a short biography, then decided to study how spiritual magic could strengthen writing. Meanwhile, Magic approved publication of his Seris Deification Technique, provoking religious controversy and Bishop Meihard’s condemnation, as an uninvited guest arrived at West Hill Manor.

• Archbishop Pana commissioned Roland to write his biography, and Roland produced a short draft that delighted the archbishop.
• Archbishop Pana gave Roland materials on holy emblems and Divine Script, while Roland gave Princess Rosa the holy emblem he had received.
• The Magic editorial department unanimously approved Roland’s Seris Deification Technique for publication.
• The article’s final-review results stirred debate on the Magic Network, and Bishop Meihard condemned Roland’s research as blasphemous.
• Oksaya suggested visiting Bishop Meihard, but Gallo declined, and a beam of holy light brought an uninvited guest to West Hill Manor.

Roland discussed the Lainer Encyclopedia with Princess Rosa and approved funding for the school before a mysterious golden-winged woman appeared to him alone. After she left behind a Legendary Card, Roland found that Rosa and Aier could neither see the woman nor the card.

• Roland explained his plans for organizing Lainer’s knowledge and history through the Lainer Encyclopedia, with Seris as its unifying language and writing system.
• Aier brought Roland funding requests for magical construction projects and routine expenses, and he approved them with his Arcane Mark and seal.
• Aier froze in the doorway as a radiant golden-haired woman entered, and Roland was drawn into a mysterious domain while Princess Rosa and Aier vanished from his sight.
• The woman asked Roland to create and perfect a card, then revealed six pairs of golden wings and left a feather that transformed into a Legendary Card.
• Roland awoke beside Princess Rosa and Aier, who had seen only golden light and knew nothing of the woman; they also could not see the card in Roland’s hand.

After Grand Mage Pollas identified the holy light and invisible card as signs of a divine revelation from the Lord of Radiance, Roland considered how his magical card work and Seris culture might give the card physical form. He decided to create a rhapsody praising a goddess of light, but left the chapter still choosing how to adapt Seris literary traditions.

• Grand Mage Pollas examined Roland, explained divine revelations and psychic entities, and used Arcane Sight to see the card beside him.
• Pollas advised Roland to keep the revelation quiet and said the Lord of Radiance had recognized his improvements to the Phantom Magic Cards.
• Roland studied the meaning of revelation and suspected that spreading the Seris language and culture could help the card manifest in the material world.
• At West Hill Manor, Roland began composing a rhapsody, but Princess Rosa's presence made him too embarrassed to write.
• Roland decided to adapt Seris literary traditions and mythology into a new work called "Rhapsody of the Goddess of Light."

Diego heard his father Moberon explain why the Church of Light and West Lainer’s Orthodox School were attacking Roland’s Seris teachings, while Archbishop Pana worried that the dispute might threaten the faithful. The chapter ended as Pana read Roland’s new article, a rhapsody describing the goddess of light Xi Fei.

• Diego overheard Lacey argue with Moberon about her dancing classes and her future, then joined them for breakfast.
• Moberon told Diego that critics in West Lainer, including Bishop Meihard and several priests, were denouncing Roland’s Investiture of the Gods and Seris Deification Technique.
• Moberon urged Diego to study Arcana and align himself with Roland’s Seris School, while dismissing Lacey’s ambitions as a possible route to marrying a wealthy husband.
• Archbishop Pana and his confidant debated whether Roland’s stories could be reconciled with the Church’s beliefs and worried about the Lord of Radiance’s will.
• Pana’s confidant announced that Roland had published a new article, and Pana read its opening description of the goddess Xi Fei.

Roland’s “Rhapsody of the Goddess of Light” sparked conflicting interpretations, literary admiration, and outrage over its portrayal of the deity. As criticism spread and demonstrations began, Oksaya’s article and church conservatives launched a probing attack against Roland and the Seris School.

• Bishop Meihard denounced Roland’s rhapsody as blasphemous, while Archbishop Pana interpreted its romantic longing as a metaphor for Roland’s uncertain faith.
• Readers and churches debated the Goddess of Light’s appearance, while the Joint Research Association used the rhapsody to explore new literary forms and develop Seris.
• Lunifis praised Roland’s literary innovation and explained that the Goddess’s appearance reflected his own heart; Roland admitted she resembled Lunifis and was embarrassed when she offered to dress as the goddess.
• Oksaya published a condemning article in the Arcana Review, and Bishop Meihard and church conservatives protested Roland’s rhapsody.
• Believers staged demonstrations in Atrelin as an organized attack against Roland and the Seris School began.

As Roland continued developing Seris Magic, Bishop Meihard and Oksaya escalated their public campaign against him. Their attack was upended when the Lord of Radiance issued an oracle praising Phantom Magic Cards and adopted the image of the Goddess of Light from Roland’s rhapsody, leaving the church stunned.

• Moberon noticed the growing support for the campaign against Roland, while Cynthia and Princess Rosa worried about the attacks and Roland told them not to worry.
• Roland experimented with activating a Legendary Card using his magic power and planned to adapt universal spells for Seris Magic.
• Oksaya delivered another article attacking Roland to Meihard, and the two discussed expanding their opposition to the Seris School.
• Holy light appeared in Dogula Cathedral, and the Lord of Radiance issued an oracle praising Phantom Magic Cards as a medium for spreading faith.
• The cathedral’s statue transformed into the Twelve-Winged Golden Angel depicted in Roland’s Rhapsody, and Meihard and Oksaya learned that Lainer Cathedral had received the same oracle.

After Roland’s rhapsody won the Goddess of Light’s approval, the Church of Light launched Seris education and offered him a lucrative role in expanding it. The church began preaching in Seris, while Roland and Archbishop Pana planned further cooperation, including translating scriptures into Seris.

• Public reports credited Roland’s rhapsody with the oracle and the Goddess of Light’s approval, making him famous and prompting Archbishop Pana to invite him to establish Seris classes and write prayers for ten thousand gold coins per character.
• Archbishop Pana offered to seek the title of Righteous One for Roland, and they agreed to promote Seris through the diocese and align priest and preacher examinations with standards from the Seris Language Research Society.
• Oksaya learned Bishop Meihard had blocked him after the oracle, and he feared the church’s support for Roland would hinder the Orthodox School and its Ous alphabet phonetic-symbol scheme.
• At Lainer Cathedral, a priest preached in Seris using Tongues of Seris, allowing believers who did not know the language to understand the sermon.
• Roland and Archbishop Pana reviewed the launch of Seris education and agreed to invite skilled people to translate and edit the church’s scriptures and other works in Seris.

The Church of Light’s demand for Seris instruction made certified teachers highly sought after, boosting the Seris Language Research Society. Roland used the new cooperation with the church to propose cultural projects and presented the envoy with a Legendary Card: Lightbringer before learning that his article on the Seris Deification Technique had been published.

• Froya, Yvonne, and other Society members received church invitations to teach Seris, while Dylent and Jog went to apply for positions.
• Seris lessons spread through Atrelin and Lainer World, and Roland told Rosa to let the market sort out unqualified instructors while protecting the Society’s members.
• Roland considered expanding church cooperation through cultural projects, including translating classics and developing projects related to the oracle’s instruction.
• Roland and Archbishop Pana met a Holy See envoy to discuss scriptures and Phantom Magic Cards, then agreed to pursue projects that could provide lasting work for Society members.
• Roland presented the envoy with a Legendary Card: Lightbringer, which he had created using borrowed divine power and his research.
• On May 10, Roland learned that his article, “A New Practical Spell: Seris Deification Technique,” had been published.

Roland’s Apotheosis Art drew attention across the arcane world, while Gallo recognized that Roland’s cultural groundwork had secured the Seris School’s future in East Lainer. Roland then recruited Polina and Sophia to help create a new God of Light Phantom Card design, leaving them with his sketch of the Holy Light Divine Envoy Bodhisattva.

• Roland’s paper on Apotheosis Art was published and prompted debate among mages, religious groups, and political leaders.
• Antonia decided to restrict interference with the Mata Tribe’s worship of Xingtian while supporting research into the God of Light’s Phantom Cards.
• Gallo explained to Oksaya how Roland had built support for the Seris School across East Lainer’s cultural, political, and religious circles, then continued studying Seris.
• Polina demonstrated Dunhuang Dance at Polina Company, using magic and illusion effects that impressed Lacey and the other dancers.
• Roland asked Sophia and Polina to license Polina’s likeness for a new God of Light Phantom Card project, explaining that the Church of Light and card companies were involved.
• Roland showed them his design for the Holy Light Divine Envoy Bodhisattva, combining Polina’s likeness and Dunhuang imagery with religious motifs.

Roland backed the Hilt Company’s Seris Magic Cards while urging it to reinvest profits in cheaper spell-scroll production, then gave Rosa a card album to help her learn Seris. As he continued developing Seris Academy’s curriculum, he completed the Thousand Character Classic and Enlightenment on Rhythm and submitted them to the Council for approval.

• Roland met Diaxili at West Hill Manor, examined the Hilt Company’s new Seris Magic Cards, and urged the company to use its profits to advance spell-scroll research.
• Roland gave Rosa a card album, and the Hilt Company prepared its Seris Magic Cards workshop and advertisements.
• Lacey learned that the cards could teach magic and bought a Light skill card for Diego.
• Roland worked on Seris Academy’s teaching materials and chose Enlightenment on Rhythm as a language primer.
• Roland completed the Thousand Character Classic and Enlightenment on Rhythm and submitted them to the Council for approval.

Roland’s new Seris primers and literary works spread through the Lainer World, inspiring scholars and businesses to promote the language and explore its use in magic. At the launch of Hilt Company’s Seris Magic Cards, Lacey discovered that her father and brother had gained influential positions through their Seris skills.

• Roland presented expanded versions of the Thousand Character Classic and Enlightenment on Rhythm, winning approval from the Council and praise from Seris scholars.
• Diaxili planned to recruit Seris speakers and produce cheap character-recognition cards as Hilt Company expanded its partnership with Roland.
• Roland explained Seris poetic forms and their potential as magical incantations to Lunifis, while scholars including Ovesto and Gallo explored Seris poetry and calligraphy.
• Hilt Company launched its Seris Magic Cards in Terry City, and Roland attended with Lie Yi and Blaise alongside performers from the Polina Company.
• Lacey learned that her father, Moberon, had become a senior translator and adviser at Hilt after earning a level-four Seris qualification.

Roland recruited Moberon to help compile the Lainer Encyclopedia, and Moberon gradually gained connections through his work at West Hill Manor. When Roland met Moberon’s son Diego, he discovered that Diego was an exceptionally accomplished student with fluent Seris and deep knowledge of Seris culture.

• Roland invited Moberon to work on the Lainer Encyclopedia at West Hill Manor, impressing Moberon and his daughter Lacey.
• Moberon prepared enthusiastically for his new role, but Roland initially assigned him translation work and paid little attention to him.
• Through errands for Uboer, Jiduo'en, and other Archwizards, Moberon met high-ranking nobles and eventually spoke with Roland several times.
• Roland reflected on how Seris knowledge and methods were taking root at West Hill Manor while Princess Rosa worked below him.
• Guards stopped Diego and Moberon after Diego got lost at West Hill Manor, but Roland recognized Moberon and asked what had happened.
• Roland spoke with Diego and learned that he had excellent grades, had passed Seris Level Four, and knew Seris culture and idioms exceptionally well.

Roland tested Diego’s command of Seris and discovered he could contribute original ideas about language and magic. Their discussion inspired Roland to develop Seris Runewords, and the first trials succeeded, leaving him ready to adapt them into a new magical system.

• Roland investigated Diego’s family history, then invited him to study manuscripts and found that he understood Seris exceptionally well.
• Diego proposed using idioms and alternative inscription methods to preserve meaning in magical writing, giving Roland new ideas about runes and magic cards.
• Roland recruited Skord and Thibault to develop photolithography technology and began creating a set of Seris Runewords based on idioms.
• Roland assigned his school members to test the runewords, and by July 3 more than half proved usable, with an overall resonance rate above eighty percent.
• Roland began combining the runewords with seals and magic arrays, shaping them into 2 × 2 dot-matrix units like pixels.

Roland successfully developed a machine-reproducible magic card by combining Seris movable-type printing with arcane techniques, then arranged its promotion and commercial distribution. As the Hilt Company began building a local business around the Capel family, Roland and the others entered the newly built Mage Tower for its opening ceremony.

• Roland used a carved seal and printing experiments to create a magic card whose tiny characters and mana patterns formed an image and spell.
• Lie Yi and Blaise tested Roland's invention, praised its potential, and proposed cooperation with the Card Association despite possible opposition from the Spell Scroll Association.
• Roland partnered with the Card Association, registered patents, and agreed to let the Hilt Company manage his membership and sales channels while reserving operations in the Lainer World.
• Diaxili arranged for Moberon Capel to lead a local card company, and Rick urged the Hilt Company to invest in Moberon's daughter Lacey and the rest of the family.
• On July 30, Roland and the other council members entered the newly built Mage Tower at Grand Mage Watson's command.