Nisi Awakens

Nisi slowly opened her eyes.

At first, she didn't realize where she was. The backlash from the arcane source—the power of Emanation—left her consciousness somewhat hazy. Even though she possessed undeniable talent and power, it didn't mean she wouldn't suffer for it. In fact, those with talent often bear more burdens and pressures than ordinary people; it's not simply a matter of having outstanding skills.

"Here it is..."

Nisi raised her hand and looked at the back of her hand, where mysterious magical characters were flickering in and out of existence.

"Oh, right, I accepted the Arcane Mage's test, and then..."

Nisi tilted her head slightly, somewhat uneasy about the fuzziness of her memories. However, the power she currently possessed, far beyond her imagination, left her feeling bewildered. Nisi wasn't a clumsy mage; she had a considerable understanding of magical power. Moreover, she clearly understood the connection between mages and spells. But the power she was currently sensing completely overturned Nisi's previous judgments and perceptions. It was like an ocean of energy, boundless and limitless, giving the illusion that it would never be exhausted.

"You're finally awake, Miss Nisi."

It wasn't until a sweet, gentle voice appeared that Nisi was brought back to her original world. Turning her head, she saw Nia sitting quietly beside her, holding a thick book, watching her with a reassuring smile.

"Ah, Sister Nia!"

Nisi sat up abruptly, somewhat at a loss. The scene before her made her feel as if she had returned to the era of the Magic Empire a thousand years ago, when she always loved to sleep in, and the Arcane Mage would send Nia to wake her. In Nisi's heart, she had always both respected and feared Nia, and seeing her appear before her now, she immediately became reflexively tense.

"I'll get up right away, I'm sorry, I..."

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

Nia chuckled and ignored the elven mage's words. She stood up and bowed respectfully to Nisi.

"Don't be so reserved. Your level is much higher than mine now... Don't forget, you're an Arcane Mage now too, Miss Nisi?"

"I am... Arcane Mage..."

Although this was one of Nisi's long-held dreams, hearing it from Nia still left Nisi with a sense of unreality. After all, a thousand years ago, she had always looked up to and worshipped the leaders of those Magic Empire, regarding them as an unattainable goal and pinnacle. But now, she had achieved it. She was no longer just an elf, a high-ranking mage, but an Arcane Mage. What was the difference? Nisi couldn't quite explain it, but she instinctively felt that an Arcane Mage was no longer simply a mage.

"However, although you have been recognized by the Core of Evocation, you have not yet become a true Arcane Mage."

As if seeing through Nisi's inner doubts, Nia spoke up.

"You've slept for so long, so please go and bathe and change first. After you've had your meal, I will come and teach you everything a true Arcane Mage possesses."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Nisi's eyes suddenly lit up. She quickly jumped up and answered, then hurriedly left the room.

"So many years have passed... but she's still that same child..."

Watching Nisi's departing figure, Nia gave a helpless bitter smile. Although a thousand years had passed, and the little girl who always loved to sleep in with her pillow had grown into a beautiful woman, it seemed that Nisi's inner self hadn't changed at all. It was as if she had completely closed off her inner time a thousand years ago, and only now had it started turning again.

After bathing, Nisi seemed to finally calm down, regaining her usual mature demeanor and no longer acting like a little girl. In fact, elves didn't need any special food, so Nisi quickly completed the tasks assigned by Nia and began her course on Arcane Mage. However, Nisi had no idea that what she was about to experience was even more wondrous than what she had already gone through.

"Sister Nia?"

Nisi stared at Nia's retreating figure with a puzzled expression.

"You don't need to call me 'sister' anymore, Miss Nisi."

Nia turned her head and looked at the elven woman who was now almost as tall as her.

"You are already a mature and beautiful young lady, and now you are Arcane Mage. According to the rules, it is very inappropriate for you to address me like that."

"So... Miss Nia..."

Although Nisi was still a little uncomfortable being addressed as "Miss," that wasn't her current concern.

"I would like to ask, why is it you who is teaching me how to become an Arcane Mage?"

Is that strange?

"If it were a high-ranking Arcane Mage... no, a high-ranking Luoxia, I wouldn't find it strange. But you are Luoxia's weapon, aren't you? And... you're not Arcane Mage, are you?"

Nisi's suspicions weren't unfounded. While Nia was indeed learned, she herself had just stated that she was Arcane Mage, possessing knowledge unique to Arcane Mage and incomprehensible to others. However, Nia herself was merely a weapon. Even as the leader of the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, she was simply Weapon Spirit created by Arcane Mage. How could she possibly know the secrets of Arcane Mage?

"Just as you said, Miss Nisi."

Although Nisi's question was abrupt, Nia didn't react in any special way, still wearing the same reassuring smile as Li Lin.

"However... just as I said, some things... aren't that simple..."

As she spoke, Nia raised her staff and then gently tapped it on the ground.

The three crystals at the top of the staff emitted a huge, bright light, as if enveloping the entire world. This dazzling light forced Nisi to close her eyes.

When she opened her eyes again, she was completely stunned by what she saw.

Bookshelves, seemingly endless and overwhelming, have filled the entire world. They are everywhere—front, back, left, right, top, and bottom—obscuring everything else in the world, as if there is nothing else here but books.

"Miss Nia, this is..."

Looking at Nia before her, Nisi involuntarily took a step back. This unusual scene was beyond her comprehension, causing the elven mage to become secretly wary. At this moment, Nia's expression was also unusually serious and solemn. She bowed deeply to Nisi and slowly spoke.

"Then, esteemed Master of Evocation—Arcane Mage Niss, I solemnly introduce myself once again. I am Nia, a subordinate of Arcane Mage Li Lin, the leader of the Seven Ringwraiths, the 'Guardian of Infinite Knowledge'—the Ancient Library. My responsibility is to record all the knowledge and information of this world. Whatever happens in this multiverse, I can provide answers for you."

"This is..."

"This is my alternate name, which only Arcane Mage are qualified to know."

Nia raised her head again, her expression returning to normal.

"Each of us Seven Ring Spirit Envoys possesses an alternate name, which only Arcane Mage are permitted to know. Unlike our True Name, these alternate names indicate the degree of restriction on the assistance you can receive from us. If you request it, we will provide more information and help. Only those who possess an alternate name will be granted access to and consult my 'Eternal Library.'"

As she spoke, Nia gently stretched out her hand, drawing a perfect arc in the air.

Then, a beautifully crafted large book suddenly appeared in front of Nisi.

"Of course, I also possess records of all Arcane Mage... This is a section that only Arcane Mage are qualified to access, and what lies before you are the records of the previous Evocation Master."

"Please, please wait a moment."

Shocked by this series of sudden and unimaginable facts, Nisi finally managed to come to her senses.

"Why do you possess all the records of Arcane Mage, Miss Nia? Aren't you Lord Luoxia's weapon?"

"This has to do with my 'alternate name'... I'm sorry, you are not yet qualified to know this name. And... in the future, your history will also be recorded here."

Nia's answer ended there. After all, she had more important things to do.

"Then, Miss Nisi, let me tell you what Arcane Mage is."

With that, Nia waved her hand, and the surrounding bookshelves vanished instantly. Except for the book placed in front of Nisi, everything was swallowed by the dark starry sky.

"I imagine you heard the story of how Arcane Mage are born from Li Lin at the inheritance ceremony."

"Yes."

Nisi nodded.

"According to Lord Luoxia, in order to prevent the rules of magic from being personified and forming God of Magic, the thirteen mages divided the fundamental power of magic, ensuring it could never form a complete whole."

"That's exactly right."

Nia smiled slightly.

"According to Li Lin, magic doesn't need gods. As you've heard, mages divide their power and fuse the same parts into their souls according to their respective schools of specialization. In this way, magic can no longer be a unified whole, the rules are fragmented, and personality naturally cannot arise. However, things are not that simple."

Nia paused for a moment before continuing.

"I think you also sensed that infinitely powerful force, surpassing the limits that ordinary mages can contain. That is the power of the shaping aspect of the origin of magic. And this power is not inexhaustible. After obtaining the origin of magic, under its influence, Arcane Mage no longer restore their mental energy through simple meditation like ordinary mages. Their power comes from another system—the magic system. Just as gods draw energy from their faith, Arcane Mage draw energy from magic. The more people use magic, the easier it is for them to gain power. Therefore, they established Magic Empire —a 'divine realm' located on the Prime Material Plane, and obtain the energy to sustain it. Strictly speaking, Arcane Mage have become one with the Magic Empire, sharing a common destiny. Therefore, when the Magic Empire was destroyed, they did not leave, nor could they leave. A god whose divine realm has been destroyed has no power, and so do Arcane Mage."

"But Lord Luoxia, he..."

Hearing this, Nisi couldn't help but wonder: when Li Lin appeared, the Magic Empire hadn't yet reappeared, and it still hadn't, so how did he maintain his power?

"Li Lin is slightly different from other Arcane Mage... but not by much."

Nia did not answer the question directly; she only touched on it briefly before immediately changing the subject.

"Furthermore, Arcane Mage bear a mission, which you must know now."

At this point, Nia's expression immediately became much more serious.

"Please live well."

"Why?"

Perhaps because Nia's expression and her words differed so greatly, Nisi didn't react for a moment. Why bring up something so obvious?

"The life that Arcane Mage cherish is not merely life in the superficial sense. They fuse the rules into their souls, thereby weakening the power of magic's origin and preventing the creation of God of Magic. Theoretically, Arcane Mage have fused with the rules possess infinite life. Therefore, you must cherish your life even more. Once Arcane Mage dies, the part of the rules fused to their soul will detach and return to where they belong. If all the rules detach from the Arcane Mage's soul and fuse together, then it is highly likely that God of Magic will immediately appear. This is what Arcane Mage have been striving to avoid, and it is their most arduous task besides protecting the Magic Empire."

Hearing this, Nisi understood somewhat about the origins of Arcane Mage. Their power was natural; mastering the power of the very essence of the rules inherently superior them to those who drew power from those rules. Their long lifespans were also explained—mages fused with the rules, strictly speaking, were no longer human, so such longevity wasn't surprising. Their strange behavior of never fleeing even when the Magic Empire was destroyed was also explained—their power came from magic. The destruction of the Magic Empire was like the destruction of a god's realm; to put it more simply, it was like the complete annihilation of the elves. Even if a few survived, it wouldn't be enough to sustain the existence of the Elf Goddess. Therefore, for Arcane Mage, there was no choice.

However, this didn't completely dispel Nisi's doubts; on the contrary, the more she knew, the more questions arose. If that was the case, then why did Luoxia, who also died there, still retain his Arcane Mage power? Why was his power the only one not taken back by the source of magic? Back in the underground cavern, Nisi had noticed that there was only one empty slot among the magic runes, but she hadn't thought much of it then. Now, combined with Nia's account, she had some questions. And now, the Magic Empire hadn't been rebuilt, so where did his power come from?

Nia wasn't ignoring these contradictions, but she clearly didn't intend to tell Nisi. Or perhaps, for Nisi, it was still something she wasn't yet qualified to know.

"So, what should I do?"

Clearly, this is what Nisi is most concerned about right now.

"First..."

With that, Nia raised her staff and pointed it at Nisi.

"Please practice your Magic Tattoo first. It's the most basic skill for Arcane Mage. Besides, this is the first lesson Li Lin asked me to teach you."

"Miss Nia, do you mean you want me to fight you?"

Seeing Nia's actions, the elven mage was also taken aback.

"That's right, real-world practice is the best opportunity to master skills, isn't it?"

It seems there's no other choice.

"Oh... poor little girl."

Kalin looked back and shrugged helplessly.

"Nia's serious now. I really don't know if she can handle it. A newly appointed Arcane Mage? I just hope she doesn't kill me in there."

"Big sister... is very gentle..."

Leaning against a tree trunk next to Kalin, Anna gazed at the beautiful grassland before her and responded with a soft cough. Although the air here was incredibly refreshing, it couldn't cure her "illness" at all.

"Yes, Nia is always very gentle, but sometimes she can be too serious. Besides, this was an order personally given by Your Excellency. That girl, she'll carry out any order Your Excellency gives her without hesitation... Don't make that face. Aren't you the same? If Your Excellency ordered you to kill that little girl, would you do it?"

"... Father's... order... to kill..."

"... It's a shame you two used to get along so well. Looks like I need to re-evaluate you... Ugh, this is so incredibly boring! Yi Aier's not here, and that brat Angela's not here either, why are we the only ones stuck in this godforsaken place?!"

With that, Kalin leaped down from the tree and landed steadily on the ground.

"I'm so bored! Anna, how about we sneak out for a walk?"

"Where are we going...?"

As she asked the question, Anna appeared silently beside Kalin, and it was impossible to see how she got down.

"Anywhere is fine, let's just wander around. Anyway, the Five-Nation Alliance is about to be destroyed by you, so let's find something fun to do before it's gone. You saw what that brat Angela did, right? She just killed and burned everything, leaving nothing behind. What's the point then? We should enjoy these fun things before they're destroyed, shouldn't we? Life is short, let's seize the day!"

"Father... will be angry..."

"You won't be angry, will you? Come on, come on, come with me. Besides, you never said we weren't allowed to go out, so this isn't a violation of the ban, is it?"

Gazing at Kalin's bright and radiant smile, Anna remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

"Um..."