Chapter Summaries

On his eighteenth birthday, Li Lin rejected Xue Xue’s confession and prepared a spell to return to the Morning Wind Continent, where he had once been the powerful mage Loxia Kaiser Erland. His attempt plunged the surrounding city into darkness and ended with his room exploding in a burst of light.

• Li Lin used a brief spell to keep the librarian from noticing him, then left the library and worked late in the research room.
• Li Lin’s friends held him a birthday party, where Xue Xue confessed that she loved him and asked to go to his home.
• Li Lin gently rejected Xue Xue, told her that someone better suited to her was nearby, and slipped a gift into her pocket as she left.
• Li Lin revealed that he had once been Loxia Kaiser Erland, a mage from the Morning Wind Continent who had crossed to Earth eighteen years earlier to recover his strength.
• Li Lin began a spell to return to his homeland, while Xue Xue’s friends watched the city lose power and communications.
• A tremendous roar erupted from Li Lin’s room, which exploded in a dazzling flash.

Li Lin returned to the Morning Wind Continent with Angela after eighteen years away, only to learn that a thousand years had passed and the magic empire had become legend. He decided to travel to the former capital of the magic kingdom to discover what remained.

• Adventurers searching the ruined castle watched it shake and glow as Li Lin and Angela arrived through teleportation.
• The thief threatened Li Lin, but Angela compelled him to stab himself, and Li Lin killed the other adventurers.
• Li Lin read the warrior captain’s memories, learned that a thousand years had passed, and killed him.
• Li Lin told Angela what he had discovered and chose the former capital of the magic kingdom as their first destination.
• Li Lin reflected on how he had met Angela on Earth and why she had chosen to accompany him to his world.

Li Lin and Angela crossed the Star Scar Wasteland, where they encountered two paladins fighting a lich. Recognizing the paladins as followers of the Goddess of Dawn, Li Lin intervened, and Angela destroyed the lich before they continued on.

• Li Lin explained that they had landed near a border fortress in the Star Scar Wasteland and that reaching an inhabited place would be difficult.
• Angela sensed a man and woman fighting nearby, so Li Lin led her to investigate.
• Li Lin identified the combatants as two paladins battling a lich, and Angela asked permission to kill the female paladin.
• Li Lin recognized the paladin’s shield as bearing the symbol of the Goddess of Dawn and decided to help the paladins by sending Angela after the lich.
• Angela caught the female paladin’s sword, then destroyed the lich and its skeleton guards with her folding fan and magical power.
• Li Lin told Angela they were finished and that it was time to go.

Li Lin and Angela left the paladins and traveled toward the place Li Lin remembered as Samaranch Town, which had become Giant Wood City. At the Kingdom of Kuris border, Angela hypnotized the soldiers blocking their way, and the pair entered the city.

• A paladin thanked Li Lin and Angela for helping defeat the lich, and Li Lin explained that the lich could still return if its phylactery survived.
• Li Lin learned from the female paladin that Samaranch Town was now called Giant Wood City, then left with Angela as the paladins wondered about his identity.
• Angela complained that Li Lin had stopped her from feeding on the paladins, while Li Lin recalled visiting Samaranch Town during the Magic Empire's era.
• Li Lin and Angela reached Giant Wood City and saw the flags above its walls, stirring anger and hatred in Li Lin.
• When Kingdom of Kuris soldiers demanded identification at the border, Angela hypnotized them into dropping their weapons and leaving on all fours like dogs.
• Li Lin led Angela through the city gate before the soldiers could recover.

Li Lin and Angela explored a city that seemed to have changed little in a thousand years, and Li Lin noticed that only one god had a temple there. After exchanging gems for gold, he secretly ordered a coffin for Angela, then left with the sense that much remained to be done.

• Li Lin studied the city’s old-fashioned buildings and noticed that people watched him and Angela as they walked through the crowded streets.
• At a tavern, Li Lin questioned why the city had only one temple, and Angela recounted how she had slaughtered a city while seeking proof that gods existed on Earth.
• Li Lin exchanged his magic-drained gems for gold coins at a gem shop.
• Li Lin asked Old Luolin to make a coffin for Angela, pretending she had an incurable illness and little time left.
• Li Lin and Angela left the coffin shop, and Li Lin said they still had a great deal to do.

After learning that the fallen gods had called followers across the Morning Wind Continent to seek an unknown person, Li Lin learned how the Magic Empire’s enemies had divided its lands and suppressed magic. He decided to begin rebuilding his power by targeting the temple’s upcoming expedition to explore the empire’s ruins.

• Katie told her fellow paladin that the Goddess of Dawn had revealed they must find someone who could lead them out of their predicament, and followers of many gods set out in response.
• Angela fed on a sleeping young prostitute, erased the girl’s memories, and released her unharmed after Li Lin warned her not to kill anyone.
• Li Lin learned that the five countries that destroyed the Magic Empire had become rivals, its former allies had been devastated, and mages were now confined and controlled by the state.
• Angela urged Li Lin to reclaim the empire through strength, while Li Lin cautioned against recklessness and resolved to make a beginning.
• Li Lin turned his attention to the temple after learning it would soon send an expedition to explore the ruins of the Magic Empire.

Li Lin learned that the God of Justice’s temple was repeatedly exploring the Magic Empire’s ruins for a valuable, well-guarded prize, and he decided to stop them from obtaining it. He persuaded Bishop Kelen to let him join the expedition, then asked Angela to help with an undisclosed plan.

• Li Lin concluded that the temple’s repeated expeditions meant the God of Justice wanted something important hidden in the ruins.
• Bishop Kelen agreed to meet Li Lin after hearing he had donated three hundred gold coins.
• Li Lin asked Bishop Kelen to let him accompany the temple’s expedition as a scholar who knew the Magic Empire and its ancient magical language.
• Li Lin used magic to influence Bishop Kelen, who agreed to let him join the expedition.
• Angela emerged from Li Lin’s ruby ring after leaving the temple, and Li Lin whispered a plan to her that excited her.

Li Lin and Angela joined Duncan’s paladin expedition after Li Lin convinced him that Angela was a gravely ill child fulfilling her final wish. The group accepted them, and Li Lin began interpreting a Magic Empire map, explaining that a missing road was connected by a one-way portal.

• Li Lin introduced Angela as his blind assistant, then privately told Duncan a tragic story about her past and last wish.
• Duncan believed Li Lin and agreed to let Angela join the journey, while Angela privately praised their deception.
• Duncan introduced Li Lin and Angela to the other expedition members, including a young priestess whom Li Lin recognized as Angela’s preferred prey.
• Duncan showed Li Lin an old Magic Empire map and asked why a road marked on it could not be found.
• Li Lin explained that the map showed a one-way portal and cautiously said the truth about the Magic Empire was unknown.

Li Lin and Angela traveled with five paladins and the twin priests Mina and Fina to explore ruins, while Mina’s hostility toward Angela raised suspicions. After Angela complained about Fina’s healing spell in private, Li Lin decided they needed to discover why Mina was so sensitive to her.

• Li Lin joined five paladins, Mina, Fina, and Angela on the journey to explore the ruins.
• Fina healed Angela with a sacred spell, causing her pain, while Mina remained suspicious of her.
• Angela complained to Li Lin in private and plotted against the sisters, while warning him that Mina might distrust them.
• Li Lin recalled how Angela had first tried to prey on him before their relationship changed.
• Li Lin and Angela discussed Mina’s unusual hostility, and Li Lin fell asleep determined to find out why she reacted so strongly to Angela.

Li Lin learned that Mina was a Divine Chosen whose instincts had made her wary of Angela, and he used Fina to help Angela change clothes. The paladins delayed their departure after hearing that goblins were attacking nearby farmers.

• Li Lin asked Fina why Mina disliked Angela, and Fina revealed that Mina was a Divine Chosen.
• Li Lin realized Mina might be a powerful threat but suspected she had not recognized Angela's true identity.
• Li Lin asked Fina to help Angela change, and Angela secretly flirted with Fina while pretending to be innocent.
• Angela decided that Fina's sensitivity made her a suitable gift for Li Lin.
• Duncan told Li Lin that goblins were harming nearby farmers, so the paladins postponed their departure.

Li Lin waited in the village while the paladins went to deal with goblins, and noticed they had failed to return by sunset. He used Omnidirectional Vision to search their route and found one of them.

• The village elder explained that goblins had been raiding the fields and that the village's night patrols had left too few people to harvest crops.
• Li Lin stayed behind with Angela while Fina remained with them, and Fina grew distracted by the lingering effects of Angela's Erosion.
• Li Lin recalled Angela's warning that vampires could make people love them so intensely that they might try to possess and consume them.
• As sunset approached, Li Lin grew worried that Duncan and the other paladins had not returned, so he asked Angela to keep watch and cast Omnidirectional Vision.
• Li Lin traced the route to the goblins' lair and found one of them.

Mina became trapped in an illusion in the goblin cave, where she mistook Li Lin for a monster until he woke her with a slap. After she asked him to keep the incident secret, they went to investigate the stone slab that had triggered the magic, while Angela watched and vowed to make Mina and her elder sister Li Lin’s possessions.

• A goblin’s blood activated a stone slab and separated Mina from the other paladins in an illusion labyrinth.
• Mina saw an illusory Duncan attack her, then experienced a tentacle monster’s assault.
• Li Lin found Mina under the illusion and slapped her awake, revealing that she had been touching herself while undressed.
• Li Lin explained that an old magic circle had likely caused the illusion, and Mina told him about the stone slab.
• Mina asked Li Lin to keep what happened secret, and the two went to inspect the slab.
• Angela watched them leave and vowed to make Mina and her elder sister Li Lin’s possessions.

After freeing the paladins from the illusions, Li Lin joined the farmers’ harvest feast and reflected on humanity beneath the stars. When a wolf howled in the distance, Angela sang a ballad about a wolf god, and the villagers celebrated their Wise Wolf’s blessing.

• Li Lin erased the magic from the stone tablet and freed the paladins, then the party returned to camp and Mina withdrew to the carriage.
• Duncan reported that the goblin threat had been dealt with, and the farmers welcomed the paladins and priestesses to a bonfire feast.
• Li Lin and Angela sat apart from the gathering as Li Lin reflected on humanity and Angela praised him.
• A wolf howled, and the elder told the guests that the villagers believed a Wise Wolf protected their crops and brought plentiful harvests.
• Angela sang a ballad about a wolf god, delighting the villagers, and the elder raised a cup to thank her for the blessing.

In Dika, Angela’s questions about the God of Justice unsettled Duncan and the paladins, while Li Lin searched for a hidden tunnel leading to the Magic Empire’s capital. He found a group of enslaved elves and used gems and intimidation to buy them from their merchant.

• Angela asked Duncan why the God of Justice had not protected her parents, leaving him unable to answer and prompting him to go pray.
• The group reached Dika, where Duncan warned that it was their last chance to rest and resupply before entering the dangerous ruins near the Magic Empire’s capital.
• Li Lin asked Mina and Fina to look after Angela, then explored Dika alone in search of a secret passage to the capital.
• Li Lin stopped a merchant driving a chained group of elves through the city and offered him valuable gems to buy them.
• When the merchant hesitated, Li Lin chilled him with a hand on his shoulder, and the merchant accepted the gems and asked where to deliver the elves.

Li Lin bought twenty elven captives and hid them in a warehouse, then tried to convince them that he was their ally and needed their help. After he released them, an elven girl attacked him, and an old mage arrived to arrest him for using magic in the city.

• Li Lin took the twenty elves to a warehouse, cursed one of them to deter escape, and concealed the building from outsiders.
• Li Lin found a hidden entrance in a park, then watched Duncan and Silas meet nearby and heard Duncan pray before a dangerous journey.
• Li Lin returned to the warehouse and spoke to the elves in High Elvish, claiming he was protecting them under a covenant and needed their help.
• The elves rejected Li Lin’s explanation, so he dispelled his spell and told them they were free to leave.
• An elven girl attacked Li Lin to protect the others, but his magical shield stopped her; he told her to take the elves and convey his disappointment to the queen.
• An old mage blasted open the warehouse door, accused Li Lin of violating Dika’s ban on casting magic in the city, and demanded his surrender.

Li Lin defeated the old mage, killed him with Heart Extraction, and learned that the magic ban was real and the mage had followed one of the elves. After ordering the freed elves to return home, Li Lin left through the shattered entrance.

• Li Lin cast a Spatial Confinement Barrier as the old mage attacked him with fireballs.
• Li Lin erased the fireballs with “Extinguish!” and seized the old mage’s heart with Heart Extraction.
• The old mage recognized Li Lin as an Arcane Mage before Li Lin killed him and drew out his memories.
• Li Lin learned that the old mage had followed an elf and had detected magic during her attack.
• Li Lin told the elves to return home and left through the shattered entrance.

Li Lin struggled with the choice of how to confront the changed world, then learned that Duncan had repeatedly explored the Magic Empire’s ruins and always returned alone. Angela’s influence over Fina deepened that night, while Li Lin warned her not to harm the paladins they needed.

• Li Lin reflected on the gulf between the old Magic Empire and the present, and wrestled with whether to restore it or drive the invaders from his homeland.
• Angela reported that Duncan had led several expeditions into the ruins and had been the only survivor each time, leading Li Lin to suspect the God of Justice approved of whatever happened there.
• Angela offered to seduce the paladins, but Li Lin told her not to break them because they needed their help.
• Fina lay awake, distressed by the heat and sensations Angela had awakened in her, and her prayer to the God of Justice went unanswered.
• Fina recalled that relieving herself had eased the sensations before and gave in to her desire.

Li Lin’s party left Dika during a citywide lockdown after he learned that the mage he had killed was Weisilin, and Angela uncovered suspicious patterns in Duncan’s earlier expeditions. As the party traveled toward the Magic Empire’s ruins, Li Lin reconsidered the war that destroyed his homeland and began to suspect the God of Justice and Light had been involved.

• Dika was placed under lockdown as guards searched for Weisilin’s murderer, but Duncan led the party toward the city gate with little concern.
• Li Lin noticed Fina’s changed demeanor after Angela’s influence, while Mina seemed to notice something was wrong with her younger sister.
• At the gate, Li Lin had Angela question the guards, who revealed that Duncan’s parties had always included five paladins and two priests, and that a Divine Chosen had once joined them.
• The party passed through the gate and traveled along a narrow road beside a vast abyss created during the war that destroyed the Magic Empire.
• Li Lin read a history book and recalled that the five heroes had attacked him when his power was weakest, suggesting they had known his weakness and were not the true masterminds.
• Li Lin noticed repeated claims that the God of Justice and Light had blessed the heroes and their soldiers, and connected them to the temple’s current expedition.

Li Lin and Angela questioned why the gods had left no trace in the lands of the Magic Empire, then their journey was interrupted by banshees who attacked the caravan. Li Lin revealed that he had summoned the spirits long ago and negotiated their withdrawal, while Duncan warned the paladins to stay alert.

• Angela challenged Li Lin’s certainty that the gods had not intervened and noted that they had seen no temples or clerics beyond those of the God of Justice.
• Li Lin agreed that they needed to keep traveling and investigate their doubts rather than jump to conclusions.
• Banshees attacked the caravan, and Duncan used holy power to keep them at bay while the group recovered from their magical drowsiness.
• Li Lin restrained one banshee and learned she was acting under orders; he promised her the paladins’ souls later but refused to give her Mina and Fina.
• Li Lin revealed that he had summoned the banshees in the past, and they withdrew when he emerged from the carriage.
• Duncan rebuked the paladins for letting their guard down in the dangerous capital of the Magic Empire.

Li Lin guided Duncan’s party through the ruins of the Magic Empire’s capital while secretly directing the undead around them. He arranged for an Abomination to attack the group, and as the paladins fought it, Mina’s fear of Li Lin disrupted her spell.

• Li Lin explained that his Call of the Undead had transformed the capital’s inhabitants and kept the ruins beyond any nation’s control.
• Duncan ordered the party into the city, where Fina used the God’s Protection aura and Li Lin guided them along an alternate route.
• During a rest, Li Lin secretly communicated with nearby undead and caused an Abomination to emerge from the fog.
• Duncan and the paladins attacked the Abomination while Mina supported them with sacred magic.
• Mina saw Li Lin watching the battle, recalled her disturbing vision of him, and lost the divine spell she had prepared.