Lord of Rot

Leech demonstrated for Scholar Toma how to use the [Casting Crystal].

He channeled Frost Enchantment Magic into it, then lightly tapped the [Casting Crystal] against a nearby wooden stick.

The enchantment was successful.

The stick fell into the water and quickly froze over.

”You’ve mastered the arcane arts?” Scholar Toma asked in astonishment, watching Leech’s demonstration of Magic.

But he quickly found a reasonable explanation for it. ”The arcane arts are a manifestation of profound knowledge. Since you possess wisdom far more vast than most scholars, it’s not surprising that you’ve mastered them.”

Some scholars liked to call Magic ”arcane arts.” In their eyes, Magic was not just Spells, but a set of predictable, deducible, and utilizable laws.

Then there were Casters like Guy and the Necromancer Ah Yamei. They didn’t understand the principles behind Magic; they only knew which Spell to chant to achieve a certain effect. While they couldn’t conduct further research, their practical application of Magic wasn’t necessarily inferior to that of scholars.

This was because scholars approached their work with a mindset of deep study. They typically hoped to gain more knowledge and explore greater mysteries, not to use it for murder and arson.

The church liked to call it Divine Magic; to them, Magic was a miracle.

But more often than not, the church condemned Magic. Believing in a god did not require one to cast Magic.

In Leech’s view, whatever you called it, it was still Magic.

’Science and magic are two different things,’ Leech wanted to point out.

But on second thought, ’if magic or science were to develop to a certain point... there probably wouldn’t be a difference, would there?’

”I think that regarding Magic—er, the arcane arts, there is much we can discuss,” Leech said.

Researching Magic alone was a real pain. Now he had scholars under his command. Even if Toma was a ”useless scholar,” Leech would never underestimate his abilities. The man could create invisible objects, use Space Magic, and had even delved into gravity. He was definitely one of the best among scholars of Magic.

His only problems were perhaps that he was a jack of all trades and master of none, and that he lacked a clear direction.

But in terms of foundational knowledge, he was definitely beyond Leech’s ability to compare.

Collaboration between great minds would lead to a more brilliant future.

The [Casting Crystal] could store Magic and then release it.

Its most iconic feature was the Magic Array that appeared on the Casting Crystal each time it was used.

It seemed to have some kind of translation function, turning the Magic Leech released into a patterned Magic Array.

Scholar Toma held a pen, trying to copy the Magic Array from the side.

To do this, Leech had to supply Spiritual Power. Although the consumption wasn’t great, holding perfectly still was still a bit tiring.

Finally, the transcription of the first Magic was complete.

”Frost Enchantment” was an Ice Creation Magic that provided Leech with ice, which was extremely useful in the summer.

Scholar Toma brought the paper with the drawn Magic Array to Leech.

”There’s nothing special about it.” Leech looked it over and saw it was just a piece of paper with the ink still wet. He flicked it twice with his hand, making a RUSTLING sound.

”Maybe... I should inject Spiritual Power?” Leech tried to channel Spiritual Power into it, but to no avail.

Scholar Toma, however, possessed the composure and patience of a veteran researcher. ”My lord, this is just a piece of paper. You should give me some time to study what the contents on the paper represent and decipher the knowledge within.”

”You’re right. I was being too impatient,” Leech said with a nod, handing the paper back to Scholar Toma.

”My lord, do you know any other Magic?” Scholar Toma took out another sheet of paper. ”Perhaps by comparing multiple types of Magic, we can find some commonalities.”

And so, for the rest of the day, Leech spent almost all his time with Scholar Toma. He became a magic model, holding up the [Casting Crystal] so Scholar Toma could conveniently copy it.

Without sufficiently strong Spiritual Power and physical stamina, an ordinary person really couldn’t handle this job.

By the time Leech returned to the castle, he was completely wiped out.

It was a twofold exhaustion of both mind and body.

...

At Three-fork River Castle, three men of the Linsen Clan—a father and his sons—stood together.

Before them rested a portrait half the height of a man.

The young woman in the portrait had fair skin, long hair the color of a red sunset, and a smile on her lips that made her look just like an elf.

Hawke Wood gazed at the painting and sighed. ”Miss Agnes has grown even more beautiful than when I first met her.”

He turned his head to look at his son. Steven was staring, his eyes glazed over.

He had his son’s temperament figured out completely. Besides, no one could resist the charm of a young lady from the Leopold family.

If his son were to see the ’Red Rose’ in person, he’d probably lose his appetite completely. However, with the strength of Three-fork River Castle, they were far from being able to arrange a marriage with the sole daughter of the Leopolds.

Her match was bound to be a crown prince or a Duke’s heir.

There were few men in all of Lu Leiyi who were worthy of her.

”Steven,” Hawke Wood said, ”Miss Agnes will arrive in a few days. You will hold the wedding then.”

Steven suddenly turned and walked away.

”What are you doing?” Hawke Wood asked, confused. He thought he had his son’s temperament figured out: ambitious but unrealistic, with his head in the clouds but lacking the skill to back it up. He had no perseverance, and his pursuits of love were all born from lust at first sight.

Of course, Hawke Wood had been the same in his youth, as had most nobles.

Then they would discover that nobility also had ranks and levels of power. Eventually, they would face reality and grow up.

Steven clenched his fists. ”It’s just a political marriage, isn’t it? I am willing to set myself ablaze to light the path forward!”

Hawke Wood was speechless.

’That’s my son, all right,’ he thought. ’He hasn’t changed a bit.’

「A few days later,」

Steven, having donned a suit of plate armor, rode his warhorse out of the castle.

He was to form up on the opposite bank of the Three-fork River to welcome the beautiful Miss Agnes, his fiancée.

His retinue included ten fully armed Soldiers.

Hawke Wood stood on the castle walls, watching his son’s departing figure.

”Steven will be a good husband,” Jennifer said, standing beside her father with a touch of emotion.

In her eyes, her ever-immature older brother was actually getting married. The wistful feeling was hard to put into words.

Steven’s party had already shrunk to the size of ants in the eyes of the father-daughter pair.

On the far side, where the sky met the road, a golden carriage appeared.

It was escorted by a dozen or so attendant Soldiers.

It glinted with a dazzling golden light under the sun, like a pile of gold rushing toward the Three-fork River.

Hawke Wood smiled.

The carriage stopped at the long bridge on the opposite side of the river. A red-haired figure, ant-like from this distance, disembarked. It was difficult to make out any more details.

But it had to be Agnes Leopold. Only the Golden Thorn Sword Clan had red hair.

Their bloodline was so strong that they would have red-haired children no matter which family they married into.

Steven also dismounted. He bowed, then kissed the back of Miss Agnes’s hand.

When it came to noble etiquette, Steven was actually quite good.

”It seems they’re both pleased with this first meeting,” Hawke Wood said with a rare smile, nodding lightly.

RUMBLE, RUMBLE!

The urgent sound of hooves roared like thunder.

A troop of Black Cavalry, riding swift horses, charged toward Steven and his party.

Hawke Wood sensed that something was wrong. ”Quick!”

He turned his head and shouted, ”Send men out to rescue them!”