One-Eyed Monster

Igor scratched his head; he still believed in what Stim said because the Spirit Book he got was originally covered in dust in the Great Witch Biggs’s Divination House.

”Our dean didn’t think these Spirit Books were useless. He collected them one by one and stored them here, hoping that someday people would recognize that those predecessors in the world were as ordinary as us, and like us, very concerned about all things.”

”Tsk tsk, this is truly unexpected.” Perkins sighed.

Perkins couldn’t help but think about what he saw, heard, and gained along the way.

Traveling north and south, Perkins saw many strange things, but he could never comprehend the inner connections of these peculiar events. Returning to Luona, he found that his gains were even greater than before when he roamed the world.

Compared to scholars like Stim, he’s been to many places and has rich experiences, but he always felt he wasn’t as clear as Stim.

Because what he saw was the appearance, while Stim, who hadn’t traveled as far, saw some essence, which is rare and valuable. If this young man goes out to experience more, he will certainly become an outstanding scholar. At that moment, Perkins couldn’t help but glance at Dean Hoffman, the seemingly unreliable old man always manages to discover unique young people, like Stim and Igor.

Words spoken by the scholars gradually enlightened Perkins. Whether it was Igor talking about the Purification Plan implemented by the Alchemy Workshop heard on Guru Mountain, or what the Spirit Book mentioned about the changes in the Spirit Power System discovered by the Wizards, along with the scholars’ attitude towards the Spirit Book… these things seem unrelated, yet they converge into a phenomenon that the entire professional circle now develops in a flashy manner — no, it has always been flashy, always driven by immediate results.

Whether Alchemists or Wizards, they are eager to gain power. Those without fighting talent are all eliminated, willing to sacrifice innocent lives for the continuity of a certain power, while the scholars desperately search for shortcuts in various books, entirely focused on the outcome at any cost.

These behaviors are now manifested in the library: anything that cannot bring power is eliminated, only things that gain power can survive. This twisted development is truly terrible.

Just like these books, are they really worthless? They carry the legacy of spirit power from those predecessors, yet they’re labeled as useless and tossed aside.

”We are all one entity, without primary and secondary, just like these books; they are a part of the whole with those spell research entities placed in the Scholar Commons library. None can do without the other, none can be separated.” Dean Hoffman smiled.

”So, it’s like this!” Igor felt quite ashamed… he remembered his previous attitude towards the Spirit Book, wasn’t it disdain for not providing assistance? Reflecting on himself, he only thought of the book when forced, and even then, he urgently wanted the Spirit Book to offer solutions, which is completely inconsiderate, too driven by immediate results.

Igor’s face turned red, feeling that he treated the Spirit Book too harshly…

Dean Hoffman’s library is not just about books but a reflection of the current world. Through the explanations from Jiggs and others, everyone understood Dean Hoffman’s intent.

Dean Hoffman, despite his age, is intent on changing the world!

”The world is already scarred, and many things need you young people to do. We are old, can only point out a path for you, hoping you won’t go wrong. As for your future choices, it depends on you.”

”Dean?” Governor Rostov felt that Dean Hoffman seemed a bit peculiar, quite different from his usual demeanor.

”Let me finish, Lord Governor.” Dean Hoffman politely interrupted Rostov’s doubts, ”I understand your intention for establishing the Yonder Travel Academy; you and they are hoping to select powerful reserves for the Empire. I know you have personal motives, but compared to others’ actions, your plan is more realistic. I also know you have criticisms about me setting Adventurers and Artisans in this academy, which are almost extinct professions, but the old man knows you possess a tolerant heart. Otherwise, you wouldn’t collaborate with those from the Alchemy Workshop, right?”

”Dean, what exactly are you trying to express?” Governor Rostov seemed puzzled.

”What I want to express is what we’ve been safeguarding over the years. The world is changing beyond recognition, and continuing this way will lead to downfall. Everyone must return to their roots, be grounded, unable to chase immediate results. The world lacks heroes, but I still wish there were fewer heroes.”

”Dean, are you saying you’re leaving the academy?”

”No, no, Lord Governor, you’re overthinking it. The old man will exert his final strength to make the academy effective, but the Lord Governor mustn’t chase immediate results!”

”Many things aren’t within our control; I can wait patiently, but Mantai’s army, Wensi’s army haven’t slowed their pace.” Governor Rostov sighed, acknowledging many things cannot be controlled.

”The enemy is in the shadows; we must not panic. We need to clarify the connection Igor mentioned, and everything else can be addressed later.” Sol suddenly spoke, feeling he might have stayed in the library a bit too long, though he gained much here too.

”Ultimately, this world belongs to the young people. Whether you choose unity or division, I cannot stop you. Hopefully, you remember the interconnectedness of all things and refrain from discarding easily.” Dean Hoffman continued, not minding Tobin Sol’s words.

”Dean, what exactly are you referring to?” Igor was completely baffled, feeling lost.

”He means you youngsters must solidify your current choices and not be swayed by other things,” said a Spirit Book.

”Dean means we can’t be like others, chasing immediate results. We must proceed diligently.” Stim supplemented.