Bear School Astartes

”Tradition?” the Demon Hunter replied, ”For example...?”

”For example, we all hold a certain degree of responsibility for the magic and the development of mages. One could even say that being the head of the two magic academies in the Northern Continent is because of this sense of responsibility.”

Gedemitis spoke calmly, raising a hand and gesturing for Lann to continue moving forward.

In this corridor, where he had elongated the space, Tishaya and Margaret had already become finger-sized silhouettes in the distance.

Earlier, while they were talking, they didn’t move, yet the two female warlocks ahead, continually walking, remained unchanged in size.

Now, as they began walking again, the figures ahead still showed no change in size.

”In our era, mages certainly indulged in pleasures, even holding more significant status than now. This was because, besides humans, there were numerous monsters and unknown, dangerous territories.”

”Our sense of responsibility for the development of magic and mages certainly isn’t to the point where we’d abandon everything, yet it remains an essential goal in life. That’s why Tishaya and I have been doing the troublesome work of being headmasters for hundreds of years.”

The old mage conversed with Lann in a rational tone, much like an old man leisurely chatting with a young person by the riverside.

”Therefore, of course I wish for my heart disease to be cured. But I also wish to confirm whether I truly owe you one.”

Lann didn’t speak, only listening with a smile.

”Now the world’s situation is unprecedentedly tense, indeed. After all, decades ago, even the knowledge of the Southern Empire among the Northern Territories’ countries marked someone as erudite.”

”And now, the Southern Empire has attacked, different laws, different nations, different peoples... Oh, did you know? Southern humans and Northern humans are indeed not the same. We come from the ’initial landing’, whereas they came from another world, arriving through the convergence of celestial spheres thousands of years ago.”

”In short, such differences were manageable when untouched before, each living their own life. But now, knives have drawn blood, lands have bordered... humans are a race prone to rejection and slaughter because of ’differences’.”

”This is an age of unprecedented turbulence, a contemptuous era, where the sword and axe speak.”

”Even with my experience, I’ve never seen the world in such a state.”

”And you, Lann...”

Gedemitis walked casually ahead, turning to look at the young man beside him.

”As a kind of storm’s center point, I want to check your inclination.”

”Inclination? You mean Niflgaard and the Northern countries?”

”No, I’ve told you, Tishaya and I have very different perspectives from the current mages.”

The old mage responded to the Demon Hunter’s inquiry.

”Nowadays, the mages’ positions, power, and material enjoyment are tied to being the King’s Advisor, which means tied to their respective countries. Interests ensure loyalty, of course, they will be loyal to their countries of employment.”

”But Tishaya and I have always believed that the development of magic is something for all humanity, transcending national boundaries.”

”Even during the negotiations after the last great war, the principle of the Warlock Brotherhood aimed to mediate both sides, avoiding further conflicts.”

”Quite like a fixer, huh?”

Gedemitis spoke self-deprecatingly, not waiting for Lann’s response before continuing.

”But we have always believed that fewer deaths and continued technological advancement are always good. That’s also the distinction between us old folks and you radicals of the younger generation.”

After a brief silence, the Demon Hunter spoke in a rational tone, voice light but without hesitation.

”But a fixer’s abilities are limited, Gedemitis.”

”Conflicts and interest clashes have already surfaced, suppressing one battle will only lead to another, and the scale of battles will uncontrollably expand, much like a forest fire in dry weather. Battles will sweep into wars.”

”That the era of radicalism and contempt is inevitable isn’t about my ambition or desire; it’s simply from understanding the situation, reasoning that things would develop this way.”

”I can only say...” Lann and Gedemitis halted their steps, looking at each other. ”When that madness comes, I still hope we pursue rational thinking and technological progress.”

The old mage initially didn’t speak, just nodded with pursed lips.

”This...is also good. It’s enough.”

As soon as the old mage finished speaking, Lann suddenly heard footsteps ahead, steps coming near.

The Demon Hunter’s pupils slightly contracted before returning to normal.

Gedemitis continued walking as if nothing happened, while ahead, Tishaya slightly turned back, glanced at the Demon Hunter, and smiled.

Lann also followed without any difference, not even changing his pace.

Among those present, it seemed only Margaret remained unaware.

Which makes Gedemitis believe he could owe Lann a favor.

-----------------

The next day, the surgery proceeded smoothly.

With Tishaya assisting nearby with magic, Lann placed the new heart into Henry Gedemitis’s chest.

Generally speaking, an elderly person’s body would be fragile and sluggish, with significantly reduced recovery.

But a body long altered by Chaos Magic Power is already different from ordinary people.

Like Margaret, even when severely injured with no medical measures, she can remain conscious and energetic for many days.

If not counting swordsmanship and tactics, Yennefer could make Geralt grimace just by swinging a Turtle Fist with sheer strength.

Besides, given Henry Gedemitis’s special status, he can enjoy top-tier medical care.

Spirit medicines and talismans that promote recovery and enhance life force are endless.

The news of him coming to Airetusa for treatment couldn’t be hidden from anyone, because as the Dean of Ban Aide, he had to inform the students when he went out.

He planned to use crystal cultivation technology to treat his heart disease, something considered a major event in the magic circles.

So now, next to the old Mage’s sickbed, there were not only various magic talismans from Airetusa, but also people from Ban Aide watching.

That was a male Mage, rumored to be named Doregale, and when Margaret and Triss talked about him, they both had strange expressions, indicating that he was not very popular among the Warlocks.

This caused the chaos magic power in the sickbed room to be extremely strong.

Furthermore, the old Mage under anesthesia had a terrifying surge of chaos magic power, so much so that when Lann was still dozens of meters away from the room, the Roaring Bear Head Pendant on his neck seemed close to flying off.

Ordinary people might start having nosebleeds or iris hemorrhages, or even hallucinations if they got any closer due to the chaos magic power.

If the lights were dimmed a bit, paired with Airetusa’s luxurious castle corridors, it would feel like a scene from an old castle horror film.

After all, chaos magic power has never been a gentle, easily controlled force.

Lann didn’t stay any longer, as the Lady of the Lake had sent a message, and the knowledge Margaret and Tishaya had studied through the Elf Beacon was also notifying him — the tides of chaos magic power were surging from beyond the world, and would soon arrive.

After completing Henry Gemitis’s surgery and finding himself a ’strong and powerful friend’, he headed straight for Vizima Lake.

”Seems like perfect timing, my lady.”

Waiting for Lann to jump off the Qilin’s back, and as he stood on the stone ground of the Da Gun Temple submerged five centimeters underwater, the Lady of the Lake was already seated on the throne of waves, quietly watching him.

”Indeed it is.” The Lady of the Lake idly played with her deep green hair with her light green fingers, responding to Lann.

”I smell another woman on you... Hmm, unusual. An in-depth contact.”

”What? My dear champion, it seems you’ve had an awakening?”

At first, the Lady of the Lake was somewhat languid and bored.

But halfway through her words, there was a spark of interest in her eyes and brows.

The throne of waves, with a ’whoosh’, drew closer to Lann, and the Goddess on the throne leaned down near the Demon Hunter’s neck, playfully sniffing.

But Lann promptly grabbed the Rong Buqiu standing in the water.

The little cat was instinctively kicking its legs to shake off the water from its paws.

”Meow?”

Suddenly picked up by its master, Rong Buqiu let out a surprised cry.

”Lady, I think now is just the right time, it’s time to go in.”

”Phew~” The Qilin beside them, paddling with its hooves, snorted disdainfully at Lann.

The Lady of the Lake did not insist; she retreated with a subtle smile, carried by her wave throne.

In her long life, having more fun and enjoyment wasn’t a bad thing.

The celestial sphere convergence rift had already risen from the lake, floating in mid-air like a fragmented mirror.

Lann’s school pendant rustled, swaying with the chaos magic power.

Before long, propelled by the tide of chaos magic power, a temporary link between worlds was established.

Though the scenery on the other side of the rift still looked distorted as if seen through water ripples, at least it was stable now.

This was what it needed to look like to enter.

But as Lann was about to drag the Qilin, hold Rong Buqiu, and take a deep breath to walk in...

”What a coincidence?”

A surprised murmur came from behind, as shallow water splashed under the Demon Hunter’s feet.

Turning his head, Lann saw the Lady of the Lake widening her beautiful eyes, gazing at the celestial sphere convergence rift.

However, this surprise didn’t last long; the Lady soon became joyful.

”Ah! Wonderful!”

She cheered, like an ordinary woman meeting her close friend, her eyes and face full of emotions.

”My dear champion~”

The Lady spoke in a voice sweet enough to cause cavities.

”It’s such a coincidence, the world on the other side this time has a good friend of mine! If possible, I’d like you to send my regards.”

”If I can find them.” Lann scratched his head and said, ”Certainly, my lady.”

”May I ask who your friend is...?”

The Lady’s eyes twinkled, as if searching her distant memories.

”Galadriel.”

After a while, the Lady of the Lake confidently spoke a name.

”She’s a beautiful female Elf. If you see her, you definitely won’t mistake her.”