Chapter 81: The Old Mage Has Flexible Morals
"……"
Kill a Calamity?
Cocotte didn't buy it.
A Calamity was a partial incarnation of the world's elents. Although the fact that Viktor had managed to bring down a Storm Dragon King was genuinely astonishing—
For him to claim he'd defeated a Calamity before……
The gap in strength between a Storm Dragon King and a Calamity was simply too vast.
Still, she didn't want to anger Viktor. Though she was skeptical in her heart, Cocotte nodded anyway.
After all, she'd never seen the true form of a Calamity herself.
Just the fact that a Storm Dragon King had been defeated by a human Mage for the very first ti was enough to shatter much of her worldview as it was.
The group walked and talked as they went, and before long, the storm around them gradually subsided. A long-missed ray of light began to peek through.
"We're here."
Cocotte—who had awoken at so point without anyone noticing—suddenly spoke from behind Viktor.
Auréliane, too, ca to a stop and looked at the scene before her.
The fantastical sight ahead sent a faint wave of unease through her.
The surrounding walls heaved like living things—rising and falling in a slow, rhythmic pulse. Between the crumbling ruins, floating staircases swayed gently like tentacles drifting through still water.
Suspended clouds twisted softly overhead, reflecting the silhouettes of faces one mont and dissolving into new shapes the next, endlessly shifting.
As those morphing clouds gradually dispersed, she finally saw what was called the Sky Grounds.
A white structure stretched out 24 constantly flapping, pristine wings—so white that when light fell upon it, it seed as though the sky itself had been torn completely open.
The structure was divided into 7 layered rings, and atop them stood 3 towering sculptures of human heads, their upper halves shattered, hovering suspended in the void.
Led by Cocotte, they arrived at the 3rd ring.
Pushing open the tilted door, a beam of pure white light poured in from above.
Within the council chamber, there was only 1 familiar figure—Heim Horn.
Like sothing out of a waking dream, his face was impossible to make out clearly.
A thousand faces for a thousand people—each one different.
Only his eyes left any lasting impression.
"Welco to the Mage Council, Lord Viktor."
Heim's voice was warm and gentle, carrying with it a sense of calm reassurance.
"Please do not hold the Mage Council's abrupt manner of greeting against us. The other Council mbers are tied up with pressing affairs—I hope you understand."
"They only appear in person at the annual Mage Council assembly."
Viktor nodded. He understood perfectly.
He'd encountered all of the Mage Council's senior Mages in the ga before and knew that most of them held positions of no small significance. Those who occupied such lofty stations naturally had no shortage of things to attend to.
Heim and Cocotte were both administrators of the City of Mages—though the difference was that Cocotte had co to reside in Endymion entirely under duress, with no real say in the matter.
Even though she held a Council mber seat, she gave off the unmistakable air of a mascot.
The Mage Council. 12 Council mbers—each one a powerhouse in their own right.
Converted into in-ga terms, they were generally Level 48 and above.
All of them stood at the pinnacle of 4th-Tier Mages, though very few had actually touched the threshold of the 5th Tier.
Heim also noticed Auréliane standing behind Viktor, and gave her a slight bow.
"Welco, Your Highness the Princess."
At the sight of Heim, Auréliane instinctively stepped back behind Viktor. In her eyes, the Mage before her was simply a strange, unsettling figure.
She felt a knot of unease in her chest—the mont she'd stepped inside, she could sense just how formidable the Mage in front of her truly was.
And yet, this faceless Mage seed to recognize her?
"Do not be alard, Princess Auréliane."
"A Mage's wisdom knows all things in this world. And moreover, among our Council's mbers, there is one you may already know."
Auréliane looked puzzled. The Phantom Mage made no attempt to conceal it:
"Rashel Azure-Blue—your Empire's Academy Principal."
"Though he is currently back in the Empire overseeing repairs on the Academy that was destroyed. You won't have the chance to see him here today."
Heim's gaze lingered on the Princess, a quiet sense of astonishnt stirring within him—though he kept it from showing.
Mages were, without exception, shrewd and sharp individuals. The instant he laid eyes on Auréliane, Heim understood: Viktor had handled everything.
The Mage Council was indeed independent of any nation—but that independence didn't an they were stronger than every nation.
Setting aside the Empire's formidable national power, no Mage in the Council had any desire to provoke that monster, Aubrey Sorel.
That said, even without the Princess, Heim had already intended to grant Viktor's request.
As he looked at Viktor again, Heim found himself more and more pleasantly surprised with each passing mont.
The formidable strength Viktor had displayed in the Magic Power Gorge made Heim realize—this man was worth the Mage Council's invitation at any cost.
And considering Viktor's standing within the Empire was no small thing—he was even the Empire's Princess's private instructor.
That title alone carried its own considerable weight.
In every conceivable regard, Viktor already t the Council's requirents.
Except, perhaps, morals.
As for morals?
Oh, good God—Mages had very flexible morals.
A Mage who didn't do evil was a good person.
"Spare the pleasantries. Where are the things I asked for?"
While Heim was still mulling over how best to broach the subject, Viktor had already helped him find an opening for the exchange.
"No need to rush, my friend. What belongs to you will always be yours."
Though Heim's face was impossible to read, the warmth of a smile ca through clearly in his tone.
He simply waved his hand. 2 rifts tore open in the empty air, and from within them fell, respectively, a robe and a staff.
The shaft of the black staff was carved with nurous ancient Runes, and set into it was a gemstone that shimred with a deep red radiance—striking and otherworldly.
The robe's collar gradually trailed downward in flowing purple patterns that spilled across its seams, while the body of the garnt was a uniform crimson-black—simple in appearance, yet strangely commanding.
"Both of these were custom-crafted by the finest magical artisans of the Dwarf clan—priceless by any asure."
"Of course, these are a gift from the Mage Council to you, Lord Viktor. They are complintary."
He chuckled softly, guiding the 2 pieces of equipnt through the air toward Viktor with a sweep of his fingers.
Viktor examined the 2 remarkable pieces of equipnt as their stats materialized before him.
【Staff: Ulruste】
【Effect: Spell Intensity 700, All Resistance 50, Magic Casting Speed 40%】
【Skill: Replicate—Magic attacks have a 30% chance to instantly replicate and re-cast the previous spell without consuming MP. When equipped alongside 'Gaia,' this effect's probability increases by 15%.】
【Mage's Robe: Gaia】
【Effect: HP 5000, All Resistance 50, Spell Intensity 30%】
【Skill: Veil—Every 360 seconds, generates a Magic Shield that blocks 1 incoming enemy attack. While the shield is broken, taking enemy attacks does not reset the tir. When the shield shatters, it inflicts 1 second of stun on all enemies within a 5,000-unit radius.】
The equipnt's stats left Viktor thoroughly satisfied.
Without question, these were pieces he could put to imdiate use at his current stage.
Heim wasn't finished. He continued:
"Lord Viktor, passing through the Magic Power Gorge has proven your strength beyond doubt. You are deserving of a Council mber's seat."
He gestured with his fingers, and a round emblem drifted toward Viktor.
On the silver-white disc were carved 3 half-shattered human heads.
Viktor received the emblem, and a thread of connection seed to link him to Endymion in an instant.
A Council mber's identity—a novel experience.
After all, no Player had ever climbed to the position of Council mber before.
A Council mber of the City of Mages could call upon the Council's assistance and support at any ti, and regardless of which nation a Council mber resided in, the title commanded trendous standing.
"This Council mber seat was decided through collective deliberation. Going forward, Cocotte will no longer hold a seat on the Mage Council."
The Council could only hold 12 mbers. With Viktor joining, soone inevitably had to leave.
And that soone, naturally, could only be the mascot—Cocotte.
Cocotte only pursed her lips slightly and said:
"No objections from . As long as I'm allowed to sleep, I'm fine."
Weija narrowed her eyes and spoke to Viktor through a ntal voice:
"Are the morals of you Mages always this flexible?"
That Heim—back when he was negotiating terms with Viktor in the letters, the correspondence had been so laden with tension you could practically sll the gunpowder.
And now here he was, grinning like a blooming chrysanthemum, practically wearing his flattery on his face.
Still, Weija understood these Mages well enough.
Viktor's power was nothing like that of a normal 4th-Tier Mage—and that strength was sothing even she couldn't fully comprehend.
Before laying eyes on Viktor in person, no one could have understood why a Mage could possess such terrifying offensive force.
Weren't Mages supposed to be an elegant profession?
Composed, calculating, mysteriously chanting noble incantations—that was the image of a Mage in Weija's mind.
Viktor? He is composed and calculating. That much she'd give him.
The spells he used, though—each one more violent than the last!
With everything wrapped up, Heim made ready to take his leave.
"Lord Viktor, since you have now joined the Council and all matters have been settled, I will be departing."
"If you have any further questions, you may direct them to forr Council mber Cocotte."
"Enjoy your stay, Lord Viktor."
"Mr. Heim."
Just as Heim was about to leave, Viktor called out to stop him.
He turned back with a hint of puzzlent, only his eyes visible as they settled on Viktor.
"Lord Viktor, is there sothing else?"
"Have you forgotten sothing?"
Viktor stood with both hands in his pockets, his gaze calm and level as he looked at the other man.
"Hagar—Endymion's energy source."
A Council mber held the right to enter Hagar. The natural energy there was extraordinarily dense. Any Mage who spent even a short ti cultivating within Hagar would see asurable growth in their Magic Power.
Hearing Viktor state his intent, Heim fell into a mont of silence.
In truth, he had been deliberately avoiding this topic.
In the wake of the Prophecy, the question of Hagar's survival had thrown the Council mbers into a state of collective unease.
Everyone had been avoiding any discussion of the matter.
But before Heim could co up with a reason to sidestep it, Viktor's voice had already cut through.
"Don't forget why you sought out."
"When asking soone for help, sincerity is required, Mr. Heim."
Hearing those words, Heim shook his head and let out a quiet sigh.
If it couldn't be avoided, then so be it.
"Very well, Mr. Viktor. Please, follow ."
At this point, Auréliane was still feeling sowhat adrift. Many of the things her teacher and this profound Mage were discussing were beyond her grasp.
What was a Council mber? What was Hagar?
She didn't know much about Endymion, but she was sharp enough to know when to speak and when to stay silent.
So she asked nothing.
Heim glanced back at Auréliane and said:
"Your Highness the Princess, you will need to wait here in the Council chamber for a while."
"After all, only Council mbers may enter Hagar."
Auréliane looked to Viktor, and seeing her teacher give her a small nod, she gave one in return and agreed:
"Understood."
Cocotte stifled a yawn, then pointed to herself.
"Hey—what about ? Can I co along?"
"Of course. As a forr Council mber, you still retain the right to enter Hagar."
Heim Horn took the insignia from his chest into his hand and extended a single finger, tracing a line through the air.
Twisting branches slowly extended from the void, unfurling several clusters of leaves, and a deep, shadowed passage opened before Viktor.
Upon the tender leaves and budding shoots, what appeared to be tiny eyes blinked steadily at Viktor—one after another.
"This is the passage into Hagar."
"Shall we, Mr. Viktor?"
"Cocotte—you co along too."
Led by Heim, Viktor gradually made his way into the lush, dark-shrouded path. Cocotte followed at the rear.
The path twisted and coiled in a spiral, descending toward the depths below.
Walking along the transparent passage, the surrounding space beyond the few plants at the entrance gave way entirely to dark, formless void.
This was a Pocket Dinsion.
Before long, the group reached the end of the passage.
It was like passing through a transparent wall—and what unfolded before Viktor's eyes was an enormous, glowing green magical tree of imnse scale.
Its tangled roots plunged into the void below. Viktor looked down into that emptiness and found, just as it had been in the ga, that the origin of Hagar was completely beyond sight.
The great tree before him appeared to have been cleaved in two—the upper and lower halves severed and separated.
At the jagged gap where the trunk had been split, fragnts resembling flakes of bark drifted in a slow orbit around a luminous mass, suspended in the void.
That green orb of light pulsed and surged, continuously channeling energy into the great tree.
The upper half gave rise to lush, spreading branches and leaves that reached slowly into the heights of the do above. Yet Viktor could see that around the tree's canopy, 7 rings of white light encircled it in a steady glow.
Each white ring represented one layer of Endymion's structure.
"Mr. Viktor, we've arrived."
"This place is the very bottom of Endymion—Hagar."
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