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A strange aura began to swirl around the Cathedral of Tranquille.

A Knight was anxiously tapping his foot, pressing his lips tightly together, while a Nun hurriedly whispered something to the Priest before dashing off to another location. A Young Inquisitor was scanning the area, looking around nervously.

None of them spoke aloud, but the sense that something was happening was palpable in the air.

Except for one person.

Just one person acted as if everything was normal.

Lucia.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere, Lucia remained composed. With a face that seemed both detached and resolute, Lucia walked through the crowd, making her way down the corridor.

At that moment, a Priest appeared before her.

“Saint…!”

Two Knights, who had been escorting the suddenly emerged man, tried to restrain him, but as soon as they confirmed he was a Priest of the Cathedral, they stepped back immediately.

Breathing heavily, the Priest managed to utter, “Outside right now…”

“I know,” Lucia replied promptly.

The Priest shut his lips at her answer.

While he was fidgeting nervously, Lucia continued speaking with a calmness that was entirely typical of her.

“I’ll go. Let’s move.”

Lucia strode boldly forward. The Priest and Knights, following the Saint, exchanged worried glances while watching her confident stride.

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Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

The Duke intends to take Camila as his Disciple.

At first glance, it might sound absurd, but it isn’t completely unreasonable.

“Come to think of it, the Magicians do have a culture of apprenticeship, just like the Dwarves.”

“That’s correct.”

The apprenticeship culture, where one learns knowledge and skills from a master since childhood, symbolizes the identity of Magicians alongside their capes.

Historically, magic has been transmitted from master to disciple, just like the secret techniques often seen in martial arts sects, one might say.

Magicians have always been oppressed by the Inquisition, and to evade the pursuit of Inquisition Officers, they needed to be discreet. Thus, before the founding of the Magic Tower, known as the “Age of Savagery,” Magicians often taught magic only to trusted individuals in exchange for a fee to ensure their survival.

This culture of apprenticeship among Magicians frequently appears in medieval and early modern literature, and even in regional folklore, providing researchers a means to study how education among Magicians was carried out back in the day.

“Today, the apprenticeship culture has effectively been declining in the magical community, but it still persists among certain schools and Magicians. The Alchemy school is a prime example.”

Francesca, an Alchemist from the Elemental School of the Magic Tower, began to delve deeply into the traditions of the magical society.

“Most spells, aside from a select few, have a core school associated with them. However, certain fields like alchemy are merely taught basic courses in schools, universities, or Academies. Detailed knowledge must be pursued through personal study by the Alchemist themselves.”

For instance, let’s say there’s an Alchemist developing a new potion.

An Alchemist would utilize the knowledge they’ve gained to craft a new potion using established formulas and the ratios of officially recognized ingredients.

However, venturing into new territory is akin to sailing across uncharted seas without a map. The ambitious Alchemist would quickly find themselves hitting a wall.

At that point, Alchemists seek out seasoned practitioners for guidance. Bringing gifts or rare materials that the Alchemist would appreciate.

Francesca compared this to a scientist’s research.

“When a scientist hits a roadblock, they first seek out related papers. They may even go as far as using their connections to reach out to the authors to ask for advice, or collaborate with research institutions. In that regard, Magicians do behave similarly to scientists, but when you dig into the details, it’s a bit messier and more complicated.”

“Messy? Why do you think that?”

“The competition among scientists focuses on objective exploration and the advancement of science, whereas among Magicians, the tendency is to concentrate more on elevating their own levels than uncovering the truth.”

To a Magician, knowledge equates to personal wealth and is akin to the legacy left by their predecessors.

In other words,

“For a Magician, knowledge is something to be protected, preserved, and expanded upon—it isn’t a public good to be shared with others.”

Magic is somewhat akin to a business, specifically a family business that has been passed down through generations.

Even families that aren’t noble houses like the Ranieris or Risidikes have produced Magicians across generations. For those families, magic is often equated with their family fortune.

How could one share family wealth with others? If they give away their wealth, they aren’t entrepreneurs; they are philanthropists.

“Most apprentices approach their mentors first, but a select few capable apprentices find their mentors seeking them out first. Especially talented individuals like Heroes are highly coveted among all Magicians.”

“I really don’t get why such a culture exists.”

“It’s tradition. Customs aren’t easily changed.”

Francesca continued to discuss this culture within the magical society, reflecting on the connections to the Inquisition…

I saw it as an extension of the apprentice culture that conveyed visions to the heirs while avoiding the gaze of the blue-eyed ones.

“Such cases are plentiful, even without being part of a noble lineage. Certain academies and universities have groups within their schools that exchange valuable information among themselves. That’s why the apprentice culture has no choice but to persist.”

“Isn’t that basically a cartel?”

“If a small number of magicians form a group, they can be criticized as a cartel, but if a powerful majority of magicians band together, that’s a faction. A faction that everyone wishes to belong to.”

Francesca peeled back the layers of the hidden truths in the magical society.

The uncomfortable truths that they wanted to erase from the Magic Tower, but which simply wouldn’t disappear.

Discrimination based on origin within the schools, the networks that differ depending on whose tutelage one has received even from the same background, the persecution of those who have either fallen away from or never had the chance to belong, and magicians who hide away, taking on apprentices alone, and so on.

Furthermore.

“Ah, did I ever mention the downsides of the apprentice culture?”

“What’s that again?”

“Some magicians demand exorbitant fees from their disciples. Like asking for tuition or practice fees that are excessively high for students to afford. Because of this, some students resort to illegal activities to gather the funds.”

“For instance?”

“I don’t know all the ins and outs of every school, but the Alchemy School is infamous for producing and selling illegal drugs. From potions replicating corporate products to awakening or calming substances like Demon’s Kiss and Spirit’s Whisper. Quite a variety, isn’t it?”

Demon’s Kiss, Spirit’s Whisper. Those were items I had heard of before. Specifically, when I was involved in a drug smuggling interception operation in the border areas under Colonel Clevenz.

So that means those are drugs.

“What a mess…”

Students manufacturing drugs to make money? What is this, Breaking Bad or Narcos?

Just as I was getting dizzy over what sounded like something out of a drama, Francesca smiled softly and said without surprise.

“I actually have a friend who was arrested for selling cocaine. He dropped out of university and became an apprentice with an alchemist. I thought he was studying abroad, but it turns out he was making drugs in the jungle. Isn’t that funny?”

“Sounds like Suriname.”

“What?”

“Just talking to myself.”

As the elite of the Magic Tower unraveled the tangled backstories of the magical society one by one, my mind grew increasingly dazed.

The deeper I dug, the more I heard scary tales, and in the end, I stopped the conversation and returned to the main topic.

“Anyway, I get that the apprentice culture is a long-standing and beautiful tradition among magicians. I’ve also heard that the Duke wishes to take Camila as his apprentice.”

“Yes.”

“But what’s in it for the Duke to have an apprentice?”

Now that Francesca had finished explaining, a single question looped in my mind.

Why does the Duke want Camila as his disciple?

“Isn’t the Duke getting on in years? Plus, he has already reached the level of an Archmage and is treated with utmost respect in the royal court. Doesn’t he have enough on his plate without the extra trouble of raising a disciple?”

“Hmm…”

The descendant of an Archmage, who was Raenieri’s offspring, seemed to be pondering the inner thoughts of the Archmage herself. Even as the embers of her pipe faded and the smoke dissipated, Francesca’s worries showed no signs of abating.

Then suddenly, lost in thought, Francesca took a puff of the faint smoke.

“Well…”

And then she answered with a gentle smile.

“Perhaps he fears that his achievements will end with him. Or he simply may wish to pass on his knowledge to someone.”

“…Do you think that makes sense?”

“I can’t say for sure. But you know, Colonel, for some, there are values greater than life that a normal person’s mind couldn’t understand.”

“……”

“My answer ends here.”

*

Right after the reception ended.

I returned to the Embassy and reported to the Military Intelligence Agency. It was a brief report stating that the Duke would be contacting Camila.

Naturally, the Military Intelligence Agency dispatched new orders to me.

Leoni would spare no support, so I was ordered to use any means necessary to find out what scheme the Duke was concocting.

And not long after that.

A report came in that the Pope had arrived at the Cathedral of Tranquille, where Lucia was staying.

It was just two days before the Canonization Ceremony.

 

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