Apart from the study of core spirit runes, Shard also experimented with other “simple” attempts mentioned in Dr. Schneider’s notebook.
Dr. Schneider pointed out that the power possessed by ring warlocks is the power of thought influencing reality. Therefore, even without learning any thaumaturgy and spells, one can use their own power, called “mind over matter.”
The spontaneously used power derived from the core spirit runes was unified in ancient times and called “thaumaturgy.” The spontaneously used power related only to thoughts, without learning, was systematized and called “sorcery.”
Of course, the academy believes that the classification of “sorcery” also contains “divine arts” related to the orthodox gods, which are derived from faith and the direct bestowal of orthodox gods. However, Shard and the doctor’s studies did not involve these. The church believes the classification of “divine arts” should be separated from sorcery as the two are fundamentally different.
At the beginning of this epoch, after intense debates among academic circles of ring warlocks, the “divine arts” of the five orthodox gods and the existing evil gods were formally placed alongside “thaumaturgy” and “sorcery” as the outermost manifestations of the ring warlock’s power system.
The divine arts of the deceased old gods were still classified under “sorcery” because their followers had no say.
Therefore, the sorcery “Blood Echo” that Shard obtained from the old god “Vampire Duke Lowell” should essentially be considered this old god’s divine art, as it could not be learned in an ordinary way without the power of this old god.
Thus, the core of the ring warlock system is [Spirit Runes]. [Thaumaturgy] has significant power and marked effects but must be learned through spirit runes. [Sorcery] has lower priority but can all be learned. [Divine Arts] are related to gods and faith and are the manifestation of a ring warlock’s power system.
“Upgrading the ring requires one of each of the four types of spirit runes, [Miracle], [Blasphemy], [Enlightenment], and [Whispers], while spirit runes and sorcery, divine arts, and thaumaturgy are similar to the relationship between ‘Tao’ and ‘Techniques’. As expected, balancing the acquisition of spirit runes and the learning of thaumaturgy is also very important.”
This is the foreigner’s understanding.
Shard tried to ignite a piece of paper with his fingers, an embryonic form of simple sorcery. During this day’s experiment, he also managed to move extremely light objects with the power of thought, the so-called “telekinesis.”
He seemed particularly talented in this kind of spiritual usage. Besides almost straining his eyes to move a tuft of Mia’s fur and a Rhodes card, when he concentrated on looking at the target ahead and clenched his fist, he could make a thick pirated novel collection “The Detective’s Elegy” fly a few centimeters without touching it, rather than being blown over by the wind.
This pirated detective novel was not a random expenditure but a relic of the former detective, including “The Queen and Her Lovers,” “The Silver Knight,” and “Western Front Chronicles,” his only few novels.
The first book was a court novel with explicit content, the middle one a traditional knight adventure novel, and the last one a novel leaning towards documentary literature.
Detective Sparrow Hamilton often flipped through these books, with folded page corners and tea stains proving that this was his hobby.
As for the only [Artifact] in his possession, the document-level artifact [Bloodsucking Ring], Shard couldn’t find a live person to experiment on, so he couldn’t fully experience its specific effects. But he had already removed the watch chain, made the ring into a pendant, and wore it around his neck. This way, it wasn’t technically worn, and as long as it wasn’t worn for 24 hours straight, its influence wouldn’t be significant.
Shard planned to ask the doctor and others for advice tomorrow. The experienced correspondence ring warlocks could certainly give good usage suggestions.
Finally, Wednesday arrived. However, Shard woke up early not due to excitement but due to a nightmare of something heavy pressing on his chest.
The summer morning was just beginning to light up, with barely any light seeping through the tightly closed curtains into the room. When Shard woke up, he still felt a heavy pressure on his chest and realized about 5 seconds later that a cat was lying there.
Shard’s house temporarily had only one fostered orange cat, so it must have been Mia that woke him up.
Staring at him with amber eyes while lying on the quilt covering his chest, Mia jumped off the bed as soon as she saw he was awake. The sound of its running indicated it headed towards the house’s entrance.
“You realized after just one visit yesterday? The milkman isn’t even due for another half hour.”
Shard called to the cat, imagining the 50-pound worth of books and courses he would receive today, filling his chest with anticipation before finally getting out of bed.
The apartment’s Room 1 on the second floor was quite spacious but only had two bedrooms. Shard lived in the smaller one, which was also where the original less mentally stable occupant resided. The larger one was the former detective’s room, who had since passed away. Shard didn’t find it creepy but had no intention of moving there immediately.
After contacting the used furniture trader in a few days to get the bed removed and asking Dr. Schneider how to detect ghosts, he would consider moving into the larger bedroom.
Leaving Mia at home to watch over things and after ensuring enough cat food was left in its small bowl, Shard set out. The agreed time with the doctor was 10 a.m., and the clinic was quite far from St. Delan Square. Shard thought he could arrive around 9:30 a.m., but due to his excitement, he reached the Schneider Psychological Clinic sign just a minute before nine.
Not wasting time elsewhere, Shard went straight in. The doctor had instructed the receptionist that Hamilton the detective would come today, “depressed due to his uncle’s death,” so he was directed straight to the psychological consultation room on the second floor.
After knocking, the doctor immediately came to open the door, revealing another person in the room.
A gray-haired old man in a neat black suit stood up, smiled gently at Shard with a nod, his warmth immediately making a good impression. His eyes were common gray, his wrinkles many, indicating he was older than fifty, but he looked very spirited.
He was slightly taller than the doctor but shorter than Shard, with a medium build leaning towards thinness, suggesting not a wealthy life.
Shard’s eyes were drawn to the pendant hanging on the elderly man’s chest. The accessory hung from a silver chain and was a brass-colored notched ring.
This was the holy insignia of the orthodox god [Mr. Dawn], the god of light and shadows, and hanging such an insignia on the chest was a usual practice among church clergy.
“Hmm? Clergy? Although the academy and the orthodox churches are not antagonistic…”
Shard pondered in confusion.
“Let me introduce you.”
Noticing Shard’s confusion, Dr. Schneider kindly explained:
“Shard, this is Pastor Rath August, a two-ring warlock in our group and a devout follower of Mr. Dawn. Although he is a church pastor, he did not become a ring warlock through church channels. He is a rare case of someone awakening his talent at an advanced age and joining the academy by a twist of fate.”
He has no prejudice against the academy and will not inform the church of our identities as long as we don’t harm the Dawn Church. He is trustworthy.”
Though the ring warlock talent theoretically appears at any age, it usually occurs between ages 16 to 40, making Pastor August an exceptionally rare case.
“Rest assured, I can swear on my name, Bill Jane Schneider, that Pastor August is absolutely trustworthy. He joined us after being vetted by three of us, including myself, as well as the academy. With Pastor August’s presence, many of our activities become much easier.”
The doctor added, as the gray-haired pastor proactively approached Shard to shake hands. Shard naturally trusted the doctor’s words and quickly extended his hand. The old man’s palm was wide and quite strong.
