[Shard Hamilton, Detective.]
Shard introduced himself as they shook hands.
[Bill already told me about you. Joining us is both your luck and ours.]
The old man said cheerfully. At this moment, Shard noticed a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket on the coffee table, likely prepared by Dr. Schneider, as Father August’s financial situation seemed just a bit better than Shard’s.
Father Rath August is a two-ring sorcerer in this group, having become a correspondence sorcerer three years ago.
He didn’t grow up in Tobesk City but hailed from a small town in the southern part of the Kingdom of Delarion. Influenced by his family, the old priest believed in the True God [Mr. Dawn] from a young age. At 23, after passing the exam of Tobesk’s Dawn Theological Seminary, he joined Tobesk’s Dawn Church, remaining single and devoted to contributing to the church his entire life.
Despite 30 years of service, Father August, due to various reasons, never advanced beyond his priestly status. Nevertheless, no one doubted his piety, and his prestige within the local church community was high, earning him the trust of both clergy and laypeople. Even the archbishop of the large Tobesk diocese consulted him on important matters.
Because of the awkward relationship between correspondence sorcerers and the True God Church, Shard often needed to hide his identity from the church. Father August, with his connections, was the best person to smooth over church-related issues.
Though aged and his sorcerer talent not exceptional, his presence was indispensable to the five-member group.
As a sign of mutual trust, Father August and Shard showed each other their life rings. The priest’s situation wasn’t as extraordinary as Miss Louisa’s three rings; he only had one core rune, [Glimmer].
Father August’s identity and core rune matched the requirements of the “School of Theology” at Saint Byluns Comprehensive Academy. However, he joined the School of Chemistry, excelling in herbal cultivation, harvesting, and potion-making.
Shard met another of the five members today. Of the two remaining, Miss Dorothy Louisa from the School of Folklore would arrive later, and the three-ring sorcerer Luvia Annette was temporarily out of town.
[Miss Annette, unlike us, belongs to the [Seers Association]. She sent a letter saying hello and would return next month, which is actually next week.]
The doctor continued introducing the group, motioning for Shard to sit anywhere.
[Isn’t the lady part of Saint Byluns’ correspondence program as well?]
Shard, puzzled, chose a seat opposite Dr. Schneider.
Father August, despite his church background, attended adult education at the academy, making him a correspondence student of Saint Byluns. Miss Annette’s situation, however, was quite different.
[She is indeed a correspondence student at the School of Astronomy, skilled in divination. Have you heard of “joint training”?]
The doctor inquired. Shard, initially puzzled by the information about this lady, was now genuinely surprised, reaffirming his new allegiance to the school.
[She belongs to the [Seers Association] but receives training from both. Saint Byluns Comprehensive Academy has collaborative programs with many friendly organizations, including Zarathustra Academy of Literature and Circe High Medical School, though not with the church. You’ll understand eventually.]
[Don’t think too much about Annette’s identity; treat her as an ordinary companion. Want some tea? I had some nice red tea at your place and had my servant buy some.]
The doctor’s query made Shard ponder for a moment:
[Sure, thank you. So, Miss Luvia Annette is unlike us in some ways?]
[There are still differences.]
Father August fiddled with his old pipe, a habitual gesture as he wouldn’t smoke in the clinic:
[Besides gaining knowledge from the academy, [Seers Association] provides her conveniences and holds her in high regard. So, relatively speaking…]
The priest glanced at the doctor, who nodded, signaling the grey-haired priest to continue:
[Though she’s a three-ring sorcerer, just one ring above me in the group, even the doctor can’t be certain of defeating her in non-direct combat. Of course, this is also because Schneider and Louisa’s abilities aren’t suited for frontline combat.]
Father August believed that while sorcerers possess power, their profession is for world exploration and self-discovery, not killing. To him, sorcerers were more like scholars than mercenaries.
He shared similar views with the doctor: gaining power as correspondence sorcerers didn’t mean indulging in desires, but humbling oneself and exercising caution.
In other words, they subtly reminded Shard to be careful and avoid unnecessary involvement. Instead, they encouraged diligent study, carving life runes, reading predecessors’ notes, and learning more mystic arts and spells—an ideal life for correspondence sorcerers.
Shard suspected the doctor had briefed Father about his encounters from two days prior. The old priest, worrying Shard might crave more power through similar adventures, gave the reminder.
Father August seemed a decent person.
[By the way, I am quite curious about something.]
Since the conversation touched upon sorcerers and combat, Shard asked:
[Since sorcerers gather elements themselves, and even inscribe life runes from them, does killing a sorcerer grant their powers, like life runes or dispersed elements, or artifacts formed from those elements?]
[Oh, that’s a terrifying thought.]
The grey-haired old priest shook his head, holding his holy emblem as he prayed. The doctor sternly shook his head, his blue eyes scrutinizing Shard:
[Shard, I don’t know where you got such a dreadful idea. Killing unrelated sorcerers only grants their corpses and lifelong guilt.]
[From Delarion to Carsonrick, from the Old Continent to the New, sorcerers can appear anywhere. Remember, this is an Epoch of civilization, not a ruthless dark forest. Defend yourself if attacked, but never kill for pure profit. It’ll lead to losing control more easily.]
Shard realized his question was inappropriate, arising from reading too many fantasy stories. He had no intention of gaining power through killing, only a concern others might.
[Sorry, I was only curious. Yes, such a world would be terrifying, like living off human flesh.]
Clutching his holy emblem, Father August looked at Shard, with a soft expression in his wrinkled eyes:
[Though our world is eerie and dangerous, with countless evils, ancient relics everywhere, perilous and mysterious knowledge testing sanity, and evil gods lurking on the surface and sea monsters in the oceans, we are nonetheless grateful for its existence. Gentlemen, let’s toast to this merciful world.]
The old priest genuinely moved himself, raising his tea cup. The doctor approvingly nodded, raising his glass, while Shard smiled. Despite his difficult circumstances upon arriving in this world, it seemed the world compensated him with excellent friends:
[To this merciful world.]
The three voiced together, with Shard’s smile heartfelt.
Just then, the door opened, revealing the blonde writer who hadn’t heard the earlier conversation. She saw the three men raising their tea cups—one with a sacred expression, one serious, and one with a smile.
Miss Louisa hesitantly looked at the men, wondering if she should leave:
[What were you doing just now?]