Chapter 303: Him
Translator: Kris_Liu Editor: Vermillion
After leaving the letters, Lucien and Philosopher quickly left Morning Star’s place and disappeared in the darkness.
In fact, as this was not the first time that the Inquisition dealt with Professor, the Inquisition indeed considered the possibility that Professor was playing the same trick again—the purpose of Professor showing up in Aalto again was to find the spies in the circle of magic, so what happened to Fire Wolf would happen again. Therefore, the inquisition was ready to put several of their spies hiding in the magic groups under this risk. After Mercury and the other apprentices told more magic groups the information about the Congress, the spies in those groups would also report the message to the Night Watch.
However, what was out of the Inquisition’s expectation was that Professor could locate Morning Star so quickly. The fact that Morning Star was killed only half an hour later after he sent out the secret message showed that Professor had been watching him all the time. On the other side, the fact that Philosopher blew his cover as well as what Clown did also made the leaders of the Inquisition believe that Professor’s target was Clown and the rest of the night watchers, so they did not have time to set up traps and send out enough people to protect Morning Star. Therefore, Lucien killed Morning Star pretty easily.
Lucien and Philosopher took many turns along the streets in the darkness. After passing quite a few blocks, they came to the secret hiding place set up by Philosopher a few years ago.
“Mr. Professor, I didn’t expect that you are not only good at Astrology and Element but also Necromancy.” Philosopher felt that they were safe for now, although he was still weak from losing lots of blood.
After witnessing that Professor made a body in the necromancy circle using one-third of Philosopher’s blood and the limbs they collected in the Black Forest, Philosopher was deeply shocked. In Philosopher’s eyes, this power should be possessed by the divine gods. Although he was not young anymore, he had made up his mind to head for the Congress of Magic.
Lucien replied in his pretended hoarse voice, “I’m far from being ‘good at it’. I just started looking into Necromancy a year ago, but the Congress has made great progress in synthesizing the human body. The theory of cell memory can explain why your blood could be used to synthesize your own body. Right now, the Church still isn’t able to tell the difference, unless a grand cardinal uses some level nine divine spells.”
After a year of study, plus Lucien’s solid arcana and magic foundation, as a fourth-circle sorcerer, Lucien’s skills in synthesizing human body was not bad.
“‘Far from being good at it’? Then what is a master necromancer like?” Philosopher was shocked, then something came to him, and he asked. “There’s a necromancer I once heard about… Felipe Carneiro. Two years ago, his name suddenly soared on the Cleansing List to No. ninety-one, and at that time, he was only of fifth-circle. Is he a master necromancer?”
As the previous archon of the city council, Viscount Klein had access to the Cleansing List.
“I have to admit that he’s a genius in the school of Necromancy.” Although Lucien did not really like Felipe, he still made an honest comment. Despite the fact that in many young sorcerers’ eyes in the Congress, both Mr. Felipe and Evans were geniuses, Lucien was well aware that he was still far behind.
The higher the circle was, the harder it became, and this was especially true with several key stages. When one wanted to reach the senior-rank as a fifth circle sorcerer, he or she needed special magic rites to move forward. Without enough preparation, this was very likely to fail.
Then Lucien switched the topic, “I’m sorry for involving you in this without telling you the details. Honestly speaking, I was not sure whether Clown would kill you or whether I had enough time to save you before the night watchers’ arrival. I’m very sorry for putting you under such great risk.”
Lucien was concerned that Clown would find more details when questioning Philosopher, so he did not tell Philosopher the whole plan. What Lucien told Philosopher was that he would save him from the great danger that he was going to encounter tonight.
“It’s okay, Mr. Professor. I trust you, and I know that there’s a cost if I want to find the path to the new life.” Philosopher did not mind it.
Lucien slightly nodded, “Anyway, what I did is bad. Morning Star’s magic items are yours now. Don’t refuse. I have my way of doing things. Take some rest after taking the potion, and then you should leave Aalto as soon as possible.”
“Alright, Mr. Professor. Actually, I’m feeling much more relaxed now.” After becoming a sorcerer, the pressure and stress on Philosopher’s shoulder kept accumulating. What his noble status brought to him was not glory or enjoyment, but fear. And he was getting older. As the family had already recognized a proper heir, now this pseudocide had freed him from the heavy burden, and he finally could pursue what he wanted.
…
In Ratacia Palace, Natasha, who looked gloomy and cold, gave the grand duke a quick hug and said, “Father, I’m okay. I’ll be alright quickly. I’ve been through a lot of things, and I think they’re the tests from God. I’ll get better for myself, for you, and also for my mom and brother in Mountain Paradise.”
“I believe in you, my poor Natasha, but don’t push yourself too hard.” The grand duke touched her hair. He knew that Natasha must be very sad. Her mother was a sorcerer, so there was no way that her mom’s soul could be in Mountain Paradise right now. He felt bad for his daughter that both of her two love stories did not manage to have a good ending.
What was a comfort to the grand duke was that his daughter could still fall in love with a man. As long as he knew this, the grand duke would not push his daughter too much.
“Father, can I stay alone for a while tonight?” Natasha forced a smile on her face. Truly, in her mind, she did not feel good tonight as well. She did not like lying to her father, and although this was a play, it still reminded her of Silvia. So far, she still preferred being with a female. Natasha felt that she needed some time to figure out what she really wanted.
The grand duke nodded and touched her hair again, “You can do this, Natasha.”
Watching Natasha, followed by Camil and several guards, walking back to War Gallery, the grand duke suddenly became worried—would this tragedy turn Natasha into one who would fall for neither men or women?
…
In War Gallery, Camil was sitting on the couch quietly, while Natasha was playing piano in a slight upset way.
“This is the best Pathétique I’ve ever heard you play. But can you stop for a while and tell me what happened in the house? Did Clown and the rest of the night watchers notice anything?” Surprisingly, there was one guard who hadn’t yet left the room, and the guard talked to the princess trying to cheer her up, as if they were close friends.
Natasha stopped playing and took a deep breath, “Good body-making skill. They’ve noticed nothing different.”
After leaving Philosopher’s place, Lucien secretly met Camil and played the role of the princess’s guard to hide here in Ratacia Palace.
“The body cost one-fourth of my blood, so I’m quite confident.” Lucien tried to play a joke to comfort the princess, “What really concerned me was that you probably would burst out laughing when you were describing how much you loved me.”
Natasha snorted, “Come on, my playing wasn’t bad. I felt I could go and play opera! But the role wasn’t very suitable for me… I shall be like this.”
Natasha quickly stood up and came to Lucien. She put her right hand on her chest and slightly lowered her head. Then she looked into Lucien’s eyes and said to Lucien in a man’s manner:
“Every time you see the moon, you will think of me.”
Natasha’s and Lucien’s face were very close to each other. Somehow, when they looked into each other’s eyes, they felt a bit awkward.
Natasha took a few steps backward with her slightly embarrassed smile. Lucien also took a step aside.
“By the way, why didn’t you let me kill Clown? Why did you want me to severely injure him and then let go of him?” Natasha asked. “Although I’m confident that he won’t live long, we could have taken the safer way.”
In fact, Natasha was impressed with Clown’s will of fighting against darkness, but she was also concerned that a crazy man like Clown could do anything to achieve his objective. If it had not been for Lucien’s words, it was impossible for Natasha to miss the target.
Lucien put on a mysterious smile, “I’m waiting for him to show up.”
“Him?” Natasha was confused.
Lucien did not make it all clear, instead, his words were very ambiguous, “Although we haven’t met each other yet, I sort of know what he’s thinking. He’s helped us a lot with this thing…”
“Can’t you just be more specific?” Natasha did want to push Lucien.
Lucien shook his head and said, “You’d better not know, but I’ll give you a final outcome.”
“About what?” Natasha felt that Lucien was getting more and more mysterious after he came back from the Congress.
Lucien just smiled but did not say anything else.
…
After finding an empty room in War Gallery for Lucien, Natasha sat on a chair and looked at the moon outside of the window. Her facial expression was still a bit gloomy.
Although they were good friends, the gap between a sorcerer and a noble who followed the God of Truth was still more of less revealed by itself from what happened. She wondered if she had gone beyond her bottom line to help her friend out.
At this time, Camil opened the door and walked in.
“Any news out there, Mrs. Camil?” Natasha asked without turning around.
As usual, Camil looked serious, but right now she also looked a bit confused, “Professor showed up again, and he left the words ‘the end of the betrayer’. So the night watchers believe that it was Professor who killed the musician to frame Clown up. But, of course, Clown should be dead anyway, for severely violating the agreement between the nobles and the Church.”
Natasha was a bit surprised. And then the look on her face became very gentle.
