870 Speech
While the sorcerers dwelt in the glory of the past, Douglas’ voice was even more solemn. “The glorious triumphs made the ancient sorcerers even more determined to pursue power. They initiated conquests in the abyss, the hell, and all the alternate dimensions. After the Saint Truth rose, the three Magic Empires collapsed in just three hundred years. The glory in the past has turned into the bitterness, confusion, and desperation today.”
The glory of the past was shattered, replaced by the cruelty of the reality. Owen, Erica, and the sorcerers from different organizations felt that a bucket of cold water was poured on their heads. Although they were somewhat prepared, they could help but sigh in gloom and frustration. They speculated that Douglas meant the same as Arnold and the other archmages by drawing a comparison of the splendid past and the miserable reality so that all the sorcerers would be more hopeful about the cooperation and a bright future.
“But the Church is really too powerful! And they do have angels!”
“The time it takes for sorcerers to grow strong is not lengthened, but it is too long compared to what it takes for the clerics…”
“Will the cooperation really work? We are more likely to be annihilated if we are too big a target! It’s possible that we will be safer if we split apart!”
“Only by surviving first can we hope to cooperate with the supernatural creatures, study them, and surpass the limits of magic…”
All kinds of thoughts rolled in the hearts of the seemingly silent sorcerers. Even leaders such as Nielson and Priscilla had similar feelings.
Although they were working hard to develop their organizations, seeking for a chance of survival and cooperating for a beautiful future, it would definitely be a lie if they claimed that they were absolutely confident without the slightest fear!
They were pressing forward with reasonable passion and confidence because there wasn’t a second path. People were always more determined when they were left with no choice.
Of course, it was one way out to join the Church and become a night watcher, but for the leaders of those organizations, they were unwilling to give up themselves and become a dog of the Church before the war in the west was settled. What if Aalto beat the enemy back? On the other hand, if Aalto fell and most of the legends were killed, whether they surrendered or not would make little difference.
Arnold thought the same. He nodded at Douglas’ speech in satisfaction. Fernando, on the other hand, secretly mumbled, “Was the empty talk all he wanted to say?”
Douglas pressed his right hand to stress his tone. “Dear ladies and gentlemen, it is time for us to calm down. Instead of being bewitched by power, we should calm down and consider certain questions.” In the ancient Magic Empire, sorcerer was the only gender. They did not start addressing the audience in different genders until the modern day.
Well? What questions?
All the sorcerers, including the experts like Congus, were briefly stunned. Questions about the coalition? How radical the guy is! But does it have anything to do with being bewitched by power? Is he going to stress that solidarity is power? That must be a joke. All the people here combined are not enough for the Heart of Time to kill!
While they were confused, Douglas’ voice suddenly became loud and echoed throughout the hall, “There are certain things that we need to figure out.
“What is the nature of magic?
“Why do creatures have spiritual power?
“What is the nature of spiritual power?
“In what form does it exist?”
Huh?
Even Fernando looked at Douglas in shock with his mouth half open. What questions were these?
The ancient sorcerers had always been considering the nature of magic, so the experts like Congus were not surprised. However, wasn’t a spiritual power born naturally? Wasn’t it a unique feature of the soul? What were those questions about?
They found it absurd and ridiculous when they just heard the questions. If it were a middle-rank or a low-rank sorcerer who asked the question, they would’ve interrupted the guy rudely, but the speaker now was an archmage who was capable of “Time Stop”. Since the legends were all hiding, that was the strongest power!
So, they listened patiently. Gradually, they discovered in shock that it was impossible for them to answer those questions! Also, after considering carefully, they realized that it seemed really necessary to work on those questions!
The middle-rank and senior-rank sorcerers down below, including Erica, looked at each other in amusement. If they could answer those fundamental questions, they would have become legendary sorcerers a long time ago. Would they need Douglas’ reminder at all?
However, the series of questions did slightly shock them. They subconsciously sat straight and stared at Douglas attentively. After all, as an archmage, he might not be a big deal in Antiffler, but he was definitely one of the strongest persons here.
Frowning, Fernando considered the answers to those questions, only to discover that he did not have the slightest clue. He then realized that Douglas unleashed an indescribable vibe. He was no longer as warm as usual but much more intimidating and solemn!
In an even louder voice, Douglas continued his speech magnificently, “Are earth, fire, wind, and water really the most basic elements in the world? If they are, how do they stick together to form everything we know? And if not, what are the real magic elements?
“What is the nature of the soul?
“Is the soul different from consciousness? If so, in what form does consciousness exist?
“Do we need any ‘tools’ to illustrate and build magic models?
“Does God exist? If God exists, what is His nature and form of existence? In what form does Alterna, the ancestor of vampires, exist? Why can they remain undead?
“Why do the sun and the moon exist in this world? Why do they rise and set every day? What power motivates them in their operations? Those phenomena seem natural in the material world, but if we ask more whys, we will realize that we haven’t figured out the reasons behind them yet. Are those reasons, laws, and knowledge concerned with magic? Can we combine them with magic and help us explore the nature of the magic world?”
As he raised his questions, both the experts on the stage and the sorcerers down below changed their faces, switching from disdain and amusement to concentrated consideration. The questions about the rise and setting of the sun and moon hit them like lightning. They trembled and did not know how to express their feelings.
Yes. Why are they like that?
Why have I never considered those questions before?
What secrets do those phenomena, which seem to be the unquestionable law and nature of this world, contain?
Fernando clenched his fists; his red pupils full of excitement. He looked at Douglas’ shadow and never felt that the guy was taller!
Similar questions had occurred in the studies of every sorcerer now and then, but having been used to such phenomena, they never considered those questions as something worth paying attention to, and they never asked the questions so deeply. At this moment, when they listened to Douglas’ enlightening speech, they all felt that the mist before their eyes was driven away by sunlight. So, our studies on magic and this world are still so shallow! There are still so many whys that need addressing!
They felt that a new gate had been opened before him, vaguely revealing what appeared to be a new field of magic. More and more people were shivering in contemplation. Even Owen, who had been angry about Douglas earlier, no longer found the guy nefarious anymore. He felt that the guy’s whys were extremely charming!
More and more questions popped up in his head. What is lightning? Why can’t metal stop it when wood can? Why is mankind divided into different genders? Why can’t human beings float in the sky instead of being stuck to the ground?
Erica covered her mouth, believing that Mr. Douglas had surpassed Mr. Fernando and become the greatest hero in her mind! So, the magic research beyond battles could also be so attractive and astounding!
“What is up? What is down? Why is the sky? What is the earth…” Fernando murmured, full of doubts about the things that he thought he had understood perfectly.
Holding his forehead, Douglas slightly bowed. “As long as we can figure out those questions, I believe that magic will develop much faster. The mysteries that we figure out will work on us and fortify us. Perhaps our development will be no slower than the Church’s!”
After he backed off, the hall was still in utter silence. It was not until one minute later that the warmest welcome that never appeared even when the leaders of the magic organizations spoke burst out!
Douglas could see clearly that the sorcerers down below were excited, if not demented. The ubiquitous despair and depression just now were dissolved. He could only sigh about that. It was the first time he had introduced his opinions publicly and systematically and raised the questions that he had considered for a long time. Back when he was in Antiffler, even his teacher and his classmates were unwilling to pay attention to his thoughts in that aspect, much less other people.
It seems not bad… As a regular human being, Douglas felt delighted.
Owen, Erica, and the other sorcerers started to feel that the darkness around them was fading. They were desperate earlier because they thought that magic had been developed to the maximum but still could not compare to the divine power and the Church. They were hopeless because they could not see the light. Now, Mr. Douglas’ questions had opened a boundless world. The development of magic had just begun and was far away from the limits! The future was not entirely hopeless!
Arnold and the rest of them had placed their hope on the Silver Moon, the vampires, the dragons, and the other exterior forces, which more or less boosted the morale, but it was not nearly as inspiring as giving the future to themselves.
However, was it really possible to answer those questions?
After the excitement, worries and suspicions surged in the hearts of the sorcerers, as could be seen from their faces. Douglas was not surprised at them. He never thought that everybody could be gathered after a speech. That would have been a fantasy!
The meeting ended in such an atmosphere. Amanata, Congus, Nielson, Priscilla, and the other archmages looked at Douglas in a slightly different way now.
Douglas rose with a smile and said to Arnold, “Mr. President, I would like to take part in the mission to assassinate Alfonsol. After that, I hope that I can spend some time in Allyn.”
