It had been years since the Union of Sorcerers excavated Allyn, the City in the Sky. They had cleared out the central area and built many magic towers and houses. If it weren't for the fact that the remaining buildings were still of research value, Douglas wouldn't have seen such a dilapidated scene at first glance. At this moment, a melodious bell echoed in a magic tower close to the remains of the central magic tower. According to the agreement, it was the sign that the meeting was about to begin.
The sorcerers who were quarreling fiercely on the square closed their mouths "reluctantly", feeling regretful that the rare opportunity to vent their anger had come to an end. They slowly surged toward the five-story magic tower.
"It seems that the old men have reached an agreement in private …" Fernando mumbled. The real agreement was often reached before the meeting. The meeting was just an occasion for announcements.
Douglas watched the sorcerers coming from all directions in silence. There was no telling what was on his mind. It was not until the square was deserted that he sighed and said, "Let's go in too."
"You feel helpless about their quarrel too? At such a desperate moment, they are still unwilling to let go of their biases and selfishness and cooperate sincerely. To be honest, after what I saw earlier, I'm not confident about the future of those magic organizations. "Fernando moved forward in complaint, feeling that he had grasped Douglas's mood right now.
Douglas shook his head and said in a low voice, "Everybody has selfishness. They have it. President Arnold has it, Deputy President League has it, Lauren has it, you have it, and I have it too. So, sincere cooperation is definitely not an extravagant hope that everybody will abandon their selfishness but to show their strength so that everybody will know that they will have a bright future where their interests and wishes can be satisfied if they fight together with you."
"It is not the real kind of strength. It includes, but is not limited to, much more. For example, even if our real strength is not strong enough right now, as long as we can make everybody trust us and feel that the path that we lead them on is full of hope and that we can lead them to the end, it will still be in the category of 'strength'."
His face was solemn, without the slightest desperation or fury.
"Isn't it just the process of building their confidence in us through all kinds of methods? In the school of illusions, this is a very profound content. The more you 'trust' the 'spell', the better the effect of the spell. "Fernando habitually belittled Douglas.
Douglas put away his serious expression and looked at Fernando. "You know a lot about illusions, don't you?"
Personally, he was not very good at the theory of illusions. He might be able to use a lot of illusions, but he did not study them in depth.
"My teacher was a knowledgeable man. Before he was killed, he kept in touch with many masters and archmages in the school of illusions. Therefore, I know many sorcerers in the school of illusions too." Fernando mentioned his teacher. He did not seem to have much affection for him.
Douglas did not ask further, because the two of them had walked to the front of the magic tower. A middle-aged man wearing the Arcana badge of the Union of Sorcerers was waiting by the door. He said earnestly, "Are you President Douglas? Sir President wants you to go to the living room on the side after entering the hall. "
He recognized Douglas through Fernando.
"Alright," Douglas replied politely.
The middle-aged man was slightly surprised, because the archmages in his impression were all arrogant. Even if they did not show it on the surface, it could be clearly felt from their speech and behavior. Even someone as amiable as President Arnold was not.
After they entered the hall, stone benches had protruded out. Douglas and Fernando walked around and stepped into the living room on the side.
"Douglas, come here. Let me introduce them to you." Arnold greeted him with a smile as if he were an amiable old man.
Douglas was as calm as water, but Fernando chuckled in a low voice. Judging from the old fox's delight, the negotiation seemed to be going well, and the intention of cooperation must've been reached.
Hearing Douglas' name, the sorcerers in the living room looked at him at the same time. Some were wary, some were observing, and some were judging him. Was he the legendary archmage who was capable of 'Time Stop', who had ambushed the Inquisition and killed the 'Assassin'?
Arnold held Douglas's shoulder intimately and pointed at a fat old man. "Nielson, leader of 'Red Eye', an archmage. He may be fat, but his body is as strong as a common gold Knight."
After he said that, Douglas immediately understood what Nielson was good at. He was undoubtedly good at blood power fusion and body modification. Perhaps every part of his body had been solidified with a certain special ability that could play an unexpected role in a battle. His appearance right now was just a disguise.
Other than his impressive body, Nielson's ruby eyes were also eye-catching because of the contrast with his appearance. He smiled, the fat on his cheeks shivering. "I've always looked forward to Antiffler. The archmages from it are truly remarkable."
He said that he looked forward to it, but he did not mean it at all.
Douglas, who knew the grudge between the two empires, nodded with a smile, not minding Nielson's attitude at all.
Pretending that he did not understand Nielson's implication, Arnold continued the introduction with a smile. "Amanata, a student of the Lord of Shadows and one of the two chairmen of 'Shadow Singers' right now."
Covered in a black magic robe, Amanata was sitting in a corner of the shadows. After hearing Arnold's introduction, he simply nodded as a greeting. Had it not been for the standard masculine name, Douglas wouldn't have been able to tell whether he was a man or a woman.
Arnold joked with a smile, "The Shadow Singers are all fond of shadows."
Not far away from Amanata was a sorcerer who was cold and gloomy. He was wearing a black, glamorous robe that was engraved with dark gold patterns. His skull was white, and needle-like crimson flames were bouncing in his eyes. He was a typical lich.
"Congus, the archmage who founded 'Supreme Soul'. He was once praised by the Lord of Shadows, who said that he was very likely to become a legendary sorcerer." Arnold introduced the lich who was obviously no weaker than Nielson and Amanata.
Congus opened his mouth. His voice was coarse and unpleasant, as if someone were grinding a rusty longsword. "I've never heard my friends in Antiffler mention you."
He seemed to be very close to Antiffler.
"Because there are too many sorcerers in Antiffler who are stronger than me." Douglas replied modestly, thinking so too. "Also, I'm a weirdo."
"Yes, but Antiffler was destroyed by the pope anyway," Nielson interjected sharply.
Congus looked at him and said coldly, "At least the Imperium hasn't perished yet. As for Arthur …"
Arnold coughed to stop the quarrel that was about to break out. He introduced the lady who was playing with her dark red hair in boredom. "This is the beautiful Ms. Priscilla, the controller of the Tower of Destroyers, and an elemental sorcerer who is adept at 'Cracking (Advanced)'."
"Hey, Arnold, do you want me to do it for you?" Priscilla teased Arnold with a vague smile. Then, she extended her fair, slender right hand. "'Time Stop' and 'Cracking (Advanced)' are the best combination. It's a pity that I don't know the former. I hope that I can learn it from you in the future."
She was almost the friendliest responder.
"I'm also looking forward to 'Cracking (Advanced)', my lady." Douglas naturally shook hands with her politely.
Fernando followed behind him, having nothing to do. He mumbled to himself, Can those old guys who have different agendas really work together?
Arnold then introduced the leaders of other organizations to Douglas and Fernando, but he did not mention cooperation again, as if it were a trivia that had already been answered.
During the whole process, Arnold had been smiling and humorous, which livened up the atmosphere very well. It was perhaps the reason why he was the one who tried to win them over instead of the leaders of other organizations.
"Alright, it's time for us to go out and join the meeting. Let's tell everybody the exciting news as soon as possible." In the end, he pointed his arm at the door.
All the experts stood up and followed Arnold out.
Because the safety of the meeting was unknown, they had all used stand-ins. So, they did not bring many sorcerers, and the hall was not full yet.
After the leaders came out, the whispers in the hall were gone.
"Everybody, it's been more than three hundred years since the War of Dawn, which the Church named, began. Many of you may not have experienced the supreme life of magic. You may be born in panic and depression and grow up in darkness and desperation. You may die on the stake in the end." After Congus and the rest of them were seated, Arnold stopped smiling and began his speech with the help of magic.
The solemn beginning made the hall even quieter. Some of the older senior-rank sorcerers recalled the last glory of the Imperium, and some of the younger sorcerers recalled their own experiences. However, they shared the same fear, which was the nightmare-like Church and the night watchers.
Arnold paused for a moment before he continued. "In the darkness, our individual strength is so insignificant. Only by helping each other can we hope to break through the thorns and embrace the real dawn. This meeting is to tell you that the organizations present here will begin the preliminary cooperation, abandon internal conflicts, and fight for the space of survival wholeheartedly."
In such a desperate environment, any good news would be imagined by the sorcerers into a beautiful future. So, Arnold's words made everybody breathe heavily and excited. If so many organizations were united, they should be able to compete with a parish that did not have any legends, right? If more organizations joined them in the future …
Fernando sniffed in disdain, but he did not say anything.
Arnold did not mention cooperation. He knew that it was unrealistic. Without the support of a powerful force, integrating so many organizations with different agendas would only be a burden to him. The initial cooperation would be helpful for deeper communication in the future.
After describing the beautiful future, Arnold ended his speech. At this moment, a sorcerer stood up and asked, "How are we going to win the survival space in the future?"
The excitement brought by the good news had gradually subsided. More and more sorcerers began to have doubts and worry. Their experience had taught them that only by being cautious could they live longer, because they had no more capital and could not take risks. If they made the wrong choice, there would be no hope for them to start over again.
"Hehe. You're not that stupid after all." Fernando mocked in a low voice.
It was impossible for Arnold to talk about the real cooperation. So, he simply played his eloquence. "… The success of our cooperation will be a demonstration. More and more sorcerers will join us and attract the attention of the legends … The Church is definitely not invincible. Aalto has gathered many legendary experts. Also, their enemies include vampires, dragons, sea clans, elves, demons, devils, and so on. How many demigods and top legends are among them …"
The desperate people loved such descriptions the most. Their hope temporarily overcame their doubts. Also, as the elites of their organizations, they gradually realized that their leaders had reached a consensus in secret. So, they simply anesthetized themselves with the beautiful future.
"Yes. We can cooperate with the extraordinary creatures and learn the elements for the development of magic from them."
"But can magic really be better than divine power? At the very least, it can create legendary experts … "
After Arnold's speech, the sorcerers had a lot of thoughts. Some thought of the benefits of cooperation with the extraordinary creatures and the development of magic, and some remembered the decline of magic since the War of Dawn … Hope, fear, desperation, expectation, and all kinds of feelings congregated.
Nielson, Congus, Priscilla, Amanata, and the rest of them briefly expressed their support, but nobody disclosed the specific content of their cooperation.
"Since we are partners, allow me to introduce the sorcerer next to me. He is Douglas from Antiffler, who is adept at 'Time Stop'. He assaulted the Inquisition together with Fernando …" Arnold demonstrated the strength of his Union in satisfaction.
Arnold nodded his head and smiled at Douglas. "Why don't you say something to us?"
Douglas nodded and rose solemnly. Arnold was stunned. Why did he look like that? What was he going to say?
Fernando also noticed that Douglas's face was not right, because he did not put on his usual gentle smile. However, he did not understand why he was like that either. As for Nielson and the other sorcerers who did not know Douglas, they did not notice the anomaly.
Douglas looked around the hall and silenced the discussion of the sorcerers. Then, he said in a low but clear voice, "Ladies and Gentlemen.
Many years ago, the respected ancestors of human beings learned how to make use of mental power from dragons, elves, giants, demons, devils, and other magic creatures. Then, by analyzing their body structure and the features of their blood, we melted their bloodlines step by step and modified our bodies. We invented a lot of meditation techniques to strengthen our mental power and created all kinds of spells with reference to the magic stripes inside and outside their bodies. With that, we gained immense strength and drove the demons back to the abyss and kicked the devils back to hell. The dragons, elves, and giants either retreated to the remote mountains, wilderness, and alternate dimensions or surrendered to us. "
His brief introduction of the origin and glory of the age of magic did not dispel Arnold's and Fernando's confusion, because Douglas would never mention such things for no reason. The sorcerers, on the other hand, seemed to have sensed the glory of the past and were all more or less refreshed.
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