Chapter 22: Elements, Bells, Ignition, Push, Hymns |
"Starting the job now?"
Hearing the doctor's question, Xia De suddenly tensed up. He hadn't expected it to be so direct.
"Here...?"
"Of course, at the doctor's clinic. Is there a problem? Besides, isn’t the 72-hour mark approaching?"
The golden-haired writer, Miss Luisa, was confused, but Dr. Schneider understood what Xia De was trying to convey.
"Of course, it’s here. Oh, Xia De, let me emphasize something once again. Remember, we are correspondence Ring Warlocks. St. Byrons Comprehensive College and we ourselves don’t share any special emotional bond—only obligations and responsibilities. Do you understand? As for helping you, that’s because I need a fifth Ring Warlock in our group. Additionally, introducing a new Ring Warlock to the College earns rewards. It's not because I’m some kind-hearted soul."
The doctor looked seriously at Xia De, his blue eyes filled with a warning.
"You lack basic common sense about this world, so here’s the most important advice I can give you: don’t trust others lightly."
"He’s actually a good man, just always so strict," Miss Luisa remarked, shaking her head.
"Luisa, for the upcoming process, all you need to do is observe and ensure there are no unforeseen accidents. Please refrain from speaking."
"No problem. We’ve been through this twice before. Wasn’t it the same during Anat’s and August’s appointments?"
Miss Luisa gestured for Xia De to pay attention.
"The awakening of a Talent Bearer’s Life Ring requires contact with the Four Mystical Elements. For ordinary people, this is extremely difficult.
"Now is the Sixth Epoch, not the chaotic Fourth Epoch or the Fifth Epoch under the rule of the Witch Emperors. In this era, mysticism is subtle; steam and machinery dominate the scene. Even if one knows of mysticism’s existence, it's challenging to encounter it. Moreover, the dangers of contacting mysticism are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people."
The doctor raised four fingers.
"So, Xia De, of the Four Mystical Elements, how many have you encountered so far?"
"Only [Blasphemy] related to Evil Gods is missing."
Xia De answered truthfully. Dr. Schneider didn’t press further.
"Look at my Life Ring."
Three silver runes flickered simultaneously. Xia De interpreted their meanings: 【Fury】【Mire of the Heart】【Malice】.
【You’ve encountered ‘Blasphemy’.】
Following this, the whispers recited another passage:
【In the Sixth Epoch, in the universal calendar year 1853, summer, on the Day of the Silver Moon’s Dim Radiance, you have touched all four elements. Outsider, the gate of the extraordinary is about to open. The path of ascension lies ahead.】
"Did the ‘other you’ provide any hints?"
The doctor dispersed the Life Ring into the steam behind him before asking.
"Yes, it prompted me, saying I’ve encountered all elements and that the extraordinary gate is about to open."
The doctor nodded in satisfaction.
"The ‘other me’ is the core of the Ring Warlock system. It’s you, yet not you. It shares your knowledge and memories, but it perceives and sees more. It serves as a bridge between the Ring Warlock and the world, protecting us from directly contacting knowledge that could corrupt our souls. Let me repeat this, and I hope you’ll remember."
"Does this mean the ‘other me’ cannot know things that I don’t know?"
Xia De’s thoughts churned as he posed the question.
The doctor nodded affirmatively. Xia De blinked. He had long suspected that his "other self" was far from normal.
"It’s essentially you, though you might not realize it. It shares your gender, which is why I hear a man’s voice in my mind, while Luisa hears a woman’s voice..."
The lady confirmed with a nod.
"It shares your memories but doesn’t require sleep, so it may know more about the nights than you do. Fundamentally, you and the other you think differently and perceive the world from varied perspectives. As such, it sometimes says inexplicable things, seeing more in the ordinary world."
The doctor continued, and Xia De blinked again. Deep within, the gentle laughter of a woman seemed to soothe his soul, expelling the lingering effects of a Poet-grade relic.
"Who exactly are you?" he silently asked.
【Outsider, for now, I am you.】
"Gathering elements" was only the first step. Next were the stages of "Ringing the Bell," "Lighting the Fire," "Driving the Spark," and "Singing the Hymn." The full five steps were the most orthodox process for awakening as a Ring Warlock, practiced by True God Churches and the Three Grand Arcane Academies.
"Ringing the Bell" meant shaking the soul, initiating its preliminary ascension. Though it sounded complicated, it boiled down to drinking a potion.
The Three Grand Academies and the Five True God Churches had different recipes for the "Bell-Ringing Potion." According to the doctor, the potion from Circassus Advanced Medical College was said to taste the best—orange-flavored and sweet—while the potion from the 【Church of Nature and Malice】 under the True God 【Master of All Things】 was reportedly the worst, tasting like chewed tree bark.
The College sent the potion via manuscript: a conical glass bottle containing a purple, bubbling liquid. It felt cold to the touch but warmed as it was drunk. However, Xia De didn’t think it had any distinct taste.
"Look behind you," the doctor instructed.
Swallowing the last drop, Xia De wiped his mouth, set down the bottle, and turned around. A layer of white mist had already risen behind him, and faint chimes of a bell echoed in his ears, though not clearly.
He felt the so-called vibration of the soul, but it might just have been a stomach-induced hallucination from drinking too fast.
"Lighting the Fire" involved igniting the gathered Four Mystical Elements, sparking the soul’s initial flame. This step required assistance from a Ring Warlock of the Third Ring or higher and some techniques. The doctor placed his right index finger on Xia De’s forehead, and as a cold current gently flowed into Xia De’s body, the bell's chime grew louder in his ears.
Turning back, he saw the dense white mist behind him take on a scorching heat. The steam deepened, seemingly brimming with countless possibilities.
"Driving the Spark" meant enabling the soul to drive the faintly ignited flame, granting the Ring Warlock the ability to sense spirits and manipulate the Four Mystical Elements. Specifically, it required Xia De to feel the force, to sense the idealistic power of the mind influencing matter.
The doctor retrieved a book without a cover.
"Ring Warlocks can access the Four Mystical Elements in various ways. But engraving 【Spiritual Runes】 in the Life Ring by encountering deities, mysteries, or oddities isn’t encouraged. While possible, it’s quite risky. The orthodox way is through reading—absorbing stories of the past. Other methods rely more on luck."
"Reading?"
This reminded Xia De that the extraordinary organization he joined was essentially a school.
"Yes. Churches, academies, and a few Ring Warlock organizations hold special books containing dangerous knowledge and historical stories. These books are copied by hand or translated into modern languages, reducing their power. Reading original or minimally altered forbidden texts is the best way to engrave Spiritual Runes. However, for you, this will suffice to experience your power."
The doctor handed Xia De the book.
"This is a hand-copied version of The Book of Fire Worship, Volume One, copied from the original at least six times. It’s the least dangerous book I have, incapable of providing Spiritual Runes. Take half an hour to read it thoroughly. Ask me if you encounter any unfamiliar words."
Thus, Xia De spent the next thirty minutes reading. To maintain his facade, he periodically selected unfamiliar words to inquire about.
During this time, both the doctor and Miss Luisa remained silent, knowing this was a critical moment for Xia De.
"Finished? How do you feel?" the doctor asked.
"Warm," Xia De replied cautiously, setting the book down.
"Ignite it."
The doctor handed Xia De a piece of paper. After waiting for a few seconds and seeing no further instructions, Xia De asked,
"Um, are we skipping steps—like a chant or a gesture?"
"Don’t overthink it. Just feel and guide the power. Unless your core Spiritual Rune concept is something like [Extinguished Flame], this shouldn’t be difficult."
Xia De closed his eyes. Coming from another world, he lacked extraordinary abilities but possessed ample knowledge and imagination. Relaxing, he visualized a warm current flowing through his body, gathering at his fingertips and igniting sparks.
When he opened his eyes, the paper in his hand had yellowed from the heat.
Behind him, a tremendous roar echoed from the steam, and a black shadow, representing a hammer poised to strike Xia De's soul, emerged.
"The final step is Singing the Hymn. You must affirm your identity and announce to the world that you have transcended the mundane."
The doctor’s tone grew solemn.
"How should I do that?"
Xia De’s heart pounded. He knew he was about to truly encounter the extraordinary and step into the mysticism of the Steam Era.
"Say whatever you wish. I just recited my name. Luisa recited a famous poem. Mr. Rat August prayed to a deity, while Miss Luvia Annette murmured something we couldn’t hear."
At this moment, the doctor’s voice seemed distant. Xia De stared at the dense white steam and the hammer poised to strike from the fog.
The woman's voice, reciting verses, once again echoed in his mind.
Almost instinctively, Xia De recited along with her whispers,
【In the Sixth Epoch, in the universal calendar year 1853, summer, on the Day of the Silver Moon’s Dim Radiance, I arrived in this world. I pushed open the extraordinary gate and stepped onto the path of Four Mystical Elements’ ascension. Xia De Suellen Hamilton. The path of fate diverges beneath my feet. I will witness, I will experience, I will see it all.】
The hammer, accompanied by a gale, struck from the depths of the steam and slammed into Xia De’s soul.
Boom!
His soul quaked. Sparks burst forth, light gleamed, and the elements overflowed. In the swirling white mist, an extraordinary brass-hued wheel ring, akin to the sun, gradually materialized.
The rapidly spinning Life Ring emitted a golden glow. At its core were two radiant brass-colored runes, symbols of Xia De’s destiny: 【Time-Space】 and 【Silver Moon】.
Comments 3