Chapter 61: Study Session |
With a sense of worry about how events might unfold, Shad headed to Dr. Schneider’s clinic on a Saturday afternoon. Since he left early, he arrived well ahead of time, and neither Miss Luvia nor Father August had yet arrived.
Shad shared the recent developments with the doctor, who was equally intrigued about the commission involving "Madame Lasso."
“We’ve more or less determined that Madame Lasso is a member of the 【Blood of Mercury】. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the helpers Mrs. Lawrence mentioned would be incapable of standing against this enigmatic individual, whose gender remains unknown,” Dr. Schneider explained while seated on the sofa. Seeing Shad’s confusion, he elaborated further:
“The helpers Mrs. Lawrence referenced likely come through her social connections among aristocratic ladies. You have to understand, while the extraordinary remains obscure in this era, Ring Warlocks are not entirely hidden from the upper echelons of nobility. Even the royal family maintains ties with the Grand Arcane Academies. To be fair, the 【Blood of Mercury】 is not a particularly powerful organization. Although I’ve never met the Madame Lasso you mentioned, she’s unlikely to be more than two Rings higher than me.”
The doctor pointed to himself without appearing overly boastful.
“So, there’s a real possibility that Mrs. Lawrence, out of excessive caution, might have gathered some astonishingly capable helpers,” Shad ventured.
“Yes, though Warlocks above the Tenth Ring typically hail from the True God Churches or the Grand Academies and wouldn’t be hired by ordinary folk, low-Ring Warlocks from less formal backgrounds often seek patronage from the nobility for various reasons—primarily gold pounds,” the doctor replied. However, after a moment's thought, he added:
“Of course, it’s just a possibility. After all, no one knows what kind of connections Mrs. Lawrence might have. Shad, it’s best not to let curiosity get the better of you on certain matters.”
“Of course. The commission has concluded, and I’ve done my best to warn the client,” Shad nodded, letting the issue rest for the time being.
Miss Luvia arrived at the clinic shortly after, but Father August was noticeably absent despite the wait. The three decided to start their study session in the second-floor lounge.
This was Shad’s first time participating in a Mystics study group, and he found it surprisingly similar to ordinary study sessions. Each member shared the difficulties they encountered in their Ring Warlock studies and exchanged insights and experiences.
Given the events of that night involving the 【Blood of Mercury】, Shad mentioned his private meeting with Professor Garcia, claiming it was a privilege reserved for students under special cultivation at the academy. He omitted his bizarre experiences in the past timelines, instead aligning his narrative with what he had told Professor Garcia: he hadn’t truly encountered a god.
Even so, both Miss Luvia and Dr. Schneider were visibly taken aback. Since their group had never included a student from the Academy of History, they couldn’t confirm if this was common practice but strongly urged Shad to be cautious.
Shad refrained from mentioning Professor Sanchez or his cryptic hint that all four group members harbored issues. Instead, he talked about 【Blood of Mercury】’s rat-like Peter, the cultists of the 【Master of the Blood Banquet】, and discussions of curses and miracles.
As for the latter, aside from his self-developed Radiance spell, Shad currently possessed the foundational three curses, Blood Echo, and False Immortality. His miracles included 【Silver Moon Slash】 and 【Moonlit Illusion】. Both Miss Luvia and Dr. Schneider advised that he focus on mastering his remaining healing-related miracles and determining his specialty as a Ring Warlock before acquiring new curses or miracles.
The primary issue lay in mastering miracles.
“You lack a deep understanding of your core rune, which limits the potency of your miracles,” Miss Luvia explained, gesturing as she shared her insights. “You need to truly comprehend the power of the Silver Moon—or at least experience it on a deeper level—rather than just interpreting it literally. Follow the standard procedures for learning miracles, but everyone’s path to mastery is different.”
She then had Shad demonstrate his 【Silver Moon Slash】. The dazzling silver trace left Dr. Schneider and Miss Luvia briefly mesmerized, but its effect—merely slicing through an apple—left them frowning.
Miss Luvia refrained from asking for a demonstration of illusions, instead toying with her earlobe as she leaned on the sofa and asked, “Hamilton, what are your thoughts on the silver moon in the night sky?”
“...The same as what’s written in books,” Shad admitted. Having interacted with the moon for less than a week, he didn’t have profound insights beyond thinking it was beautiful.
“That won’t do. Perhaps you should try other methods, like interacting with objects tied to the Silver Moon’s power to deepen your understanding,” Dr. Schneider suggested. This was a common practice among Ring Warlocks: lacking a core rune, one could study relevant books and items; struggling with miracles, one could engage with related powers.
“Borrowing books from the academy?” Shad asked, mentally calculating his meager funds.
“That’s an option, but it’s too expensive. Let me think...” Miss Luvia pondered briefly before glancing at the doctor. After he shook his head, she handed Shad a note with an address.
“Try this shop. Old John might have what you need. When you meet him, don’t forget to mention my name.”
“Will that get me a discount on account of your recommendation?” Shad asked, finding the address oddly familiar.
“No, Old John will give me a cut of the profit,” Dr. Schneider chuckled, and Shad finally realized why the address was familiar—it was Old John’s Pawnshop, where he had sold his cane.
With the discussion on miracles concluded, the doctor shifted the focus to Shad’s progress with inscribing the 【Light】 core rune.
Shad had diligently read all 43 pages of The Mad Pursuer of Light over the past two days.
“If I had to describe it, the book feels like nonsensical ramblings or the fevered imagination of a madman,” he commented. The text lacked coherence, with no connection between one sentence and the next. If not for knowing the book’s power, Shad wouldn’t have touched it again.