Volume 1 Chapter 652

Chapter 652: The Plan of the Wizard Association

After emerging from the dungeon, Dorothy finally broke her silence.

"Lady Patricia… What exactly is this ‘plan’?"

"You appear to have deep insight into their intentions."

Patricia responded with a casual shrug.

"I do possess knowledge of their scheme…"

"Though it’s hardly a secret among those of standing within the Wizard Association."

"Being both a Great Sage myself and having been mentored by another…"

She paused deliberately before continuing.

"I’ll share this with you, though it’s rather unsavory business."

"Dorothy… Have you observed how elemental magic dominates the mainland plane’s current arcane practices?"

"Nearly every mage studies several elemental spells, even those specializing in other disciplines."

Dorothy inclined her head thoughtfully.

"Could this be due to elemental energy’s properties?"

"Precisely. Elemental magic’s compatibility with a mage’s own power is unmatched—though this phenomenon only emerged within the last three millennia."

Patricia conjured a wisp of elemental energy between her fingertips as she explained.

"Three thousand winters past, arcane magic reigned supreme—as it had through countless ages before."

"Elemental practitioners were rarer than Star Spirit devotees or nature mages, considered eccentric outliers."

This revelation drew a startled blink from Dorothy.

"Truly?"

The younger mage’s knowledge of magical history proved lacking. The notion of elemental magic’s former obscurity defied modern understanding.

"Indeed," Patricia affirmed. "Ancient elemental forces were far less… tractable. Their gradual domestication over three thousand years birthed countless new spells—innovations our predecessors conceived but couldn’t implement."

"How peculiar."

Dorothy’s murmur escaped unbidden.

"Thus spake the Wizard Association," Patricia replied with wry amusement. "Curiosity being our breed’s defining trait…"

"For three thousand years, the Association dedicated significant manpower and resources to unraveling elemental magic’s transformation."

"Four centuries revealed the elemental plane itself as the catalyst—undergoing fundamental changes."

"This plane developed intrinsic properties favoring magical synergy…"

"The subsequent twenty-five centuries saw relentless exploration, for mere discovery of the source could never satisfy true scholars."

"When the ‘Never-ending Night’ Philtes journeyed to the elemental alternate plane in those days, it was hailed as the ‘most promising’ expedition ever attempted."

Dorothy’s expression shifted to one of surprise at this revelation.

"’Most promising’—in what sense?"

"Through synthesizing data from previous explorations… Philtes constructed a ‘magical model’ of the elemental plane that led him to a groundbreaking conclusion."

"Explain the essence in simpler terms."

"A prototype akin to the ‘Divine Throne’ from Divine Kingdoms had emerged within the elemental plane."

"Similar to the Trinity revered by elves… like the primordial form of a naturally-born deity."

"If validated… those old-timers became wildly enthusiastic, concluding they could harness First Era technology to forge a controllable totem entity mirroring the ‘primordial god’—thereby granting elemental magic both arcane and divine spell properties."

Patricia laid out the concepts with deliberate plainness.

Dorothy, educated under Lolth’s tutelage…

Comprehended perfectly.

"Truly an extraordinary vision."

Even she couldn’t suppress her admiration.

"Not so extraordinary when considering the follow-up proposals. Creating such an ‘elemental totem’ deity would inevitably… wreak catastrophic effects upon the main plane."

"Potential disasters included primitive cults causing mass delirium in elementally-tainted regions, intensified Plane Magic Tide fluctuations, and catastrophic environmental shifts within elemental planes…"

"In short, my mentor deemed this venture more perilous than beneficial—marking a rare instance of major dissent within the Wizard Association."

"Ultimately, the matter was tabled when Philtes never returned, leaving the Divine Throne’s existence unverified—or so I believed. Now it appears this was mere misdirection."

Patricia exhaled wearily.

"Philtes must’ve discovered a ‘viable method,’ conspired with sympathetic Great Sages, secured collaborators within The Church of Light, then initiated covert operations in the Holy Capital for reasons unknown."

Dorothy pondered briefly before responding.

"This sounds… like a continental-scale threat."

"Precisely. Yet here’s the silver lining," Patricia glanced toward the dungeon, her lips curving slyly, "with your mistress involved, whatever scheme he’s brewing will curdle faster than milk in a dragon’s gullet…"

"He might’ve accounted for variables like the Heretic Tribunal—perhaps even cultist interference…"

"But I’ll wager my last spellscroll Philtes never anticipated the depth of complications. Thanks to your teacher’s maneuvers, The Church of Light and Holy Capital’s waters now teem with hidden currents beyond his reckoning."

Dorothy nodded solemnly.

"Indeed… My teacher hinted as much during our lessons."

"This ‘Pope’s Coronation’ shall be the most… eventful in history."

A conspiratorial chuckle escaped them both.

Meanwhile…

Far north, where the Demon Army and Holy Alliance fronts converged, a carriage crept through shadowed forest paths.

Within its velvet-lined interior sat Doyle Candice, Lolth, and Janine Irene—alongside the slumbering Lady of Light…

All awaiting destiny’s next move.