Chapter 78
"You could say that."
Sylas had a thoughtful expression on her face. Loneliness was not unfamiliar to her, but she wasn't afraid of it. In fact, she had never felt lonely. Elemental beings always surrounded her, and in the quietest places, she could hear them whispering about their experiences.
"Isn't there any way to resist loneliness? Like making new friends or hiding in a tower like a teacher, reading books? There are endless books to read, and there is an infinite amount of knowledge in the world waiting to be discovered and organized. And let's not forget that writing a book takes a lot of time. None of these things are lonely."
Leunen chuckled, "Only those who have experienced these things can truly understand. Words cannot convey the complexity of this intangible feeling. I'm sure you also understand the complexities of emotions."
"'Only poetry can convey.'"
"Exactly, 'only poetry can convey.'"
Xerath once said this to her. Emotions are quite irrational and must be expressed in the same irrational way.
"Oh..."
Leunen was very satisfied with Sylas's compromise and continued, "Since you also agree that 'loneliness is an urgent deadly emotion to be resolved,' I can continue. Besides the methods you mentioned that any solitary wizard would try, there is also a dangerous... almost unrecorded way listed as taboo in books, only spreading as rumors among people."
This caught Sylas's interest, "What is it? I always feel that everything would be recorded in some form."
"That's correct, but the means of recordkeeping can be scattered and thus lost. On the other hand, the general public, although forgetful, never lets rumors vanish."
"So what is it?"
Leunen's eyes slid a water line from the window frame, surveyed left and right, and then whispered secretly, "To become a Lich."
Sylas suddenly realized.
The word Lich was not unfamiliar to Sylas. In her early memories, Virgil had mentioned this word more than once as a joke. About three or four years ago, when Virgil went to Aimekotes to dig dragon bones in the west, Xerath jokingly asked him to bring back the skeleton of a Lich.
Leunen continued, "Since the last prince of Saiti discovered this forbidden method, almost all archmages have turned into Liches. The emotions of a Lich are vastly different from humans, so they naturally don't experience loneliness, but I hope you don't become curious about this experience and try it."
"I don't know..." Sylas was quite surprised by Leunen's idea, "I have no interest at all, you should understand what I'm interested in."
Leunen shrugged: The only thing that interests its little owner is running around the archmage, enjoying her presence to ease some kind of strong, irrational, and almost unclassifiable feeling.
"That's why... Of course, I've heard about it, it's just a small rumor within our water lord circle. It is said that the formation of the Mage Guild has partly been to solve this kind of situation: all the archmages are honored with a spell cast by all members of the Oversight Committee, and a precious rock is used as the basis to sustain this long-lasting spell. This rock-carved statue is placed deep inside the Mage Guild headquarters, and if an archmage's life begins to fade, the statue also dims and crumbles. For archmages with immense power, their lives are almost impossible to be threatened by external forces, only the choice to become a Lich."
"I see... what happens after that?"
Sylas had some understanding of the power and cruelty of Lich: they are scholars among the undead, eager to conduct various necromantic experiments using living beings. Unlike elemental mages who might blow up an entire laboratory, the consequences of failed necromantic experiments could turn an entire town's living creatures into half-living monsters.
Depriving others of life is not easily tolerated by those who are alive, but for Lich, transitioning from life to death is all too common. It is said that they even conduct cruel experiments with living beings, but these papers are strictly prohibited from being published (although they occasionally get sent to the guild, their persistence is truly astonishing).
Becoming a Lich is seen as withdrawing from the Mage Guild, no longer enjoying any legal protection. The Oversight Committee then issues a bounty to adventurer guilds worldwide to hunt down the newly formed Lich. Adventurers who kill a Lich have the right to claim all its possessions, except for research manuscripts. These generous rewards, combined with the bonus from the Mage Guild, often entice adventurers.
However, despite such dangers, the archmages in this world still eagerly desire to become Lich: disregarding their sense of morality, becoming a Lich means being free from the constraints of the law, the ability to kill anyone without consequence, no need to breathe, no fear of hot or cold, no more hunger, no loneliness, no backaches, no neckaches, no headaches from accidentally sleeping too little. They can devote their whole 'undying' existence to their research, truly a timeless, beneficial, and harmless method for enthusiastic researchers.
Especially those mages who are not powerful enough but still dream of eternal life, they are willing to become Lich to prolong their own lifespan. Such Liches don't possess exceptionally great power, so they have to be cautious, act discreetly, pretend to be alive, and maintain minimal contact with the outside world. However, emotional changes always have signs, their patron should also be infected with death energy, eventually revealing their true nature and being killed.
"Well..."
"Ahh-woo, ahh-woo, ahh-woo!" Titus, who had been listening to the story attentively, suddenly called out seriously and bit onto Sylas's sleeve, shaking his head.
Leunen covered her mouth solemnly and said, "I know what you want to ask. It's impossible. Your feelings for the archmage will disappear the moment you become a Lich. Don't expect her not to kill you. She's a person with a strong sense of morals." During this process, Titus kept making deep howling sounds and continued to bite his sleeve.
"Oh... I just don't want to..."
Only then did Titus let go of his mouth.
Leunen extended one eye and looked around, whispering, "Actually, I also support you going to school... It's just that you're my master, and I generally don't go against your wishes."
"Oh..." Sylas looked disappointed and dejected, her green eyes becoming deep and lifeless. Leunen felt at a loss and regretted telling the truth.
"N-No, please don't be like this! Listen to what I have to say..."
"Oh..."
Leunen rushed to explain, "Look! The archmage wants you to become an independent wizard. That means you need to learn these things out of your own interest, not just for the archmage's sake. Actually, the archmage doesn't require you to do this..."
"Is that so... she actually... doesn't need it..."
She couldn't judge these things well on her own. Leunen, who is a knowledgeable water lord, has had many contractors in the past, and listening to its advice is usually helpful.
"No, no, please don't misunderstand! I'm not saying... I'm not saying the archmage doesn't need you to study hard for her. I'm just saying... privately, I think she hopes you can find joy in absorbing knowledge just like she does. She really wants you to become that kind of person, and that's why she always emphasizes your 'talent'."
Sylas reluctantly forced a smile, "I don't mean to blame you at all, you're a good friend."
Despite being praised like that, Leunen couldn't be happy at all because Sylas's expression still looked sad, as if she was about to cry.
"I understand what you mean..." Sylas sadly hugged Titus tightly, who made gentle cooing sounds. "Although all of these... are interesting, you know, the elements, their combinations, their stories. But... without Xerath rewarding us ahead, I feel completely unmotivated... It's not good, I know..."
"Um... not everyone can genuinely find infinite pleasure in pure exploration, just like the archmage."
"But wouldn't that mean losing the qualification to be favored by her?" Sylas raised her head and looked at it with concern. "I don't want her to know. She'll probably think that only those who genuinely love to explore and research deserve her attention..."
She knew many people like that, except Sylas.
"You can't say that," the water lord leaned closer to her, "First of all, you have no interest at all. I heard human offspring are like that, most of them require strict upbringing to eliminate many intolerable habits in their childhood and develop many beneficial hobbies. Then, they can become a person who complies with elite rules when they grow up. Maybe you will develop interest in certain things after you become an adult? The archmage's guidance to you serves this purpose. Besides, any effort requires rewards, perhaps the archmage's rewards are just unknown to us. Maybe she also needs validation from others, just like you need her validation. This is definitely not evidence that you have 'no talent'."
It slithered like a flattering snake, its features propped up by a stream of water drawn from its body, winding its way towards Sylas. "You should go to school, that way the archmage can nurture you and you'll have a sense of accomplishment."
"Me?"
"The more you know, the more the archmage will be inclined to communicate with you. I guess that's also one of her sources of accomplishment."
It amused Sylas, "Is this one of your conclusions from observing humans in the mortal realm?"
"Of course." The water lord's features snapped back with a "pop" and slapped against its face, causing ripples that deformed them for a moment.
