Chương 59: Prospect of A Concerned Meeting

An Incarnation is an expression of power. When one looks at them from that angle, everything else really falls into place. Oh, and there's one other thing. There can only be one Incarnation for any single concept. Some assume that the manifestation of that concept is its Incarnation, but that's not really the case.

Others believe that Incarnations are divine, that they are unto gods and demigods, worthy of worship and usually existing in a plane higher than what most mortals can perceive, much less comprehend accurately. But that isn't fully accurate either. The thing with Incarnations is that each one operates by its own rules, empowered by magic that goes beyond both the capability and the comprehension of the vast majority of mages.

Treating one much the same as another may end up being ruinous, if one is fortunate enough to actually meet one in their lives. Postulations on Incarnations, Chapter 2 Serias J. Ryland returned to Arcoryx pretty quickly after dealing with the Order mage. There were a few things he needed to see to before he could allow himself to return to the academy. First, Ryland ensured that Viren and Acrypha were safe. He had brought Tallow, and the orange tabby leaped into Viren's arms as soon as they met.

It was nice to see them cuddle.

"Where is Acrypha?" Ryland asked.

"She just went off to talk with her folks," Viren said quickly as he heard the note of concern in Ryland's voice.

"She's fine. In fact, she's better than fine." What followed was a brief blow-by-blow replay of the battle after the Excursion Club had gotten embroiled in the mess. It turned out Acrypha was already an amazingly accomplished mage. Silver-ranked, despite being a first-year academy student. Ryland wasn't surprised. But it once again made him wonder what kind of life she had led. Viren went on to expound on the battle from his point of view.

He got excited at several parts, especially when he explained how he had combined his magic with others. But for how fiery he seemed, a slow disappointment threaded through and took over before long.

"It was kind of humbling," Viren said. He was gently brushing the bright orange fur on top of his cat's head.

"Look at all this destruction, sir. I should have… I have so much farther to go." After the end of the Incursion, the Excursion Club had been granted a small reprieve. The rest of the academy was stepping up now that the threat was gone, so members of the Excursion Club could take it easy and recover from the ordeal of the battle. It was why Ryland and Viren were able to meet, slowly walking past the mounds of debris the Living Mana had left behind.

"Yet, you have good reasons to be satisfied," Ryland said. Viren flushed a little.

"Yes, sir. I actually got to participate this time." This time… which meant it was unlike last time… which was back on the train where Ryland had single-handedly wiped out the Incursion with a single spell. It seemed his forbearance had more benefits than he had at first assumed it would. If nothing else, the smile that cut through Viren's seeming despondence was more than worth it all on its own. Something to deliberate on, perhaps, the next time he found the urge to act.

"And now you're looking very satisfied too, sir," Viren said as they walked past a makeshift field hospital. Healer Mages had set up triages to tend to injuries both big and small.

"Makes sense since you were the one to end the Incursion." Ryland's nose wrinkled at the strong antiseptic smell in the area.

"How did you find out it was me?"

"Well, who else was it supposed to be?"

"Hmm. I'm not quite certain. I was merely using a single Tier [30] spell." Viren gawked at him, then forcefully wrenched his head around to watch where he was walking. With how much debris was strewn everywhere, it would be dangerous to not watch where they were stepping foot.

"Sir… for most people, Tiers don't go beyond [20]."

"…I see." There was a slightly awkward silence afterwards as they both tried to digest the other's implication. Ryland was quite certain the Grand Frame had been correctly identifying his magic's rank. He hadn't noted any discrepancies. Did Viren simply mean almost no one was capable of magic beyond Tier [20]? He supposed he had heard the Grand Frame did cap mages' potential… He decided he'd poke around some time later.

"Take heart, Viren," Ryland said.

"In the fact that you're progressing well." Viren seemed dubious.

"Am I really, sir?"

"Yes. I certainly wasn't as driven as you at your age."

"No way. I refuse to believe that, sir. How else did you become so, well, you?" Ryland decided against taking offence at that characterization.

"Well, I wasn't driven to learn more powerful spells and construct stronger Glyphs for the sake of it."

"I'm not working hard just to grow strong, sir!"

"I know." Ryland smiled gently at Viren.

"Your motivations are noble, if rather lofty. What I mean to say is that I was driven to use magic in a very specific area for a very specific purpose. It was only after I gained access to the boundlessness of the Realms that I truly started being fascinated at everything I could learn, at how far I could push my magic." If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Viren seemed to be hanging on his every word, which made Ryland feel a tiny bit self-conscious. It wasn't a feeling he was used to. Normally, Ryland could simply shrug off the thoughts and glances of others. Yet here… Though, come to think of it, when was the last time he had actually talked about his past with someone so openly? Well, he had. Often. But they had been regurgitated out in an effort to dispense the most information in the least amount of time, all so he and those present could be on the same page.

"So, you're saying there's a possibility I could—" Whatever Viren had been about to say, he quickly paused and amended himself.

"That I could grow strong enough to stop Fate too?"

"Naturally, if you set your heart to it. Which you have, from everything I've seen so far." Viren's satisfied smile returned.

"I'll keep at it, sir. I don't know how long it will take, but I'm not going to stop."

"That's the spirit." Arcoryx, both city and academy, was in full recovery mode. While the academy had gone through the whole incident without a single real scratch, the academy mages were still involved greatly with all the reconstruction and other after-battle efforts. Now was when all the students were encouraged to participate in using their magic practically.

There were several working with culinary Glyphs, dozens upon dozens using both basic and complicated Glyphs to help clear the debris and open up space for reconstruction efforts, while yet another contingent of students carried out healing duties. Others were getting a live internship with the Warden Mages recasting the city's barrier Inscriptions torn down by Living Mana. Two Academs were present to help the students learn. Just a few of the many, many areas academy students were assisting in.

Ryland was thinking about whether he ought to assist, but a stern message had him thinking otherwise. He had returned to his office, having decided to check up on Heldon, only to find that the man was still sleeping. He hadn't even noticed that a Primordial-ranked Living Mana Incursion had shattered the city's defences and threatened to destroy it all. Ryland genuinely wondered what Heldon would do if the academy was ever in any serious trouble. Surely the man didn't intend to die in his sleep.

Unfortunately, straight up asking Heldon didn't produce a proper answer. Ryland just got an indecipherable sleepy murmur in reply, like the High Academ was mumbling in his sleep. It was around that time Castigor paid a visit. The Fatehound appeared, having already visited Alaric earlier because Ryland himself had been busy, and relayed a very clear message. The fate of the thief and the stolen Vestige had changed. Specifically, they had used the cover of the Living Mana Incursion to disappear.

That implied a whole host of things, some of which weren't exactly easily palatable. For one, Alaric would no doubt wish to convene with Ryland about it sooner rather than later, so he mentally prepared for that eventual meeting. The more important implication was the possibility that the thief was likely involved with the academy. Possibly an Academ, even. Ryland wondered if— hoped that—Alaric was already tracking the movement and locations of all the professors of Arcoryx Academy.

How else would they have remained within the academy undetected without arousing suspicion? But what Ryland was the most intrigued and concerned by was the fact that his Fatehound had only been able to detect the thief after their motion. Everything about the Vestige and its thief was powerfully obscured, and only their sudden motion had given Castigor the briefest of glimpses as to where they might be. And even then, the Fatehound had only sensed the change in Fate, not what it had changed into.

Either the thief or whoever was aiding and abetting them was capable of tremendously potent magic. Magic that could stop even the powers of a Primordial-ranked Fatehound. Even more reason to suspect the hand of the Flourinus Order in the matter. Having discovered Valorous's meddling, he was now certain this whole theft was their doing. I'll still win, Valorous had screamed, even as he had been destroyed.

"I understand the thief may have fled in any arbitrary direction," Ryland told Castigor.

"But would you be able to keep an eye out regardless? There may be more ripples in Fate that you might be able to track."

"Pursuit—nigh impossible," the Fatehound said morosely, its star-strewn fur glinting dimly.

"But recalculation—possible. Detection requirement—limited omnipresence. Omnipresence fallout—reduction in fate sense."

"I see. So you'll only be able to sense in a wider area by sacrificing the specificity of your detection. Hmm. Might still be worth a try." Castigor obeyed and disappeared. Ryland didn't have much to go off of, besides looking into the Order, so he let the matter rest until more information came to light. Taking the Vestige out of Arcoryx City at least suggested whatever nefariousness was afoot wasn't aimed at the city, unless it was a distraction. No.

No, he'd twist his mind into knots if he started considering all the possibilities without further evidence to go off of. So instead, he tried to distract himself with lesson plans. While the academy was officially closed for the time being thanks to the Incursion, classes would resume soon. Ryland planned to create a lesson to enhance the semester-long goal he had set his students. The real distraction arrived in the form of Alaric.

"Greetings, Headmaster," Ryland said.

"It must be something quite urgent if you of all people are visiting me at a time like this." Alaric looked like he was trying to be extremely inconspicuous, wearing a large cloak and hiding his beard inside it too. Frankly, he looked a mite ridiculous, but Alaric was insistent that frankness wasn't always appropriate. Hmm. Was this a test?

"It is," Alaric said. He scowled a little.

"Surely, you've guessed what this is about, though?"

"Indeed. It's about how I saved Arcoryx City." Alaric's eyes sharpened.

"It's about how you eradicated a Primordial-ranked Living Mana Incursion by yourself." Ryland had figured his little magical display would garner a decent amount of attention, a lot of which wouldn't be positive. The only reason he hadn't been targeted directly just yet was because he had saved Arcoryx City, regardless of how even Alaric might want to impress that it wasn't the point.

"I hope I don't have to prove I don't bear anyone any ill will," Ryland said. Alaric sighed.

"It would help if you didn't treat this mildly. To you, this is merely another weekday. To the rest of us… We just witnessed magic the likes of which the very best of us could perhaps only approximate weakly by combining our myriad powers. You can understand how that would be concerning." Ryland didn't contest the point.

"I will need to prove I don't bear anyone any ill will, won't I?"

"We are trying to keep things subtle—""We." Alaric had the grace to look a little apologetic.

"After your little display, I had to at least admit to your existence. But I was merely confirming suspicions most of those concerned were already harbouring. My point is that none of us want things to go into an upheaval. Both for your benefit, Ryland, and for that of Arcoryx Academy and even Androvia itself."

"Really? All of Androvia?"

"Yes, of course! Think about it from the perspective of the other Realms, of the nations inhabiting every world. A source of inconceivable power suddenly enters and settles in one Realm. How do you think the leaders of every other Realm will react?"

"With…" Ryland sighed.

"With concern and consternation."

"One of the core tenets of the Accords was the promise that no nation in any of the Accorded Realms would bolster their might in such a way that could be interpreted as an act of aggression. You can see how your presence violates that from certain perspectives, yes?" Ryland could indeed see it.

Even if other Accorded Realms and their nations didn't outright accuse Androvia of gathering far too much magical power, they could still use his presence as an excuse to try gathering their own sources of overwhelming might. It could start a magical arms race, much like what had happened before the Realmbreaker Wars broke out.

"I imagine you've come here with a remedy in mind," Ryland said. Alaric looked concerned for a second before his eyes grew resolute and determined, almost daring a challenge from Ryland.

"We will be holding a meeting. Nothing extravagant, as I keep saying. But one where the leaders and dignitaries of Arcoryx, Androvia, and the Realms at large can be reassured that Marionys Ryland isn't a threat."