Chapter 83: Arcane Hermitage (II)
The Duchy of Bosk, Stravburg.
A door suddenly appeared at the corner of the City Wall—visible only to those who knew how to look. To the untrained eye, it was nothing more than a ripple in the air. This was the Talafelan Luo Mansion Spell, a masterfully crafted Seventh Circle enchantment. The portal led to a luxurious estate in an alternate dimension, existing as long as the spell endured.
Any regional organizer of the Arcane Hermitage, granted authorization by the legendary mage, could obtain the Ring of the Sage, allowing them to cast this spell periodically and thus host gatherings of the secretive society.
"Is this it…?"
Moments later, a man in a long robe and wearing a breast badge stepped into view. The badge pulsed faintly with arcane radiance, and with a single motion, he stepped through the invisible door—vanishing without a trace.
One by one, others arrived. Men and women alike, draped in richly embroidered robes, their forms shimmering with the soft glow of arcane energy. Their status indicators—visible only to those attuned to magic—marked them clearly as spellcasters.
Inside the opulent hall, a construct resembling a human woman but moving with stiff, mechanical precision stood on a crimson carpet, recording each new arrival.
"Please provide a name—an identity codename for your presence within the Arcane Hermitage."
A tall, elegant noblewoman paused, considering. Then, with a soft sigh: "Hmm… I’ll go with Tulip."
"Welcome to the Arcane Hermitage, Lady Tulip."
"Seeker."
"Welcome to the Arcane Hermitage, Seeker."
"Gray Hair."
"Blue Eyes."
"Song of the Elf."
...
Within moments, over thirty individuals had gathered. Most were human nobles, but among them were elven aristocrats, half-elves, and even a few with faint traces of elemental bloodlines.
"Anzeta has this many spellcasters?"
"Unbelievable."
"No wonder the legend of the mage is so revered—this mansion spell is a work of art."
"Incredible."
"Where’s the organizer of this gathering?"
"Who knows? I’m just here because I was invited…"
"Ah… this must be it."
A dimensional gate shimmered into existence beside the city wall. Kai Xiusu and Lanpu—disguised as a steel construct—stepped through in tandem.
As Kai Xiusu crossed the threshold, his sharp, handsome features—black hair, golden eyes—immediately drew attention, especially from the women present.
The noblewoman known as Tulip turned to her companion, whispering with a smirk:
"Such a captivating man. Only someone like him could truly be worthy of me—certainly not some bloated noble with nothing but wine and idle talk."
"And besides… he carries a far more noble bloodline."
"Delighted to make your acquaintance," she said, stepping forward with a graceful curtsey.
Kai Xiusu smiled warmly in return.
"Good day, fair lady."
A mage in the back muttered under his breath:
"More of these sorcerers. Masters of supernatural charisma—charming fools who can manipulate the Weave of Magic like children playing with fire. Barbarians among spellcasters."
"Yes, they’ll never understand the true nature of magic. They’ll never grasp how the Weave truly works."
"They just twist it, play with it—like toys."
Some attention also turned to the figure behind Kai Xiusu—the steel construct.
"What is that servant behind him?"
"Probably a Steel Construct."
"Steel Construct?"
"I heard the southern realm of Fedran’s imperial palace houses such things. Crafted from refined metals, fused with a rare tincture and alchemical paste—nigh indestructible."
"A construct of that size… must cost a fortune."
"Damn, what a lucky bastard."
Hearing the murmurs, Tulip frowned slightly, then spoke with deliberate tone:
"Surely, with your status, you wouldn’t care for such petty jealousy."
Kai Xiusu chuckled.
"Getting used to envy is a rite of passage for every natural talent."
"Isn’t that right, Lady Tulip?"
He saw through her immediately—she was a sorcerer, yes, but weak. Her status panel displayed only level 2. Likely capable of only minor cantrips.
"Of course," she replied with a bright, pleased smile. Clearly, she was delighted.
Yet, given Anzeta’s remote, impoverished northern location and sparse population, Kai Xiusu scanned the crowd. He found no true professional spellcasters—only noble heirs dabbling in magic. The strongest among them, a man known as Black Hawk, stood at level 8 in his mage class—roughly on par with Lanpu’s current strength.
"You haven’t registered your codename yet," said the noblewoman, gesturing toward the hall. "Allow me to guide you."
"Of course, thank you."
She led Kai Xiusu to the front of the grand chamber.
The humanoid construct, as always, repeated its question:
"Please provide a name—an identity codename for your presence within the Arcane Hermitage."
Kai Xiusu paused, considering.
"I’ll go with Ember."
"Welcome to the Arcane Hermitage, Ember."
The construct’s voice remained cold, mechanical.
Originally created as a playful toy in Talafelan Luo’s youth, the construct was nicknamed the Steel Maiden—a name born from its uncanny resemblance to a human woman and its stiff, lifeless movements. Though it could have been refined further, the legendary archmage had grown fond of it and declared the design complete.
Though a casual creation, it was far from trivial—it contained mechanisms capable of casting fourth-level spells, making it a rare and valuable artifact.
The vast, lavishly decorated hall featured a massive round table, around which the assembled spellcasters sat. The ceiling was an ornate dome, its surface painted with murals depicting legendary arcane marvels—each one a source of awe and wonder.
"Now that all have arrived…"
"Let the gathering begin."
A clear, elegant voice echoed through the chamber.
All eyes turned toward the source.
A young woman, perhaps in her twenties, stood at the head of the table. Her form-fitting gown accentuated her graceful figure, its fabric embroidered with shimmering scales that glimmered like scattered stardust. Her silver-white hair cascaded down her back in long, soft waves. Beneath delicate, slightly curled lashes, her eyes—clear and bright, a blend of blue and gray—held both warmth and a quiet, unshakable pride.
As the guests admired her beauty, Kai Xiusu froze, his mind racing.
"…It’s her."
Silver Star - Olivia. A young silver dragon mage. He never expected to find her among the organizers of the Arcane Hermitage.
She was no stranger to legend. Her clan, the Mervold, had played a pivotal role in Anzeta’s resistance against the Demon Cataclysm. It was said that an ancient silver dragon elder, long since ascended to the stage of an Ancient Dragon, still slept within their hidden sanctum—unwilling to stir from slumber, yet ever watchful.
> [Silver Star - Olivia (Human Form)]
> Class Level: 11 Mage
Eleven levels…
It wasn’t a towering figure on paper, but in the context of the kingdom, it was a master-tier achievement. Capable of casting sixth-level spells—far beyond the reach of most players, whose limits usually ended at fifth or sixth.
In a realm like Anzeta, a remote magical wasteland, an eleven-level mage was already considered a Grand Mage.
(End of Chapter)
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