CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57 - THE WIZARDS

Morena leaned back on the couch, her cup now empty, the taste of bitter tea lingering. She shifted the display forward with a thought.

"Show me the last section."

[Section: Wizard Lore]

Corin’s writings about this section were less structured. Rather than just one note, it was multiple smaller notes riddled in-between other things, fragments of conversations scrawled alongside tavern prices, half-legible symbols jotted down between travel logs.

But even through the mess, the AI compiled enough to sort them into something coherent.

Each one was interesting to her, not because they were completely true, but because they gave her something to work with. Plus, the information itself left her wondering a lot.

Corin noted that Wizards were not outlawed in the Empire like they were in the Kingdom. In fact, the Empire held them in regard, but even there, sightings were rare. Most citizens never saw one in their lifetime, because Wizards rarely lived on the continent itself.

This piece of information interested her the most, and it also explained a lot. Previously, she had wondered why Wizards were never seen before; if they were as powerful as described, then it would be hard to miss them.

But from what Corin wrote, it seemed almost all the Wizards, at least proper ones, left the continent and lived in another area, with the reason being pretty obvious.

The reason was clear: the elemental energy across the land was too thin. It could sustain warriors, who used crude refinement through their flesh, but for Wizards, it was little more than scraps.

The place they had vanished to was the most unbelievable and fantastical part.

Corin wrote that most Wizards retreated into what he called sub-realms. Pocket spaces, artificial or ancient, cut into the world itself. He described them as fragments of reality where the laws of reality still held true, but each was twisted in a different way.

For the most part, he believed that elemental energy flowed thicker, closer to the way it once was in the past.

Not true worlds, but not illusions either.

He wrote of rumors that some sub-realms burned with eternal flame, others carried forests where the trees were older than history. One was said to have a sky locked in perpetual twilight.

He sought ways to enter them or even find them, but his notes admitted failure. His notes didn’t mention what was specifically required, but it was almost impossible to find one without a proper Wizard guiding you, and he had no such thing.

Even coming across information about them was a stroke of luck; he couldn’t wish for anything more.

Beyond that, he did mention that not all Wizards lived in these sub-realms. Some didn’t, in fact, some chose to wander the lands, albeit they were scarce and often weak.

These Wizards were referred to as Wild Wizards by the man.

Most were without backing or support, forced to scavenge scraps of knowledge. He described them as dangerous, not because of their strength, but because of their instability.

"The best way to gather information may be to find one of them, but they do seem dangerous."

Morena was tempted to find one of these Wild Wizards in order to gather information; however, doing so wasn’t very practical or safe. Not only had Corin never stumbled across one before, but he also warned that all rumors of them depicted them as dangerous.

Morena let the display fade and slowly released a drawn-out sigh. She rubbed her fingers together, thoughtful.

The information was very useful.

No, calling it just useful was an understatement. It basically covered a bunch of her minor questions and curiosities she had, it filled that aching longing for answers she had since speaking to Corin in the tavern.

About why Wizards were rare here, why the church could demonize them so easily. They were simply not seen. Out of sight, out of reach, and buried under stories of heresy.

But they existed. They lived in sub-realms, in the Empire, and who knows where else.

Her lips pressed thin.

If she could not find a meditation method here, perhaps she would have to look elsewhere. And that meant surviving long enough to reach those places.

She straightened, her hand brushing the carved letters hidden beneath her skin.

That was enough time spent going over information; she needed to now put that information to use and try the various ideas that came to mind while reading it all.

"AI. Show me Corin’s trick outlines again. Draft. Ember. Pin. Run simulations on stability. Project adjustments."

[Running simulations...]

Symbols and diagrams filled her sight. Angles adjusted, curves bent sharper, ratios stretched or tightened. It took a few minutes, but the AI had run countless simulations.

It had done in minutes what had taken Corin countless years.

[Draft - Adjusting outer curve by 3° increases stability. Projection: gust stronger, more consistent. Risk: cold numbness in palm within 20 seconds.]

[Ember - Alter breathing ratio from 7/5 to 5/5 during use. Projection: spark consistency increased by 12%. Risk: higher chance of blister.]

[Pin - Reinforcing loop with secondary half-curve. Projection: hold extended by 40%. Risk: backlash strain rises in the wrist.]

Morena narrowed her eyes.

"Run simulations on using them together, show me possible combinations."

[Draft + Ember: Conflict. Heat destabilizes wind seam. Not recommended.]

[Draft + Pin: Usable. Projection: brief tether of airflow. Risk: severe muscle twitch if prolonged.]

[Ember + Pin: Low synergy. Results weak.]

She sat forward, pen scratching in her notebook. The tricks were crude, but the laws beneath them were sound. If he had come this far with only scraps, then with AI and her own mind, she could push further.

"Next. Simulate refinement of elemental energy into mana using any method we can deduce from current database. Can it be forced?"

[Simulation: Possible. Success rate: 9%. Risks: cognitive strain, migraine, collapse.]

[Warning: Without full meditation method, attempt is highly unstable. Long-term sustainability: near zero.]

Her brow furrowed.

So it could not be done—not properly, not yet. But even 9% was not nothing.

She closed the displays and leaned back into the couch.

’Even if I can’t form a matrix, I can still build a foundation. Tricks today, methods tomorrow. I only need to live long enough to reach them.’