CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 61: HOPE

What is the biggest problem in Wildfire Town?

Andrew has just come to understand it now.

It’s not the frequent fires.

It’s not people like Raymond, Lisa, or Brian who treat others as less than human.

It’s not the powerful magic apprentices like Pete, Sally, or Cook.

It’s not even the old magician Hubert, whom I always thought was the biggest problem.

It turns out it’s none of those.

It’s fear.

It’s the fear the townspeople have towards the flames, towards the Magic Guild. Fear that has rendered them even without the thought or will to resist, only the desire to survive. As if their hearts were entangled, wrapped under a blanket of "Shadow Erosion Fire," constantly corroding their spirit and will.

This is the true invisible "fire" enveloping every corner of Wildfire Town!

"Then let’s extinguish it."

Andrew almost immediately decided, "Extinguish the real ’fire’ of Wildfire Town—this is the first major thing I have to do now that I’m taking over Wildfire Town."

Otherwise, it feels like I could never really take control of Wildfire Town and turn it into my first base of advancement in this Flame Realm.

As long as the townspeople’s fear remains, even if the old magician dies, it’s as if he’s still alive!

"As for the method to extinguish this fire of fear..."

Andrew knows that merely soothing with the "Water Spirit Technique" is not enough.

It requires "Enlightenment."

"Are you sure? Unlock the ’Enlightenment Series’?"

The pleasant female voice reminded, "Honestly, there’s a risk of revealing your Water Attribute. Are you really sure you want to unlock it, Andrew?"

"I’m sure, unlock it!"

Andrew nodded.

Some things must be done, even with the risk of exposure.

Andrew hated seeing a united, kind crowd, splitting into two arguing factions after he killed Hubert, only because of fear.

He really hates it.

As for revealing attributes... as long as I’m against the Magic Guild, exposure is just a matter of time, it will happen someday.

So there’s no need to hesitate in fear of exposure.

"Alright then."

As if sensing Andrew’s resolve, the female voice sighed lightly, "Confirm unlocking: Enlightenment Series.

But Andrew, you need to be mentally prepared. The ’Enlightenment Series’ is unique, there’s only one magic in this series, also called ’Enlightenment.’ Enlightenment Series’ Enlightenment.

Unlocking ’Enlightenment’ requires almost no Fire Extinguishing Value, not because it’s too simple (like Water Ball Technique), but because... it’s too difficult."

Enlightenment is a very difficult Water Element Magic Series.

Its effects have nothing to do with extinguishing fear or soothing emotions.

Enlightenment is designed to inspire one’s own courage, confidence, hope, potential, professional talents, and positive energy... things inherent within an individual but possibly forgotten temporarily.

And once these things are inspired, the fire of fear enwrapping people’s hearts will naturally retreat!

After the flames retreat, the self will further awaken.

That’s the principle, but practically executing it is truly difficult.

Especially for a newly qualified Water Mage, it’s still too early and too difficult.

This was the female voice’s honest thought.

She didn’t believe Andrew could master "Enlightenment."

Yet as she thought this—

The rain imbued with the "Power of Enlightenment" began to fall.

"This..."

The female voice was dumbfounded.

This was the first time she showed a hint of surprise.

She suddenly remembered: during the previous battle, Andrew hadn’t yet awakened as an official Water Mage, but had already touched upon the threshold of "Enlightenment"—this peculiar sense of connection largely determined the outcome of the entire battle!

Unable to resist asking, "Andrew, how... how did you do it?"

"What do you mean, ’how did you do it’." Andrew was fully concentrating on casting, casually replied, "I think it’s quite simple."

Female voice: "..."

Although she had no physical body, merely a spirit and a will, at this moment she had an urge to cough blood.

Simple...

Simple, your sister. The female voice felt an unusual impulse to curse non-ladylike.

Do you even know what kind of existence Water Magic "Enlightenment" is?

Do you know that you yourself are actually the beneficiary of "Enlightenment"?

The Tear of the Water God... itself is a manifestation of "Enlightenment."

The female voice was not ignorant of what Andrew intended: it was essentially sharing mini-scale versions of the Tear of the Water God with everyone. Let everyone be like you, enhancing through fire extinguishment, become a better self in brave extinguishment. This should significantly increase the "Professional Awakening Probability" of everyone in Wildfire Town, there will be many future awakenings of Desert Hunters, Warm Fire Mages, Crimson Knights, and even Water Mages like you. That’s the magical effect of "Enlightenment," despite having only one magic, it possesses endless possibilities, thus warranting a standalone series classification.

But still, the same question: simple, seriously what the heck?! The female voice could hardly comprehend!

Of course, whether she understood or not, Andrew truly found it quite simple.

Though saying this might seem pretentious, it honestly felt as natural as eating and drinking.

You must know there exists a "compatibility" between Mages and the "Magic Series."

Andrew’s current feeling was that his compatibility with the "Enlightenment Series" almost rivals his compatibility with the "Fingertip Series"! If this compatibility were higher, could Enlightenment Series possibly replace Fingertip Series as his Lifebound Series?

Hoo hoo.

Magic Power surged within, quickly depleting.

Though simple, executing it still requires full dedication.

The small rain transformed by the Power of Enlightenment, though faint, deliberately under Andrew’s control, delicately covered every person in every corner of Wildfire Town.

Every single raindrop contained a "Seed of the Water Spirit," first soothing the townspeople’s emotions.

After the soothing, a silent "Enlightenment" followed!

——Resulting in the near miraculous scene of quarrelsome sides quickly quieting down after the rain fell, everyone displaying somewhat unusual expressions!

The townspeople, originally out of sorts because of fear, were stunned one by one.

Suddenly, their bodies and minds felt indescribably "transparent!"

Yes, transparent.

Hearts that were wrapped and under constant pressure suddenly felt much lighter.

It’s not saying those fear-inducing things disappeared.

But the internal response to these pressures and challenges seemed no longer as daunting!

——This is exactly what Andrew wants!

No more fear, that’s enough!

"Enlightenment isn’t a form of brainwashing, it’s not about people touched by this Rain of Enlightenment immediately rolling up their sleeves to enthusiastically follow me."

Andrew smiled faintly, "The essence of Enlightenment is reawakening the ’hope’ within people’s hearts."

The crowd present, along with Andrew, did not know that this night would be recorded in history years later.

Not due to Andrew’s awakening as a Water Mage happening this night.

Nor because he killed Hubert and subsequently replaced him, becoming the new Chief Mage of Wildfire Town, officially taking over the town.

But because of this rain.

This night was later known by people as: The Night of Enlightenment.

This night, the invisible fire of fear enveloping Wildfire Town struggled and screamed in the gentle rain but couldn’t change its fate of being gradually extinguished.

And from the extinguished flames, something named "hope" was born.

Volume 1 "Chief Mage of Wildfire Town" Final Chapter.