Exploring Technology in a Wizard World

The Old Wizard was utterly confounded.

The person standing before him was his most prideful student, who, after studying with him for many years and going out into the world, returned only to unleash a catastrophic attack upon him.

He couldn't understand how the other had suddenly acquired such immense power, nor could he understand why they would do such a thing.

Facing the Old Wizard's confusion, the green-haired youth spoke, "My dear teacher, in truth, I haven't betrayed you. The reason I struck you was merely to save you. Yes, to save you. Do you know, your research is mistaken, and you have embarked on a path that will never succeed, sinking deeper and deeper.

As your student, I couldn't watch you continue to err, so I could only endure the pain of killing you, to end all of this myself. If, after death, your soul still exists, someday, you will understand my earnest intentions."

The Old Wizard's eyes bulged, refusing to believe the green-haired youth's mad ravings, and he roared, "Damn it, Raymond, what on earth have you learned out there in these years! What gives you the right to say my research is wrong?"

"I indeed have no right to say your research is wrong. But what's wrong is wrong, and it won't become right," the green-haired youth calmly said. "My dear teacher, the reason you can't see through all of this is merely because your vision is too shortsighted.

If you could stand high enough, breaking through the limits of the era to see, you'd know how ridiculous and deformed your research is. Continuing this way, it won't just harm you but everyone else as well. The truth lies in my hands, trust me, what I'm doing is helping you."

"Truth? Cough, cough, cough!" The Old Wizard started to cough violently, followed by a scoff, "Ha, if you truly grasped the truth, you would understand what my research means! It's the gateway to an entirely new field, the door to a new world. And if you don't understand, that just proves that what you have grasped is not the truth at all!"

"Truth can't be wrong!" the green-haired youth said sternly, "and it allows no questioning!"

"Something that can't be wrong, that doesn't allow questioning, isn't the truth at all—it's fallacious!" the Old Wizard said.

"Enough!" the green-haired youth was somewhat angry, looking at the Old Wizard, "Teacher, you are old and don't understand what's really going on in the world, only viewing everything with your old perspectives. And you've got one of the many problems old people have—that is you talk too much. So, I shall send you on your way. Don't blame me, as the saying goes, I love my teacher, but I love the truth even more."

With those words, the green-haired youth suddenly clenched his fist.

"Crack!"

Suddenly, the wooden chair the Old Wizard was slumping in rapidly deformed, one of the armrests standing upright, splitting at the end to form the shape of a hand, which "pffff" pierced into the Old Wizard's chest, wrenching out a beating heart and ruthlessly squeezing it.

"Bang!"

With a shattered heart, the Old Wizard's body jerked, then remained motionless in the wooden chair.

"Hmph!"

The green-haired youth let out a cold snort and then turned to look towards the metal cabinet against the wall of the room.

Walking up to the cabinet, he opened the door to see it filled with a great number of scrolls.

The green-haired youth knew the content of the scrolls was wrong and dangerous, such as some attempts to restore Ancient Space Magic, some experiments with Summoning Magic.

According to the truth he held, ignorant tests of Space Magic could produce spatial rifts. Unrestricted experiments with Summoning Magic might summon not battle companions but Demons, Devils, Evil Gods, or even something more dreadful.

This behavior had to be stopped!

"Whew—"

The green-haired youth took a deep breath, reached towards the scrolls and flames erupted, burning away everything.

After finishing, the green-haired youth nodded with satisfaction and turned to leave, heading quickly in a certain direction into the night, the Black Iron Ring on his finger flashing with a cold luster.

...

Several hours later, the night remained much the same, and the green-haired youth appeared in another Stone Tower far away.

In the great hall of the Stone Tower, a Wizard clad in a Golden Robe looked excitedly at the green-haired youth and asked, "Mr. Raymond, that item, did you... bring it?"

"Of course, Master Erondo," said the green-haired Raymond as he took out a scroll from his bosom and handed it to the Golden Robe Wizard.

The Golden Robe Wizard took the scroll, unfolded it quickly, skimmed over it, and his face turned flush with excitement. He could not contain himself and exclaimed, "It's really... it really is Time Magic! I've been researching it, but I never imagined it truly existed."

"Master Erondo, try to contain your excitement. This is merely a fragment of Time Magic, found and pieced together from Ancient Wizard ruins; it is far from the complete Time Magic," Raymond said calmly, without much emotion.

Pausing for a moment, Raymond continued, "In fact, even if this Spell were fully restored, it would not produce any astounding effects. Because this Spell is not any of the legendary Spells, such as reversing time, halting all things, duplicating time, or the Time Teleportation Technique. According to some of our research, this Spell should be called Time Vault."

"Time Vault?"

"Yes, Time Vault. And the thing placed inside the Vault isn't anything else but the Spellcaster's body. The complete Time Vault Spell can perfectly record the Spellcaster's physical state at a specified time. Later on, if the Spellcaster suffers severe, irreparable damage, they can activate this Spell and restore their body to the recorded state."

"Time Vault?" The Golden Robe Wizard called Erondo, upon hearing Raymond's words, seemed stunned for a moment, then continued excitedly, "Well then, Time Vault, let it be Time Vault! I admit, compared to the legendary Time Teleportation Technique—which can transport a person to a specified time in the river of time to stay for a while before transporting back—it is much weaker, but indisputably, it is still a genuine Time Magic Class Spell!

The Spells of the Time Class have, for unknown reasons, been lost too much throughout their long inheritance. Therefore, any Spell of the Space Type is incredibly precious. If I can luckily restore this Spell and assure its safe Casting, it would be of significant consequence. Perhaps, we can even bring back the glory days of the Ancient Wizard Civilization!"

"Well then." Raymond said, smiling, "Actually, bringing back the glory days of the Ancient Wizard Civilization is indeed the goal of our organization—a minor goal. Our ultimate purpose is to explore, pursue, and guard the truth. I have delivered the item, Master Erondo; I will not disturb you further as I have other tasks assigned by the organization and must take my leave."

"Alright, I will see you out." The Wizard known as Erondo nodded and personally escorted Raymond out the door.

The moment they stepped out, both of their expressions turned somber.

"Truth Society, eternal!" Raymond turned to look at Erondo, lightly punched his chest, and declared solemnly.

"Truth Society, eternal!" The Golden Robe Wizard Erondo, watching Raymond, did the same gesture and repeated the phrase.

Raymond nodded, turned, and departed.

Golden Robe Wizard Erondo watched as Raymond vanished into the night, pursed his lips, stood motionless for a long time, lost in thought. He then turned to reenter the Stone Tower and went upstairs to study the newly acquired scroll.

Whatever the case, the knowledge recorded in the scroll was indeed priceless to him and worth exchanging everything.

Time Magic, ah!

The Magic of changing time!

The very thought was thrilling!

The lights in the Stone Tower remained on all night, and the Golden Robe Wizard Erondo did not sleep a wink.

...