804 Lets Take What We Need (2/2)
”As far as I know, it's only been a dozen years since Evans began to study magic. Well, he did not become an official sorcerer until the year when the former Ice Duke died,” the current Ice Duke added. In the old man's shock, he observed, ”Now is not the ancient times, when the big shots could hide for decades but still retain the ability to change the situation. Today, whoever lives in seclusion and does not pay attention to the development of arcana, he'll be completely outdated in ten years. Instead of being a mastermind or a key force, he will be crushed by the wheel of time.”
He seemed to be mocking the old man for his confusion after living in isolation for thirty years.
”A dozen years…” The old man could not express anything with language now. What could be achieved in a dozen years? After he began to learn magic, it took him a dozen years to become a fifth-circle sorcerer.
Confirming the information that Lucien did not cover with his crystal ball again, the old man heaved a long sigh. ”The very existence of you has suggested the terrifying development of arcana in the past decades.”
After his remark, his eyes suddenly turned passionate, and he stared at Lucien. ”Just now, you mentioned that the Congress of Magic almost made a breakthrough on the studies of the soul, didn't you?”
”Theoretically, yes.” Lucien did not understand why the Ice Duke was helping him to convince the old man, so he was rather prudent. ”Mister, what's your opinion on the nature of the soul? For example, if a soul loses the past memories and can never regain them, and it does not have the way of thinking and the personality before, with the waves and vibe of its spiritual power changed too, can we still say that this soul is identical to the soul in the past?”
”Well…” The old man hesitated. He had considered the question before. His wife next to him was a vivid but not extreme case. His special mark had prevented the soul waves from changing.
It was both a philosophical question and one that touched the nature of the soul. Obviously, it was not easy to answer. After a long time, the old man finally replied, ”I don't think so. After the five main features of the soul are changed, it will be a new soul.”
”Then, if we give the soul memories of the past, raise the previous way of thinking and personality, and forever change its spiritual power and vibe with magic, will it become the previous soul? Is the soul natural-born and above society, or is it social and can be artificially 'raised'?” Lucien proposed a sharp question. ”A different case. If another soul is melted with this soul and inherits its memories, thinking, personality, and wave frequencies while retaining its previous memories, will it equal to the current soul?
”For example, if Duke Memphiste occupies your wife's soul and simulates her memories and other features, will he be equal to your wife? What's the most fundamental quality of the soul?”
Looking at his ”wife” next to him, the old man looked gloomy and could hardly give an answer. The Ice Duke intentionally enlivened the atmosphere. ”As a matter of fact, the most fundamental quality of a soul for me is the devilish core.”
”I wonder, what's your opinion on the question, Mr. Evans?” The old man looked at Lucien both earnestly and expectantly.
Thinking for a moment, Lucien said, ”I have been to the World of Souls, where I saw the Furnace of Souls.”
”The World of Souls? The Furnace of Souls?” The old man further felt that he had been abandoned by the passing of time.
Lucien briefly introduced the World of Souls and the Furnace of Souls, and instead of telling his central studies, he said more abstractly, ”I believe that the soul should have a quality that is of a higher level and more fundamental. It is deeply associated with the Furnace of Souls. As for the specific conditions, I'm afraid that I can only discuss with the arcanists with papers after I return from the primeval hell.”
Looking at the Fire Liquor before him in silence, the old man did not say anything until a long time later. ”I have some studies about the soul myself. I would like to exchange our works.”
As expected of a legendary sorcerer. He knows what I am implying clearly. Lucien smiled in satisfaction and had a fair and square exchange with the old man with his current understanding about the soul, excluding the parts that involved other arcana knowledge and a certain model that was to be confirmed on this trip.
The old man's files on the soul were very detailed, including his works on the soul and two legendary spells about the soul. Some of the experiments were too cruel for Lucien to complete himself. He had been looking for other ways to confirm the results until he got the information here. Also, the old man provided his knowledge about the primeval relics in the depths of hell, which added to Lucien's confidence.
The old man also thought hard as he read the files that Lucien provided. He rubbed his forehead nonstop, as if it disrupted something that he always believed in. He said to himself, ”… In such a case, resurrection, phylactery, and the effect of the Sword of Truth can all be explained self-consistently…”
Next to him, the Ice Duke put on a solemn expression as he looked at Lucien and said, ”I'm here today to ask for your favor, Lucien. I'll provide more detailed files about the primeval hell.”
Crossing his hands, Lucien did not give a reply immediately. Was it his attitude, or the Lord of Hell's?