Chapter 173: The Grand Arcanists
Translator: Kris_Liu Editor: Vermillion

Seven days later, in the evening.

When Astar was listening to Lucien’s explanation of his understanding of the books that he read in the past week, Astar casually patted the cat, Mercedes, who looked rather relaxed and was making a low gentle grunt in her throat.

After Lucien finished his words, Astar elegantly applauded and nodded, “Good, very good, Evans. Within only seven days, you can already apply the principles to real life and draw the connections between the laws and some magic models. That’s impressive. I’ll give Brook Meditation to you, as I promised.”

After dinner, since Lucien and the rest of the apprentices were about to leave later tonight, Astar asked Lucien a couple of arcana questions, and Lucien’s perfect answers really impressed him.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Astar.” Lucien smiled.

He never tried to hide his talent, since once he arrived in Allyn he knew he would try his very best to improve.

A piece of paper and a quill jumped out in front of Astar and the quill started writing on its own. Astar was just sitting there with his fingers crossed. Very soon, the piece of paper was fully written and it moved on its own toward Lucien.

While Lucien was reading the paper, Astar explained, “Brook Meditation is developed based on the Theory of Psychic Wave, by the grand arcanist Mr. Brook, and is widely applied. Brook Meditation fits into the two meditation environments that you’re familiar with—Starry Sky of Destiny, which belongs to the school of Astrology, and the Four Elements, belonging to the school of Element. Currently, Brook Meditation can help you a lot with strengthening your soul and improving your spiritual power during your junior-rank period, but after that, you will have to switch again.”

The core idea of Brook Meditation was closely related to the concept of Psychic Wave. If it worked for Lucien, as how Astar and Felipe promoted it, he should be able to improve to a higher level within one or two months by starting to analyze and construct some second circle spells.

Lucien burned down the piece of paper and asked Astar sincerely, “Mr. Astar, since we’re leaving for Allyn tonight, I have some questions for you.”

“You want to know more about the congress, Evans?” Astar smiled.

“Yes, Mr. Astar. The unknown is always terrifying. As a sorcerer who’s going to become a new member of the congress, I’d like to know what’s the difference between an arcanist and a sorcerer, how many organizations are there in the congress, how many legendary sorcerers and grand arcanists are there in the congress?” asked Lucien eagerly.

He had been thinking about these questions for a long time.

Astar looked a bit surprised, “The sorcerer who introduced you here didn’t tell you anything?”

“Not really…” Lucien wondering whether Felipe could be viewed as his referrer.

“All right, since the president of the congress put forward the concept of arcana, the levels of arcana gradually took shape… from level one to nine. In order to move to a higher level, one needs to publish researches and get cited, create or improve spells, or create new potions to gain arcana credits.”

Lucien nodded to show that he was following.

“The congress is very strict about giving out the credits, and doing research is definitely not easy. Therefore, in most cases, a sorcerer’s magic level is often higher than his or her arcana level. Although it seems like arcana level doesn’t mean much, in the long run, a sorcerer’s arcana level determines how far he or she can go. For example, my current arcana level is five, which means my knowledge is not enough for me to move on to the archmage level, so I’m still a senior-rank mage.”

“I see.” Lucien listened carefully.

“Therefore, in the congress, one’s arcana level is more respected than his or her magic level.” Astar leaned backward on his chair, “But also, no one would respect those sorcerers who have high magic level but low arcana level there.”

“So… If one’s arcana level is over nine, he or she is respected as a grand arcanist?” asked Lucien out of great curiosity, “How many grand arcanists are there in the congress then?”

“Grand arcanist is a title of honor, and only those who make great contribution to magic research could be dubbed as grand arcanists. Most of the grand arcanists, before they got the title, were already legendary archmages, or at least very close to becoming legendary archmages, especially with the full support of the congress after they won the title. So we can basically equate the title, grand arcanist, with the great level of legendary archmage. Even though some grand arcanists are still not legendary archmages yet, they will be soon in the future.”

Lucien’s eyes were full of respect and curiosity.

“And currently, there are only seven sorcerers in the whole congress who could afford the title, and be respected as grand arcanists.” Astar grinned.

“Who are they?” Lucien got a bit excited.

Astar bent his fingers and started counting, “Mr. Derrick Douglas, the founder and the promoter of Arcana and contemporary magic system, co-founder of calculus, the president of the congress, the Emperor of Arcana, the Selected.

“Mr. Edwyn Brook, the founder and the promoter of the School of Electromagnetics, the definer of ‘Field’, the Poem of the Goddess”

The ancient magic empire respect the essence of magic as a goddess.

“Both Mr. Douglas and Mr. Brook are the most powerful men in the world. Their power can control the direction of which the world will go toward, and they’re second only to the pope, who can borrow the power of ‘God’… although only by a bit,” explained Astar.

He took a sip of his tea and continued, “The Hand of Annihilation, the person who re-defined the four major elements and linked them to Force Field magic and Electromagnetic magic, Oliver Constantine.

“Ms. Yaroran Hathaway Hoffenberg, one of the co-founders of calculus, the Lord of Elements, the person who redefined and categorized elements, explained most of the Element magics, and also found another seventeen rare elements. Although the title of her legendary class never changed since the ancient magic empire, the meaning the title contains is totally different now because of arcana.

“Mr. Fernando Hudson, the founder of the school of Thermodynamics, Lord of Storm.

“Ms. Hellen Price, the discoverer of the law of energy conservation, the promoter of calculus, the Witch of Iceland.

“Mr. Vicente Miranda, Thanatos, the grand arcanist who has revealed part of the secret of soul, whose human body research is moving toward a micro-level world.”

These were the seven grand arcanists in the congress.

“Also, at the same time, these people are the most powerful seven among all the eighteen legendary archmages in the congress right now,” concluded Astar. “It seems that becoming a legendary archmage has already become a premise for becoming a grand arcanist.”

“There are only eighteen legendary archmages in the congress?” murmured Lucien.

Astar burst out a laughter, “Only eighteen? Even in the South Church, there are only nineteen legendary casters, not including the legendary knights, and the South Church is already the most powerful organization in this world and even in other dimensions? Of course… There are several legendary archmages who refused to join us because of their belief in their inherited ancient tradition.”

“I’m surely very ignorant.” Lucien smiled a bit awkwardly, “I take that it is the eighteen legendary archmages who lead the whole congress?”

“Not exactly,” Astar shook his head. “Seven grand arcanists, eleven legendary archmages, six ninth circle archmages who have high arcana level… They form the highest council of the congress and make all the final decisions.”

“I see. What about the different schools there?” Lucien asked eagerly.

“I’m getting there.” Astar smiled and gently waved his hand, “The eight traditional schools, which I believe that you already know, are the school of Force Field, Element, Necromancy, Summoning, Alchemy, Astrology, Illusion and Transformation. And now we have a few more: the school of Electromagnetics, Thermodynamics and Light-darkenss. Before one reaches the senior rank, it’s fine if he or she wants to pursue all of the schools, but after this stage, due to the explosion of the knowledge one has to master, most sorcerers would choose to focus on a couple of them. My suggestion is that, Evans, if you are really uncertain, you’d better choose your focuses before entering the senior-rank level.”

“Thank you very much, Mr. Astar,” answered Lucien politely. Although he wanted to become an all-school master, Lucien knew that listening to a senior-rank mage’s advice was important.
Astar’s introduction of the congress kept going on until it was late in the night. When Astar noticed the time, he started wrapping up, “There are many different groups in the congress, as what you heard, big and small, formal or informal… There are a few big groups: The Royal Magic Academies from each of the four major countries, Family of Sorcerer, Tower, the Will of Elements, the Hand of Paleness, the Cabin of Palmeira and Moonsong League. Each of them, more or less, owns the rites for upgrading toward different legendary classes, and some of the rites are secret, which means even the congress does not know much about them. However, keep that in mind, Evans, follow the congress and focus on your own study and research.”

It seemed Astar was completely on the congress’ side.

“I will.” Lucien grinned, “I don’t like trouble, either.”

“Very good.” Astar nodded, “Now it’s time for you to prepare for your trip tonight. Later, Tom will be leading you and the other apprentices to set off for the congress. When you get there, Evans, you can buy most of the journals, common materials and even spells with money, but if you want to get more special and valuable stuff, you have to use arcana points, which is gained together with arcana credits, or from selling information or magic item to the congress and fulfilling the congress’s tasks.”

The corner of Lucien’s lips twisted a bit.

“Virtual currency…” Lucien thought to himself.

Then he bowed to Astar politely, “Thank you for your throughout explanation, Mr. Astar. I have to go and check how my three apprentices are doing now before we leave.”