Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 58 - 55: The Fire-Bathed Scholar

Lean arms crossed, fingers gently tapping at the elbow joints, the scholar paused for a moment.

"I personally suggest that re-integration is a shortcut. Being conservative is not about being outdated; the thorns on the path have been cleared by those who came before you, and your own safety is always the top priority, although many of our companions have overlooked this."

"As a matter of fact, the advantages of innovation are indeed very clear, but Plague Doctor, exploring the mysterious is not a competition you cannot afford to lose, caution is a virtue, and I hope you can properly assess the risks."

"If you succeed in taking another path, I will also sincerely congratulate you."

Lyle looked at the egg in his hand, having more options than ordinary people, one being a wide and easy road, the other an invisible winding path, with dangers and wonders both unfounded.

"So, Mr. Scholar, if I want to reintegrate, what do I need to do?"

"You don’t need to do anything; you and it were originally a whole that was divided. Whether by natural law or fate, integration is destined, and if you improve your spellcasting level appropriately, it will certainly play a positive role in advancing this process."

Mr. Giant Dragon patted the scholar’s shoulder, "I thought you’d be happier, after all, Plague Doctor has accepted your advice."

The scholar turned back to his seat and casually pulled out a scroll to start recording, "I just conveyed my experience to Plague Doctor in the way I thought was right, it’s enough to be able to help, and besides, the outcome is up to the individual, as well as to fate, I will always reserve my opinions until the end."

"Old friend, you really are an out-and-out Old Mage."

"Yes, timid as a mouse, resistant to change, the poor old man."

"Do you resent them?"

"No, their success proves the correctness of these insights, but what is right is not necessarily what I need."

"The stubborn old man, then?"

"I hate impolite young people, I also despise impolite old men."

"Hahaha, that thing you mentioned last time, give me a hint, can I join, literally, join you guys?" Mr. Giant Dragon rubbed his palms together, his two-meter-tall frame struggling to stoop down, trying hard to look directly at the scholar.

"They are only more stubborn than I am, if you do not meet the rigid requirements, your wish will remain unfulfilled, Giant Dragon, you are trying something you cannot achieve."

"I will achieve it, someday..."

"In some ways, you are more suited for the word ’stubborn’ than I am."

"That’s why we became friends."

A muffled laugh came from behind the scholar’s mask, he left the fur-covered chair back, planning to pick up his pen and start his own work.

"By the way, Giant Dragon, before you arrived, I used a little trick to get rid of an energetic young lady. So, you might be cursed by the Witch Council soon, of course, that’s the worst-case scenario."

"Is that so?" Mr. Giant Dragon wasn’t too concerned about the adverse effects the scholar mentioned. As for attacks on the soul, Giant Dragon was an expert in manipulating them, "Do you have some history with the new members?"

"Yes, when I was young, I interfered with several witch trials on the outside, as you know, I have a talent for that. Perhaps among those new members there are a few survivors, and now they’re pestering me to give me an honorary title of Witch Mother, I......"

"Scholar, you’ve got enough titles already, but this one I think would be the most peculiar, a Male Witch Mother."

"You can omit ’you think.’ They feel that giving such a title is a way of showing gratitude. I am willing to provide funding for them to receive some education, if they are willing."

"They might turn the teacher into a goat halfway through their learning."

Lyle and Mr. Giant Dragon left Mr. Scholar’s room, watching the door melt into the wall.

"Seems he doesn’t want to see anyone for a while. Let’s go back, Plague Doctor. I am glad you accepted the scholar’s advice."

"Because Mr. Scholar really did help me. I just wonder who those people are who are at odds with Mr. Scholar, just curious."

"The Advanced Magic Research Society. Mr. Apocalypse once had a big argument with the scholar over ideological differences and left to start the Advanced Magic Research. The scholar is an authority on traditional magic, his way of thinking is similar to that of traditional mages, not as radical and leaping as Mr. Apocalypse. I originally thought it was just a farce, but Mr. Apocalypse proved himself. He mocked his own mentor which perhaps really hurt him. The scholar resigned from his position in the Magic Research Society, chose this little room, and while studying magic, also provides some simple answer services, and teaching."

"Plague Doctor, the scholar is not old-fashioned. Maybe the Advanced Magic Research has proven their correctness with their achievements, but it doesn’t mean the scholar has failed. He has educated the most epoch-making mage of this century, even changing the concept of what a mage is. The scholar is not a stickler for rules; he is the creator of many new spells. He truly is an inventor, it’s just that Mr. Apocalypse has raised the bar for that term. The difference between the two, the scholar tends to progress steadily, while Mr. Apocalypse likes technology explosions, large-scale technological advancements."

"I understand now, Mr. Scholar is a very remarkable person."

"Befriending him is my honor. But thinking about him becoming the new Witch Mother is always a funny thing."

"Mr. Scholar says it’s their way of showing gratitude."

"Yes, he once talked to me about the old days, especially the time he pretended to be a witch and underwent the ordeal by fire."

["You know, Giant Dragon. It’s quite simple, all you need is a head of disheveled long hair and a tattered robe, stuff the clothes with cotton, smear a few streaks of mud on your face, and those knights who would rather be blind than see the truth will conduct their so-called witch trial on you. You’ll see clearly from atop the pyre the foolishness of the era, see the sinful offspring of Adam and Eve gather in a group as if the forbidden fruit named wisdom was a hoax, their minds filled with straw, but in reality, not even a scarecrow would be envious, as they can’t even scare away a few crows. When my clothes caught fire, I saw their cheers, thinking this would please their god, but god wasn’t really on their side. When I emerged unscathed from the flames, they stood there like wooden statues, like third-rate actors who’ve lost their script, as if my death by burning was something that was meant to happen. I sparked a few small flames on their clothing, watched these idiots run wild, igniting more, and then I extinguished the flames, strutted away holding my head high amidst their dust-covered selves.]"

"Mr. Scholar’s talent is Fire Immunity; everyone has their youthful times, acting willfully and passionately. It’s said in the towns he passed through, witch hunts significantly declined because those people knew that reckless participation had a price. The scholar indirectly saved many innocent women; the title of Honorary Witch Mother is well-deserved for him. Although I prefer another one of his titles."

"And what is that?"

"Dragon Priest."