Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 39 - 38: The Dragon Staff

The Holy Spirit Wood laid out before them looked like an ordinary piece of wood; if it were placed in a marketplace, it probably wouldn’t attract much attention. However, in the opulent Cup of Luxury, where gold and gems were the main decorations, the ordinary became extraordinary.

Mr. Dragon slammed his fist heavily on the table, "Raymond, even if you meddle and make trouble, I might barely be able to tolerate it. But how could you joke about the future of the Plague Doctor? The Cursed Spirit Wood is the most suitable material for a Spirit Summoning Apprentice. Now, you’ve twisted it. How is the Plague Doctor supposed to cast spells with this piece of wood that scatters light every time it’s waved around?"

"Why not let the Plague Doctor try it out? Whether it is suitable or not, let the facts speak." Raymond pointed, "He is a pure soul, his magic won’t be repelled by the Holy Light. Plague Doctor, like me, imagine your power flowing over this."

Mr. Raymond placed his hand on the wood, and the piece gradually lit up. The points of light seeped out from the inside, solidifying into visible lines on the surface, like a regular data network, with photons traveling on it.

"This training method is much more effective than your simple meditation,"

Mr. Raymond shared his expertise.

Lyle nodded and, at the encouragement of everyone, touched the piece of wood.

Warmth spread, as if sunlight was pouring over him.

Magic followed the cross section, finding a tiny hole to seep through, like water entering a river, twisting into a stream and spraying out golden magic from the other end.

Was that the Holy Light? 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"I’ve merely dyed your magic with a color to make it look pretty," Raymond scrutinized the other side. "Unexpectedly, even this kind of guidance hasn’t replaced your magic with Holy Light."

"Raymond has completely deciphered the magical construction of this piece of wood, enabling your magic to rapidly condense and speed up spell-casting. Since the nature of your magic hasn’t changed, as he said, this is indeed excellent material for a magic wand. Although Raymond has impure motives, it is indeed beneficial to you, Plague Doctor." Mr. Dragon spoke slowly, having initially planned to offer his own bone material to Lyle as compensation if the experiment failed. He was relieved at the success of the experiment, but what was this lingering regret in his heart?

Mr. Dragon maintained his elder’s image, "Plague Doctor, have you decided on the design for your magic wand? As I mentioned before, I have a small hobby when it comes to engraving."

Lyle pondered for a moment, but nothing came to mind.

"I don’t have any particular ideas, as long as it’s not too extravagant."

"Then let’s use the serpent staff design. I remember you are a doctor,"

The serpent staff, featuring a snake coiled around a wooden rod, symbolized the position of a doctor. Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, was depicted holding a large snake, and there’s the constellation Serpentarius in the sky. The West has a tradition of associating snakes with healthcare, so the choice of a serpent staff was beyond reproach.

Lyle had a bold idea—if this magic wand was to represent himself.

"That’s fine, but sir, could you replace the serpent with a dragon?"

"A dragon? If so, that’s my specialty."

"No, the dragon I’m referring to is the ancient totem from the Far East Lands. With antlers like a deer, ears like a cow, head like a camel, eyes like a rabbit, body like a snake, scales like a fish, and claws like an eagle."

"Are there really such magical creatures in the world?"

"Perhaps there are. I read about it in a document from the Arabs, about the mysterious silks and the Golden Kingdom." Indeed, there might truly be dragons in this world, especially since there are already dragons.

"Chimera?" Alianna voiced curiously. The chimera is a monster from Western legend, with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a scorpion. It also signifies a composite monster.

"If the dragon is really like what the Plague Doctor described, then I’m afraid I may not be up to the honor of this carving," Mr. Dragon looked at Lyle, "I have never beheld such a creature. I can imagine its majesty, akin to that of a dragon, but I fear I cannot achieve what the Plague Doctor wants, to merge the images of various known animals together. I find it very difficult to achieve that kind of aesthetic fusion."

Lyle felt he had put Mr. Dragon in a difficult position, and if it was because of his own whim, making Mr. Dragon go to great lengths, "It’s okay, sir, I’m the one who should apologize, because of my absurd idea, the snake staff will do."

Lyle extended his hand, pushing the Holy Spirit Wood towards Mr. Dragon, but Alianna intercepted it. Her veil faced Lyle, and today she was dressed in a pure white evening gown, light and fluffy like a wedding dress.

"I’m very curious about what dragons look like."

"If Alianna is curious, I can describe it in more detail."

"No, I want to see it with my own eyes, see what a dragon looks like."

Alianna seemed eager to see a magic wand carved with a dragon.

"But, Mr. Dragon has already said, it’s quite difficult." It would be very difficult to find a suitable sculptor who could carve out a dragon solely based on Lyle’s pallid verbal description. It would take an exceptional sculptress indeed.

"What Alianna means is that the Plague Doctor could entrust this task to Lady Helena," Mr. Gentleman explained, "Lady Helena is also a master of sculpture."

"Who is Helena?" Another new name.

"My sister," Alianna positioned the piece of wood in front of herself as if envisioning the already carved form, "Helena is the perfect sister."

"If that’s possible, then nothing could be better."

"It certainly can be done." Alianna clutched the wood, stood up, executing a skirt-lifting curtsy, and left the clubroom alone, a bit too eagerly.

Like creating an opening, Eliane then also said her goodbyes, casually taking the unaware Raymond with her as she left.

Mr. Dragon then returned to his own room. Before he left, he once again expressed satisfaction with Lyle’s studies and reminded him to keep up with his academic progress.

Lyle looked at Mr. Gentleman, who was tallying the utensils, the unused teacups, and the dinner forks merely arranged for show, though Lyle had never seen them dine.

Mr. Gentleman noticed Lyle’s gaze, "Do you have a question, Plague Doctor?"

"Yes, sir, about the Awakening Ceremony..."

"Don’t worry, you have collected all the materials very well, I have already arranged everything at Magic Research, there should be no major problems. After the ceremony is over, once you’ve recovered, we can have a good chat. I’ll take you to visit other clubs or the City of Wandering. I’ve been rather remiss as a senior, considering I was the one who brought you here."

"No, I’m very grateful, Mr. Gentleman, for having me join the Cup of Luxury. Mr. Dragon and Alianna are both outstanding people. Sometimes I wonder if I’m qualified to stay at the Cup of Luxury."

"Of course you are, Mr. Dragon has praised you, Alianna has a new curiosity, and you have harmonized everyone very well. You should know this was my job before, but now you have become a part of it, Mr. Plague Doctor. Moreover, after the Awakening Ceremony, I believe you will truly find what you’re looking for."