Mage Legend

"This question is difficult to answer. Perhaps the future is the only thing I truly care about." Lynch's voice was very low: "But aren't you worried that the Pate Temple will put you on trial for inquiring about the situation between mages and gods? I remember that discussing anything related to that war is considered taboo for you."

"I don't believe there's anything the Light God needs to hide or avoid discussing; he is always open and upright," Kuboert said. "In this regard, I have always been very firm."

"With statements like that, you must be quite the oddity among the priests of Pate, right?" Lynch said. "Even coming to the Elf Kingdom, I haven't seen any apprentices or followers with you."

"In that regard, I'm actually no different from you. We are all individual souls from different groups," Kuboert said. "Even though there are vast differences in our beliefs, we are now fighting side by side. A mage who once killed gods, and a priest who worships them—don't you think there's a significant symbolic meaning in that?"

"That so-called meaning is nothing but an illusion people use to deceive themselves, Mr. Priest," Lynch said. "If I may be frank, I actually don't need you here."

"But you cannot deny the fact that I do serve a positive purpose here," Kuboert said. "If I have any understanding of mages, it is that I have heard long ago of your extreme reverence for facts. Could it be that facts are your gods? Is that the place your spirits wish to reach?"

Lynch sighed. He now found himself hoping that the undead would appear sooner. Perhaps only in the heat of battle would Priest Kuboert finally shut his mouth. However, what he said did indeed touch on things Lynch had never considered before.

"Why am I even standing here?" he asked himself in his heart. "What makes my soul different from others? When I turn into a pure ghost, what distinguishes me from other ghostly entities?"

His hand began to tremble involuntarily again, and the Powerful Wand emitted a faint whimper, as if something was urging it. Kuboert looked at Lynch curiously, not understanding what was happening to the mage before him. He gently patted the young man's shoulder and said, "Wake up, Mr. Mage. It seems your thoughts are no longer inside your body."

Lynch awoke as if from a nightmare, exhaling deeply and focusing his eyes on the priest's face.

"I'm fine," Lynch said. "This has happened before. I guess I got too excited."

"No, I don't think so," Kuboert said. "I have seen many such cases before, some former priests who lost their faith and no longer knew the meaning of their existence. They, like you, had souls desperately trying to escape the body's control, flying towards some unknown distant place."

"Do you have any suggestions?" Lynch asked, a bit curious. "How did you 'treat' them?"

"Treat?" Kuboert said. "I don't call it treatment; I simply help them find their faith again. The Light God never refuses souls seeking solace." After saying this, he pulled out a silver medallion inlaid with a gemstone from his chest, held it tightly in his hand, and then patted Lynch's shoulder with a kind gaze.

"No, thank you," Lynch said, the smile returning to his face. "I still don't believe in those beings endowed with divine power."