Bear School Astartes

”Among the existing human mages, he is the oldest.”

Tishaya also stopped and turned to look at the painting ”The Enlightenment of the Chosen” in the Glorious Corridor.

”He is a member of the Talent and Skill Association within the Warlock Brotherhood, like me, but he is older, and... stronger than I am.”

Tishaya was once the strongest caster that Lann had encountered in this Magic Middle Ages World.

Her lifespan was long, so long that she had witnessed events written in the history books of the Northern Territory countries unfold when she was young.

A long life signifies power and accumulation.

Even the Great Mage Alzur, who created the Demon Hunters, used the Alzus Cross to stop wars, and destroyed cities, was not particularly formidable in the face of Tishaya.

Her books had even been read and studied by Alzur.

Furthermore, this female warlock had keenly discovered the different spellcasting abilities of the clergy hundreds of years ago.

She noticed that these clergy practitioners had a fundamentally different logic in spellcasting compared to mages.

She delved into the grand and world-touching proposition of ’whether gods truly exist’ from this point.

Not even Lann, or probably Margaret, had ever seen Tishaya exert her full power in magic.

Tishaya rarely reveals her power because she cares about the academy and the students, the development of magic, relationships between mages, nations, and kings, and the stability of the continent’s situation.

She is a rule-maker and enforcer, not a rogue mage who disregards rules and acts on whim.

She conveyed to Margaret the abilities of the past generation of warlocks, who could easily ’move mountains and fill seas’ in the literal sense, because she had seen it firsthand, and perhaps even...

She might be able to do it as well.

And now, she expressed clearly: a warlock stronger than herself wants to invite Lann to perform a surgery.

”Then I’m truly honored.”

Lann said quietly with interest.

’The oldest among human mages,’ probably only the elves who are known to possess longevity could be older than him.

”But having survived this long under the threat of a heart condition, why now...”

Lann didn’t finish his sentence, but he believed Tishaya had grasped his meaning.

If Henry Gemitis was here because of advances in crystal cultivation technology, he should have come years ago.

After all, Lann’s initial breakthrough in this technology was in organ cultivation.

The first target for cultivation was the heart.

The technology has been ready for so long. Why seek treatment now?

Tishaya glanced sidelong at Lann.

”Indeed, I persuaded him to undertake the surgery.”

”Why?” The Demon Hunter crossed his arms with interest, silently awaiting more.

Tishaya remained clear and methodical in her response.

”Firstly, his heart condition is progressively worsening. Charms and spirit medicine are only temporary fixes, but should he be unfortunate enough to forget his charm or fail to drink the spirit medicine in time, he could lose the life he’s maintained for over five hundred years.”

”At his level, with such power, vision, and knowledge, his life is no longer just his own. He represents a part of human magic. Regardless, I cannot permit him to dismiss this risk.”

”Secondly...”

Tishaya spoke, her hands elegantly folded at her abdomen, stepping closer to Lann.

She appraised the Demon Hunter up and down, then with a wave of her hand, the Roaring Bear Head Necklace around Lann’s neck trembled violently.

Simultaneously, the tiny creases in his clothing, the off-kilter clasps, were gently adjusted by invisible magic.

The silver hair by his cheek was smoothed back neatly.

Tishaya circled around Lann, evaluating him but purposefully avoiding eye contact, even refraining from looking at Lann’s face.

”Secondly, I’ve noticed your issue too. The tall tree catches the wind; I’ve seen it many times.”

”Now you go out wearing a hooded cloak, which is good, Lann. It shows you’re not caught up in the fame and praise.”

”In my memory, I’ve lost count of how many heroes lost their lives, their bodies incomplete, just from a few lines of praise. Their heads are just like their nether regions, uncontrollable once blood rushes there.”

”But you’re different. You possess a rare and valuable clarity, understanding those praises are not all beneficial.”

”You have made some plans. Of course, you would, otherwise, you wouldn’t be the wise person I know.”

”However, you must also understand that sometimes, in uncertain situations, it’s not a bad thing to gather a few formidable allies on your side. When the situation starts to change, having support is better than not.”

Completing her circle around Lann, Tishaya’s habitual lecturing concluded.

She resumed her dignified pose, hands folded at her abdomen, leading the way.

”Let’s go, Lann. Don’t mind Gemitis’ age, he’s quite interested in new technology.”

”Thank you, Tishaya.”

Lann thanked her, evidently understanding that the Great Mage coming for treatment now was introduced by Tishaya to connect with him.

However, when Lann passed by Triss, this red-haired witch appeared a bit stiff.

But looking at Tishaya leading the way ahead, she dared not use magic to make any moves.

In the end, she had to walk up to Lann, twist her smile and skip slightly, messing up his hair a bit more.

-----------------

With Henry Gemitis’s credentials, even at a place with magical stature like Airetusa Academy, there aren’t many places qualified to accommodate him.

Thus, the meeting location was in the headmaster’s office of the academy.

As soon as the three of them entered the room, Lann saw Margaret’s appearance.

This languid, relaxed blonde beauty in front of Lann was now trying hard to maintain a dignified and serious demeanor, sitting behind the desk.

However, this imitation of Tishaya’s style was rather clumsy; her casual air still emanated through her actions.

Henry Gemitis was sitting on the opposite side of the desk, a man who appeared to be in his fifties.

In this world, being in your fifties is not considered young anymore.

He wore a soft cloth cap, with hair that escaped from under the cap intertwined with coffee and gray strands, and his beard was the same color.

But contrary to the typical aging frailty of someone in their fifties, Gemitis seemed energetic and vigorous.

He turned from facing Margaret and looked at the three who had just entered, his gaze showed obvious mockery.

Clearly, he had long seen through that Margaret was not of this character at all, yet he was more than willing to sit there and let this newly appointed headmistress of Airetusa perform a difficult, contrary to nature, yet necessary act due to her position.

”Oh, hello there, Tishaya.”

The energetic middle-aged man stood up and walked to Tishaya; they exchanged polite hugs and cheek kisses.

This is quite an old etiquette, and few young people know it now.

And taking this opportunity, Lann, with his height advantage, managed to look over these two and saw Margaret sitting behind the desk.

The female warlock first sighed with relief due to Henry Gemitis’s gaze shifting, and then her expression became playful and mocking upon seeing Lann and Triss entering.

”Hello to you too, young man.”

After greeting Tishaya, Gemitis walked up to Lann and extended his hand.

This time it was modern etiquette.

The Demon Hunter took off his leather gloves attached with steel plates and shook hands with him.

Almost at the first moment of their contact, the roaring bear head pendant on Lann’s neck jumped wildly.

The intense reaction of this chaotic magic power was simply frightening!

Even the stability of spherical convergence rifts didn’t necessarily have this intensity!

Lann’s eyes widened slightly and then quickly calmed.

Tishaya was right... This most ancient warlock among humans was truly extraordinary.

”Ah, sorry.” The Demon Hunter’s silver necklace clanged, while Gemitis apologized for it.

”My energy is waning, and sometimes I can’t control it well, letting chaotic magic power leak out.”

”But honestly, you are as tall as the legends say, and with such looks... Forgive me for asking, are you really of pure human ancestry? Even among elves, there’s no such appearance anymore.”

Lann smiled lightly: ”I am indeed human.”

Gemitis seemed rather approachable.

”Your energy is waning now...” Tishaya interjected, ”It’s entirely because you’re dragged down by your heart condition.”

”Now at least more than half of your normal attention is focused on your heart, right? Unlike me, who doesn’t have such troubles at all.”

”Oh, don’t be so harsh, Tishaya.”

Henry Gemitis was also a headmaster, of Ban Aide Academy, but his long tenure did not make him like Tishaya.

He waved his hand dismissively as he spoke.

”What do you want me to do? Ignore my old heart?”

”You enjoy good food and fun, the academy’s apprentices are well-behaved and competent, but me? I’ve had some terrible luck dealing with so much trouble.”

Perhaps unintentionally, when Gemitis mentioned ’enjoy good fun,’ he also patted Lann’s arm, causing the Demon Hunter to tilt his head in confusion.

”Besides, I’m here because I took your advice, didn’t I?”

Gemitis encouraged Triss with a student’s and junior’s gaze, and then walked to Tishaya.

Among the mages present, Tishaya was closest to him in seniority and power, and Margaret was the headmistress of Airetusa, with status to match.

Though Triss was also a royal advisor to Temeria, in both magical standing and experience, as well as power, she was indeed at the ’kids’ table’ level.

”Heart transplant surgery... ah, just hearing the words makes one’s skin crawl.”

Gemitis spoke with a face full of remorse.

”I had thought, with the development of times and technology, there would eventually be a way to resolve my heart condition. But I truly didn’t expect it to be this kind of solution.”