One-Eyed Monster

Teacher Hadi’s words filled Igor with a sense of desolation.

These things are indeed difficult to comprehend, birth, aging, sickness, and death are laws of nature. Many people wish to break these laws, but very few truly succeed.

Wizards are known as the ones closest to understanding nature’s laws on the continent, but even they find it hard to grasp the true meaning of these laws. Professionals continually seek and explore the meaning of nature’s laws, yet those who truly grasp nature’s essence have scarcely emerged.

People yearn for the power that comes from nature’s laws, but whenever this power manifests before them, they invariably flee in terror.

This contradictory phenomenon persists without the slightest change, except in people’s ambition. The reverence for nature over these many years has taught people to compromise, and through this compromise, they have gained much, including some of the laws of nature. Humanity greedily takes from nature without ever contemplating what they give back.

The borders of exploration are infinite; you cannot see the end. An adventurer’s greatest shackle is their own heart.

Although Teacher Hadi didn’t state it so explicitly, Igor could still sense the meaning behind it. As Hadi’s apprentice, Igor naturally understood his teacher’s intention.

Igor remembered his first lesson with Teacher Hadi, where nothing was done but to look at a pile of delicious food. Igor sat there staring intently at the food, even as his stomach growled, he did not move. Then Teacher Hadi, with a grin, asked Igor if the food wasn’t worth exploring, questioning his courage as an adventurer. At that time, Igor was dumbfounded, feeling as if he had fallen into a trap. However, the naive Igor didn’t become exasperated; he was able to discern the weight of things, and still remembers his response to Teacher Hadi. Exploration must be discerned by weight; exploring something already claimed isn’t an adventure, it’s theft. Teacher Hadi laughed heartily, patted Igor’s shoulder, and said he was qualified, adding a phrase that Igor didn’t understand at the time: ”Controlling your heart makes you a qualified adventurer. Without control, regardless of your achievements, you’re merely a coward.”

Back then, Igor didn’t quite understand what this meant, but now he has come to realize some of it.

Earlier, Teacher Hadi’s words made Igor understand that even with a keen sense, an adventurer shouldn’t endlessly take; everything must have a limit. Desires are limitless, and a qualified adventurer should control their heart, never allowing greed to form. Once greed takes root, a person transforms into someone else. In an adventurer’s eyes, someone who can’t conquer their greed is unworthy to stand in the adventurer’s hall; unable even to conquer their greed, they’re merely a coward.

Igor collected his thoughts, unconsciously recalling the time of his first lesson. This recollection felt strange, akin to saying farewell to Teacher Hadi today.

Teacher Hadi sighed, looking at Igor: ”Do you remember your first time here? When I gave you your first lesson, which was actually very long...”

”Teacher, could it be that now...”

”Indeed, this is also part of the first lesson. There’s nothing special about an adventurer’s lessons; they rely on nothing but passion.”

”Teacher, I don’t quite understand.”

”You don’t need to understand, Igor.” Teacher Hadi shook his head, ”An adventurer doesn’t need to understand anything.”

”But the mentor’s teachings...”

”Those are just basic truths; even if I don’t teach them, others will.”

”Teacher, I will never forget your teachings,” Igor said, feeling that Teacher Hadi talking like this was somewhat off—is this really a farewell?

”I know what you’re thinking, Igor, but the truth is, adventurers don’t need a mentor. The reason Dean Hoffman established this discipline is because he didn’t want people to forget about this profession!”

”Anyway, Teacher Hadi, you’ve taught me a lot,” said Igor, stubbornly uninterested in debating Teacher Hadi’s words.

”Haha, I expected this outcome. If Igor accepted all I said without a thought, then he wouldn’t be Igor.” Teacher Hadi chuckled, having foreseen this result.

Russef Hadi knew Igor was about to embark on his adventure. He had hoped to convey the true essence of being an adventurer, but ultimately found that Igor did not accept such a notion. Indeed, an adventurer’s true essence is something they must discover themselves. All he could do was guide the boy before him to avoid going astray.

”Since that’s the case, let me finish that long lesson for you today,” Teacher Hadi said with deep meaning.

”I am willing to listen to the teacher’s teachings.” Igor stood up and bowed, here for answers; though uncertain why Teacher Hadi called this the final lesson, he listened earnestly, for this was his teacher.

”The reason I call this the final lesson is that there’s nothing more I can teach you. Much is for you to discover, and I’ve merely served as a catalyst.” Teacher Hadi became serious, shedding the playful image.

”Teacher, feel free to speak.”

”Never forget your original intent; I’ve always told you this, and you’ve done well. An adventurer’s path must not be swayed by greed or pride, that’s what I’ve said earlier. There’s one more thing I’m going to tell you now.”

”And what is that?”

”Do you see this book in front of me?” Teacher Hadi asked.

”Uh... It’s full of Spirit Power, is it the Spirit Book?” Igor asked, probing.

”No, it’s a book without an author.”

”Without an author?”

”What I’m doing now is trying to find out who wrote this book.” Teacher Hadi showed Igor the scribbles he made before.

”This...” Igor looked bewildered.

”An adventurer has no end; that’s the last thing I want to say. Wherever, whenever, you can start your journey.”

Igor frowned, seemingly understanding yet not fully comprehending.