Chapter 211: Kurtz Is Both Light and Human
"It's a certificate issued after testing by several court mages," the guard patiently explained.
After all, the two people in front of him both looked extraordinary, especially the golden-haired elf, who was clearly a powerful mage.
As the guard responsible for the entrance to this area, he had seen countless mages and trusted his intuition.
"We don't have that. Is there another way to get in?"
The guard looked troubled. After a moment's thought, he said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go call Akafu."
Before long, the guard returned, followed by a middle-aged man in a mage's robe with a badge pinned to his chest.
His gaze swept over Kurtz with a scrutinizing look.
But when his eyes fell on Serie, he paused noticeably, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, as if sensing the extraordinary magic fluctuations within her.
"Are these the two who wish to enter the magic district?"
The guard respectfully replied, "Yes, Akafu. But they do not have mage qualification certificates."
Akafu raised his hand to interrupt the guard, his gaze refocusing on Kurtz and Serie. "I am Akafu, in charge of the magic archives. According to the regulations here, entering this area requires proof of mage qualifications. Since you two do not have certificates, please perform a spell in front of me to prove you are mages."
Kurtz shrugged helplessly and looked at Serie.
Serie was expressionless, finding this method of proof both troublesome and somewhat ridiculous. She didn't even bother to raise her hand, merely moving her mind.
Buzz!
A Light Spear, emanating a sharp aura, instantly materialized beside her.
It floated silently, showing no intention of being launched, and the surrounding air rippled with its presence.
Akafu's eyes widened, and his slight doubt was instantly replaced by shock.
Such skilled light magic was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary mage.
He could even feel the destructive power within the Light Spear being perfectly restrained—this level of control was terrifying.
"Elves' Light Spear magic? Truly impressive!" Akafu took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart, and his tone became much more solemn. "It seems the elf is indeed a powerful mage."
"Can we go in now?" Kurtz asked.
"Sir, you also need to cast a spell," Akafu's gaze turned to Kurtz.
Kurtz had intended to say he was just accompanying her, but seeing Akafu's persistent gaze, he could only raise his hand.
With a slight circulation of magic within him, a Light Spear—very similar but much smaller than the one Serie had cast—also instantly materialized, hovering above his palm.
Although much smaller in size, in the eyes of a mage like Akafu, the power contained within this Light Spear was not to be underestimated.
However, compared to Serie's naturally perfect Light Spear, Kurtz's version seemed to lack a bit of the most original flavor.
But this was also normal.
Light Spear magic was originally unique to the elves, and when cast by the elf in front of him, it was naturally the most perfect version, while others' versions were more like perfect imitations.
Nevertheless, this was enough to prove his identity as a mage.
And the most crucial point was that neither of them was a disguised demon.
While demons could disguise their appearance, in this city protected by a complete barrier, their magical aura could not be faked.
Since El Country's holy sword was lost some time ago, all human countries on this continent, especially their holy cities of human magic, had strengthened their vigilance against demons.
The tragedy of El Country must not happen again.
"Very good!" Akafu completely dispelled his doubts, even showing a hint of respect. "Please come in, both of you. Please forgive any offense; these are iron rules established when the library was first built.
"Magical knowledge, especially the magic developed by humans over the years, contains immense power and comes with corresponding dangers. Restricting access is both a protection of knowledge and a responsibility for the safety of the seekers themselves and the entire city."
He stepped aside, opening the path, and pointed to the area ahead. "The magic book section is straight ahead. Please observe the rules, maintain quiet, do not damage books, and do not take them out of here."
Kurtz nodded in understanding. "I understand."
Serie merely glanced at Akafu indifferently and stepped forward first, with Kurtz following closely behind.
The magic book section was completely different from downstairs.
The magical concentration in the air was higher, and the books on the shelves were not ordinary paper but special paper made with complex techniques, able to last for hundreds or thousands of years without decay.
Some were even displayed directly as magic scrolls or ancient stone tablets.
The number of people here was also much smaller; the few mages present were all engrossed in their own studies, oblivious to everything around them.
"This place..." Serie's eyes gleamed with intense light. "It's a mage's paradise!"
So many magic books, although a large portion of them she probably already knew or had even read, as long as she could occasionally discover one or two she hadn't, that would be a pleasant surprise.
She suddenly felt like staying here and not leaving.
Kurtz, however, did not notice the light in Serie's eyes. His gaze swept over the ancient books on the shelves, finally stopping at an area protected by a special magic barrier.
"Found it," Kurtz said, then walked directly to that area.
The bookshelves here were made of dark ironwood to prevent corrosion, and the books displayed on them mostly bore the marks of time but were meticulously maintained.
Kurtz's gaze finally settled on the top shelf, on a display stand protected by barrier magic.
There, quietly lay a book that looked remarkably unremarkable, its cover bound in some reddish-brown leather.
There were no ornate decorations on it, only a title written in the common language of the mythical era, appearing so plain and unadorned.
Kurtz stood before the display, looking up at the book, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
Serie had walked to his side at some point.
She followed Kurtz's gaze to the ancient book placed at the highest point, a flicker of understanding in her eyes.
She recognized that book. Or rather, she recognized the manuscript form of that book before it was bound.
The Origin Codex
— Author: Kurtz, Norn.
"This is... the one you wrote back then?" Serie asked softly.
She still remembered the two figures exchanging magical insights by a flickering campfire a thousand years ago.
It all felt like yesterday.
"Mm," Kurtz responded, his voice tinged with reminiscence. "I didn't expect it to still be here, placed in a spot like this."
His tone seemed calm, but Serie could sense the thoughts within.
Just then, Akafu, who had tested their magic earlier, came near the display, seemingly to consult some material.
He saw Kurtz and Serie standing still, gazing, and especially seeing Kurtz intently staring at the origin codex, a knowing smile appeared on his face.
"Awe-inspiring, isn't it?" He walked up to Kurtz and spoke, his tone full of reverence. "'Origin,' as later mages are accustomed to calling it. The cornerstone of human magical civilization, and the first lighthouse to illuminate humanity's path in exploring magic."
Kurtz and Serie both looked at him.
Akafu's eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at the ancient book within the barrier magic. "Before Kurtz, magic was a power humans simply could not grasp. No mage had ever appeared among humans. And those powerful magics were controlled by various races, who would never teach them to other races; humans didn't even have the chance to come into contact with them."
He gestured to the vast magical books around them. "But Kurtz, he accomplished an unprecedented feat."
"He learned the magic of various races, and on that basis, created all sorts of new magics, and together with Saint King Norn, compiled humanity's first magic book."
"In this book, he first elucidated the essence of magic, what magic power truly is."
"It is not a divine gift, but a special energy that exists in all things in the world and within ourselves."
"He even proposed a clear theory of magic talent, explaining why different people excel at different magics."
Akafu's tone gradually became excited. "More importantly, Kurtz's magic system laid the foundation for all subsequent magic!"
"Whether it's elemental magic, arcane magic, defensive magic, or even advanced fields like holy magic, their core magic operation formulas cannot deviate from the magic system designed in Kurtz's book."
"The greatest magic academy in human history, Saint Katiya, and even other magic academies on the continent, their first introductory lesson is invariably the study of Kurtz's origin codex!"
Akafu's voice echoed in the quiet library, filled with heartfelt reverence.
Several passing magic scholars also stopped, quietly listening to this story so familiar to all mages.
Kurtz listened quietly, his face devoid of expression, but Serie saw a fleeting hint of emotion deep in his eyes.
If Norn could have seen this day, it would have been wonderful.
The magic book he and Norn had co-authored would be so revered by future generations and have such a profound impact.
"Not only that," Akafu seemed to open up, "the magic system established by Kurtz also profoundly influenced the research direction of all subsequent human mages, and even other races came to read it by reputation. Magic is not limited to destructive and annihilative aspects, but leans more towards convenience, more conducive to the development of human civilization. And the source of all this lies within this origin codex."
He finally sighed. "Kurtz, he is not merely the embodiment of wisdom, but a deity who guided human civilization to a new chapter. It's just a pity that there are too few records about him personally, like a myth, leaving only this immortal work and those vague legends."
Akafu shook his head, hugged his book, and left, leaving Kurtz and Serie still standing before the display.
Serie turned her head, looking at Kurtz's profile.
He was still looking up at the ancient book, his gaze seeming to penetrate a thousand years of time, seeing his past self.
"How does it feel?" Serie asked, with a hint of the teasing tone this man often used. "To be revered like a deity?"
Kurtz slowly lowered his head, a self-deprecating yet immensely relieved smile on his lips.
He shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the scholars studying magic around them, finally returning to Serie.
"You know, I didn't think this way at first. This feeling..." He paused, as if considering what analogy would be best. "It's very strange."
"It's like accidentally sowing a seed, and when you return a thousand years later, you find it has not only grown into a towering tree but has also extended into an entire forest."
He stretched out his hand, and across the void, his fingers lightly caressed the book's cover. "I simply wanted magic to be learned by more people, to free humanity from its wandering fate, that's all."
"But I am still delighted."
"Not satisfied by being revered as a deity, but by seeing future generations develop such brilliant and diverse magical knowledge on the foundation of the magic I compiled, and seeing magic truly integrate into human society, rather than becoming a high-and-mighty ornament. I am satisfied by that."
Kurtz searched for appropriate words, trying his best to describe his current mood.
When he and Norn wrote this magic book together back then, did he foresee this outcome?
The answer was undoubtedly yes.
But at that time, Kurtz had no idea of eternal life, so he naturally wouldn't consider a situation like today's.
Serie listened quietly, watching the contentment and peace in Kurtz's eyes, stemming from humanity's achievements on the path of magic.
She suddenly understood.
Why this man, even after possessing the power to be a godslayer, and even after achieving the possibility of eternal life, still obsessively pursued perfecting that magic formula that might change the essence of life.
This pursuit of magic was his most precious possession.
The talent for creating magic was a mutual journey for the two of them, and only Kurtz could truly unleash this talent to its fullest.
Just like the origin codex he co-authored back then, it brought not only a new way for humans to learn magic but also a completely new understanding of magic for all races in the entire world.
"Let's go," Kurtz withdrew his gaze, taking one last deep look at the ancient book that changed the world, then turned to Serie and said, "This place is good, but it's all in the past now. One cannot always look back, and besides, for now, it's outdated."
He took Serie's cool hand and held it in his palm.
"The future," he looked at the sunlight refracting through the window, "still has new chapters waiting for us. This is the direction we should be heading."
Serie let him hold her hand, feeling the warmth from his palm.
She cast one last glance at the origin codex, protected by barrier magic and even enshrined by humans, then looked at the living godslayer beside her.
He didn't need to be enshrined on an altar.
He himself was that constantly advancing radiance.
And she...She would always walk with him.
[End of Chapter]
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