Chapter 213: A Dedicated Magician
"Problem?"
"Of course, it's a huge problem!" Karlo waved the notebook in his hand, looking determined.
"How dare you speak of Kurtz with such a casual tone? Do you even understand the origin codex? Do you know how much effort and dedication Kurtz poured into this book? Your attitude is an utter blasphemy against Kurtz!" His voice grew louder.
"I don't think he himself would mind such a thing. If he has an opinion, he can tell me to my face," Kurtz said helplessly.
"Huh?" Karlo's eyes widened. "What kind of attitude is that? What's with the expression on your face? Are you even a qualified human mage like this?"
Seeing Karlo getting more and more agitated, Akafu's face darkened. He stepped forward, placing himself between Kurtz and Karlo.
He sternly admonished, "Karlo! Watch your words! Apologize immediately!"
"Apologize?" Karlo bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Akafu, didn't you hear him? He actually dared to say the origin codex is outdated! This is a magic book Kurtz personally participated in compiling. What right does he have—"
"Enough!" Akafu's voice carried a hint of magical pressure, making Karlo instantly choke, his face turning red, and his voice unable to come out.
"Your research is putting too much pressure on you and is affecting your mind. Go back and calm down immediately!"
Karlo was overwhelmed by Akafu's aura, but his eyes still burned with unwillingness, staring fixedly at Kurtz.
Kurtz watched the scene unfold, finding it somewhat amusing.
"It's fine, Mr. Akafu," Kurtz said, breaking the deadlock.
His gaze fell on the notebook Karlo clutched tightly. It was densely filled with various magic formulas, some of which gave him a familiar feeling.
"This Mr. Karlo seems to have a deep understanding of the origin codex?"
Akafu, relieved that Kurtz wasn't pursuing the matter, sighed. "Karlo is one of our most obsessive scholars when it comes to researching the Origin and Kurtz's early actions, but sometimes he's overly fanatical." He let out a helpless sigh.
When Karlo heard Kurtz mention his research, the anger in his eyes was replaced by a hint of pride.
Clearly, in his view, his actions were an extraordinary achievement.
However, he quickly reined in his pride, still stubbornly holding his neck stiff. "I have studied all available records and later annotations concerning Kurtz's early magical theories! I firmly believe that the magic Kurtz created is not limited to the origin codex; there must be more, deeper things waiting for me to explore."
He excitedly opened his notebook, pointing to a page filled with complex magic circle sketches. "Look here! This is a magic formula I restored from an extremely ancient manuscript."
"Although it's only a small part, it shares the same fundamental structure as the core magic power formulas in the origin codex. This must be a draft left behind by Kurtz! More importantly, the magic formula on this draft introduces completely different formulas at key nodes, pointing to a brand new type of magic!"
Kurtz's gaze instantly became serious.
That sketch, that magic formula, that unique method of magic construction was too familiar.
This was definitely a draft he had left behind when he was creating magic, magic he had deduced countless times, and then discarded countless times due to conflicting magical energies or unstable effects.
He hadn't expected it to have been passed down and even partially discovered and restored by later generations.
Serie also noticed the subtle change in Kurtz's aura.
She gently tugged at his sleeve, her eyes clearly asking a question.
Kurtz shook his head.
He couldn't tell what kind of magic this small fragment of a magic formula was, nor did he think this man could restore it.
"Absurd!" Akafu looked at Karlo's sketch, his brows tightly furrowed, his tone carrying an undisguised sense of denial. "Karlo, you're researching these baseless things again!"
"The origin of that draft is questionable to begin with, and the formulas on it don't even make up one percent of a complete spell. While Kurtz is undoubtedly great, his greatness lies in establishing clear, transmissible magic, not these vague, insubstantial things!"
Akafu turned to Kurtz and Serie, explaining apologetically, "I apologize for letting you both witness this. Karlo has always been obsessed with unearthing Kurtz's early, possibly uninherited magic, even attempting to prove that Kurtz possessed certain forbidden magical knowledge."
"These are all just baseless conjectures, even erroneous rumors. Mages should not pursue those unverified legends."
Karlo's face turned pale from Akafu's reprimand, but the obsession in his eyes did not extinguish.
"Akafu! History is complex! Kurtz's legacy cannot possibly be limited to just the origin codex alone! This formula is definitely one of his uninherited spells, and it must point to some kind of—"
"It points to a path that even Kurtz himself might have abandoned."
Kurtz suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, yet it silenced the two arguing individuals.
He looked at Karlo. "Being fixated on the past, especially the overly dangerous parts, can sometimes become an obstacle for you."
"The development of magic is a continuous progression; it never relies on restoring some formula left behind by an ancient mage. Sometimes, older magic isn't necessarily stronger."
Kurtz's words seemed to be an evaluation of Karlo's research, and also a statement about humanity's millennia of continuous exploration and progress in magic.
Karlo was stunned. He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary mage to say such words.
He opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but couldn't find the right words for a moment.
Kurtz's gaze swept over the sketch, finally resting on Karlo's face, his tone softening slightly. "However, your spirit is commendable. You just need to distinguish your direction and learn to accept the imperfect parts. Kurtz—he was never that perfect."
With that said, Kurtz did not linger for much longer. He nodded slightly to Akafu and, pulling Serie along, left.
Akafu watched their retreating figures, deep in thought.
The black-haired man's tone when he spoke just now carried an inexplicable sense of vicissitude, and his attitude towards the origin codex was also unusual.
All of this made him feel a strange, indescribable sensation.
Karlo, on the other hand, stood frozen in place, watching them leave.
He then looked down at his treasured notebook, the phrase "Kurtz was never that perfect" hitting him like a splash of cold water.
But then, an even stronger surge of unwillingness welled up.
"How dare he say that?" he muttered to himself, his eyes growing even more resolute. "I must prove it! Prove Kurtz's perfection! Prove that this magic truly existed! Even if it takes my entire life, it will be worth it!"
This small interlude in the library, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, was soon forgotten by Kurtz and Serie.
[End of Chapter]
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