Black Magic, White Magic, and Grey Sorcery – 2

Celsius’s prison was as surreal as an ice castle. Dozens of statues, people frozen solid, trapped motionless within a jail of icicle bars. Though the bars were merely a display; the ice encasing their entire bodies was their true prison.

“It’s not as if I don’t understand you. One with such profound intellect tends to be arrogant. A magician who delves into deeper knowledge invariably dabbles in black magic, believing they can control it.”

Temperus was saying something, but there was something far more pressing at hand. My eyes rapidly counted the number of ice sculptures.

Twenty in total. A few less than I had taught. They probably hadn’t checked all of the Celsius territory yet. I’d instructed many in ritual magic even within the academy’s district, but they hadn’t captured them, or chosen not to?

“However, such arrogance only leads to the destruction of oneself and those around them. Frankly, your self-destruction is none of my concern, but I will not tolerate your ‘experiments’ unleashing a curse of black magic upon this land.”

I was surrounded by five guards. All of them were trained in Qi cultivation. Befitting the mercenaries of the magical Celsius family, all were skilled in Qi. Though the level wasn’t very high, since Qi wasn’t greatly valued, they were professionals when it came to its applications. They were experienced at playing the bully.

The mages? There were a few security mages, but they weren’t particularly outstanding either.

Except, Temperus was exceptional.

“It would be preferable to eliminate the impurity, but there’s Lady Elisha’s message…And above all, the achievements you’ve made are worth noting – teaching and civilizing the commoners. That’s no easy task. The Celsius family has deemed your abilities useful.”

Temperus himself was a considerable mage, but what was more notable was the magical infrastructure of the Celsius territory. As the executor, he was authorized to use the Celsius family’s magical facilities.

A mage’s power is amplified by how much preparation they have. Right now, Temperus possessed the power of the Celsius family.

My calculations were complete. I slowly opened my mouth.

“So, you’re saying I should just continue doing what I’ve been doing? Is that why you brought me here?”

“Hardly. The family requires two things from you. One, to be affiliated with the Celsius family and teach magic to the students. Two, to immediately cease the dissemination of black magic and proceed with the aftermath.”

“The aftermath?”

“Erasing the black magic you’ve sown in this land.”

Meaning, find them all and kill them. A considerably laborious and pointless task. I asked again.

“Right now?”

“Not quite. We cannot afford to cause a disturbance during the critical time of the Advent, so you must discreetly identify the black mages’ locations, and then eliminate them after the Advent is over.”

“It feels like we’ve already caused enough of a disturbance.”

Already more than twenty people have gone missing in the territory? As I spoke, gesturing towards the inside of the prison, Temperus scoffed.

“These lot? They are of the outer district. Those who live as parasites in the empty lands between territories. Even if they were bitten by a bear or drowned in the ice, nobody would know. There probably isn’t anyone looking for them.”

“Hmm. Is that so.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, it’s just…”

It wasn’t as if there wouldn’t be anyone looking for them at all. Shrugging, I crossed my arms and said,

“It’s just, there’s one part I don’t understand.”

“I believe I explained it quite concisely. What is it you do not comprehend?”

“The reason I teach ritual magic is because those dunces wouldn’t even be able to grasp the great mysteries of magic without it. A single ray of compassion that can be shown to the morons who will live their entire lives as commoners. That is what ritual magic is.”

Temperus didn’t truly understand ritual magic, and even less so, compassion. Temperus’s expression, unable to comprehend my words, shifted strangely.

“I don’t quite understand. Black magic is compassion? Are you out of your mind?”

“Explaining the sea to someone who’s lived their whole life inland is like trying to describe magic’s grandeur and ecstasy to a simpleton; they’ll only ever picture a large lake. How could they possibly understand? I taught them ritual magic to offer even a speck of sweetness to those excluded from magic their entire lives, condemned to a life unintentionally lacking.”

My actions within the Celsius estate were singular.

If I could teach white magic, I did. Those incapable received ritual magic. Consequently, all who learned from me became capable of wielding magic.

That was my principle. What I desired. Or rather, what they desired, one should say.

“Wh-What? Such… Black magic?! You spread such vile magic, sacrificing one’s own body, for such a reason?”

“You understand just how gracious magic can be, don’t you?”

“Even so! The abuse of black magic causes the body to rot from the extremities!”

“Doesn’t it already?”

The Celsius estate is comparatively better. Thanks to temperatures above freezing, even a little water magic can provide clean water and warmth. Because of this, they can manage small-scale farming within the estate.

However, such blessings do not extend to the Outlying Districts.

The northern reaches of the continent, devoid of magic, remain frigid. They melt ice and snow to drink, huddling in ramshackle tents to endure the cold. Clinging to discarded magical tools from the Celsius estate like treasures, they live a primitive existence.

“In the Outlying Districts, it’s common to lose hands or feet to frostbite. If a wound festers, the remedy is amputation before it rots further. What’s so special about black magic? Every moment is black magic to them. If their hands and feet are going to rot anyway, isn’t it less unjust to sever them themselves?”

Temperus seemed deeply shaken by my words. He remained speechless for some time, then, hand on his forehead, he said,

“…Ha. I thought you were dabbling out of curiosity, but this is a serious affliction. You refuse to bend your will?”

“You’re the one being stubborn. It’s always black magic this, black magic that. Even a parrot would articulate better than you.”

“I see it’s no use. Your ideology is dangerous. I was ordered to co-opt you if possible, but…”

*Thwick.* Temperus aimed his staff, and the temperature around me began to plummet. When I came to my senses, dozens of blades, crafted from transparent ice, hovered in the air, aimed at me.

“It’s better to dispose of you here. I am an executor of the Celsius family. I will eradicate black magic from this estate. Along with you.”

“Will that be alright? You said you didn’t want to cause a commotion?”

“For all your clever words, aren’t you just a wanderer, exiled from the Floating City? No one will know if I eliminate you here. Just like these Outlanders.”

Ice had already crept up to my ankles. I couldn’t move my feet in this state. A hopeless, fatal situation.

However, Temperus’s assumptions were mistaken.

“Is that so? They should be arriving any moment now.”

“…You keep saying that. What should?”

“Though the Outlying Districts may be forsaken land, not everyone has abandoned it. If a child who visits every day doesn’t come, naturally, they would search for their whereabouts, wouldn’t they?”

“Who are you talking about?”

I didn’t need to answer. That person had already arrived.

Strength is sufficient. Willpower is abundant. All that was lacking was a catalyst.

“In the name of the Celestial God and the Saintess, I declare. Since the primordial dust clouds settled over seven nights and day, dividing the land and sky, all I require is time. That which is wicked shall wither in time.”

The one who had protected faith and the weak for many long years completed the sacred incantation. Resembling a magician’s spell yet entirely different, the incantation of baptism, reciting a passage from the Holy Book, echoed, recreating a miracle.

“Pour time upon the head of the lamb.”

Magic is the art of binding phenomena with the chains of magical power, dragging them into reality. Because it is unnatural, it scatters and vanishes if left unattended. All that is needed is time.

Gospel, Time Pouring.

The ice melts away. Magical power scatters and withers. Scattering shimmering dust, the binding ice used to freeze humans melted into the purifying light. Bright sunlight shone where it had melted.

Only one person in the Celsius estate could unleash such divine power. Temperus spoke his name.

“Father Casas…!”

Amidst the scattering light, Father Casas emerged, cradling Richard in his arms. Holding a rosary in one hand, and with the luminous Holy Book floating in the air, he cried out in a solemn voice.

“Executor Temperus. Cease at once!”

“A flunky of the Holy See daring to interfere in family matters!”

“I should say the same! Dragging an innocent child into your squabble! Do you have no common sense, no compassion!”

A hero appears. For me, and for Richard as well.

The Holy See is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful forces on this continent. The reason people often forget that fact is that they are so reticent to show it.

They haven’t seized a vast nation, nor do they wield mighty authority. The Holy See simply *is*. In the hearts of men, in churches, in monasteries, and in holy places.

But the Holy See does possess power. The Missionary Casas, clutching his Bible and rosary, is proof of that.

Just as I was inwardly cheering at the arrival of our reinforcements, Missionary Casas pointed at me and erupted in anger.

“Isn’t that the mage who spread wicked knowledge! Instead of punishing him, you seek to capture and kill the innocent! How can you call yourself an adult while doing such a thing!”

…Guess he’s not on my side?