Episode 09
The Magazine
Late at night.
After attending to a neighbor who came to borrow the oven, Lumian went up to the second floor and entered the room that doubled as a study.
Many poor households in Cordu village had neither an oven nor a large fireplace. So, when they needed to bake bread or smoke meat, they had no choice but to borrow from others. To such requests, Aurore was always open. Generous, she would let anyone use the oven and fireplace as long as they paid for the fuel or brought their own coal or firewood.
Already changed into a white silk slip nightgown, she was curled up in an armchair, focused on a book in her hand under the bright desk lamp powered by batteries.
Without disturbing her, Lumian roughly pulled a relatively thin book from the bookcase and sat down on a chair in the corner.
‘The Veiled Secret’… What kind of magazine is this?
Glancing at the cover filled with strange symbols, Lumian felt rising suspicion.
As he quickly skimmed through the magazine, he became shocked.
This magazine, which discussed the forms of existence of the human soul, claimed that all things had souls, and that through secret methods, one could communicate with such souls and receive various kinds of help.
Though not particularly devout, merely going along with the trend by occasionally praying and attending mass at the Church of the Eternal Sun, two words automatically surfaced in Lumian’s mind.
Sacrilege!
Taboo!
For a house belonging to a mystic like Aurore, who would be taken by the Inquisition and burned at the stake if exposed, having such a book was perfectly normal. However, the magazine in Lumian’s hand clearly bore the government’s publication permit stamp.
Could such a book be published legitimately? Weren’t publication censors always very strict? Or is it a forged permit…
Lifting his head, Lumian looked at Aurore and asked:
“Is this a banned magazine?”
Aurore shifted her gaze from her book to her brother and answered in a nonchalant voice:
“It used to be. Originally belonged to underground literature, but somehow it passed censorship and became officially published. Even the Church of the Eternal Sun isn’t cracking down but tacitly allowing it.”
“Literature?”
Lumian couldn’t quite understand his sister’s expression.
“Of course it’s literature. You don’t actually believe what’s in it, do you?”
Aurore burst out laughing.
“If what’s written there were true, could it have been published? Even if you follow the instructions, all you’ll get is a weakened spirit and nervousness. Hmm, occasionally there might be a bit of truth written, but without the corresponding ritual language, any attempt is just wasted effort.”
It was a professional mystic’s assessment.
“I see…”
Lumian couldn’t hide his disappointment.
“I was just surprised such a book could be published.”
Aurore puffed out her cheeks as if deep in serious thought.
“I’m not sure of the reason either. Maybe it’s because in recent years, abnormal phenomena—hmm, phenomena related to transcendent elements—have been occurring more frequently everywhere. As a result, simply hiding them has become impossible, and with specific trends arising from this, the government might feel the need to let people know to some extent, thus relaxing control over similar publications. In Trier, three magazines—Soul Communication, Lotus, and Arcane—are very popular. They’re also on my bookshelf, so if you’re interested, take a look. They’ll help you spin much more plausible tales at the tavern too.”
“Alright.”
While clearly feeling deep interest, Lumian also marveled.
Aurore really had a rich and varied collection of books!
Lumian, who had dropped out of school, understood the world, this continent, this country he lived in precisely because of these books and the explanations he frequently heard from Aurore.
This world had two continents, north and south, separated by the rough, hard-to-navigate Berserk Sea. As for the legendary eastern and western continents, since no one had arrived, even their existence couldn’t be confirmed.
The Intis Republic where Lumian and Aurore lived was located in the central part of the northern continent, bordering the Mist Sea to the west and the Peysark Empire to the north. To the east, it faced the Roen Kingdom, blocked by the Hornakis mountain range, and to the south, it bordered, in order, the Peneport Kingdom, Renburg, and Mason.
Small countries like Segar between the Peneport and Roen Kingdoms, grouped with Renburg and Mason as central-southern region nations, shared the commonality of believing in the God of Knowledge and Wisdom.
The southern continent had already fallen to being colonies of several northern continent nations. The Balam Empire, the Pass Kingdom, the Hakati Kingdom, and other kingdoms had all lost most of their sovereignty. Of course, resistance to the colonial system was ceaseless.
The Berserk Sea between the north and south continents, the Mist Sea west of the Intis Republic, the Sonia Sea east of the Roen Kingdom, the North Sea north of the Paysark Empire, and the Polar Sea south of the southern continent were collectively called the Five Seas.
Among the nations of the northern continent, the Roen Kingdom had the strongest comprehensive power, followed by the Intis Republic. The Paysark Empire, defeated in the last war, had fallen to fourth place, while the Peneport Kingdom had risen to third. Among the central-southern nations, Renburg was the strongest.
Compared to the country bumpkins of Cordu village who only knew of the Intis Republic, the Peneport Kingdom, and Renburg, Lumian could almost be called a geographer.
Even that was because shepherds in Cordu village needed to know about the neighboring Peneport Kingdom and Renburg for their grazing grounds, so they had some understanding of those two countries. Villagers in the northern part of the Dalar region only knew of their own country’s major cities like Trier or Suhit, apart from nearby hamlets, villages, and towns.
Occasionally, Lumian really wondered how Aurore knew so much.
All the textbooks he studied were provided by Aurore, and all the exams he took were also set by her. Any questions arising from reading books could be answered by Aurore.
Most importantly, she didn’t stop there but had also mastered various schools of martial arts.
It wasn’t something a woman just over twenty could do. Ordinary people couldn’t accumulate such a vast amount of knowledge even after living fifty or sixty years.
Could it be a basic requirement for becoming a true mystic?
Lumian looked up at Aurore again.
Aurore, tapping her cheek with a finger while reading, didn’t look like a scholar or a mystic.
“What are you looking at?”
Noticing his gaze, Aurore asked.
“You said last time I have enough knowledge to take the high school unified entrance exam.”
Lumian changed the subject.
Aurore thought for a moment before answering.
“Theoretically, you could get into any college. But having never taken such an exam myself, I can’t be sure of the exact scope. Roselle’s harm to people is not small. Sigh, though it’s a good system…”
The high school unified entrance exam was also a system created during Emperor Roselle’s consulship and continued since.
Aurore seemed to remember something suddenly and smiled at Lumian.
“Why didn’t you go to the tavern to spin tales today?”
“I’m not a real drunkard, you know.”
Lumian shook the magazine in his hand.
“Reading at home is much more enjoyable.”
And more helpful for calming the mind and stabilizing the spirit…
He added inwardly.
Nodding, Aurore looked at the corner where Lumian was sitting.
“Why sit there? Trying to look pitiful, weak, and helpless? Come here. You need bright light for reading at night, otherwise your eyes will get worse.”
Aurore sure says strange things sometimes. The three words ‘pitiful’, ‘weak’, and ‘helpless’ make sense separately, but strung together like that is weird. Doesn’t seem like normal usage.
But already accustomed to Aurore’s expressions, Lumian pulled his chair closer to the desk.
Sitting side by side under the bright desk lamp, he and Aurore read quietly, occasionally chatting.
The sounds of breathing, pages turning, and the night wind occasionally blowing outside the window were comfortable and peaceful.
✧ ✧ ✧
After bidding Aurore goodnight, Lumian returned to his room.
Taking off his coat, he again hung it on the back of the chair. This was to avoid getting into bed while carrying the wand card. That way, he could avoid raising Aurore’s suspicion, as she said she was watching him closely.
Just as he was about to step towards the bed, feeling a sudden impulse, Lumian stopped abruptly.
Rolling his eyes, he adjusted the chair that was always placed at an angle to face the window squarely.
Only then did he get into bed and turn off the kerosene lamp on the nearby drawer.
How long after falling asleep normally? Lumian shuddered and regained consciousness.
His vision was filled again with his bedroom shrouded in light gray fog.
Having mentally prepared himself, Lumian calmly looked around and noticed something.
The chair he had adjusted to face squarely before sleep remained at its usual slanted angle in the dream.
So, the dream bedroom doesn’t strictly reflect reality. This probably stems from the deepest impressions in my subconscious.
Lumian didn’t know what it meant, but he felt it worth remembering.
Approaching the window, he placed both hands on the desk and looked out.
Mountain peaks of brown stone and reddish-brown earth, surrounded by layers of ruined buildings, came into view.
This place was deathly silent.
Time was passing quickly. After hesitating for a while, Lumian finally decided.
Tonight, I’ll do some basic exploration!
Having lived as a vagrant, his will was quite resolute.
Instead of going straight downstairs and entering the ruins, Lumian opened a drawer and began putting on layers of clothes.
Not because of the cold, but to increase his defense this way.
Fully dressed in padded clothes and trousers, plus a leather jacket, Lumian moved his body this way and that, deciding he couldn’t wear any more. Any further would likely affect his agility. That was more important.
Adapted to his current state, an idea flashed in Lumian’s mind.
This is my dream, so can’t I get what I want directly?
Holding this thought, he muttered softly:
“I need a breastplate and a pistol… I need a breastplate and a pistol…”
But in the room shrouded in light gray fog, no change occurred.
Guess not. This dream is indeed special.
Quickly shaking off a faint sense of disappointment, Lumian opened the bedroom door and entered the hallway.
The unlit hallway was dim.
Lumian opened Aurore’s bedroom door and the study door one after another. The interior layouts were slightly different from reality but generally matched. The biggest difference was the absence of Aurore in those two rooms, which seemed fixed in gray.
The first floor was the same.
Lumian began searching for a self-defense weapon. Familiar with the house, he quickly found two options.
One was a two-meter-long pitchfork with a steel tip. Borrowing Aurore’s words, it was a good weapon with excellent effect against targets without ranged weapons.
The other was a relatively sharp iron-black hand axe.
Who says you can’t choose both?
Unconsciously recalling Aurore’s usual sayings, Lumian ultimately decided against it.
Because today he only planned to conduct basic exploration. So, he needed a stealthy and cautious attitude. Moreover, such a long weapon would hinder movement and easily expose his presence.
Letting out a slow sigh, Lumian bent down and picked up the hand axe.
Then, standing up, he took one step after another towards the door through the light gray fog.
And quietly opened it.
