Dividing the Sea

Truly amazing.

Ryan knew very well that Flora’s magical proficiency was extremely high, but before this, he always found such a high level incredible.

Because if his guess was correct, Flora would have had almost no resources for training and study during her childhood.

This wasn’t to say Ryan disdained the poor or commoners, but from an objective analysis, without money, progress was truly difficult.

Not to mention that after the rise of the evil forces, the hypocritical Blue Lion family would likely suppress and ostracize any orphaned servants within their clan.

However, after listening to Flora’s recent explanation of magical power and magic, and recalling her past problem-solving approaches, the doubts in Ryan’s heart completely vanished.

Flora was meant to be this remarkable.

No matter the environment, she would absolutely shine.

“‘You couldn’t possibly be an Archmage, could you?’”

Ryan couldn’t help but say.

“‘Your Highness overpraises me; my level is far from that of a true Archmage,’ Flora waved her hand.”

Above a Grand Mage was an Archmage, yet in the vast empire, there wasn’t a single Archmage currently.

But Ryan had a feeling that Flora wasn’t simply being modest; rather, she had genuinely seen one.

Ryan suppressed the urge to directly ask who it was, and instead asked,

“Then what does it take to be considered an Archmage?”

“‘The principle isn’t actually difficult; it’s about treating magical power as if it were a person,’ Flora immediately replied.

‘People have joys, sorrows, anger, and pleasure, their seven emotions and six desires… Magical power is actually the same, and magic is the means to help them achieve their life goals.’”

“Therefore, wherever an Archmage went, magical power would flock to them, cheering joyfully at the arrival of magic, and all things would anticipate him leaving his magical mark upon this world.”

A person quickly came to Ryan’s mind.

That was a man who forever followed behind someone like a shadow, yet was also like the embodiment of light.

Bright Champion.

Rumor had it he was a Son of Light, a saint incarnate, and a strong candidate for the next Pontiff.

He remembered the feeling last year when the man walked past him, how the magical power in the air became active?

At the time, he had thought the man was simply displaying his power…

Now, after hearing Flora’s explanation, he understood that Champion, whom his brother had once referred to as slightly overshadowing him, had actually already reached the Archmage realm, to the astonishment of countless people.

‘One family, two talents – truly a blessing for the nation.’

Upon hearing this, Ryan couldn’t help but smile inwardly…

To think some still called him one of the Empire’s Twin Jewels; he truly felt unworthy.

However, Ryan quickly realized something else from this—

Flora seemed to have met Bright Champion up close, and might even have received guidance from him.

Considering that Ast might have a good relationship with Flora, Ryan suddenly had a new thought:

‘Could it be that Ast discovered Flora from the Blue Lion family, and through that connection, she received Bright’s guidance?’

This judgment was based on Old Hope’s past achievement of discovering that person from the Blue Lion family.

But ultimately, it was an imagination based on insufficient information, and Ryan didn’t let his thoughts wander; instead, he quickly brought his attention back to reality.

“‘From this perspective, magic is truly powerful; I fear I might have chosen the wrong path.’”
Ryan sighed.

“‘That’s not true; knights are also very formidable, it’s just that what they can accomplish is slightly different from mages…

But if it’s just standing on the water like this, Your Highness Ryan can also do it,’ Flora said with a smile.”

“‘I can’t do that.’”

Ryan had no intention of pretending to be capable; when he had just seen what Flora did, he had already wondered if he could do better.

Other than instantly crossing the entire lakeside, he couldn’t leisurely stroll like a mage… Wait.

‘Could he really not do it?’

Having been with Flora for so long, even Ryan understood that at such a moment, he couldn’t evade or give up thinking.

However, with his rigid mindset, he couldn’t figure it out for a while.

“‘Your Highness has done very well, but this time, allow me to guide you,’ Flora said with a smile. ‘This time, I will—’”

“‘As a warrior, although one cannot explore the mysteries of all things or change phenomena like a mage, in forging the body and soul, and tracing the origin of things, a warrior is superior.’”

“‘Your Highness, with continuous training, and as your skills and level improve, won’t your control over your body and your grasp of power become exceptional?

This is actually the same principle as a mage reversing the mining process.’”

“‘Warriors don’t have magic, but they have proficiency with various weapons.

Even if you only use a sword, as your skill becomes exquisite, you can unleash ever-changing sword techniques…

This is no different from various kinds of magic.’”

Ryan nodded lightly, but was still not entirely satisfied.

“Mages can achieve this level with sorcery, but warriors cannot do so with mere movement techniques.”

“Your Highness, please consider, how many sword strikes and what kind of force does it take to kill an ordinary person?”
Ryan was slightly taken aback.

“What if you replace the person with a soldier wearing plate armor? Then, with an average mage?

And then… with a tree – do you know where to strike with your sword, and how much force to use, to fell it with a single blow?”

Ryan couldn’t help but close his eyes, beginning to imagine.

“Then, if the target becomes this lakeside, how would you split it apart?”

The intricate patterns of the world suddenly became clear and expansive.

Countless things transformed into collections of lines and points before him.

As long as he pierced the corresponding point or cut along a specific trajectory, that object would inevitably be killed or destroyed by him.

But Ryan became even more dissatisfied.

“If this is the end for knights, then he might as well—”

“Your Highness, do not focus solely on one situation. Since you are unwilling to break the old, why not try thinking in reverse?

If you swing your sword not for destruction, can you perhaps achieve other things?”

Ryan was slightly startled.

“Just like a barber, who is essentially wielding a weapon, yet they can make us more comfortable and better looking.”

“Or a gardener removing weeds; though the weeds lose their life, the plants they wish to cultivate can thrive because of it.”

In his imagined world, more lines and points appeared.

But these were no longer points and lines of death.

At the same time, he discovered that it wasn’t just Flora and the coachman.

The windows, the carriage, the lakeside, the air…

Everything.

Everything was breathing.

Everything was alive.

“This is… this world is one where knights and mages coexist.”

“There’s no reason for all things in the world to welcome only mages.”

Ryan gently stepped down from the carriage.

He simply stepped on the water, and no matter what, he couldn’t sink.

Although this was a feat only a Heavenly Knight could achieve, an ordinary knight, even without magic, could still perform the ‘light body water-walking’ technique – a level achieved by pre-Magic Knights.

Thinking this, he tried lifting one foot, then lifting the other.

He couldn’t help but smile.

‘So… the name “Sky Knight” was truly real, not a fabricated half-truth.’

“Your Highness, please offer a sword strike to the lakeside.”

Ryan drew his sword.

He felt the artificial lake breathing.

He felt the artificial lake’s life.

Following a certain trajectory, he could effortlessly ‘kill’ the artificial lake.

But what he needed to do now was not such a thing.

Rather, it was to resolve its worries and difficulties.

The lake had long been displeased with those who suddenly swarmed, breaking its tranquility.

But it also understood that these people ultimately needed to pass.

So, it wished to ask Ryan for a favor.

“Very well,”

Ryan lightly swung his sword.

The lake water parted, creating a wide path from the base of the academy’s mountain to the shore.

“How was that?”

Ryan silently returned to the carriage, having now understood the blonde girl’s deeper intention.

“A total of three people noticed Your Highness’s presence… and one other had perceived us from the moment we left the shore.”

Flora praised, “These three are, without a doubt, excellent talents.”