No, to be more precise, on the finger-long blade, the runes were extremely clearly divided into two parts.

——And no matter which part, it was too simple. Emilia even doubted whether such a simple spell was enough to produce real magical effects.

If one were to describe the two runes simply based on intuition, Emiya would say that the middle part looked like some kind of bomb, while the surrounding dense and complex runes were the patterns imprinted by flying debris.

Emiya had already briefly browsed through all the common enchantments in the past few days. He was sure that the enchantments in this world were definitely not so crude. At least, the enchantments performed by mages and priests were definitely not.

And what’s more important is - he has never heard of a Holy Avenger that can be made with a dagger!

The Holy Avenger is one of the most powerful holy swords in the world. It carries the blessings and expectations of its maker - usually a god - as well as the surging divine power in the heart of its paladin.

But what was this crude rune? If the production team hadn't sworn that this was a Holy Avenger, he would have thought it was just a low-level, entry-level enchanted dagger!

Emiya had seen two Holy Avengers with his own eyes, and he was very sure that the runes of the Holy Avenger were definitely not like this.

The difference between a dagger and a two-handed greatsword is simply too great! This length doesn't even allow it to be used as a blocking dagger. To put it bluntly, this dagger looks like it could be held in the forehand for suicide!

He hesitated for a moment and decided to find a real paladin to verify it.

[…Mars? I noticed that the mage sent a sample. I want you to verify it.]

To his surprise, Mars actually refused: "I can't leave right now. Can you postpone this matter for now, or let Yin come?"

【What are you doing? 】

[I'm looking into this mage's origins to see if he could possibly create a Holy Avenger.]

Mars would never believe that an ordinary wizard could suddenly create such a holy sword without any basic skills.

Before the paladin was the most boring kind of information—a list of the Friends of Candlekeep.

"Gao Li Fort... Gao Li Fort..." he muttered softly.

The person who donated the magical items was the owner of a famous wizard tower south of the Sword Coast.

This wizard tower is located south of Candlekeep, and its reputation in Faerun can be said to be quite good - for many years it has been famous for its expertise in making magical items, and even sells various expensive and rare golems.

Even more valuable is that the masters of this Mage Tower have all had good reputations, are kind and reliable, but they were not very active in recruiting disciples, so the number of disciples is sparse.

It is natural for a wizard tower like this to interact with the people of Gond.

"……found it."

Lord of High Hedge Castle, the fourth Lord of High Hedge Castle, Wilt.

Mars' fingers suddenly stopped.

This friend of the Gond people, and also one of the Friends of Candlekeep, had just logged in a few years ago—born in 1406 of the Valley Calendar, making him sixty-five years old this year. His teacher was Unint, the former Lord of Highhedge Keep.

Wunint, this name is much more famous than his student. Mars quickly found the information of Wunint. However, Wunint's teacher was not the Lord of Gaoli Castle, but a wizard who also came from Gaoli Castle, named Melican.

At this moment, Mars found a note in the gap.

"note……?"

[Note that both Unint and his student Welt appear to be wild mages.]

Wild Mage?!

When Mars saw this word, he felt his head buzzing.

[Emiya, I have some news... maybe it's bad news.]

*****************************

"Wild Mage? What is that?" Yin's eyes were filled with confusion and surprise. "A brand new school of mage?"

"I've... heard a little about it." Emiya felt cold sweat on her forehead. "In short, this is a relatively new school of thought. Its birth and development stemmed from a phenomenon called the Wild Magic Zone."

Yin blinked, his cyan pupils practically emitting sparks: "What is that?! I've never heard of it before! What's the impact?"

The Wild Magic District itself is no longer just arcane knowledge. Even the Candlekeep monks present can recite it by heart: "A strange phenomenon. One theory is that it was first witnessed during the Time of Troubles."

At this point, another monk added, "Another, more wild hypothesis claims that the greatest horror of the Time of Troubles itself was that all of Faerûn briefly became a zone of wild magic. During that period, magic became extremely unstable. A familiar spell had a significant chance of illogically mutating into another spell, beyond the predictability of both caster and recipient. This effect paralyzed countless churches and caused countless mages to inexplicably perish from the mutated spells."

"...Huh?" For the first time, an expression of shock crossed Gin's face. "What do you mean... a mutation? Does it mean the magic missiles turned into multicolored balls?"

"According to records, the impact of the Wild Magic Zone is much more exaggerated than that." A monk waved his hand heavily. "The most outrageous record is that a team that accidentally entered the Wild Magic Zone encountered the following situation: there was a lack of lighting in the dense forest, and they tried to cast a light spell. But this spell somehow turned into summoning monsters, and a group of earth elves suddenly appeared in front of them. After a brief confusion, the two sides immediately engaged in a battle. Just as the wizard tried to use shattering sound waves to expel the enemies in front of him, the shattering sound waves turned into a fireball spell that he himself had not yet learned, instantly engulfing the entire battlefield in a sea of ​​fire. Everyone present was seriously injured or even died on the spot. The priest didn't understand what was happening at all. When he tried to rescue the team, his healing magic summoned a huge boulder, crushing his companions to pieces.

"In short, under the influence of the Wild Magic Zone, an ordinary adventurer team was reduced to only one person in an instant."

“…Ah? Ah?”

As for Yin, his eyes were filled with a rare look of confusion, and he was a little shaky. "...The magic network can mutate into this effect? ​​Why? I can't understand! What on earth happened to lead to this result?"

"No one knows the underlying principle, but some have tried to imitate it," the monks replied. "This phenomenon, known as Wild Fluctuation, proves that humans can unleash power beyond their limits. At least within the Wild Magic Zone, they can do this. So, some mages began trying to imitate the chaotic yet free power of the Wild Magic Zone. The most famous result is the Naha Maniac Curse."

"It's a first-level spell, but it possesses a degree of power comparable to a wish—it can mimic all spells the caster knows. In other words, for a sufficiently powerful wild wizard, using the power of a first-level spell to mimic a wish is not a fool's dream. Although this process is extremely dangerous and will inevitably trigger a violent magical fluctuation known as a wild wave, even for a powerful wild wizard, the probability of successfully completing the simulation is pitifully low, requiring the assistance of other wild wizards."

Emiya was silent for a moment, raised the dagger in her hand, and looked at it again.

He seemed to understand something.

No one would try to use the Naha Reckless Spell to create a magic item...

That shouldn't be the case? Huh?!

Right? !

This group of wild mages is just as their name suggests, a little too wild!

The Nineteenth Resurrected Archmage Toss

[Do you want to borrow information related to wild magic? ]

Lude felt that his calm and composed state of mind, which had lasted for many years, had been completely destroyed in the past few days.

Build Holy Avengers, build Holy Avengers. Your ingenuity benefits Candlekeep, that's a fact, so I've loaned you the monks.

Why is Wild Magic suddenly being invoked now? Is there any connection between the Holy Avenger, beloved by the most stern paladins, and Wild Magic?

But, after all, it's just borrowing books.

Even if Emilia was just an ordinary visitor, she was fully qualified to borrow such materials.

Information on wild magic was quite rare, but not nonexistent. As for the harm caused by wild magic? Compared to the "great achievements" that the mage class had already accomplished, it was nothing serious—at least most of the time, it only harmed itself.

[Unfortunately, research on wild magic has been progressing very slowly, and the relevant information is scattered throughout the Fertile Castle... Please ask the monks to find it.]

Afterwards, the communication between the two was cut off, and Lude covered his face and sighed - since coming to Candlekeep, almost everything this up-and-coming star did was beyond his expectations.

However, before the Scripture Keeper could sit down, Stutin's communication immediately began to bombard Lude's mind: [Scripture Keeper! Something big has happened!]

Lude suddenly stood up, picked up his weapon and prepared to go out: [What? The enemy launched an attack? ]

[No, it's not dangerous—but it's bizarre! Totally unpredictable! I'll be there soon and explain everything in person!]

Almost at the same time, the chief reader stumbled and ran to the rooftop. He was so anxious that he didn't even want to wait for such a short time.

The Chief Reader gasped and opened the Scripture Keeper's door. "Scripture Keeper! Something terrible has happened! The vision in Candlekeep has... a completely unexpected result. We may have to reconsider our previous precautions!"

"Just tell me what happened first!"

Stutin clutched his throat and gasped, "A dead shadow has reappeared."

"......?" Lude was silent for a while, a little confused, and couldn't help but take a breath.

There is no need to pay any attention to ordinary ghosts of the dead, just let them get beaten to a pulp by the forbidden magic.

There could only be one reason why Stutin was so panicked: a dead man had come, but Candlekeep could not expel or destroy him, but on the contrary, it had to protect him.

"...Tell me, whose shadow appeared?" Lude frowned. "The great prophet Alando?"

It is now known that Alandor is the greatest prophet and leader in Candlekeep's history. It can also be said that it was Alandor's appearance and residence that turned Candlekeep into a fortress of knowledge.

If the shadow of Alando really appeared... the monks of Candlekeep would have no choice but to let him come and go freely, and there was absolutely no possibility of him attacking their ancestors.

"No..." Stutin breathed a sigh of relief. "The person who appeared was someone who had neither killed anyone in Candlekeep nor died in Candlekeep, but who had a close connection with Candlekeep."

"Who?"

But the answer wasn't even that important anymore—it meant Candlekeep was being sucked into a bigger vortex.

"Toss, Archmage Toss!" Stutin finally called out the name. "By Oghma! The shadow of Archmage Toss, who has been dead for hundreds of years and suppressed Milim, has appeared in Candlekeep! He is thinking normally and communicating with us freely, as if he had never died!"

*****************************

Toss appeared in Candlekeep in full view of everyone.

There was no way this earth-shattering news could be suppressed.

Those still within Candlekeep were either close friends or resident monks. Who didn't know how much trouble Milim had caused Candlekeep over the years? Consequently, Archmage Toth's deeds were widely known within Candlekeep.

The archmage successfully restrained a silver dragon and ordered it to atone for its sins for Candlekeep for twenty years. However, the archmage did not survive the next twenty years.

Unfortunately, the magic that the wizard had placed on the silver dragon was powerful, but it didn't automatically break after the time limit expired. Furthermore, Toss was incredibly powerful, and countless other wizards had come to him, only to find themselves unable to remove the magic on his behalf.

At least the result was clear: Milim was tortured by this oath, which had theoretically expired, for hundreds of years, unable to leave Candlekeep even a single step - even if she eventually died and her body decayed, her soul still could not leave.

Toss was the source of everything Candlekeep faced. If he was willing to lend a hand, he could help Candlekeep resolve Milim, a centuries-old threat, and even help investigate the source of the current crisis. Alternatively, he could significantly alleviate the pressure on Candlekeep's defenses.

And this great wizard was currently standing quietly in the corridor inside the walls of Candlekeep, flipping through a copy of the Candlekeep Weekly he came across. In the current Candlekeep, this was the only place that was clearly not covered by the forbidden spell.

As Lude and Stutin rushed towards Toth's location, they quickly asked a senior reader: Are you sure it was Toth? How did he offer to help Candlekeep? What was his reaction? Was there any obvious hostility?

Even after carefully questioning each one, the results were clear: Toth's appearance was almost identical to the image left behind by Candlekeep. Meanwhile, after a brief moment of confusion and bewilderment, Toth's previously domineering aura quickly subsided. He now simply waited for his meeting with the Keeper of the Scripture.

As soon as he left the Central Library, Lude immediately knew that the news had spread throughout Candlekeep.

The monks who remained in the outer courtyard were almost all the backbone and high-ranking officials of various churches. Although these no longer young priests had not yet put down their work, their eyes were clearly constantly glancing in the same direction. This silent commotion reached its peak when Lude appeared.

Normally, Lude would have reprimanded them. However, Lude hadn't made a final decision yet—everything depended on the true situation of the shadowy figure who called himself Toss.

The two highest leaders of Candlekeep quickly walked outside the south wall. Lude asked the priest outside the door, "Is Lord Toss inside the wall?"

"He's inside." The priest dressed as a musician replied in a low voice, "However, he calls himself the Shadow of Toth and says he is not Toth."

Have a reflection on your own existence?

Lude and Stutin looked at each other.

This is a serious and even dangerous signal.

The visions of Candlekeep may not only protect Toth.

As soon as the two of them stepped into the city wall, their eyes, which had adapted to the changes in light and darkness, immediately captured the target in their field of vision.

A figure dressed in a loose wizard's robe was quietly meditating with his eyes closed inside the city wall.

"Such a surge of magic power..." Lude couldn't help but sigh in a low voice.

The priest's sensitivity to magic and magic lines was far inferior to that of the mage, but in front of the two of them, the power flowing from the shadow of Toth was exaggerated to the point of being terrifying, and the overflowing magic was enough to make the priest feel short of breath.

Maybe it's because of sheer strength, or maybe it's because of lack of control.

But no matter what, it is very unusual for a phantom to have such power.

However, Lude was still a little hesitant.

Archmage Toss was already an old man with a beard that reached the ground when he was active in Candlekeep. But this Toss... didn't seem to be that old.

Although he was a shadow, he exuded an aura of life that was difficult to conceal. He looked to be no more than sixty years old, and his appearance was similar to that of Elminster.

There was no expression on his serious face, nor any joy or uneasiness brought by his resurrection from the dead.

While Lud was still observing, Toth had already opened his eyes. He observed the reactions of the other priests, nodded, and saluted. "It seems that you two are the current leaders of Candlekeep... It seems that this year's Keeper and Chief Reader are both priests of Oghma. Strange, the two I met back then were priests of Deenil and Miril."

Lude returned the greeting and replied, "Yes, I am Lude, the current Keeper of the Book of Candlekeep. This is the Chief Reader, Stutin... Are you Master Toss?"

He looked surprisingly young.

"Strictly speaking, I'm not Tos," Tos's Shadow repeated. "If Tos were still alive, he would be hundreds of years old now. Unfortunately, even for a mage, it's too difficult for a human to live to that age. The real Tos would have already gone to the kingdom of Mystra by now."

Now that Mystra is dead and the kingdom of God has collapsed, the souls within may be taken in by the moon goddess Selûne - there is naturally no need to bring up such a thing at this time.

The Shadow of Toss clearly wasn't there to chat, choosing instead to get straight to the point. "There's no need to exchange pleasantries with the shadow of a dead man. Let me be frank—Milim never found liberation even in her death, a fact that was completely unexpected. The contract I signed with her was just an ordinary magical contract, nothing special. However, while these spells ensured the contract's execution, they also should have ensured its timely release."

"This is something that Candle Castle has been puzzled about for many years." Lude echoed, "We suspect that your magic power is too strong..."

"Has Lord Elminster been here? What was the result?" Toss's words were still very direct.

"The sage from Shadow Valley came here, but also returned empty-handed. However, by the time he arrived at Candlekeep to resolve this matter, Milim was already dead..." Lude hesitated. "We're not sure if Milim was bound here for the same reason both before and after her death."

"It's a reasonable guess," said Toth. "My lifespan will only be a hundred years. No matter what I compare myself to, I'm far less powerful than Elminster. If he can't do anything, then it means Milim is bound and unable to escape, not because of me."

"It's not because of you?!"

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