"From the floating city Weizelan in Modu?" Reyn was extremely surprised.
The Auriens Empire had seven floating cities, each ruled by a Holy Soul Mage, embodying the greatest magical power among mortals.
Reyn had learned this; in the Empire, it was common knowledge.
But how did Viola guess that elementalist was from Weizelan floating city?
Viola explained unhurriedly:
"Didn't you notice that elementalist's spells? All fire-based, few of them, and he kept using the same ones."
"Mages of the School of Magical Seals, not yet legendary, add three seal slots per soul transformation, two per Soul Ascension. A sixth-level elementalist, after two transformations and four ascensions, should have at least fourteen seal slots."
"If talent good and soul transformation high, even more slots, never fewer."
"Yet this elementalist used only six spells till death, far less than fourteen. Plus, each spell's power enhanced. Typical Modu school mage."
Reyn nodded slightly. Actually, he'd noticed this peculiarity long ago.
Soul Eye showed it clearly.
Then he thought the elementalist just special, even mentally nicknaming him "artillery mage."
But what was "Modu school mage"?
Reyn hesitated to ask. Viola, guessing his ignorance, continued:
"Modu school isn't like ordinary magic schools. It's an ideology, a choice of spellcasting method."
"What ideology?" Reyn asked curiously.
"There are thousands upon thousands of spells in the world. Besides the Goddess of Magic, no one can master them all, so choices must be made, sacrifices. Even Holy Soul Mages have spiritual power limits. They invest limited power into few spells, maxing power and minimizing cast time, pursuing 'fewer but better,' 'simple but strong,' achieving results through repeated casts."
Viola's eyes showed deep admiration:
"The greatest proponent is Holy Soul Mage Ansivodos, lord of Weizelan floating city."
"Rumor says Master Ansivodos is a fire specialist. His signature 'Fireball,' enhanced to ninth circle. He casts it fast and repeatedly, releasing at least five at once; their power terrifying."
Reyn listened, face stretching in surprise.
Ninth-circle "Fireball," five at once?
He'd just seen fourth-circle enhanced "Fireball," power like heavy artillery. Ninth-circle? Unimaginable.
Viola looked at Reyn's face:
"Since Weizelan floating city in Modu, Master Ansivodos's students follow this ideology, spreading it gradually, creating many mages specializing in few spells. Hence 'Modu school mages.'"
"Currently, about thirty percent of Empire mages, especially School of Magical Seals, support Modu ideology. But only true Weizelan natives dare follow it fully."
"Many support but don't fully commit, still filling all seal slots, spending spiritual power on it."
Viola casually took the silver ring.
"That elementalist was a true Modu school mage," she said. "This enchanted ring shows clear signs of Weizelan floating city craftsmanship. Need more guessing for origin?"
"I see," Reyn understood.
His magic knowledge superficial, but Modu school ideology suited him. So widespread, must be worthwhile.
"Only thirty percent support Modu school ideology. The rest?"
"Naturally, support Netheril school," Viola replied.
Reyn knew the name instantly.
Floating city Netheril in Empire capital Nortril. Lord Master Ogulevi, oldest living human mage, bearer of many grand titles, hero of countless legends.
First Holy Soul Mage in human history. Rumor he born before Empire founding, lived over two thousand years.
Invented Iolla Core, letting floating cities rise to sky.
Founded Higher Kemit Council.
No one knew Master Ogulevi's current level. Mastered both arcane and mental magic, titled "First Mage," strongest spellcaster in sublunar world, yielding only to gods. Fame thundered across many planes.
Even Abyss demons trembled at his name.
Viola didn't bother introducing Master Ogulevi—there was no one in the Empire who didn't know this greatest of the mighty.
She said directly:
"Netril School has always been the primary ideology of mages. Its goal is to master as many spells as possible, to maximize the number of slots for magical seals. There are many spells, they are diverse, the combat style is changeable and unpredictable. Followers of this school value victory through intellect above all, not overly concerned with increasing spell power. Even the simplest spell, even a minor focus applied at the right moment, can match the power of a legendary spell."
"Netril School has a famous saying: 'Magic is a contest of minds, not brute force.'"
Reyn roughly understood.
In his previous life, he'd played countless games. If drawing analogies, Modu School was like mages betting on the 'blue mana bar' and striving for maximum destructive power, whereas Netril School was about calculation and versatility.
It couldn't be said which of these ideologies was better or worse; each had its merits and flaws.
Modu School was simple and straightforward, and following its principles was easier. If your power surpassed your opponent's, you could easily crush him. However, its followers had few ways to handle complex situations, and if spell power fell short, they ended up in a passive position, struggling to turn the tide of battle under unfavorable conditions.
Netril School demanded greater effort and resources. One had to collect numerous magical seals, meticulously prepare for battle, and consider countless details with every spell cast. Their spells were reliable, they had many backup options, and they were masters of survival. But sometimes excessive calculation played a cruel trick on them. In unforeseen circumstances or errors, they could lose everything and doom themselves.
Viola continued:
"Since Netril School has a long history, and Master Ogulevi is its exemplar, more mages support this ideology—about fifty percent."
"Master Ansivodos gained fame nearly a thousand years ago, and his power rivals Master Ogulevi's. However, he's a more recent authority, so he has fewer followers—only thirty percent."
"The remaining twenty percent are supporters of Balance School, represented by Master Tim Keenan."
"Balance School's ideology is, essentially, balance. Master a moderate number of spells, enhance their power within reasonable limits. Don't strive to learn too many spells, but not too few either. Select certain spells and raise their circle, maintaining a balance of spiritual power between the number of spells and their potency."
"These three masters form the Triumvirate of the High Council, as well as the Empire's three strongest mages, each leading their own spellcasting ideology."
"Geographically, Modu School is prevalent on the southeast coast, Netril School in the north, in the capital Nortril, and Balance School in the west, in Longpis. They form a stable triangle on the great plain, the Empire's most densely populated and prosperous central region."
"And our Longsand lies beyond this triangle."
Reyn nodded slowly.
He recalled a famous saying from his previous life: "No parties outside the party—that's the emperors' mindset; no factions inside the party—that's a thousand oddities."
If he wasn't mistaken, these three spellcasting ideologies also defined factional divisions within the High Council. Mages with similar views inevitably allied with like-minded individuals.
The Aurien Empire had no emperor or political parties. But wherever people gathered and shared benefits, factions inevitably arose, competing and intriguing against each other.
Holy Soul Mages were people too. They held the reins of the Empire's power, and discord among them was inevitable.
The Triumvirate's factions, spreading from top to bottom, influenced the Empire's entire power structure.
For Reyn, though, all this was still too distant and unrelated to his interests. He showed no curiosity about it.
He looked at Viola, pressed against him, and asked:
"And which ideology do you support?"
"I'm a Mage of All Souls. I can change my spellcasting tactics at any moment by simply swapping soul card combinations, so I support all three ideologies," Viola's voice carried a hint of pride.
Reyn shook his head involuntarily:
"That's called a 'weathervane.'"
Viola lightly slapped his chest:
"What weathervane! It's the greatest advantage of a Mage of All Souls. If we had to choose, we'd likely lean toward Balance School."
She straightened up and said seriously:
"The three specializations of Soul Lords Schools are actually reflections of these three spellcasting ideologies."
"Shapeshifter Mage excels in transformations, strong in close combat, and masters a small number of spells—that's naturally Modu School."
"Mage of a Thousand Spells, as the name implies, commands a large number of spells through summoned beings—that's Netril School."
"Mage of All Souls has both powerful, rare elite soul cards and numerous weaker common ones. Their collection is diverse and unfixed, changing with needs. Combining both is a kind of balance, so of course we lean toward Balance School."
Reyn listened and nodded—it made sense.
Viola suddenly laughed and asked curiously:
"And which ideology would you support?"
"I..." Reyn pondered for a few seconds and quickly answered: "I'm a battle mage, can't master too many spells, so I'd lean toward Modu School."
"I knew it."
Viola looked at him as if it were obvious.
"With your fighting style, you'd definitely prefer the simple, straightforward Modu School. Netril School would be too complicated for you."
Having said that, she suddenly fell silent, covered her mouth, and smirked:
"Actually, no—you don't even know a single spell right now. What do these ideologies have to do with you?"
Reyn smiled bitterly. She'd hit a sore spot, and he had no retort.
He could only hug the beauty in his arms tighter and silence her with a protesting kiss.
After a long time, they finally stopped fooling around. Viola returned to the serious topic and said quietly:
"That elementalist was from Modu, so he's definitely connected to my uncle Galloweyna."
"He runs a river transport company, often sailing the Nakumo river in Modu, so he has extensive connections there. That warlock Helinni, who set a trap for me last time with him, was also from Modu."
"There might be several people who want me dead, but I can't imagine anyone but Galloweyna connected to Modu."
Viola's eyes deepened like the sea. Clearly, this assassination attempt had truly enraged her.