He finally knew why he hadn't heard of Baroness Maria in Whitestag. It turned out that she was from the royal capital.
However, the fact that she was able to buy the niros crocodile specimen from Sir Fux for 45 crowns and Sir Fux didn't dare to refuse her request was a testament to her wealth and power.
From a commercial point of view, it wasn't that the niros crocodile specimen wasn't worth 45 crowns. Sir Fux would've made a killing selling it for that price. After all, he had only spent four crowns to buy it from Borkal.
But the problem was that such a huge niros crocodile had always been priceless. If he were to make a specimen and sell it in the kingdom, he would be able to earn a lot of money. Sir Fux would be able to flaunt it to his guests for quite some time. How could he sell something that could bring him so much pride?
Judging from Maria's boastful tone, she must've rushed to Whitestag to find Sir Fux the moment she heard that someone in Whitestag managed to hunt such a huge niros crocodile and requested to buy the specimen.
That meant that Sir Fux knew her and knew her background. Perhaps he had connections with her family, so he didn't dare to offend her and could only agree to her request.
Claude suddenly thought of the analogy of the big fish eating the small fish and the small fish eating the shrimps. Perhaps they were the shrimps and Sir Fux was the small fish while Maria was the big fish, and the inconspicuous kind at that.
However, he couldn't understand why a niros crocodile like that would attract her attention and make her rush all the way from the royal capital.
"Ugh … I didn't think I'd see this crocodile here either. To be honest, I was quite shocked.
But I don't know why you would rush all the way from the royal capital for this crocodile. Are you planning to exhibit it in the royal capital? "Claude pretended to be curious.
Maria rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not that bored. I'm buying it because I need its skin.
You don't know that niros crocodile skin is the best material for crafting tomes, do you? "
He really didn't know about that, so he could only nod and admit it.
Maria shook her head, "I really don't know where you learned magic, nor do I want to know about your magic heritage. This is a taboo topic for any mage.
But I have to tell you, although you know magic, you don't understand the development of magic in this world. You don't know a lot of common knowledge about magic … "
Well, Claude had to admit that she had a point. She was rather straightforward and said whatever was on her mind. She wasn't like the other nobles who would beat around the bush.
However, it also meant that Claude lacked the means to get information from the outside world.
Just as Maria had said, Stellin X had a registered mage release more than 200 Radiant Pearls during the Revival Festival banquet, turning the royal court into a palace that never sleeps. Such news couldn't be found in any newspapers.
That was the biggest drawback of living in a small place like Whitestag. Even though he could hide his identity as a magus, he couldn't learn about the developments in magic and the changes in the outside world.
It was the first time he felt the urge to visit the royal capital. He wanted to see for himself what Maria said about magic.
"I'm sorry, Madam."
Claude gave it some thought and felt that some things could be said directly. Additionally, he had quite a good impression of the straightforward Maria. "I just happened to get my hands on a rune magus' diary and started learning magic out of curiosity.
In fact, I had only just started meditating when I killed the niros crocodile. I didn't know how to cast any spells back then.
I only managed to learn a few spells last month. "
"Wait, you mean a rune magus?
Are you sure you learned the legacy of a rune magus? "Maria asked excitedly.
Claude shook his head. "Madam, I don't know if I learned the legacy of a rune magus. The owner of the diary claimed to be a rune magus and there were a few alchemical experiments written in it. There was also a hexagram meditation spell and five spell formations. I trained according to those."
He decided that he would find a way to forge a magus' diary when he got back. He spoke too quickly and forgot that Landes' era was more than six hundred years ago. Only the magic tomes could be preserved after such a long time. How should he go look for the materials for the talismans?
What if Maria wanted to read the diary that he was talking about?
If she could get Sir Fux to sell her the crocodile specimen, he wouldn't be able to refuse her request.
Just as he was worrying, Maria chuckled. "Claude, there's no need to tell me that. Every magus' legacy is their personal secret.
Even registered magi like us have our own legacies. They aren't just the harmless spells that the kingdom's special department wants us to learn, understand? "
Claude said awkwardly, "Madam, you're the first magus I've interacted with. You know I don't know much about magic."
"I'll forgive you on account of your youth."
Maria chuckled again. "Rune magus is what magi were called before they were chased out of the continent.
Back then, there were only two types of magi: rune magi and battle magi.
However, in the great war 500 years ago, battle magi suffered the heaviest casualties. By the time the magi left Freia and retreated to Higros Island, there weren't many battle magi left.
Even though the various countries on the continent have begun to research and train magi in secret, they've changed their names from rune magi to alchemists.
Their goals are different as well. What alchemists study is how to achieve magical effects using normal means. You'll understand if I give you an example, such as running water and flushing toilets. I'm sure you're familiar with those two things given your family's circumstances, right? "
Claude nodded.
Madam Maria continued, "Like the magicians of the past, they all used spells or magic runes to achieve the purpose of water supply and personal hygiene.
Alchemists, on the other hand, used other methods to achieve their effects without spells or runes. Running water and flushing toilets were developed that way.
Over the past few centuries, there have been many studies that have improved the lives of mortals, such as paper and printing machines, glass-making techniques, and so on. They've greatly improved our lives. "
Claude was dumbfounded. These things even require magical research?
As long as one had some knowledge of chemistry and mechanics, they would be able to come up with all sorts of tricks.
"Back then, almost all knowledge and magic books were in the hands of the magi. After the great war, most of those books were brought to Higros Island by the magi who survived. Those that were left on the continent were either destroyed or destroyed by the people who hated magi. Only a small number of books were preserved by the knowledgeable people.
"Only after the wars on the continent subsided and the various countries were established did people realize that they had to study the knowledge in those books in order to develop their countries. That's why they secretly nurtured their own magi to strengthen their countries.
"Of course, that's just on the surface. To put it bluntly, it's just the people in power who enjoyed the convenience of magic and used it to protect their power."
Maria was very thorough in her explanation. She didn't even care about her identity as a noble.
It was at that moment that Claude finally understood why matchlocks didn't evolve into automatic weapons even after 600 years.
Knowledge was monopolized. Six hundred years ago, almost all knowledge was in the hands of the magi. After the magi were chased out of the continent, the knowledge was in the hands of the people in power.
It was no wonder he didn't learn about physics and chemistry when he was in school. It turned out that they were all treated as magical knowledge. The various kingdoms only researched it privately and even organized special departments to keep it a secret.
Just think about what you learn in school. Liberal arts taught you how to write good essays, do accounts, buy and sell things. Bureaucrats, secretaries, accountants, and merchants were nurtured.
Physical sciences were the best candidates for reserve soldiers.
Steward Ludian came, carrying a silver tray filled with exquisite gold-engraved crystal tea sets and biscuits and other snacks.
"Have some afternoon tea with me, Claude."
Maria pointed at the small tea table beside the crocodile specimen and invited him. She sat down and placed her foot on the specimen without hesitation.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Madam."
Claude thanked her and pulled his chair away. He didn't dare to place his foot on the specimen that cost 45 crowns.
"It's fine. Just step on it," Maria said nonchalantly.
Steward Ludian placed the crystal tea set and snacks on the table before retreating quietly.
Maria picked up the crystal teapot and poured herself a cup of black tea. She added some milk and opened a delicate silver jar. She used a silver clip to pick out a pale yellow cube and put it into her milk tea. "This is crystal sugar. It's made from honey. It's an invention of us herbalists.
Honey is sticky and it'll be troublesome and embarrassing if you accidentally get it on your clothes. It'll be much more convenient with this.
By the way, Claude, you can do it yourself. You don't need my help, do you? "
"No need, Madam. I'll do it myself," Claude said as he poured himself a cup of black tea without adding anything else. "I prefer the original taste."
Maria put a biscuit into her mouth. "I'm really a little hungry, so I won't stand on ceremony with you.
To thank you for saving my life today, ask me any questions you have. I'll answer them if I can.
By the way, Claude, can you tell me the names of the rune magi's spells?
I'm just curious. I don't mean anything else. "
"It's fine. It's not a secret.
The owner of this diary was only a one-ring rune magus. He used to be a fisherman's child and was brought to the magic tower after he was found to have magical talent. He was then raised to be a rune magus. That's what the diary says.
The spells recorded are Magus' Hands, Appraisal Eye, Fine Control, Decomposition, and Fusion.
There's nothing else after that except for these five spells. I'm still worried about where to find the other two spells. "
Claude felt that the five rune spells were common ones from the past. The rune magi raised by the magic tower all learned them, so it didn't matter much if he mentioned them.
He didn't think that Maria's jaw would drop when she heard the names of the five spells. She didn't even notice the biscuit crumbs falling out of her mouth.
Claude was shocked. "Madam, what's wrong?"
Maria snapped out of her daze and said excitedly, "Claude, you mustn't tell anyone that you learned those five spells."
Claude didn't know what was going on.
Maria lowered her voice, "These five spells are all forbidden spells in the kingdom. No one is allowed to learn them.
It's said that even the magi in the special department are rarely allowed to learn them. "
"Why?
These five are only rune spells, used for alchemy experiments … "
"Two hundred years ago, Stellin IV was assassinated. The assassin used Magus' Hands to stab him in the back with a poisoned dagger before escaping.
The history books recorded that Stellin IV was standing behind a stone wall, so no one expected him to be assassinated.
Only later did they find out that the assassin used Magus' Hands to cross the wall and stabbed him with the poisoned dagger.
Ever since then, Magus' Hands has been listed as a forbidden spell, "Maria whispered into Claude's ear.