:59 History

  On the long table, a pile of broken paper rolls was placed in front of two red robes and one quasi-red robe. The surface of these paper rolls was rough and worn out, with messy and moldy hair on the edges, and patches of rot scattered throughout the paper rolls, making most of the text blurry and unclear.

  However, Panni was well aware that the age of these parchment scrolls would only be more distant than they appeared. The fact that they had been preserved until now without completely rotting away was probably due to their being made from specially enchanted leather.

  "Our mission is to decipher the records on these things." Lijita handed a piece of parchment wrapped in glass fragments to Penny: "Don't underestimate them."

  "It's actually a magical language..." Panni looked at the parchment roll, furrowed his brow and muttered to himself. Just now he was still puzzled why the two red robes didn't use spells like 'Universal Language' for translation, but when he saw the magical script on the scroll, he understood the reason.

  Arcane script is the encoding of magical power, mages recite this language to summon and control magic. It's not a language but a movement that conforms to the rules of the multiverse. Practitioners from different eras and civilizations have written down arcane script into texts, on one hand for convenient research of magic, on the other hand some information is saved in arcane text which can achieve certain confidentiality effect.

  Such texts cannot be deciphered by the 'Tongxue Language' spell, but can be deciphered by a contemporary mage through magical knowledge. Note - it is 'contemporary'.

  The magical rules of the multiverse are constantly changing at all times, and this change stems from the movement and growth of the multiverse. Therefore, even the goddess of magic cannot grasp it - as a manifestation of magical rules, the magic net is also constantly changing, so magic language has timeliness. Using ancient magic language to guide modern spells often ends in disaster...

  However, some high-quality magical artifacts have a relatively stable connection with magical energy, and their internal coding will change with the changes in magical rules. Therefore, adventurers do not need to worry that a magic wand dug up from ancient ruins will lose its magic - unless the material of the wand has deteriorated or is a rough, inferior product.

  But this also determined the fact that ancient magic languages are extremely difficult to decipher - the magic language of the same era may have been recorded in many more characters by several civilizations, such as the ancient elven magic language, the Imaskar magic language, and the Netherese magic language. Due to regional differences, a magic language also has several sub-varieties, and some scoundrels even like to use ciphers to protect the content of magical texts, which makes it more difficult for later archaeologists.

  In short, deciphering ancient magical texts is a thankless job.

  "Yes, the records of Imaskar's magical language in the database are not very complete... These things just got a bit of a clue, it seems to be a piece of history recorded with magic coding, but only half can be read, the second half is damaged too much, and the record is also rough." Hughes rubbed his bald head and sighed.

  "This is about the noble wizard who recorded these scrolls being tracked down by a group of enemy troops to this... place where the ruins are, and then in order to leave a message for the reinforcements and companions, he recorded this thing..." Panni frowned and flipped through several pages of such scrolls, then said: "It seems that he didn't wait for the arrival of the reinforcements."

  "Wait, you understand Imaskan magic?" Hughes's eyes widened in surprise as he saw Penny's fluency and natural tone, without any reference to notes or materials.

  "Ah, these records are a bit hasty, so although they're rough, they don't use codes to conceal anything, otherwise I wouldn't be able to decipher them." Penny spread her hands at the two formal red-robed figures with surprised expressions: "I've studied some in the Academy."

  This is nonsense, without the gift of a Qigong master, he wouldn't be able to recognize this ghostly written character in his next life.

  Hues and Lijita simultaneously felt a strange sensation, knowing that being able to study an ancient magical language clearly was not a pipe dream, but the time it would consume wouldn't be short either. In the Red Robe Mages' Association, which valued practicality, mages who were willing to conduct such research were extremely rare.

  "Oh~ I don't know whether to say that your academy's atmosphere is too harmonious or you're just too idle, but you actually have the time to study these useless things." Lijitara furrowed her brow, but immediately relaxed: "However, this is still good news. Thanks to you, our mission can be completed sooner."

  "Really? I'm honored." Penny smiled slightly.

  "This is the part that hasn't been deciphered, see if you can finish it quickly." Seemingly sensing the hope of getting to sleep sooner, Hughes pushed a few pieces of tattered parchment in front of Penny, who nodded and carefully examined them for a while:

  "They say that a group of traitors opened... uh, the Empire's sealed spacetime gate at the Star Boundary... and let out those interdimensional monsters, possibly referring to the Mulholland gods... Why does this legend sound so familiar?"

  Panni's brow furrowed as he spoke, some small rumors about the history of the Red Robe Mages seemed to suggest that they originated from the Empire of Imareska, and were defeated in a political struggle before its collapse, thus joining the camp of Mulhorand, indirectly causing the destruction of Imareska.

  It seems that many materials are inclined to this hypothesis, but in the Law Society, there are still many members who sneer at such statements - because the title of 'traitor' is despised in any organized organization.

  Another influential hypothesis is that the Red Wizards originated from a more magically inclined part of the Mulhorandi people, but this theory also has many holes - from the time when there are reliable records of the Red Wizards until they parted ways with the Mulhorand Empire, there were clear distinctions in style between the two.

  Despotism, violence, terror, and the slave system under high pressure, these seem to be consistent with the colonial policy of the Inca Empire in its later period.

  "Hughes raised an eyebrow: "Oh! A major historical discovery, it seems some historians who supported the Mulholland theory can shut up now.""

  "I don't think it's interesting, discussing history is too boring. Anyway, for the Law Society, 'betrayal' is no longer fresh. What's next?" Lijita turned to Penny: "Is there any more explosive material below?"

  In fact, due to the Red Robe Master's somewhat shady past in history, history is not a focus of study, so the attitude towards many excavated historical materials is very casual, and sometimes it is only for finding clues about ancient treasures, but not much effort is put into it.

  So the research department of history in the Law Society is not in a high position.

  Pan Ni guessed that the two red-robed men opposite him were assigned to this place to study historical materials, and they must be very depressed. Because once a formal red robe is promoted, it will often take on some important positions in politics or mysterious research, while the department of historical research and archaeology is actually a cold bench.

  Thinking of this, he found both red robes quite interesting.

  Through the previous conversation, it can be seen that Husterofidi has a casual style, and in the red robe, he is indeed unconventional. Being in this unconventional position seems not hard to understand.

  But Liji Tower, originally thought it was just an ordinary diviner who had just come out of the thatched cottage, but after hearing Hughes' words and facing this red-robed woman again, he felt a bit strange and discordant in his heart.

  Such a quiet and peaceful female lawyer, is actually a killer with a weird personality?

  Although it's not surprising for such a person to appear in the Red Robe Society, Panni always felt uncomfortable and thought that things shouldn't be this way.

  However, these things have nothing to do with him. Penny just thought wildly for a while, then lowered her head and continued to identify the patterns on the sheepskin scroll: "Next, he said... uh, they risked their lives to retrieve the energy converter that the traitor had stolen - oh, it seems to be saying that this thing is an important device for closing the starry sky transmission gate... In the starry sky, various energies are absorbed and converted into the power of the closure device... They were about to send this thing back to its original place... Then the enemy came... They launched some kind of spell... And then... and then."

  "What's next?" Penny's voice trailed off, and Lizzie and Hughes asked in unison.

  "There's nothing below." Panni said this with a strange feeling, but it was fleeting. He then pointed to the last piece of parchment: "The record only goes up to here. The writing below is too sloppy and more than half of the scroll has rotted away. I'm really unable to do anything about it."

  "This can be considered a task completed." Lijituo let out a breath, then gathered up the scrolls: "Compared to history, it seems they didn't complete their mission after all. Imaska is still doomed."

  "Ah, you're Shawn, right? Are you interested in coming to work here after a promotion? The work is very leisurely." Hester Trophidi's eyes rolled around and suddenly smiled at Penny: "We are short of someone like you who is good at deciphering magic languages."

  "Stop messing around, lazybones." Lijitaka said bluntly to Hughes: "What's good about the work here?"

  "What's wrong with that?" Hughes suddenly stood up excitedly: "The work is leisurely and quiet, doesn't need to bear any responsibility, and no one will think of harming you every day. I really don't understand why some people can't live a good life and instead like to live a life of suffering."

  These words went into Penny's ears and immediately suited his spleen and stomach. If it were in the past, he might have regarded them as bosom friends. However, now that Penny has decided to make efforts towards the great ideal of 'changing the world', a negative attitude of avoiding the world is no longer taken by him.

  As for Penny, pursuing greater power and gaining higher authority is the only way to achieve her goals. She will no longer back down, so although Hughes' words sound pleasant to Penny, they have lost their sense of identity.

  "Oh... Negatively avoiding reality, don't forget that we are Red Robe Mages, my dear colleague." Lijita raised an eyebrow, and Penny was surprised to find that the female mage seemed dissatisfied with the current situation, but why would she appear in this desolate department?

  "Never mind, let's not talk about it." Hughes shook his head and turned to Penny: "So, you're here for authentication, who are you looking for? The Chief or the Deputy?"

  "Hmm... actually, I find it a bit strange too." Penny thought for a moment and felt that their relationship had become slightly closer, so she asked directly to dispel her doubts: "Why does an incantation master like me need to come to the prophecy department for certification?"

  "Don't you know?" Hughes and Lujita stared at each other in shock for a moment, then turned to Penny, reacting the same way as Gasterio Sereia: "Didn't your mentor tell you anything?"

  "Not bad." Penny nodded: "I don't understand the procedures for promotion."

  "You really need to be educated." Lijita sighed: "Huse, you've always been happy to help others, so come and explain the reason to this future colleague, I'll go sort out the materials."

  The woman in red robes walked away with a stack of documents, and Hughes patted his forehead before turning to Penny: "Dear younger generation, you really don't know anything?"

  Penny nodded silently.

  "Never mind, your mentor is really irresponsible. Although these words should be kept confidential from the informal Red Robes, they should at least be properly revealed to the quasi-Red Robes... To put it this way, the reason you came here for certification is..." Hughes chose his words carefully: "Actually, for us Red Robes, faction isn't the biggest distinguishing factor."

  "Isn't the sect the biggest distinguishing feature?" Panni was speechless for a moment, as this statement had truly overturned his understanding of the Association of Mages. In the academy, he had been taught that everything was based on sects, and a Red Robe's growth should be closely related to their affiliated school of thought. But now, someone was telling him that sects weren't the biggest distinguishing feature?

  It does sound a bit awkward, but since Penny was brought here, he felt that the organization of the Red Robe Master had some quirks, so he didn't express any opinions and could only ask: "Why?"

  "...This, Xien, tell me, from the end of the Empire of Imaska to now, who has been ruling over Ser?"

  Panni's eyes sank deep, and she began to recall this history: "After the destruction of Imaaska... it should have been around 1000 years ago that the lord sent by the Mulhorandi people, led by some wizards, staged a rebellion. These rebellious wizards were also the founders of the Wizard Association... Then there was the Beast Gate War... The main god of Mulhorand was killed, and Sel's influence began to weaken. Later, some nobles of Mulhorand, with the help of the Wizard Association, recaptured Sel, but soon disagreed with Mulhorand again... Next was the Sazah Province War, etc. You mean to say..."

  Penny was reminiscing when her eyes suddenly lit up: "Are those six Mulholland noble families that supported the Wizards' Guild's declaration of independence still around?"

  "You're really clever." Hughes looked at Penny with approval: "To be honest, the current Serl, although the Red Robe Mages are the holders of power, not all power is in the hands of the Mage Association."

  He looked at Penny's contemplative expression and continued: "Those six noble families are still the controllers of Sel."

  "That's not right." Penny suddenly furrowed her brow: "Why is it that most of the Serians I've met aren't aware of the existence of these six families? Almost everyone thinks they're gone."

  "They never disappeared." Hughes' expression suddenly turned serious, pointing to his own chest and then to Penny: "But are with us."

  He looked at Penny's increasingly puzzled expression and continued: "Since the rebellion in the north 400 years ago, every formal magician of the Red Robe Association has been a member of those six noble families."

  "No way." Penny was shocked for a moment, looking at Hughes in disbelief: "I'm a civilian-born."

  "Don't worry, you've already passed Lady Castire's certification - she's the matriarch of the Vras family. Once certified by her, it won't be long before they choose a daughter to marry you and you'll officially become a noble of Sel. Hewes suddenly smiled with a hint of sarcasm: "Congratulations, it's not easy to stand out from such a large group of apprentices. The recognition of the six noble families isn't easily obtained, and the number of children they can absorb as new blood each year is limited. Think about those poor apprentices who get slaughtered by their instructors in the lower academies every year, haha!"

  Penny Sien was completely deaf to Hester Trophall's incessant chatter, and could only sit woodenly on the bench, her mind a complete muddle.