"This is the theory of magic elements' activity, did you understand?"
In the carriage, Emily rubbed her aching head and helplessly shook her head.
The magic theories Lette talked about were completely different from what she had learned from childhood to adulthood. Describing them as unconventional would not be an exaggeration.
Seeing this, Lette couldn't help but sigh: "Let's put it more simply, magic elements also have a distinction between being active and inert.
You can understand this, right?
We have fire elements around us, yet there's no spontaneous combustion. There's water elements, yet our clothes aren't wet.
This is because natural state magic elements are inert.
Including the magic power within a mage is also inert. Otherwise, wouldn't a fire mage have flames burning inside constantly?
When we release magic, through the empowerment of spiritual power, it turns from inert to active, thereby triggering magical effects.
Why is it that the power unleashed by a holy level mage and an apprentice mage using the same initial level Fireball Technique is different?
That's because a holy level mage's spiritual power is stronger, making the elements that compose the magic more active.
Do you get it?"
Emily nodded and then shook her head again.
Lette sighed: "Take your time to ponder this, it's not something you can grasp overnight. Once you've mastered the activity of magic elements, you can even manipulate external non-standard magic elements."
"Freely controlling magic elements outside the body, isn't that a realm only legendary great mages can reach?"
"All roads lead to the same destination!"
Emily collapsed hopelessly in the carriage, the light in her eyes dimming.
"Is there any shortcut to getting stronger?"
"But you're a Holy Knight, how can you absorb blood elements too?"
Lette shrugged: "That brings us to the element mimicry theory, element replacement theory, and element ascension theory..."
"Alright! I was wrong! Pretend I never asked!"
Emily covered her ears, feeling like her head was about to explode if she kept listening.
"That's because you haven't laid a solid foundation!"
Lette shook his head and reached out to lift the curtain of the carriage: "Kaelster, are we there yet?"
"Your Highness, up ahead is the Holy City!"
"Is that so?"
Lette stuck his head out of the window: "Aren't we heading the wrong way, this is towards the North Gate, isn't it?"
"Yes, heading to the North Gate."
"Nonsense! Why not go through the East Gate openly?"
"Because the main gate... Oh! My brain! Go through the main gate! We must go through the main gate!"
Upon the Knight Captain's order, the convoy immediately turned around and headed towards the East Gate. Meanwhile, he dismounted and jogged over to the carriage side.
"Your Highness, you are finally not angry anymore?"
"What do you mean, not angry anymore?"
"Ah? You're going through the main gate, isn't that to lift the seal?"
Lette was full of questions: "Seal, what seal? Is there a seal on the main gate of Holy City's east side?"
"There is..."
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"
Lette pounded on the carriage window in anger: "The Holy Presence Ceremony is approaching, and believers from all over the world are coming to the Holy City for pilgrimage! The main gate on the east side is sealed!
What were they thinking? What were those good-for-nothings at the Holy Temple thinking?! What are you guys in the Judgement Court doing?!
Where is the Church Court's dignity!? Where is the Holy Light's dignity!?"
"Yes, yes... You're absolutely right!"
"When was this seal placed? And who did it?"
The Knight Captain smiled awkwardly: "Three years ago, when you left... it was set."
The air suddenly became silent, with only the wheels constantly turning.
Lette felt his expression stiffen: "It is... is it? How come I don't remember?"
"You forgot, three years ago when you left Holy City through the East Gate, in a fit of anger you nailed your Holy Artifact in front of the gate.
After you left, the entire gate was enveloped by the power of the Holy Artifact. No one could come or go.
Finally, there was no other way, so the Holy Temple gave the order to expand the North Gate to make it the main entrance and exit."
Lette blushed awkwardly: "Oh... that sword of mine! I do seem to recall something like that...
But I didn't set up a seal! Couldn't you just find someone to pull it out?
Opening a North Gate, wasting manpower and money!"
Knight Captain Kaelster gave a dry laugh: "If it could be pulled out, wouldn't it have been pulled out long ago?"
Lette thought about it and agreed, besides himself, the only people in the whole Holy City who could pull it out were his two teachers.
Them... They probably relish seeing the Holy Temple guys embarrassed, so they definitely wouldn't take it out willingly.
But leaving it for three years, it pretty much slapped them in the face for three years.
The two old folks, despite being of age, were still just as petty.
The Knight Captain awkwardly scratched his head: "To be honest, I'm embarrassed, I even went to the East Gate to pull the sword."
"What mischief were you up to?"
"You don't know, do you? It's become a tourist attraction now!"
"What?"
"Almost all divine officers go to try pulling it out! New apprentice Holy Knights consider it a sacred ritual!
Because those of weak mind would be repelled by the Holy Artifact. Going to the East Gate to pull the sword has become part of the selection process."
Lette rubbed his temples: "So weird, can't say exactly what's weird, but definitely not right!"
The Knight Captain sighed: "After Your Highness retrieves the Holy Artifact, although the East Gate can reopen, the Holy Knights will lose a significant source of funding!"
"Wait a minute, what's this got to do with the Holy Knights' funding?"
"Each attempt costs a hundred Silver Delangs!"
Lette felt a ringing in his ears: "A hundred Silver... Isn't this daylight robbery? Have all the funds gone to the Holy Knights?"
"No, the Holy Knights' funding is divided with the Pope's personal treasury, seventy-thirty split."
"...No wonder the two teachers didn't want to pull out the Holy Artifact! I thought they were taking a stand for me, I overestimated them."
As they spoke, the convoy had already arrived outside the East Gate. Lette poked his head out to see a long line stretching from the gate to a distant hill.
"It's the pilgrimage period now, so there are quite a few people. Normally, there're about half as many."
Lette smacked his lips, that's a hundred Silver Delangs per person!
A person tries to pull the Holy Artifact, it takes only a few seconds.
At this rate, there are thousands of people every day. That's hundreds of thousands of Silver Delangs a day.
"Tsk, maybe forget it. We'll remove the Holy Artifact after the Holy Presence Ceremony. We might as well earn from this, it's money we earn without effort!"
Lette rubbed his chin, his mental abacus clicking away.
"But, we need to reclaim the revenue! These guys are fleecing me? And for three years! How can this be tolerated!"
As Lette calculated how to collect the debt from the two old men, noise erupted outside.
"Kaelster, what's happening outside?"
"Your Highness, it's not good! The Holy Knights watching over the Holy Artifact booth are arguing with people from the New Church! Looks like it's about to escalate into a fight!"
Lette slapped his thigh: "Outrageous! Fighting in such a sacred place as the East Gate, in front of so many devout believers!
I must! Strike for justice!"
Emily, who had been silent in the carriage, coldly chuckled: "Heh, you're afraid it'll hurt your earnings, aren't you?"