Volume 5 Chapter 19: The Three Major Powers

“Respected Archmage Hollke, could you tell us more about the three powers you just mentioned?” Cora asked respectfully. “You know, we know nothing about the Inner World. If we could have your guidance…”

“Hah, introduce them? What a bother. I knew it would end up being so troublesome!” Hollke pursed his lips, his eyes shifting uneasily, and muttered, “A guide isn’t supposed to say too much…”

Listening to the old man’s grumbling, Qin Lun winked at Michelle beside him. The centaur girl smiled lightly and nodded.

“Archmage, please, could you tell us about them?” Michelle widened her dewy eyes as she walked up to the sofa, shaking the old mage’s small arm while asking in a sweet voice, “Just a little hint is enough!”

“Hah, what a pity. Such a good girl like you has been corrupted by these people… Alright, alright! I can’t do anything about you!” Hollke’s beard twitched as he slumped back against the sofa, helplessly twisting his fingers. “Where should we start? Hmm, let’s begin with those big guys from the Victor Royal Knight Order…”

The Victor Royal Knight Order was very different from what people imagined a knight order to be. Actually, this knight order only had three or four real Knights in total. The rest were all Knight Guards and Squires.

Most people in this knight order were highly skilled warrior professions. Of course, among the Knight Squires, there were also other professions like Mages, Warlocks, Assassins, and Archers. According to Hollke’s description, even the high-ranking Guards and Squires of the Knights basically had strength close to his.

As for the real Knights, even Hollke himself had never seen them. Their exact number couldn’t be counted, only knowing there were either three or four. Those Knights were true powerhouses who had survived since the War of the Gods. In the Inner World, they stood at the very top of the pyramid.

Two or three thousand years ago, the Victor Royal Knight Order was the royal knight order of the Victor Kingdom, the largest human kingdom in the main world of Nars. They were also one of the main combat forces of the Sapient Races during the War of the Gods. They not only had a base in the Southern Hills but also had spheres of influence in other parts of the Greenland Continent.

“Hah, if you want to become an outstanding warrior or knight, they are the best choice. But, I don’t like them. Those hypocritical guys have strict disciplines, comparable to the Ascetic Monks and Puritans of the Northern Plains. Even when there’s nothing to do, they whip each other, calling it ‘training the knight’s will’!” Hollke twirled his beard, lost in memory. “Back in the day…”

“Archmage Hollke, what about the Sanctuary Camp and The Spire?” Several people in the hall spoke at the same time, interrupting Hollke’s memoir.

As they interacted, they gradually understood this moody old mage a bit more. They knew that aside from some mischievous hobbies, he wouldn’t kill people randomly, so they became much bolder.

Besides, once Hollke started with “back in the day,” what followed would be a long story of his personal struggles, plus endless grumbling. And he wouldn’t stop, making everyone regret not interrupting him right at the beginning.

“Hah, the Sanctuary Camp and The Spire…” Hollke didn’t mind everyone’s interruption, probably already used to being cut off during such moments.

The Spire was a small Mage association, basically including all kinds of spellcasting professions like Mages, Priests, Warlocks, Summoners, Astrologers, Rune Mages, and so on. Geographically, it was limited to the Southern Hills of the Greenland Continent. However, it had close ties with mage associations in other regions and continents. The organization’s leaders were two Legendary Profession Mages.

Although the vast majority of The Spire’s members were spellcasting professions, there was one huge benefit for visitors from the Outer World joining The Spire. That was, The Spire had a library containing a vast collection of books, including spells and combat skills for various battle professions. Moreover, most mages in The Spire were absorbed in research and magical experiments. They issued the largest number of trivial tasks.

The last one, the Sanctuary Camp, was the most complex power among the three. The Sanctuary Camp had no nominal leader, only a deity named Anna Artemis. In some mythological legends of the Nals World, she was the lowest-ranking Forest Goddess and Moon Goddess.

Legend had it that the small plane where Anna Artemis was born was one of the smallest planes, not even counting as a full plane, only called a Demiplane. The World Law in that plane was fragmented, causing Anna Artemis’s divinity to not fully form. Compared to a true deity, she could only be considered a Demigod.

Anna Artemis had a calm and detached nature. In ancient times, she didn’t have her own religion and was generally regarded as a subordinate deity by the Sapient Races, categorized under some major religions. Precisely because she was not well-known and her strength was unclear, she managed to avoid the calamity of the War of the Gods.

After the Inner World formed, Anna Artemis always lived in the Silent Forest of the Southern Hills, usually not revealing her true form in front of people. Those who had seen her had various legends. Some said she was a young and beautiful forest nymph wearing a flower crown. Some said she was a pure and holy unicorn deity. Others said she was the Ancient Tree of Wisdom deep in the Silent Forest.

If all the powerful beings in the Nals Inner World were divided into alignments, then Anna Artemis should belong to the True Neutral alignment, not supporting any side nor participating in any wars.

The Sanctuary Camp was located deep in the Silent Forest, and its member structure was very complex. It included fugitives and defeated individuals from major powers, recluses with strange beliefs, and some visitors from the Outer World.

Regardless of whether these people’s beliefs were evil or righteous, Anna Artemis allowed them to find shelter in the Silent Forest and obtain their daily needs.

This deity did not personally participate in managing the Sanctuary Camp. The camp’s managers were the Sanctuary Committee, which formed spontaneously since its establishment.

Anna Artemis only left three iron rules for the camp. First, killing forest creatures must be based on life’s necessities. Second, fights between camp members could only be duels with equal numbers, and the winner must personally bury the opponent’s body. The last rule was that once the Silent Forest faced external enemies, camp members must unite against them.

After listening to Hollke’s introduction, everyone fell into deep thought.

“Hah, I knew once these guys finished asking, they wouldn’t pay attention to this old man’s grumbling anymore!” Hollke muttered discontentedly a couple of times, stood up on the sofa, and yawned.

“No, Michelle is still here to talk with Grandpa Hollke, right?” The centaur girl was the most simple-minded. She basically treated all the important things the old mage said as bedtime stories. Seeing the old mage stand up, she quickly went over, smiling as she helped massage the old mage’s shoulders.

“Hmm, hmm, Michelle is the best!” A flash of surprise passed through Hollke’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a lecherous expression as he leaned back, his sleeping-capped head rubbing against the centaur girl’s full chest.

The old mage soon left with a few serving Elves. After he left, the hall immediately filled with heated discussion. Even Michelle participated enthusiastically. Only Frank remained silent like a closed gourd, standing behind Qin Lun, a trace of confusion often showing in his eyes behind the mask, not knowing what he was thinking.

“Let’s join The Spire. Those trivial tasks the mages issue are just right for our small team. Plus, there’s that library; it should have combat skills for warriors and archers too!” Cora’s sea-blue skin showed a hint of blush as she spoke excitedly.

“…The Victor Royal Knight Order is pretty good too!” Sas muttered quietly.

The Esmira Star had many feudal empires in its history. As a man, he had a strong knight order complex and admired those ancient knights with firm beliefs.

However, Sas was henpecked. Under Cora’s tyranny, he didn’t dare voice a different opinion. He could only look pitifully at Qin Lun and Hill and the others, hoping they could change his wife’s mind.

“The Sanctuary Camp isn’t bad either. At least the rules are very free! Archmage Hollke doesn’t belong to any of the three powers. Why don’t we ask for his opinion?” Michelle’s eyes glimmered as she shyly offered her suggestion. As a centaur, she naturally yearned for forest powers.

“Hollke won’t give us strongly biased opinions. Although this old mage is a bit moody, he understands things better than anyone. If he were willing to give such opinions, he would have said so earlier!” Qin Lun smiled at Michelle. “But, I feel you could stay. The old guy seems to really appreciate you. If you ask to learn magic from him, I think he’d most likely agree to take you as an apprentice!”

“I’ll go with everyone!” Michelle lowered her head, stealing a glance at Qin Lun, and said softly.

“Qin Lun, Hansen, what are your opinions?” Hill blocked Sas and his wife in the Team Channel and asked the other two.

“Hill, do you even need to ask? My choice can only be that one!” Hansen glanced at Qin Lun beside him and said calmly. “But Qin Lun, what about you? Are you coming with us? If you want to go separate ways, this is the last chance!”

“Heh, why test me again? If I wanted to leave you two, I wouldn’t have formed a team with you and entered the Nals World.” Qin Lun shook his head with a smile and stood up. “But, let’s wait until people from the three powers arrive before making a final decision. We can observe them a bit more.”

“Of course!” Hill and Hansen exchanged a look, both showing a slight smile. Qin Lun had indeed made the same choice as them. If he backed down now, he wouldn’t be the “Dissector.”

“If nothing unexpected happens, the three of us, plus Frank, will choose the Sanctuary Camp. Are you still willing to go together?” Hill turned and smiled as he looked at Sas, his wife, and Michelle.