Lioran’s question, after the last discussion ended, echoed through the hall like a stone dropped into a calm lake, swallowing all sounds with it.
"If everything you said today is true... then in your opinion, what is the greatest mistake the magic tower has made in the past thousand years?"
No one was breathing. Hundreds of mages, professors, and researchers had their eyes fixed on Daniel.
Even the Supreme Council members were waiting to see what answer this young man, who had challenged thousand-year-old theories one after another from the start of the debate, would give this time.
And Serys was the most worried, because the answer to this question could directly lead to either the happiness or anger of the tower’s members.
This was a clever question. If Daniel’s answer was too blunt and direct, it could upset the Supreme Council members.
And if it was a flattering answer, it would have no value.
In any case, this was not an ordinary question. This question was not about magic at all, but about all the actions of the tower’s leaders over the past centuries.
Daniel, however, did not speak immediately. He was silent for a few seconds. Not from hesitation, not from inability.
Rather, as if among thousands of words, he was searching for that sentence that could express the truth without wounding the truth.
He could understand Lioran’s intelligence from this question alone. It was a question that, no matter what answer it received, would ultimately lead to the Supreme Council’s displeasure.
But he shouldn’t be underestimated either.
Then he slowly turned his gaze among the professors and said:
"The tower’s greatest mistake..." He paused briefly and then didn’t continue.
"Was not that it learned something wrong." Several people unconsciously nodded, but the next sentence stopped all that approval in its tracks.
"It was that after finding a few answers... it stopped asking questions."
The hall fell into a deep silence. A silence heavier than any shout.
Daniel continued unhurriedly.
"All the great advances in history began the moment someone dared to question what everyone considered absolute truth."
"But the magic tower... over time, transformed from a place to discover truth into a place to protect old truths."
He gestured to the massive bookshelves that covered the hall’s walls.
"When a theory is taught for a hundred years, people respect it. When it’s taught for five hundred years, few dare to oppose it."
"And when it’s taught for a thousand years... it’s no longer a hypothesis."
"It becomes law."
"Then anyone who asks a new question, instead of their answer being examined, they themselves are examined."
Several professors unconsciously thought of the books they had spent years writing, of the students who had always referred to those books as ultimate truth.
Of the times they had rejected a new idea simply because it was different, instead of listening to it.
Daniel fell silent again, then his gaze fixed on Professor Ryndor.
"Allow me to ask a question."
Ryndor nodded quietly.
"If the first person who said the world revolves around the sun walked into this hall today... how many of you would accept his word immediately?"
Several professors answered almost simultaneously.
"If he provided sufficient evidence, we would accept it."
Daniel smiled very faintly.
"No."
That one word once again brought silence to the hall.
"You would reject him first. Then you would ask him to bring evidence that doesn’t contradict all your current theories."
"While if a theory is truly new... it’s natural that it contradicts old theories. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be called a new discovery."
Professor Maloris quietly pressed his lips together. Professor Urmon lowered his head. Even some Supreme Council members no longer looked directly at Daniel.
Because this boy was speaking pure truth. They were old men who had grown up according to a set of principles, rules, and traditions.
And they rejected anything that could flaw these rules and principles. But no one had ever dared to address them like this and tell them their mistake.
At that moment, Lioran also nodded. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, not to disagree, but to continue along the same path.
With his usual calmness, he said:
"But if everyone proposes any theory and there is no framework, science becomes chaos. That’s why science needs a framework."
"Correct. Completely correct." Daniel nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
For the first time, a faint smile settled on Lioran’s face.
But Daniel’s next sentence chilled that smile.
"Frameworks are built to protect truth, not to imprison it."
"When a framework prevents asking questions, it’s no longer a tool for progress. It’s a chain."
Lioran just looked at him for a few seconds. He neither disagreed nor agreed. He just silently weighed the weight of this sentence. It was a sentence that couldn’t be flawed because it was logical.
And if he wanted to flaw logic, he would look foolish in everyone’s eyes.
Suddenly, one of the senior professors, who had been considered one of the tower’s main theorists for years, sighed and rose from his seat.
"Perhaps..." All eyes turned to him.
"Perhaps it’s time to rewrite some of the tower’s textbooks and begin new discoveries and the development of old theories."
A heavy murmur spread through the hall. This sentence, from one of the tower’s most conservative professors, was heavier than losing a debate.
Daniel had not only answered the questions... but had also made one of the tower’s educational pillars accept the necessity of change.
On the hall’s high platform, the Supreme Council members spoke quietly with each other.
A few short sentences, a few glances, and the tower’s leader remained silent throughout.
Professor Varcas had also told them about Daniel’s request to participate in the trial, and they were aware of it. Now that the debate was over, they had to vote on it.
Finally, one of the Supreme Council members rose from his seat.
"There’s no need for a vote."
"Daniel Noir... has received permission to participate in the Trial of a Thousand Spells. Preparations will be made by tomorrow, and he may enter the trial tomorrow."
For a moment, no one even breathed. Then murmurs spread through the hall like a wave.
They hadn’t expected the Supreme Council to actually agree that someone could enter the trial outside the annual scheduled time!
This was a great advantage granted by them, and it meant only one thing.
They were very satisfied with the debate and Daniel’s answers.
"Thank you." Daniel thanked calmly.
The session ended with that same shock. Professors, council members, and researchers left the hall one by one.
Serys was still in shock. She felt that everything that had happened today was more than her mind could digest.
As Daniel was leaving, he heard footsteps beside him.
Lioran.
Without looking at each other, they walked a few steps together, exchanged a glance, and then each went their own way.
"Did you really plan to do this from the start?" Serys came toward him and asked in surprise.
"Maybe." Daniel shrugged.
"You didn’t intend to just answer questions from the start. Your goal was to change the professors’ way of thinking."
"But how? What made you sure you could change their minds?"
A few moments of silence passed between them.
"I bet on them not being fools." Then Daniel laughed quietly.
"Anyway... it’s time to prepare for the Trial of a Thousand Spells."