They had thought they had misheard.
All lifted their heads in doubt, their ears questioning the voice.
They were currently located on the highest floor of Akron, in the Hall of Sienna. Gathered were the Archwizards of Aroth, as well as the Wise Sienna herself.
Commander of Aroth’s court wizards, Trempel Vizardo.
Red Tower Master, Lovellian Sophis.
Blue Tower Master, Hiridus Euzeland.
Not only them but also the former Green Tower Master, Jeneric Osman, was present.
However, what was astonishing was that they weren’t the only ones present. Archwizards hailing from beyond Aroth were present in the hall as well.
Once upon a time, only Aroth housed Archwizards who had reached the Eighth Circle. However, as time passed, wizards belonging to other nations had also reached such a level.
Court Wizard of Shimuin, Maise Briar.
Court Wizard of Kiehl, Herington Carage.
Moreover, they were joined by Rynein Boers, an Archwizard who had long hidden herself from the world without spreading her name.
It was nearly impossible for foreign wizards to enter Akron, regardless of their skill and renown. An exception had been made for Eugene years ago because he had practically been a novice in magic and also a descendant of the Lionheart family.
But Maise and Herington were court wizards from other nations. In addition, although Rynein was registered in the guild, she had vanished from records for decades. Everyone had presumed her dead.
The presence of these foreign wizards in Akron would have been unthinkable, yet Sienna had stormed into Abram and overturned the council. She had succeeded in negotiating entry into her hall, although they were still barred from other floors.
"Haah…."
The seven Archwizards gaped at Sienna. She sat steps above them on a high seat, lost in a vacant stare, before sighing deeply.
"How does one become a goddess?" she murmured.
Was this a joke? Or was there another meaning hidden within?
The one who blurted out such an absurd question was none other than the Wise Sienna. There might be a profound truth about magic within her words….
All but Lovellian were unfamiliar with Sienna's personality. The Archwizards shared glances while pondering the magical significance of the word goddess, as mentioned by Sienna.
"...Lady Sienna, you already possess the beauty, wisdom, and greatness of a goddess." It was Maise who broke the silence after much contemplation.
Like most other wizards, Maise deeply revered Sienna. He had received personal advice from her on improving his Signature and also had the opportunity to assist her with magic during the battle against the Demon King of Fury. The magical dagger of oath still remained embedded in Maise’s heart from that time.
"I... I agree. If there is a goddess of magic in this world, it would undoubtedly be you, Lady Sienna…." Stammering in agreement this time was the former Green Tower Master, Jeneric.
After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Sienna, he retired from his position as a Tower Master. The duel had taken place in front of the citizens of Pentagon, and it had left the proud Archwizard in disgrace, unable to even lift his head.
He had intended to seclude himself after stepping down from his position as the Tower Master. However, Sienna had dragged him out of his mansion upon her return to Aroth.
Though she found his personality disagreeable and his Signature mediocre at best, Jeneric was nonetheless an Archwizard. Sienna believed she needed the perspectives of other Archwizards to transcend the Ninth Circle.
"But I'm not really a goddess," Sienna muttered with a lackluster expression.
She did not refute Maise and Jeneric's praises. She accepted the assessment of being a beautiful, wise, and great magical goddess as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Rynein could not help but marvel. He was thoroughly impressed by her demeanor.
Rynein Boers.
She reached the Eighth Circle on her own while being in seclusion from the wizarding community at large. She was a hermit in her practice of magic. She had been a Sixth Circle wizard when she last updated her guild records, and since then, she had self-taught her way to the status of an Archwizard over thirty years of seclusion.
She harbored no worldly desires. Fame and honor meant nothing to her. She had become an Archwizard through solitary meditation and practice, and her only longing was to someday see the end of magic.
Then she heard the news: the Wise Sienna had returned to Aroth. No one could be certain of her intentions, but the legendary Archwizard had made an announcement to the Archwizards across the continent.
—If you wish to create the next step in magic, come to Aroth.
How… stirring a call it was. It wasn’t the 'end' of magic but rather the 'next' step. Moreover, the words 'if you wish to create' immediately drove Rynein out of her seclusion.
It meant that she could contribute to magic’s next step alongside the Wise Sienna, the creator of the Circle Magic Formula and Witch Craft, which was said to be the greatest, most significant of grimoires in all of magic’s history.
" Lady Sienna, are you suggesting that your vision of magic's next step is to become a goddess?" Rynein inquired respectfully. Her question caused a shift in the thoughts of the other Archwizards.
After a brief silence, Sienna nodded while tapping her fingers on the armrest.
"Based on the Circle Magic Formula I've established, humans can only handle up to the Eighth Circle of magic,” said Sienna.
When Sienna first devised the Circle Magic Formula three hundred years ago, she segmented her mana and magic into nine Circles. It was the dawn of the Circle Magic Formula, and now all magic was classified by Circles.
Yet, no wizard since Sienna has reached the Ninth Circle. Even among the Archwizards gathered here, the greatest wizards of this era, none had attained the Ninth Circle.
"I'm considered a Ninth Circle wizard because the system was based on me. In other words, the actual end you can reach with the Circle Magic Formula is the Eighth Circle,” continued Sienna.
"I suspected as much," Trempel responded. As the eldest among them, he had been the first to reach the Eighth Circle. Stroking his beard, he continued, "There never was a Ninth Circle magic or spell in this world to begin with. Eighth Circle spells exist, albeit rarely, and most of that too was crafted by sages who ascended to the Eighth Circle after you, Lady Sienna."
"It feels almost ridiculous for a child like me to say this, but once I reached the status of an Archwizard, learning and mimicking the spells of others seemed absurd," Herington said with an awkward smile. He was the court wizard of Kiehl and was the youngest of them all.
The Blue Tower Master, Hiridus, nodded in agreement.
It was a given that a true Archwizard should be capable of conjuring magic on the spot as the situation demanded. Archwizards had to immerse themselves in their own magic beyond the Eighth Circle and push themselves to the limit. That would result in what was known as their Signature.
"Are you suggesting that the Ninth Circle we've been striving for is an illusion?" Lovellian voiced his concern after a moment of contemplation.
"No, that's not it," Sienna firmly shook her head, dismissing the idea. "Magic holds endless possibilities. Just as I pursue magic, magic pursues me in turn. The boundless nature of magic mirrors the boundlessness of a wizard's thoughts. It's about manifesting one's desires through mana — that is what magic is."
Sienna raised her finger and drew in the air. Instantly, nine Circles materialized out of thin air with a shimmering sound.
"The Ninth Circle isn't an illusion. But think about it: as Archwizards, is the Ninth Circle you seek just about adding another Circle to your current realm? What wonder and awe does such a Ninth Circle attained in that manner hold?" questioned Sienna.
"The completion of the magic we pursue," mumbled Maise, his head nodding in realization.
Sienna chuckled and flicked her finger playfully.
"That's an arrogant statement. There's no completion in magic. There shouldn't be. Why do you think that is?" asked Sienna.
"Because it leads to contentment," someone answered promptly.
"Right. If you think you've reached the end when it's not, imagining what comes next becomes difficult. The Ninth Circle... it's about what comes next in your current realm of magic, not simply about adding another circle,” said Sienna.
"Lady Sienna, you are…." Lovellian started before trailing off, his expression a mixture of bitterness and awe as he observed the nine Circles coalescing before him. "That's why you've been pondering so deeply," he concluded.
Instead of answering, Sienna let out a long sigh.
Whoosh!
The nine Circles merged into one, within which countless smaller Circles appeared. The many Circles interlocked, spun, and disappeared in a continuous cycle.
"I thought I had reached my limit," she confessed.
Magic encompassed countless fields. To exaggerate a bit, it was possible that there existed a unique magic for every wizard in the world.
Three hundred years ago, the magic that Sienna sought culminated in the completion of the Circle Magic Formula. With that, she believed she had fully interpreted her own magic.
Vermouth would no longer wage war against the Demon Kings after his promise.
Her current self wasn't enough. If Vermouth was absent, she needed to fill that void with stronger magic.
Sienna hadn't forgotten about exacting revenge for Hamel. If she had concluded her own magic with the Circle Magic Formula, then it was time to move beyond.
What she pursued and eventually created was the Eternal Hole, the zenith of the Circle Magic Formula. She captured infinity through a perpetually reconfiguring and merging system of Circles.
"The Eternal Hole is what I determined as the end of my magic. But... it's not enough. It's woefully insufficient,” admitted Sienna.
"The next in magic that a human can handle... Are you seeking to transcend humanity?" someone asked.
"A goddess." Maise clasped his hands together, his face awash with ecstasy. “Lady Sienna, you are almost a goddess in your current state. If you really do become a goddess… I, Maise Briar, will give myself to you even though I have never devoted myself to a deity before,” Maise declared solemnly.
“Let’s stop with talks about the future. Give me your opinions on how I might become a goddess,” said Sienna.
It made one wonder if Sienna had intentions of founding her own religion. Rynein momentarily entertained the idea. A legendary hero turned into a goddess of magic, Sienna Merdein….
Wizards from all over the continent would surely gather before her idol. The magic kingdom of Aroth would surely reform into a theocratic state, worshiping Sienna as their deity.
“Hmm…. A human transcending to become a god… a goddess…. I’ve never even heard of such a thing…,” muttered Rynein while stealing glances at Sienna.
With her stunning violet hair and emerald eyes that still shone with brilliance despite her contemplation, Rynein, despite being a woman herself, felt almost bewitched by Sienna's beauty.
"A god… a god would not be bound by a human vessel,” Rynein mused, "We must first clearly define what 'magic beyond human capacity' entails."
"Is it the body that cannot endure or the soul?" Lovellian murmured.
A wizard's Circle resided near the heart, akin to a warrior's Core. Though not a physical organ that would bulge out with the size of the Circle, the collapse of a Circle would deal direct damage to the wizard’s heart. Employing magic beyond one's capacity could lead to one’s Circle and mana running amok, which could also physically harm the body.
"What if one forgoes the body and becomes a being of pure spirit?" someone suggested.
"How is that different from becoming a lich?" came a retort.
"It wouldn't be necromancy if powered by mana instead of dark power—"
"Wait, wait!" Sienna interjected with a serious tone, cutting through the speculation. "I have no intention of abandoning my body. I'm not even sure if that's the correct answer. Becoming a being of spirit, in the end, would make me something akin to an angel brought forth by divine magic, wouldn't it?"
"That would… seem to be the case," came the hesitant reply.
"But, Lady Sienna, in higher magics, the body is more unstable and imperfect compared to the mind. Even if the mind can finely tune the magic, the body may fail to balance it, resulting in a backlash," someone reasoned.
"I... I haven't had such an issue. Never," Sienna stammered, her eyes darting around.
It wasn't that she hadn't faced such issues. The human body, no matter how trained and fortified, was frail. On the other hand, mana, when manipulated through magic, could easily surpass human physicality depending on its application.
High-level magic inevitably involved a high output of mana, and the human body sustained damage each time such magic was cast. No matter how precisely one constructed a formula and chanted an incantation, it was impossible to completely escape any stress to the flesh.
Especially now, Sienna bore injuries not only to her body but also to her soul.
The wounds inflicted by Vermouth prevented her from maintaining the Eternal Hole for an extended duration.
"I might have lived for three hundred years, but abandoning my body is too radical a proposition. And my body now, though you call it flesh, has been reconstituted down to the cellular level with mana,” said Sienna.
The burden of high-output mana on the body was the same for warriors. In their case, the body underwent a metamorphosis called rebirth through rigorous training of their Core. They would become one with mana, and consequently, the body would become reconstituted.
Likewise, Sienna had reconstituted her body through magic. As such, unlike the gathered Archwizards, she rarely felt the impact of mana output on her body.
Still, she thought it was an opinion that could not be dismissed. If reaching beyond the Ninth Circle required abandoning the body... if becoming a pure spirit was necessary….
'I'd rather not...' Sienna concluded.
There were many things that required a physical body, weren't there…? Sienna thought she should explore other options as much as possible.
"How dare you!" Trempel’s face suddenly contorted with anger amidst the heated debate on the magic to transform Sienna into a goddess. He clenched his fist as he looked out the window.
"Leave it be," Sienna spoke without even glancing outside, having noticed it long before.
"But Lady Sienna—" Trempel started.
"Pretend you don't know." With a snort, Sienna flipped through the magic tome in front of her.
Outside the top floor window of Akron was a bat flapping its wings in the distance.