Chapter 667: Chapter 416: Half a Third Rank Wizard (5k)_3
"I’ve called you here not only to inform you of the time for the medal awarding ceremony but also to remind you of a few matters,"
Colin nodded, and Nois patted his shoulder and continued,
"As a member of the Supreme Council, apart from enjoying various benefits, we also have corresponding obligations, especially during this period of war. Council members need to unconditionally obey the orders of the Council, and most have gone to the frontline."
"However, the good news is that, upon my recommendation, you, as a Second Rank Wizard, won’t be sent to the frontline for the time being."
"Thank you, Lord Nois."
"No need to thank me. The best gratitude you can show is to train hard and not waste the time I have fought for you," Nois said with a smile, his casual words belying the continuous negotiations of the last two days.
Colin was no fool and naturally understood that the special treatment he was receiving must have been the result of significant efforts by Nois.
He silently noted this in his heart and continued to listen to Nois speak.
"However, there is one thing you will still need to face."
"The Supreme Council is the organization that manages all wizards. As members, we each have certain administrative duties to fulfill.
Thus, in the medal awarding ceremony two days from now, you will be assigned to manage a region."
At this point, Nois paused, "This might be troubling for you."
"Although you are a Second Rank Wizard, the area you’ll manage will be of the scale expected of a Third Rank Wizard, and you won’t have the choice. It will be decided by vote on the day of the ceremony, and I, as your nominator, cannot participate in the voting."
Nois looked at Colin, "Moreover, because of your origins, there are indeed many in the Supreme Council who hold a poor attitude toward you.
With me here, they won’t truly do anything to you, but they might give you some trouble in certain areas, such as the management region, for instance."
"If they employ methods that are within the rules, like assigning you a difficult area to manage, I won’t be able to defend you. You’ll have to rely on yourself, understand?"
"I understand," Colin nodded.
Nois walked to the window, "However, if you manage well, that is also one of the biggest advantages of becoming a councilman. Because, in the absence of special orders and as long as you don’t violate the Council’s rules, you are the supreme ruler of that region... Just as I am the City Lord of Neustadt City, you can reap many benefits from it."
"Alright," Colin nodded again.
"Anyway, grow quickly," Nois said as he patted his shoulder and walked back to his desk, sitting down and asking, "How much longer do you estimate it will be until you Advance to a Third Rank Wizard?"
"It should be within these few days."
Within these few days?
Nois was taken aback, raising his head.
"Lord Nois, regarding Advancing, I actually have some questions to ask you," Colin ignored the surprise on Nois’s face and continued.
He did not wish to hide his strength any longer.
"...Go ahead," Nois said after a moment’s pause.
"What is a Quiet Room?"
"The Quiet Room is a chamber where the concentration of Tainted babbling is reduced to almost zero through special means. They are usually located in busy streets and are mainly used by wizards advancing to the Third Rank to protect their vulnerable Soul Bodies from Tainted babbling during their first disembodiment," Nois explained.
The concept of a Quiet Room was actually not unfamiliar to wizards from a Pureblood Family. Their most exceptional members would use Quiet Rooms as early as when they advanced to an Advanced Apprentice, to ensure that they were not affected by Tainted babbling and prevent the degradation of their acquired Talent.
However, Colin, who was not of pure blood, clearly had very little knowledge of this area.
Nois thought for a moment and simply continued to explain,
"The key to advancing to a Third Rank Wizard lies in the disembodiment of the Spirit."
"Only with a Soul Body free from the fetters of the physical body can one truly come into contact with the omnipresent Magic Power in the world, breaking free from the physical body’s limits on Magic Power, calling upon the Magic Power from around, and using witchcraft with a power that greatly surpasses what came before.
At that point, what limits the wizard’s use of witchcraft is no longer the upper limit of Magic Power, but the upper limit of spiritual power."
"I see," Colin said as he suddenly understood, thanking Nois.
Although it was just a brief explanation, Nois had pointed out the biggest difference between a Third Rank Wizard and a Second Rank, clarifying the essence of a Third Rank Wizard a great deal for him.
"If you want to advance to a Third Rank Wizard, you must use a Quiet Room. The process of Soul Body disembodiment is very dangerous, especially during the first disembodiment when the Soul Body is at its most vulnerable and most susceptible to the influence of Tainted babbling."
"As the Soul Body gradually becomes accustomed later on, this condition will improve a lot, but every disembodiment needs extra caution and the use of specific techniques for protection," Nois continued to remind him.
"Does every casting of witchcraft require the Soul Body to disembark?"
"Not necessarily; it depends on when you can find the sensation of mobilizing the Magic Power around you. Once you find that sensation, you can cast powerful witchcraft without the need for Soul Body disembodiment."
"Hmm, there is also a special case - like the one you encountered with Xize. He must have used some Divine technique to dare to come in the form of a pure Soul Body. It is also because of this that he could evade the Council’s surveillance over High Rank Wizards," Nois added.
"To truly break free from the physical body now, you need to reach Fourth Rank. In fact, a thousand years ago, Third Rank Wizards could choose to abandon their physical bodies and change their Soul Body’s vessel at will. But not now, even Fourth Rank Wizards can’t switch bodies as they wish like in the past... You’ll find out the details when you reach the Fourth Rank, I won’t say more."
"Alright," Colin nodded and thanked Nois again.
"No need to thank me, you can come to me with any training questions anytime," Nois continued, then tossed him a metal plaque.
"With it, you can use the Quiet Room on the second floor of the hall at any time. Give it back to me after you break through to the Third Rank."
Colin didn’t hesitate, thanked Nois again, asked a few more questions about training, and then left.