Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"Detective, now that the accident caused by the Poet-Level Relic has been resolved, and I have helped you clear up the trouble surrounding the death of your predecessor, let us return to the original topic."

The blue-eyed doctor sitting on the single sofa looked at Shard:

"What are your current thoughts regarding Saint Byrons Integrated Academy?"

Because Circle Sorcerers only have 72 hours to awaken, the main method of cultivation by the True God Church and the Three Major Academies is actually to recruit from among their core believers and industry subsidiaries, which also makes it easier to observe.

But, both sides don't mind recruiting fresh blood, which has nothing to do with their own powers; it's just that cultivation is different from that of the trusted Gifted Ones."

"So, could you give an example of how ordinary people like us, who were originally unrelated to the mystical, are treated after joining the Church or the Academy?"

Shard thought for a moment, chewing on the implications of the words, feeling that it was reasonable to not be completely trusted.

"Of course, for the True God Church, those Circle Sorcerers who aren't devout believers, within the first ten years of their employment, are not allowed to leave their diocese, and the support they receive from the Church will also be restricted. It takes at least 20 years to be fully trusted.

As for the Three Major Academies, the conditions are a bit more complex. We use a correspondence method to cultivate Gifted Ones who were not originally part of the mystical world.

All external students receive instruction through correspondence and cannot directly contact the Academy itself, let alone enter the Academy. Based on the region, Correspondence Circle Mages are divided into different groups, each with 3 to 7 people.

When a group has at least one Six Rings Warlock, one Five-Ring Sorcerer, and one Four-Ring Sorcerer, and meets the condition of having more than 5 people, the group as a whole can pass the trial and truly enter the Academy. It must be the entire group, with no one left behind, to ensure mutual monitoring and mutual guarantees within the group."

The doctor explained, which made Shard raise an eyebrow:

"If I join Saint Byrons Integrated Academy..."

Dr. Schneider nodded, affirming Shard's guess. He pointed to himself:

"Then the group I'm in will once again have five Circle Sorcerers. We currently have four people; the specific information about others is not convenient to disclose before you join. But I promise, at least until you reach Three Rings, we'll conduct the formal enrollment test. After all, we are still far from meeting the other conditions."

That's why Bill Schneider was so enthusiastic about guiding Shard to join the Academy; finding a "wild" Gifted One was very difficult, just slightly less so than finding a needle in a haystack.

Seeing that Shard was still pondering, the doctor spoke again:

"Mr. Hamilton, I am very satisfied with you, with your background, your origins, and your attitude towards the mystical. A few hours ago, when we both witnessed that horrific scene, your expression of pity and feigned composure were all quite good. Please consider my proposal carefully, the conditions here are very favorable."

"I don't understand, why are the True God Church and the Academies so... wary of people like us?"

Shard was still hesitant, as Outlanders find it hard to trust others easily during the initial stages of entering this world.

"You are not yet a Circle Sorcerer, so you do not understand how dangerous this world can be. The world is like a mad ocean, and the normal world is just a tiny isolated island. Circle Sorcerers can delve into that deep sea and obtain more, thereby becoming more easily mad, more easily twisted by the Malice from Evil Objects and the Whispers from nature.

Even if we have 'another self' to resist those twists and oddities, a Sorcerer without childhood training is more likely to take a wrong step and lose control completely, which would be a truly horrible thing."

The doctor said simply, seemingly reluctant to speak too clearly. To Shard, it felt like the worldview of this world included not only steam and Mysticism but also elements of agnosticism or even the rules of Lovecraftian horror.

"Then, is it possible to become a Circle Sorcerer naturally, without guidance and cultivation?"

Shard asked again.

"Absolutely not. You do not know what it means to be a Circle Sorcerer, or what it really is. This morning, we mentioned that within the 72-hour window of a Circle Sorcerer's awakening, if left unguided, many complications can arise. Most people go mad, some die, and a very small chance exists of becoming something strange—a heap of Flesh, a screeching Spiritual Body.

Probably something you could imagine would give you nightmares just by looking at it."

Having heard what the doctor said, Shard fully understood his current situation and straightened up to summarize:

"I don't have much time. I must make a choice soon. And if I don't agree to join Saint Byrons Integrated Academy, then you definitely won't let me leave with today's memories."

Shard looked towards the doctor, and the cautious blue-eyed doctor nodded:

"As I mentioned at the beginning, students of the Three Major Academies hide their identity in regions where the True God Church is present. Yes, if you refuse, I will use some inconvenient methods to erase your memory. I am good at manipulating emotions and dreams, so I am also skilled at altering memories.

Of course, this is because you are just an ordinary person; it would not be so easy with a Circle Sorcerer."

Shard didn't interpret the doctor's words as a threat; these measures were all for self-protection, and Shard knew nobody should cater to him.

"If my memories of today are erased, I also wouldn't know about the 72-hour limit..."

He analyzed further.

"Yes, I think Tobesk City Mental Hospital might have a new guest soon. But rest assured, I am acquainted with staff members in all the mental hospitals in Tobesk City... I'm just joking with you, detective. We can relax a bit."

The doctor assessed carefully:

"I won't force you to choose to join Saint Byrons Integrated Academy, which I belong to, but as adults, we all must pay the price for our decisions. Besides, compared to the Church, becoming a Correspondence Circle Mage actually offers more freedom.

For an ordinary person like you who isn't a believer, entering the Church's training system would indeed ensure the Church's care, but it would also limit your freedom to act.

However, it's different for Correspondence Circle Mages. As long as we pass the exams every semester, earn enough compulsory credits, complete the practical contents, acquire enough practical credits, and don't engage in crimes like murder or arson, the Academy doesn't mind what we do.

Now, do you understand the difference between Academy-trained Circle Sorcerers and those trained by the Church?"

"I understand."

Shard nodded his head. Just listening to the doctor, the Academy certainly seemed more advantageous.

"The Three Great Magics Academies are Saint Byrons Integrated Academy, specializing in the containment and use of Relics; Zaras Literary Academy, skilled in developing Arcane Techniques involving Spirit Runes, which is the use of magic in stories; Xerxes Higher Medical Academy, which knows a bit of everything but is particularly proficient in alchemy.

Mr. Hamilton, this isn't just my opportunity, it's also yours. Being able to enter the Circle Mage training system through regular channels, rather than through Cult Organizations and secret societies, do you know how rare this chance is?"

The doctor said again, his profession making him quite skilled at persuading others.

The hesitating Shard nodded again. Although the original owner of the brain probably wasn't very useful, he was an outlander to this world, and even though he was only in his twenties, he had his own judgment:

"So how can you prove that everything you've said so far is true? Up to this point, the information I've received has all come from you."

Shard asked earnestly.

Although it was a suspicion of the doctor, Dr. Schneider actually appeared pleased; it indicated that the young man before him was intrigued.

"I could apply to the Academy for that Poet-Level (Five-Ring) Relic to prove my words. But once I do that, the Academy will know that a new Gifted One has been discovered here. The Academy won't force you to enroll, but they will definitely record your identity information. So, would you like to come into contact with the Poet-Level Relic 'Dream of Saint Byrons Integrated Academy'?"

"May I… think it over? Give me two hours? No, one hour—I want to carefully consider today's events."

With the overload of information, Shard couldn't immediately make a decision. However, he was leaning towards trusting the doctor, which was why he asked for some time to think.

"Not a problem, after all, for an ordinary person, this is a lot of information. You can think it over here, or you can leave. It just so happens that I have some minor matters to deal with, so we…"

The doctor glanced at the corner room's mantel clock, within the glass cabinet the pendulum swung with a heart-shaped metal piece at its base:

"Meet here at two o'clock in the afternoon."

"No problem, I'll stay here."

Shard said, it made no difference where he pondered. If the doctor had meant him harm, he wouldn't have waited until now; the sanatorium earlier was a perfect setting for murder.

"If you stay here, there are some Academy recruitment materials that aren't convenient to take outside; you could take a look at them. I'll be back after I've handled my affairs, and if you need anything, Mrs. Kara can help."

Mrs. Kara was the middle-aged maid who had brought tea earlier.