Teaching Third Disciple

Sorry for not updating for the past few days. I caught Typhus and am currently being treated in the hospital. It's probably due to overwork. I've recovered a bit today and can write little by little, so here's today's update.

Oh, and last week, I also made a Frieren x Fate crossover on FFdotNet and have already published 3 chapters. Feel free to check it out~

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Teaching magic to others… this must be the third time for Aura—or perhaps the hundredth, depending on how one defines "teaching."

If explaining magical dilemmas to human mages counted as teaching, then Aura herself had lost track of how many times she'd done it. But if one included the monumental task of building a magical system from scratch, then this would be her third true attempt.

Thanks to Serie's relentless demands for progress in magical studies, Aura had long mastered the human magical system. Its foundations, intricacies, and evolution were so deeply ingrained in her that she could explain them as effortlessly as breathing. Even if she never encountered another once-in-a-millennium genius like Flamme, Aura was confident she could shape someone into an exceptional mage.

Sasha listened attentively to Aura's explanations, from the origins of human magic, its evolution from imitating demon magic, to its transformation after elves joined magical research. She explained it all in an easy-to-understand manner, almost as if Aura had personally experienced it.

"Human magic began as a pale imitation of demon magic," Aura explained, her tone even but edged with a subtle hint of pride. "Crude, limited, and riddled with flaws. Then came the elves. They brought innovation, weaving their understanding of nature into the structure of human spells, refining what was once clumsy into something… competent."

"Of course, it's still primitive compared to true demon magic," she added with a smirk. "But it's usable, which is why you're here learning it."

Sasha nodded vigorously, absorbing every word like a sponge. Aura, for all her condescension, had a way of explaining complex theories in a way that made them accessible, as though she had personally lived through the history of magic's evolution.

After finishing her lecture on magical theory, Aura leaned back slightly and crossed her arms. "Now," she said, her tone shifting, "what kind of magic does Sasha want to learn?"

Sasha tilted her head, pondering for a moment before her eyes lit up with a spark of childish ambition. "I want magic that can turn one potato into two!"

For a moment, the room was silent. Aura blinked, caught off guard by the sheer absurdity of the request. "...Hmm," she began, carefully choosing her words. "There's no such magic."

"No?" Sasha's shoulders drooped, her excitement deflating like a popped balloon.

"Not as far as I know," Aura clarified.

"Oh." Sasha looked down at her lap, the disappointment evident in her slumped posture.

Aura sighed, stepping closer. She placed a hand on Sasha's head and ruffled her hair gently. "Don't look so defeated. Just because I don't know of such magic doesn't mean it's impossible."

Sasha's eyes widened. "Really? Can a student achieve something even a teacher can't?"

Aura's lips curled into a faint smile. "Didn't I tell you earlier? Magic is a discipline rooted in imagination. A mage cannot achieve what they cannot imagine. Before you asked about multiplying potatoes, no mage had ever even considered it. But now you've started imagining it. That alone puts you on a path that no one else has walked. Perhaps, someday, you'll create magic that makes potatoes multiply."

Sasha's face brightened, her hope reigniting. "But where should I start?"

Aura straightened and gestured for Sasha to stand. "We'll begin with something foundational: plant magic. I'll teach you how to control plants in battle. It's a theory I've read about, but…" Aura hesitated, glancing away briefly, "I can't actually perform it myself."

Sasha blinked, confused. "Why not?"

"Because I can't imagine the process of plant growth. It's an abstract concept to me."

"I can imagine it!" Sasha exclaimed, her voice bursting with enthusiasm.

Aura raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then perhaps you have a talent I lack."

"Something even you can't do?" Sasha's voice was filled with awe, as though the idea were too grand to fully comprehend.

"That's right."

Aura nodded. Although she admitted it with her words, she didn't truly believe it in her heart.

Aura wasn't teaching Sasha magic so she could play around with things like growing potatoes.

This mountain stronghold, composed of slaves from a religious nation, was not stable. Sooner or later, they would discover that Aura was not some so-called goddess envoy, but a demon who enjoys eating humans.

When that time came, if Aura still wanted to control them and have these followers guard the Holy Sword for her, she would need to rely on force.

This is why Aura was teaching Sasha battle magic. In the eyes of the other humans, Sasha, who was the first to contact Aura and receive her help, was considered Aura's spokesperson.

It is impossible for Aura to stay beside the Holy Sword for the rest of her life, and when it came to truly resisting outside human invasions, she couldn't personally intervene. After all, demons were taboo to humans at any time, and would invite national armies or powerful mages to launch a crusade.

Using humans to fight against humans was the wisest approach.

However—

Aura couldn't figure it out and frowned.

Why did Sasha choose plant magic?

How could you fight with plants? How could you use plants to intimidate and control those followers? Plant magic was the least suitable for high-explosive combat.

But it didn't matter.

After all, this was just the beginning.

Aura had plenty of time. Once Sasha got started with her interest in plant magic, Aura would then teach her other types of battle magic.

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Time in the mountains seemed to stretch and blur as the migration of the believers continued. Aura, remaining hidden in the original mountain stronghold, orchestrated the relocation with meticulous precision. She had chosen the site for the new village with care, ensuring it was strategically placed to both conceal and protect the Holy Sword.

The believers, previously enslaved and now under Aura's command, traversed treacherous terrains. They crossed rugged mountain passes and forded icy rivers, their progress slow but steady. Supplies were moved in careful batches, and makeshift camps were established along the way to accommodate the growing needs of the group. After several grueling days, they finally arrived at their destination, guided by Aura's distant instructions.

The cave where the Holy Sword lay embedded in rock was a stark contrast to the harsh journey that had led them there. The cave's entrance was obscured by overgrown foliage, a natural barrier that had kept the sword hidden for centuries. The believers, under Aura's remote guidance, carefully excavated the area, uncovering the sword's resting place.

Huh?

You asked why Aura didn't go there in person, but just hid in the original mountain stronghold to give orders?

That's because the closer you get to the Holy Sword, the stronger the anti-demon field becomes. If you're within a hundred meters of it, even a great demon majoring in defensive magic would be crushed instantly.

Although the power of the Holy Sword is gradually weakening, Aura estimated that it would take at least a thousand years before it weakens enough to return to the state Aura first saw it—where the field only extended an inch from the sword.

Aura's luck was really bad. That day, she came across the rusted Holy Sword, saw that it seemed ordinary, and reached out to pull it out. Unexpectedly, the sword sensed Aura's demonic mana and immediately burst forth, becoming as good as new.

Perhaps it was precisely because Aura touched it recklessly that the Holy Sword awakened. Otherwise, it is estimated that after thousands of years, no one would discover that the unremarkable rusty sword was the holy sword left by the legendary goddess.

But on further reflection, Aura thought this must have been the goddess's will, leading her to discover the Holy Sword ahead of time. Wasn't this a sign that she should hide the sword, preventing humans from finding it?

Could it be that the goddess is standing on the side of the demons this time?

That would be wonderful!

Aura was overjoyed.

Aura planned to establish a village here, to keep away any prying eyes, and to hide the Holy Sword forever.

As long as she built the village around the holy sword in advance, in the future, no human would accidentally discover the Holy Sword, spread the news of its location, and build a "Village of the Sword" around the Holy Sword to protect it and wait for the hero.

Only her "Aura's Village" would remain!

'Haha, hahahaha! Hahahahahaha!!!'

Aura was thrilled with herself for coming up with such a brilliant plan to take over the place.

This is the wisdom of Aura, one of the Seven Sages and the most talented demon!

Ordinary demons only knew how to fight and kill humans. How could they, like Aura, suppress their hatred for humans and instead use them, pitting human against human?

If her accomplishment of hiding the Holy Sword were to be passed down in the demon territory a thousand years from now, even the Omniscient Schlacht would have to step aside and let her, Aura, take the position of the demons greatest hero and the second in command of the Demon King army.

In a rare sunny day.

Under the bright sun, Aura stood on a high mountain overlooking the canyon where the Holy Sword was located, gazing down at the greenery and the gradually appearing human settlement.

She was immensely satisfied.

The human "Village of the Sword" disappeared before it ever came into being.

And in its place, the demon "Aura's Village" was born at this very moment, in this very place.