Supreme Magus novel Chapter 244

Lith followed Solus’s plan, describing the vision in great detail. For the made up part, he described the assailant as a shadow, just like for all the others. Death Vision provided him plenty of material about how the King would look like after having his throat cut.

"Damned dryad magic!" King Meron slammed his fist on the armrest.

"It gives us too little information. At least now we know that the civil war should not happen anymore and that we are safe until next spring."

Lith nodded. Knowing how much time he had left before the events in his vision could happen was at the same time a reason for worry and relief. It gave them a deadline but also an idea about their enemy.

There couldn’t be many people capable of getting rid of the Queen’s corps. Also, until the attack on the academy happened, Lith had no reason to worry. The problem was if they would be able to prevent it and how the future would change after that step.

When Professor Manohar and Marth arrived, they checked Lith’s condition before examining Linjos.

"This is simply unbelievable." Marth said. "None of my diagnostic spells detects anything, but now that I know what to look for, it’s easy to recognize the dampening effect of the toxins."

"Agreed." Manohar nodded while extracting the toxins from the Headmaster’s body. "It’s unbelievable that someone could miss such a blatant effect, be it the patient or the healer."

Linjos and Marth both ignored his remark. They knew that in Manohar’s eyes any result but perfection was due to incompetence.

"Usually I wouldn’t ask something like this, but are you sure you don’t want to share your diagnostic spell, Lith?" Marth asked.

"It helped us greatly during the plague and now it has allowed to unveil a dangerous plot against all the academies. If it’s as good as I think it is, you may as well be set for life with the profits you would make by selling it."

Marth needed sheer willpower to not let his frustration transpire, yet Lith was able to perceive it nonetheless. His jaw muscles were slightly tensed and there was an edge in his voice that was hard to miss with his enhanced senses.

’Poor guy, not only he has to deal with Manohar on daily basis, but now he also has to face the fact that despite being younger I’m already a better diagnostician than him thanks to Invigoration.’ Lith thought.

’Yeah, you have become for Marth what he is for Vastor.’ Lith had yet to cut the mind link off, in case something else happened, allowing Solus to indulge his company.

"Don’t. If it’s at least half as good as mine, it would be a disaster." Manohar said.

"You know why it’s so hard to find a decent healer? Because mages just rote memorize everything without even trying to understand what a spell does and why. Healers are forced to be better than regular mages because illnesses change, new poisons are created, and many things are still unknown about the human body.

"If you share your spell, it will be great in the short term and a nightmare in the long term. Everyone will stop using that stone they call brain and rely on your spell for everything, while others, better paid and motivated, will exploit its limits.

"So, when a new threat will appear, your spell will be 100% useless and the so called healers will be helpless against it because out of practice."

An embarrassed silence befell into the room. It was hard to reply to Manohar’s temper tantrums, but it was even harder when he actually said something wise. Lith exploited his help to politely refuse Marth’s offer.

"Thanks for your offer, Professor Marth, but I think I will follow Professor Manohar’s advice. It took me years to create it, so far it’s my opus. It’s not only a matter of money, but also prestige.

With it I’m the second best diagnostician in the Griffon Kingdom, without it I’d just be a student like all the others. Unlike Professor Manohar, I’m no genius."

King Meron sighed loudly. He knew Tyris had sent Farg to look after Lith, but he didn’t know why. Yet he was sure there had to be a good reason for it. He really wanted to get his hands on the diagnostic spell, but keeping Lith as an asset was much more important.

According to several witnesses, he had fought against a Valor. It was unknown what had happened, except that despite being alone and just a fourth year student he had survived and brought to safety another four people.

Adding that to all his past endeavors, his ability as Healer, Forgemaster and now Necromancer, he really was too good to be true. Queen Sylpha was even considering if to introduce the sixth and the seventh princesses to him.

They were too low in the hereditary line to be of political importance, so they could be used to ensure his loyalty to the Crown. King Meron didn’t put much hope in the idea, though.

None of his daughters was a real beauty nor a seductress. They had taken much from their mother’s temper and had yet to understand that their status of princesses would last only until a new King or Queen would be selected.

Their pride blinded them enough for them to find the idea of marrying a commoner disgusting. Another thing that heavily weighted on his mind was the meaning of the vision.

He knew that, albeit vague, a dryad’s gift was as rare as trustworthy.

’I wonder how Lith’s death will trigger mine and Sylpha’s. Also, it’s completely unclear if the events at the academy and the death of his family are related or even if they happen at the same time.

’Normally, I would just reinforce the White Griffon’s security and wait for the events to play out, but now I have to protect Lutia as well. If his family dies, Lith could commit suicide making the vision come true. We must solve the issue with the toxins fast, so that when spring arrives, I can focus my forces on both tasks!’ Meron thought.

"Gentlemen, we have no time for debating the magical research." King Meron said.

"Manohar, I need you to provide a diagnostic spell able to spot the toxins that anyone can use. Marth can help you, but Lith can’t and no one else must be informed about today’s events.

"We will only use royal healers and royal constables to control the situation. Lith’s involvement must be kept hidden or belittled if found out. My hypothesis is that his family will be targeted because he discovered the plot against the academies.