"Gwyn, what is magic in your eyes?"
Mohg was standing before an experimental table, holding up two vials of glintstone solution of nearly identical color. Hearing Sellen's sudden question, he couldn't help but glance her way.
"What is magic...?"
Mohg carefully set the vials down and capped them. He rested his chin in his hand, and after a second of contemplation, he gave his answer.
"A tool."
"A tool?" Sellen repeated, momentarily stunned by the reply.
"Yes, a tool. It is an excellent instrument for augmenting the power I wield. Much like the combat arts I've mastered, it simply requires an investment of my time, and in return, I reap greater strength."
Mohg walked over to pick up a mortar and pestle used for grinding glintstone as he spoke.
"Is your understanding of sorcery truly limited to such a shallow level?" Sellen frowned, a trace of dissatisfaction flickering in her eyes.
"Shallow...?" Mohg didn't argue. Instead, he tossed the question back at her. "Then, Sorceress Sellen, what do you believe magic to be?"
"It is knowledge. It is the path through which I understand this world. The pursuit of sorcery is my life's purpose; I crave the source of all magic, and I crave the truth behind it." Sellen met Mohg's eyes, stating her convictions with unwavering certainty.
"I see. I imagine many within the Academy would agree with you, though just as many likely would not." Mohg nodded. "But I ask you this: in my view, magic is power—a tool. It is an instrument meant to serve people. Even if you pursue the truth of magic, what will you do once you have obtained it?"
"Knowing the truth is enough for me."
"And then? What of the future of sorcery, its development, or your own path? Once you grasp the truth and the source, would you truly have no desire to use it?" Mohg looked at Sellen, his voice calm yet piercing.
Sellen's brow furrowed as she sank into deep thought. To be honest, if she truly uncovered the source and the truth of sorcery, would she really be content to simply stop there? The pursuit of knowledge by a living being was bottomless—at least, that was how it seemed to her.
Seeing Sellen lost in thought, Mohg didn't disturb her. He lowered his head to observe the two vials of glintstone solution on the table again. Their conversation just now had made it difficult to tell which was which...
Just as Mohg was about to discern the subtle differences between the two, Sellen spoke again.
"You have a point. However, I still cannot accept your view that sorcery is merely a tool. That said... I suppose I truly should consider the path I will take in the future."
Sellen looked at Mohg earnestly and nodded. Mohg was slightly surprised. Truth be told, he had only intended to see if he could nudge her perspective. It seemed he actually had managed to influence her "Primevalist" philosophy, if only slightly.
He wondered how long this shift would last. In a sense, turning into a "Graven-Mass" wasn't considered death to sorcerers like her; it was merely a change in the form of the soul and the vessel that contained it.
"I do understand now why you joined Caria, though."
"Oh? How so?" Mohg turned to her, curious.
"Because your mindset is far too similar to those Carians. There are plenty of people in the Lazuli Conspectus who would sacrifice everything for the sake of sorcery's origin and truth, but there aren't many like that in Caria. They are just like you—a group that views sorcery as a tool and a magnificent source of power." Sellen glanced at Mohg and pursed her lips.
Mohg didn't say anything in rebuttal. Sellen wasn't wrong; his attitude toward magic really was quite similar to the Carians. Whether it was the Carian soldiers or the Carian Knights, they all viewed Glintstone and Moon sorceries as weapons for victory and tools for self-improvement. Even many of the sorcerers serving the Carian Royal Family felt the same.
They studied sorcery not to chase the "Primeval Current," but to obtain greater power to better serve the royalty. Caria sought the restoration and might of the royal house, not the prosperity of the sorcerous arts for their own sake.
"Speaking of which, why don't you wear your glintstone crown while you're in here?" Mohg glanced at the Karolos Glintstone Crown sitting off to the side.
"Its effect on me is negligible, and wearing it is quite uncomfortable. Unless I'm conducting a particularly critical piece of research, I have no desire to wear that thing. It's too stifling," Sellen said, leaning back in her chair and propping a foot up on the table.
"You really are quite different from the other sorcerers I know. They usually look like they want to have their crowns fused to their foreheads."
"Self-consolation for the mediocre. Simply put, because their own talent is lacking and they have tasted higher potential through external aid, they are naturally unwilling to return to their own mediocrity." Sellen gave her assessment of the other Academy sorcerers without even shifting her posture.
"Sharp words indeed." Mohg shrugged, returning his focus to the items on the experimental table.
"I am merely speaking the truth."
"It sounds like you probably don't have many friends in the Academy, Sorceress Sellen?"
"...That is none of your business. Besides, I have no need for such things." After a brief silence, Sellen silently turned her head away, her tone stiff.
Mohg had hit the nail on the head. In fact, her situation was even more extreme than "not having many friends"—she had none at all.
This was due partly to her overwhelming talent and partly to her personality. Combined with the "Primevalist" label, almost no one in the Academy dared to approach her, save for the apprentices tasked with assisting her experiments. Even those apprentices usually tried to avoid her if they had a choice.
As for the reason... though they never said it out loud, Sellen knew exactly why. They were terrified of being turned into "Graven-Masses." After all, anyone who knew anything about the Primeval Current knew what happened to those who were "consumed" by the research.
Mohg shook his head slightly. No wonder that when Sellen eventually faced her "incident" later on, there wasn't a single person within the Academy willing to offer her a helping hand.
────────────────────────────────────────
Support me here: https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (415 Chapters – Ongoing)
Join the journey and become part of the story!
────────────────────────────────────────