Book 3: Chapter 260: Six Paths to Choose From

After boarding the train and returning to Mishil District, Sylutia and Lady Franne surveyed the various villages and estates across the region, then began planning the spring plowing arrangements, doing their best to ensure abundant grain production in the two years before the Sinking Fog season arrived, storing up extra supplies to weather the prolonged period.

In March, spring plowing officially began. Thanks to the official coordination and participation, this spring plowing saw the first comprehensive promotion of mechanical usage. Under surging steam power, the land was deeply turned and broken up, then fertilizer was spread, and sowing began.

In the following months, the Mishil District gradually recruited gardeners to assist with regional grain production. Once the work settled into an orderly and stable state, Sylutia finally had the energy to spare to consider the matter of her own advancement.

She had reached Fourth Tier some time ago. Because of the Mockingbird-Starry Sky steam vehicle and her championship victory in the College Grand Competition, her reputation had spread throughout the Alliance. Throughout this process, her Secret Word Aspect had been continuously accumulating, already satisfying the requirements for advancement. However, she had never decided which Aspect to choose as her "Second Aspect," which was why she hadn't advanced promptly.

Now, the Secret Word Aspect condensed on her Fate Card had reached a certain limit. If she didn't suppress this state, she might spontaneously step into Fifth Tier at some moment. But advancing in this single-Aspect state would leave her strength far inferior to composite Aspects at Fifth Tier, and she would also lose the opportunity to grasp multiple core abilities.

So, which one should she choose?

Sylutia lay sprawled on the table, looking at the several chess piece figurines arranged before her. These were all shaped by her according to her own states, simulating the forms she would take after advancing through different methods.

First was "Secret Word·Gold Steam." In this path of advancement, she wore a mage robe of black base with gold-edged patterns, capable of learning and casting the secret arts of many Alliance factions, commanding numerous war machines—an orthodox mage characterized by "breadth" and "machinery."

Second was the path of "Secret Word·Luminous Moon." In this advancement, she wore a moon-white ceremonial robe, holding a crescent staff, capable of learning the many secret arts of the Origin Hourglass school, then combining them with the foundation of the Mithril Clock faction to cast various "time" system abilities. She could also trace history and reproduce the abilities and secret arts of many ancient creatures through archaeology—an ancient mage characterized by "time" and "antiquity."

Last was the path of "Secret Word·Alien Star." In this advancement, she wore a deep blue mage robe, a wide mage hat, and held a starlight staff. She could focus on the Mithril Clock faction's secret arts, cast the various secret arts of "Clock Dial Engraving," and easily summon and command the power of the Astral Plane—an aberrant mage characterized by "time" and "star domains."

Aside from these three, there were other options with much lower probability. For example, taking the "Secret Word·Nightmare" path, learning the Puppet Shadow School's secret arts to become a rare puppeteer; taking the "Secret Word·Bloodline" path, reproducing the ancient Blood Dynasty's secret arts to become a curse-blood angel known for slaughter and combat; or following instructor Nox's teachings, taking the "Secret Word·Beast Fang" path, fusing the many secret arts of the Bionics School to reproduce the various powerful abilities of the ancient Primordial Beasts.

This was quite troubling. Sylutia looked at the six chess piece figurines on the table, then put them away, planning to return to Tetis College to consult the Dean and also visit Amelie, wondering how that blue-haired girl was doing now.

...

A week later, Sylutia finished delegating various matters, then communicated with Lady Franne before boarding the train to Tetis College.

Returning to the familiar campus, Sylutia first visited her senior, Da Vinci, the current fifth-year Chief, to ask for his advice.

"Ah, I didn't expect Hedra to be so troubled?" The other man rubbed his chin.

"Actually, for most people, being able to specialize in one or two skills already requires considerable energy and time. So by the time they reach the peak of Fourth Tier, they've basically long since determined their area of expertise and path of advancement. There's rarely any dilemma over choices—only worries about insufficient strength and the difficulty of completing the Advancement Ritual."

"Your situation is quite special. You learn everything so quickly that any path you take will work out. It's really enviable." He thought for a moment.

"However, coming back to ask is also correct. Perhaps you've already sensed that the academy and the Alliance Council hold high expectations for you, hoping you'll play a greater role in the future. So choosing the right path is very important."

"Let him go see the Dean. I should have some arrangements to make. If he has no questions by then, he can ask directly." After speaking, he put down his staff and led Sylutia out of the laboratory.

The two rose into the air, flying slowly across the sprawling campus until they reached the administrative building where the Dean's office was located. It was close to the Tower of All Things, with open surroundings like a vast plaza.

Entering the building, the two arrived at the Dean's office. Da Vinci knocked on the door, then led Sylutia inside.

"Instructor, Sylutia is back." His tone was somewhat casual as he spoke.

Inside the room, the elderly man was processing documents. Upon hearing this, he nodded, hurriedly finished what he was doing, then set down his pen.

"Silius." He looked up and saw the familiar white-haired young woman. With just a single glance, he knew why she had come.

"It seems you've reached the edge of advancement. You must have some doubts and questions you'd like to understand." After speaking, he stood up.

"Follow me." Then he led the two to the fifth floor of the building. The entire floor was empty, with a massive complex Magic Array on the ground, outlining patterns of clocks, stars, machinery, and more.

Arriving there, Sage Aitos stopped his steps, standing within the array. The Magic Array beneath him gradually lit up, then slabs of sealed stone emerged one by one.

"These stone slabs come from successive generations of Mithril Clock members. After achieving great accomplishments, they inscribed their Fate Cards and sealed them within these slabs."

"Although these slabs cannot reproduce the power of those sages, they can still show how they planned their Paths and what results they ultimately achieved."

As Aitos spoke, the stone slabs emanated a faint radiance, as if breaking their seals, revealing their various distinct styles and colors, with magnificent figures presented one by one.

The Fate Card templates sealed within the slabs corresponded to figures who were at minimum Sixth Tier master level, and Seventh Tier sages were by no means few. The vast and intricate patterns displayed the ingenious constructions of one predecessor after another, along with profoundly abstruse rune circulation patterns that left one's eyes dazzled.

"You may take your time observing and studying here. I believe that after seeing the footprints left by these predecessors, you will gain your own insights and ideas."

After Sage Aitos finished speaking, he produced two keys from his palm and handed them to the pair, allowing them to come and observe freely whenever they wished.

Facing the treasured heritage of essence preserved within this school, both were deeply stirred and immensely grateful.

For the following month or more, Sylutia practically forgot to eat and sleep as she moved among these stone slabs, observing and absorbing the Paths that those masters and sages had forged over their lifetimes. Such insights and realizations were unimaginable for other schools and small organizations. Not only did very few organizations possess such a complete preservation of past Fate Card inscriptions, but there were also not so many predecessors and sages to reference. Most could only choose from a handful of templates and then grope forward on their own.