Chapter 388.1
Eugene shook her head in response. “It’s all thanks to you, elder. You helped me uncover the truth, and I’ve simply shared what I’ve learned.” Her words weren’t just humble; they resonated with genuine sincerity. Meeting Alber had been pivotal for her. It had swiftly unveiled Sang-je’s true identity and intentions, allowing her to escape danger promptly. Learning about the Holy City’s blockade later had left her both relieved to be safe and burdened with guilt for feeling that relief.
“Not everyone has the courage to do what you did—reveal the truth, regardless of consequences. Some might exploit it for their own gain. But you acted on your beliefs,” Alber praised, her words striking a chord with Eugene. “I’ve made countless wrong choices, but meeting you was undeniably the right one.”
Eugene blushed, averting her gaze. Among the compliments she’d received, this was the most meaningful. Alber’s acknowledgment made her feel validated in this world.
“That magic…” Alber’s voice drew her attention back. Eugene lifted her head, eager to listen. “It’s an ancient magic, perhaps as old as the ancient tribes themselves.”
Alber briefly elucidated the key aspects of the ancient magic.
In the distant past, the ancient tribes, categorized into three major factions, engaged in heated debates about magic. These discussions, however, were more scholarly than combative, lacking clear victors until the emergence of larks. Before larks, the tribes’ distinctions were minimal.
Yet, preceding this era, the tribes endured a brutal period characterized by kinship-based factions and territorial disputes. During this savage epoch, conflicts raged, marked by pillaging and bloodshed, prompting the development of defensive magic.
This defensive sorcery functioned as a last resort, like the desperate defiance of a cornered animal. Upon activation, it formed an impenetrable barrier, shielding its users from external threats. Choosing isolation over submission to plunder and enslavement seemed preferable, even if it meant facing death alone while safeguarding one’s possessions.
“Do people living within these defensive barriers not interact with each other? Is it like living on an isolated island?” Eugene’s question caused Alber to bow her head solemnly.