The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Is balance indeed the pinnacle of governance? Komer mulled over the flavor of this thought. For a territory not yet fully grasped in his own hands, necessary compromises were inevitable. The old powers had been greatly shaken but not extinguished, and a total eradication was neither possible nor completely in his interest. At least, in many cases, they could help him counter religious forces that had long coveted Nicosia.

Whether it was the Dark Lineage, the Salvation Society, or the Church of Light itself, none wanted to miss such an opportunity. And Komer had to admit that the Romanov family had managed this balance quite well; even the mighty Church of Light could not achieve an absolute dominance in Nicosia. Instead, the relatively free atmosphere had made the secular forces in Nicosia much stronger. Of course, this also brought some problems, such as the local powers being overly strong, causing the Central Kingdom to appear ineffectual, and the intended implementation of the "Utrecht Decree" further exacerbated the conflict between the local powers and the kingdom’s central authority.

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Now it was his turn. The Romanov family had failed to handle the balance properly, resulting in the swelling of local powers to an uncontrollable size. What about himself? Local powers seemed suppressed for now, but that didn’t mean they wholeheartedly supported him. Surface compliance might signify deeper dormancy—a fact Komer was keenly aware of, wasn’t that how he’d risen, step by step?

But relying on religious powers to completely suppress local forces was even less acceptable. Whether it was the Dark Lineage that recognized him as their chief or the seemingly ascetic Salvation Society, they were merely means to be used. If he allowed them to grow unrestrained without having means to curb them, it would only be a matter of time before he became a puppet.

Balance, oh balance—the all-encompassing balance. Between local powers, between religious forces, between local powers and religious forces—only by skillfully manipulating these balances to his will could he buy time and seize the opportunity to strengthen his own unique power.

As for Galle, let it be put on hold for the moment. Zellin, having suffered such a blow, wouldn’t be able to recover quickly. And Katya? Komer hadn’t yet decided how to handle her. He didn’t want to provoke a backlash from conservative forces still nostalgic for the Romanov’s rule at this juncture, making the support of Tez and Mathew all the more crucial.

Myriad thoughts plagued Komer. It was only now did he realize the true intricacy of ruling over such a vast territory—the same troubles the Romanov family faced awaited him. And now, he also had to consider the olive branch extended from the Pericles Church; whether it was an olive branch or a trap, Komer couldn’t be sure. Everything needed to be approached slowly.

Komer spread out the parchment scroll and began reading carefully. It was the Sheepskin Scroll from Bear, seemingly penned by multiple hands and covering an extensive array of subjects. From unique Magic Spells to the origins of certain institutions within the Church of Light, from the little-known secrets of the Court to tips on enhancing Magic power, from brief introductions to magical warfare to insights on combat experience—they encompassed a complex array of topics.