A few days later, Lin Yuan sat in his study room, sipping tea. Ute stood before him and said, "Master, I've got all the info."
Lin Yuan put down his teacup and motioned for him to continue.
Ute bowed slightly and said in a deep voice, "The origin of these undead can actually be traced back more than 1,700 years ago."
"More than 1,700 years ago?" Lin Yuan raised his eyebrows. "That's quite a long time span. Go on."
"Yes." Ute nodded and continued, "At that time, the White Tower Academy hadn't fully submitted to the capital. It was a relatively independent magic organization. The magicians of that era were very powerful. They thought magic-wielders were inherently better and had the right to lord over commoners, even take the throne and govern. Such magicians were known as 'heretics.'"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan gently rubbed his chin. "It sounds like a rather common story of'magic supremacism'."
"Exactly." Ute nodded. "This group of heretics was ostracized by the mainstream magicians. They left the White Tower and built the 'Black Tower' in the Grey Mist Mountains. Since then, the Black Tower has been in conflict with the White Tower and even the capital for hundreds of years."
"And then?"
"Later, the capital and the White Tower joined forces and completely destroyed the Black Tower in a great battle." Ute paused, eyes widening with awe. "The battle was brutal. They say White Tower mages sacrificed dearly to crush the Black Tower. Its magicians fought to the death, and the most fanatic ones became undead to keep their cause alive."
Lin Yuan squinted his eyes slightly. A sentence he had read in the ancient books of the White Tower Academy flashed through his mind: The Forgotten Oath.
"So, the 'Forgotten Oath' refers to this matter... To be precise, it should be the forgotten spell, the spell to turn into the undead. After failing to research the resurrection of the dead, they started to develop in the direction of the undead..." Lin Yuan let out a soft sigh.
With a bow, Ute continued, "The White Tower Dean believes that even after the Black Tower was destroyed, some undead endured. They're holed up, patiently awaiting their moment to surface again."
Lin Yuan was silent for a moment and then waved his hand. "Well, thank you for your hard work."
"It's my duty." Ute replied respectfully.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Lin Yuan said casually.
The door slowly opened, and a girl in the uniform of a White Tower magic apprentice walked in. She bowed her head respectfully and said, "Grand Magician Lin, please go to the dining hall for a meal. The messenger from the capital has arrived."
When Lin Yuan entered the dining hall, he saw a crowd chatting with Wan Wensi. "She must be the capital's leader," he thought.
Lin Yuan couldn't help but glance at the distant hall. Through the window, he could see a cold and glamorous woman in a white robe standing there, talking with the Dean of the White Tower.
"Women in ancient Europe really have a good figure..." Lin Yuan thought to himself and then walked towards the dining hall.
When he entered the dining hall, the female mage in the white robe noticed his arrival and took the initiative to step forward. Her tone steady and professional, she said, "Grand Magician Lin. I'm Versa Laya. You can call me Laya." Lin Yuan returned a small smile and reached out to shake her hand lightly. "Lin Yuan, nice to make your acquaintance."
"Hello, I'm Wan Wensi. Nice to meet you, Laya."
The Dean of the White Tower also introduced beside them, "Ms. Laya is an important member of the Magician Association in the capital and is also the main commander in charge of this operation."
Lin Yuan nodded and exchanged pleasantries. "I've heard that the magicians in the capital are all elites. Now that I see you today, it really lives up to its reputation."
Laya smiled faintly. "Grand Magician Lin, your fame far exceeds mine. Even the capital's Magician Association knows of your deeds."
"You flatter me." Lin Yuan smiled and casually found a seat to sit down.
After everyone was seated, Laya put away her smile and got straight to the point. "Next, let's talk about how to deal with the undead and the group of dark creatures."
Her eyes roamed over the assembled group, and she declared resolutely, "I want everyone to abide by my commands for this mission."
====================
几日后,林远坐在书房内,悠闲地喝着茶,乌特则站在他面前,语气恭敬地说道:"老爷,已经打听清楚了."
林远放下茶杯,示意他说下去.
乌特微微躬身,沉声道:"这些不死族的起源,实际上可以追溯到一千七百多年前."
"一千七百多年前?" 林远眉头一挑,"这时间跨度还挺长的,说说看."
"是." 乌特点头,继续说道:"当时,白塔学院尚未完全归顺王都,而是一个相对独立的魔法组织.那个时代的魔法师们实力强大,他们认为,能够使用魔力的人本身就高人一等,理应凌驾于普通人之上,甚至取代皇族统治这个世界.持这理念的魔法师被称为 '异端'."
林远听到这里,轻轻摩挲着下巴:"听起来像是个挺常见的 '魔法至上主义' 的故事."
"正是如此." 乌特点头道,"这群异端被主流魔法师所排斥,他们离开白塔,在灰雾山脉建立了 '黑塔'.从那时起,黑塔便与白塔乃至王都展开了数百年的对抗."
"然后呢?"
"后来,王都与白塔联合,在一场大战中彻底覆灭了黑塔." 乌特顿了顿,眼中闪过一丝敬畏,"那场战役极为惨烈,据说白塔的法师们付出了极大代价,最终才将黑塔摧毁.而黑塔的魔法师们则誓死不降,其中最狂热的一批人,甘愿将自身转化为不死族,以此延续他们的意志."
林远微微眯眼,脑海中闪过之前在白塔学院翻阅古籍时,看到的一句话,遗忘的誓言.
"原来 '遗忘的誓言' 指的就是这件事啊... 准确来说,应该是遗忘的咒语吧,转换成不死族的咒语.研究死者复活失败,就开始往不死族方向研发了么..." 林远轻叹一声.
乌特躬身继续道:"根据白塔院长的推测,一部份的不死族群并没有随着黑塔的覆灭而终结,而是躲藏在某处,等待着重现于世的那一天."
林远沉默了片刻,随即摆摆手:"好吧,辛苦你了."
"应该的." 乌特恭敬地回应.
就在这时,房门外传来一阵敲门声.
"请进." 林远随口道.
门缓缓打开,一位穿着白塔魔法学徒制服的少女走了进来,恭敬地低头道:"林大法师,请您前往餐厅用餐,王都的使者已经到了."
当林远到达餐厅时,就看到有一大部队人正在和万玟丝等人交谈, "看来王都派来的带头人物就是她了..."
林远不由得瞥了一眼远处的大厅,透过窗户,可以看到一个气质冷艳的白袍女子站在那里,正与白塔学院院长交谈着.
"古欧洲的女性身材就是好啊..." 林远心里感叹了一下,随即迈步朝餐厅走去.
当他走进餐厅时,那位白袍女法师注意到了他的到来,主动迎上前,语气冷静而干练地说道:"你好,林大法师,我叫维尔萨·莱雅,叫我莱雅就好."
林远微微一笑,伸手与她轻握了一下:"你好,我是林远."
"你好,我是万玟丝,很高兴认识你,莱雅."
白塔学院院长也在一旁介绍道:"莱雅女士是王都魔法师协会的重要成员,也是负责本次行动的主指挥官."
林远点点头,寒暄道,"听闻王都的魔法师皆为精英,今日一见,果然名不虚传."
莱雅脸上露出一丝淡笑:"林大法师才是威名远扬,您的战绩,连王都的法师协会也有所耳闻."
"过奖了." 林远笑了笑,随意地找了个座位坐下.
等众人落座后,莱雅收起笑容,直接进入正题:"接下来,我们来谈谈如何对抗不死族和暗夜生物群吧."
她的目光扫过在座的众人,语气坚定道:"这次行动,我希望各位能听从我的指挥."