Why Did You Summon Me?

The sorcerers that Baiyi called over arrived at the capital. They were the accomplished magical scholars and academic savants in the Empire. Baiyi had called them over to analyze both the Laws of Time and Path to Heaven’s magical formation.

Renowned artists across the Rohlserlian Empire heeded the Emperor’s call and gathered in the capital city. Their mission was to replace what the Emperor had lost to Baiyi’s fire.

Academic discussions in this era were very different from those conducted in the future. Unlike in the future, when old nerds locked themselves in meeting rooms and argued all day, ancient Rohlserlian scholars discussed in locations that were serene and comfortable, thus encouraging conviviality, such as lush gardens, verdant woods, and even beside the water fountain at the public square. These accomplished scholars would then converse with each other as though they were close friends. [1]

Bystanders were allowed to join in without a formal invitation; interjections and questions from the public were welcomed. The academic culture of the ancient Rohlserlian empire was open-minded; unlike formal forums, these discussions were more like symposia. Conducting forums in the same way in modern-day Isythre was impossible due to the restrictions imposed by intellectual property laws.

To Baiyi, this type of symposia was the sort of discussion used by the Voidwalkers.

A relaxed atmosphere could curtail efficiency, as topics of discussion would often veer off course, so it was up to the moderator to steer it right back on. The Rohlserlian sorcerers’ discussion never got heated, neither did they argue about which waifu had the best design, or which Ultraman was the ‘ultra-est’.

To ensure professionality, Baiyi had fixed the location of their symposium at the Imperial Garden, where the Emperor usually conducted similar events. It was the ideal spot to prevent interruptions from idle outsiders.

Soon, the sorcerers reached the garden. Surprisingly, they were acquainted with Mia; they met at a previous symposium. Nonetheless, they all acknowledged Mia’s academic achievements. They praised her strong foundation in magical theories and her open-mindedness to ideas, as well as holding high regard for her opinions and thoughts. Indeed, it would not be wrong to admit that they had only accepted Baiyi’s invitation for Mia’s sake.

In comparison, their attitude towards Baiyi was less warming as they were polite to Baiyi only because of his status as the mysterious heir apparent. It was as expected from Rohlserlian sorcerers — they were so complacent that they saw no wrong that the person they were dismissing was the Emperor’s personally-tutored student.

‘I guess it’s time for me to show these cavemen who I am!’ Baiyi thought and quietly signaled the maids to tuck away every prepared tea set.

The sorcerers quickly settled themselves into a circle and realized that they were not served with refreshment. Just as chagrin was slowly setting into their faces, Baiyi coolly strode to the middle of the circle and said loudly, “My esteemed guests, I’m honored that all of you have come despite the long journey. To show my appreciation, please allow me to serve you His Majesty’s favorite blend of tea!”

His right hand made a graceful swish in the air like a conductor beginning the first note of a symphony.

In a flash, mana orbs of different colors appeared on the sorcerers’ unsuspecting palms. There were blobs of dark sepia, the color of Earth; there were bright flashes of crimson, the color of Fire; there were even breaths of pale blue, the color of Ice, and many more. Regardless of their elements, these mana orbs were all small and translucent, akin to little balls of mist.

The sorcerers were startled and started to wonder how these orbs managed to suspend above their palms while remaining in shape. Although they were not consciously discharging mana, their bodies were still leaking some of it as their reserve remained in its full capacity. In other words, unless the sorcerers were consciously withholding their mana, it would be impossible for the wispy, frail elemental orbs to remain in their palms instead of being blown away like a fog succumbing to a breeze.

Of course, that was not all that Baiyi had prepared for his little performance. With his control, the orbs began to stir and swirl before materializing into a delicate teacup decorated with bands of intricate patterns.

Brown tea materialized above the teacups from thin air. Then, as if tipped by an invisible hand, it flowed gently into the porcelain below like a silent waterfall. A palatable aroma of tea began to fill the garden soon after.

The sorcerers were motionless on their seats, entranced. They have never seen such acute control of mana before. They had never imagined that there existed a master who could control multiple elemental mana — a feat of its own — to such degree of precision. Even the sudden appearance of the tea stupefied them; only when the warmth of the liquid began to prick their fingers were they finally convinced that it was not an illusion.

The more they marveled at it, the stronger the feeling of dread became. What happens if this man decided to repeat what he had done, but this time swapping these gentle orbs with destructive, intrusive mana? Would it be possible that this man could disrupt their casting of spells without a sign? Is it possible that he could cast devastating magic without even an utterance of an incantation in a battle?

Baiyi was pleased with their reaction. Outwardly, he urged pointedly, “Well? Please enjoy it while it’s hot.”

The sorcerers forced themselves out of their trance and carefully lifted the elemental teacups to their lips. Once again, the perfect warmth of the tea wetting their lips and its delectable taste caressing their tongues hammered the fact that none of these had been illusionary magic.

It was, indeed, the work of the mysterious crowned prince.

They sank into their thoughts, trying to mentally work out the intricate steps and spells to complete this seemingly simple performance. The longer they mused, however, the more they were convinced that the trick might lie beyond their scope of knowledge and power simply because they could not fathom how it was done at all.

The only person who remained sober was Mia, who had long accustomed to seeing Baiyi performed. Though she marveled at yet another one of Mr. Hope’s shows, she at least had the benefit of being mentally prepared.

She sidled up behind Baiyi’s back and whispered, “Gotta’ hand it to you, Mr. Hope. You picked an even cooler trick to show off than I did!”

In a social gathering of well-known and accomplished people, newcomers like Mia needed a way to seize attention and gain recognition quickly regardless of how comely, pleasant, or even highborn they were. The girl had managed it by showing off a trick similarly designed to wow the crowd — though hers paled when compared to Baiyi’s.

As he allowed the sorcerers time to muse, he asked quietly, “So, what did you do?”

The shadow of a sly smile appeared on her face. “I snuffed out fireballs with my bare hands like you did that time.”

Baiyi stifled a chortle.

Snuffing out a fireball with one’s bare hand was more of a test of good eyesight and courage than magical dexterity. The performer only needed to acutely observe the fireball and seized the moment right before it exploded to crush its magical structure with one’s mana and psychic power. With its internal structure collapsed, the fireball would dissipate, and so a spectator saw it “snuffed out” by the performer’s hands.

It was a parlor trick aimed only to entertain and zero pragmatic purposes, but Baiyi taught it to his students for fun. He had not expected Mia to adore its apparent coolness enough to invest time and effort practicing it until she surpassed all of her friends. There had not been any chance for her to perform, however, until she was sent back to simpler times when sorcerers were too naïve to use magic as a cheap way to earn applause.

Needless to say, Baiyi’s performance was more sophisticated than Mia’s child’s play.

The sorcerers finally recovered from their trance, and one of the most senior and experienced stood up.

He was quite possibly the most accomplished and famous among them, as well as the one who had treated Baiyi with the least geniality during the initial reception.

Now, however, all of his previous complacency was supplanted by a humbled expression. He placed his right hand over his chest and sank into a deep bow. Clear adulation laced his voice as he said, “Your Highness has proven yourself more superior and artful than I had first understood. I am ashamed of my previous attitude; please pardon my ignorance.”

Other sorcerers quickly followed suit, standing up and apologizing to him in the same humble manner. It harkened to the scene in Da Xue when everyone had gifted him a pen out of respect and admiration.

Then, someone decided to make some noise.

When one was too good at their craft, the underlying complexity of their skill would be lost to the dimmest one in the group. This time, the honor of being the dunce fell onto an apprentice sorcerer who had attended the symposium with his teacher.

He had been staring at the elemental teacup in his hand with an incredulous face, and when he saw his teacher’s humble attitude to Baiyi, he cried, “I don’t get it. Isn’t this just some highbrow parlor trick? Pretty sure I would be able to do the same if I practice over some time, or if someone were to cooperate and complete the illusion with me. Honestly, compared to what Princess Mia had done, this is noth —”

He had not finished his sentence when his teacher ground out, “Silence! You are to apologize to His Highness for your impudence!”

“But!” The young apprentice, hot with indignation, began.

Before he could say anything more, however, Baiyi stepped in and said calmly, “Please, young apprentice. There is no need to be impatient. Calm down and watch the world reveals itself to you in a teacup.” [2]

“What world is there in a teacup?” The apprentice snapped sourly. He brought the cup closer to his eyes and peered into his unfinished tea.

He could not avert his gaze; it was as if his mind had sunk into a mesmerizing whirlpool. Whatever was inside the teacup had seized his soul, drawing him in deeper and deeper. His body froze, and no matter how loudly the rest of the world was blaring around him, he was deaf to them all.

A few moments later, the apprentice jerked backward and seemed to have returned to his present. He flushed, ecstasy radiating from his expression, and took a few gulps of breaths to temper himself.

The look he cast at Baiyi had changed. Just as his teacher, he suddenly bowed lowly before Baiyi.