The confrontation between the headmaster and Usoma had chilled the atmosphere of the entire lecture to a freezing point.
Danton sneered as he looked at Usoma, presenting his argument.
"I admit that some of you magicians are quite powerful."
"But the times have already changed! Nowadays, people no longer need the guidance of magicians to live well—in fact, they live even better!"
Danton proudly displayed the magic-driven steam boiler developed by the academy. After the Magic Crystal Stone flashed, the steam engine roared to life, unleashing an endless burst of power.
"I was deeply influenced by Master Gould's teachings, dedicating my life to bringing magic into every household, allowing everyone to share the convenience of magic equally!"
He chuckled as he asked Usoma, "Tell me, how many magicians working day and night would it take to replace this machine? Can you produce steel and firearms? Can you ensure that every one of my students can take a ride to school? No, you can't."
He scoffed, "Talent is a rare gift, one in ten thousand. What kind of revolution can your handful of magicians possibly start? The magical power you take pride in is mass-produced here, worthless!"
"So, give up!" Danton laughed.
"Stop dreaming about reviving your so-called Magic Empire, and stop naively believing you are the saviors of the world!"
"The current Vignar is far stronger and more prosperous than the Magic Empire. Magicians should have long exited history's stage!"
"Let the Magic Empire rest peacefully in its grave. If you don't stir up trouble, we might still remember its merits. Otherwise..."
Danton's gaze darkened. "No one will like you. You will never integrate with the world; you will always be outcasts."
Usoma was stunned.
Tilis was also stunned.
The former's expression was deliberately feigned by Luo Wei, while the latter was truly emotional.
Some harsh words were better delivered through another's mouth, and the effect was even more compelling when her "teacher" Usoma was left speechless, unable to provide any rebuttal...
Tilis carried a heavy burden, but she should set those burdens down.
After leaving the lecture hall, snowflakes flurried, and the world was blanketed in a layer of whiteness.
Tilis was deep in thought.
Luo Wei held her hand, pretending to be curious.
"What's on your mind?"
Tilis looked up, her purple eyes shimmering faintly.
Her emotions were conflicted and complicated.
"The debate just now... my teacher has lost."
Although Usoma later showcased countless astonishing spells that left the students in awe, she still couldn't answer Headmaster Danton's doubts.
Tilis felt that the more her teacher demonstrated, the weaker her argument became. She had never seen her teacher like this before...
Luo Wei laughed, gently stroking her hair in consolation.
"Magic and magicians are indeed difficult to be accepted in this era. Your teacher daringly challenged Callen University alone, so I think she's already quite remarkable."
"But what's the point..." Tilis sighed, "This journey was doomed to be fruitless..."
"So, you think Headmaster Danton made a lot of sense?" Luo Wei feigned surprise, eagerly anticipating her response.
Tilis gazed at the falling snow, hesitating for a long moment.
Then, she slowly nodded.
"My teacher is a very stubborn person. She and the elders always dream of restoring the glory of magicians once the curse is lifted, allowing us to walk openly in the world, even reviving the Magic Empire..."
"But I always feel that reestablishing the Magic Empire from the past isn't such a good idea..."
Tilis recalled the actions of the Magic Hermitage. She looked sadly at Luo Wei.
"Those people, under the name of a noble cause, killed so many innocents. My teacher always speaks so eloquently, but I think she isn't much different from a cult leader... The Magic Hermitage is, in my view, not much different from the evil black witch organizations the Church condemns..."
After saying this, Tilis sighed, pouting her lips slightly.
Luo Wei chuckled, playfully scratching Tilis's fair cheek. In this regard, she was quite clear-headed and also very cute.
"Stop it~" Tilis swatted away Luo Wei's hand, looking at him seriously.
"Do you think magicians shouldn't exist anymore?"
Luo Wei continued teasingly scratching her cheek, "Hmm? Why would you think that?"
Her baby-faced cheeks were fair but blushed slightly from the cold, paired with her determined gaze, making her seem both adorable and fiercely determined.
Faced with Luo Wei's playful hands, Tilis sighed in resignation, no longer resisting.
She simply waited earnestly for Luo Wei's response.
Luo Wei thought for a moment, "I believe that existence is justified. You've been part of this world for so long, even before humanity was in its infancy, you were already reaching for the truth. Such a group can't be easily erased, right?"
Tilis became lost in thought.
Luo Wei, seizing the opportunity, began to play with her delicate earlobes.
They were soft and white, very satisfying to touch.
"But... talent in magic might just as well be a curse..."
"Children might delight in discovering their newfound strength, unaware that it comes with a cost, one they will inevitably pay in madness..."
Tilis sighed and lowered her head, completely unaware that Luo Wei had encircled her in his arms.
"Perhaps, as he said, humanity no longer needs the guidance of magicians to live well anymore..."
"But..."
"Are humans truly prepared to face the coming apocalypse...?"
Luo Wei comforted her with gentle "stroking," and Tilis's train of thought made him quite pleased.
Tilis was an outlier among magicians. She didn't see her identity as a special privilege nor did she long for the commanding status magicians once held in history. She aligned with Gould's ideals.
But Tilis was part of the Magic Hermitage, and she had been indoctrinated with her teacher's concepts since childhood. Her worldview was already firmly established. Although she didn’t believe she deserved special privileges or status, she still harbored a savior complex.
Many magicians in the Magic Hermitage had this flaw—although they killed and massacred villages, they considered themselves good people, fighting against the horrors of the Old Gods, saving the world.
Tilis's previous stubborn statements showed this. She was committed to finding a "beautiful new world," even if it was escapism. She genuinely linked herself to such grandiose terms as "new world"...
In other words, she truly believed the world needed saving, and she felt this responsibility.
The basis of her hatred was her past concern. So, she had indeed been deeply invested in this world.
By contrast, Evelyn had no such concerns.
Evelyn lived quite freely, after all. What does the end of the world have to do with her?
Nothing was more important than the latest luxury bag in the boutique store...
If there was one thing, it was the next bag.
(Consumerism is really harmful!)
The massive bonus Luo Wei received from the City Hall was almost spent...