010: Divine Body: Osiris
All magecraft since the end of the Age of Gods has essentially been a deception of the planet.
The principle of Age of Gods magecraft was borrowing divine authority, and the essence of gods was "Touch of the Star." In other words, Age of Gods magecraft was essentially "borrowing the power of the star." "Making a contract with a god" naturally became "a shortcut to communicating (deceiving) the planet."
By the first century CE, as gods retreated into the Reverse Side of the World, magicians lost this shortcut to communicating with the planet, making the exercise of magecraft more difficult. Coupled with the development of science causing further degradation of mystery, times became increasingly tough.
Mystery would eventually fade, but it should remain as knowledge of the past—an inevitable matter.
However—in 20 CE, with the proof of the Fifth Imaginary Element, Ether, magecraft and mystery were able to continue by changing their forms.
Between the Age of Gods and the first century CE, though only a few decades had passed in terms of time, everything living through the transition between these two eras had already undergone tremendous changes.
Regarding the divine aura Shirley mentioned, Novia certainly knew: it was the functional remains of Osiris preparing to activate against unplanned intruders.
This was undoubtedly a contingency left by Kurdoris of the Atlas Institute to prevent others from disrupting his plans.
Pharaoh Ptolemy collaborated with the Atlas Institute to establish this place not only to resurrect the deceased Alexander IV but also to provide Alexander IV with a library he could never finish reading.
A simple and foolish reason.
The other three magicians had their own ulterior motives. Kurdoris hoped Alexander IV would become the ultimate computation machine for "calculating how to avert the world's destruction" by devouring divine bodies.
This plan was schemed for two thousand years, ultimately leading to the events of the Second Grand Adventure storyline.
The Atlas Institute was an organization that, to prevent the "end" of the world, ceaselessly repeated the tragic cycle of turning instruments of salvation into instruments of Earth's destruction.
"Miss Shirley, I think you should understand by now what this place is."
Novia spoke calmly.
"Research originally registered only in the Trismegistus appearing here suggests this is a forgotten place created by the Atlas Institute in the past." After showing a momentary thoughtful expression, Shirley continued, "I am immensely grateful to Novia-sama for finding this place for our Institute. Our Institute will be eternally thankful."
"A contract."
Novia wagged a finger, narrowing her eyes as she said this.
"This…"
The purple-haired girl murmured softly, looking at the smiling Novia before her.
She didn't know if the other party remembered, but not long ago, she had been seriously observing his behavior, finding no trace of a magician's traits. Unlike the magicians residing in Alexandria, or even most in the Institute, his attitude toward ordinary people could be described as cordial to the point of servility. That's why a magician had used magecraft earlier to try to make a fool of him.
However, originally, Shirley had almost no contact with outsiders, so she couldn't even judge whether Novia's behavior was normal.
Even within the Atlas Institute, she had always been lonely. Although she possessed the hereditary traits of the Eltnam family, her rare talent lay in shaping the difficult-to-control Etherlite into such a unique ability.
Attaining the position of instructor and special envoy authority at the Atlas Institute at the mere age of six was precisely because of her immense information-gathering capability—all knowledge could be seized; she could intervene in the soul, read thought patterns.
Because of this, the Etherlites made her lonely. Even in the Atlas Institute, where everyone pursued protecting the world in solitude, she was still feared, resented, and avoided.
Of course, no one wanted their soul interfered with, nor the wisdom they spent time researching and refining to be plagiarized.
Nevertheless, Shirley believed her ability was rational, beyond doubt.
Her future was absolutely without issue—it couldn't be otherwise; there was no reason to think so.
The alchemist closed her eyes and thought for a moment before replying, "The probability is close to zero."
Although she didn't get a promise of a contract, Novia wasn't too disheartened. After all, her primary goal was to use the Atlas Institute's capabilities to refine the remains of the Albion Dragon. But having learned through the Etherlite that Shirley was exceptionally skilled in necromantic alchemy, she had already planned to seek Shirley's help if this plan failed. From all aspects, this alchemist was remarkably pure.
Therefore, Novia said earnestly, "You and I will work together to breach this place. After succeeding, you only need to help me with one thing within your capabilities. How about that?"
Shirley listened, remained silent for a few seconds, then took out a contract, signed her name first, and handed it to Novia.
"This is acceptable. Sign here."
The contract stated that after collaborating with Novia to conquer this place, Shirley would assist to the best of her abilities.
Naturally, Novia didn't refuse—after all, this had been planned.
Beyond the door lay only darkness—no, actually, that was a moment ago. Now, a storm of purple lightning was rapidly gathering, along with a coffin. The metallic roots connected to it seemed to pulsate as if alive.
"Let's go, then."
With that, the two of them stepped through the gate.
The moment they entered, the violently raging purple lightning storm deep within the room gradually began to calm in Novia's azure eyes.
At the same time, the outline of the coffin inside the storm faintly emerged. Perhaps following ancient Egyptian customs, the coffin's surface was painted with unique figural images.
"...The Pharaoh's coffin..."
Shirley's murmur reached his ears. She likely assumed it was the remains of a pharaoh who had become a god after death.
"Be careful. It's coming."
A grating, creaking sound echoed—a faint, continuous, and eerie vibration. Though no one touched it, the coffin lid opened on its own, exposing the interior to the air in an instant. Black miasma began to spread throughout the room.
The Divine Body—the remains of a god left in the mortal world. Novia didn't believe that he and Shirley alone could handle this smoothly. After all, he wasn't Ergo, one of the protagonists of the Second Advent and the resurrected Alexander IV from two thousand years later.
In the story, Ergo devoured fragments of gods: the continent's Sun Wukong, Egypt's chaos god Set, and finally Oceanus.
Unlike the first two, who retained consciousness, the final Oceanus was merely a functional remnant—a fragment of divine authority—incapable of communication, only combat.
For a mortal to challenge a former chief deity, even during the Age of Gods, would have been a legend passed down through the ages.
Even as a remnant, even without consciousness, it still carried the majesty of a chief deity—not something those born after the end of the Age of Gods could directly face or touch.
In that moment, Shirley understood this instinctively. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably, and even the ether threads wrapped around her fingers were devoured by the black miasma.
"Wh-what kind of pharaoh is this...? Novia, our contract still stands. We're no match for this now. Let me return to the Atlas Institute and report to the director first—"
"Use your equations to guide me there. Leave the rest to me."
Novia placed a hand on Shirley's tense shoulder.
Hearing this, Shirley's eyes widened in surprise, seemingly never expecting Novia to be so reckless.
"Understood. I'll support you."
Without a moment's hesitation, Shirley made her decision.
In the next instant, within the dark miasma, Novia witnessed the birth of new light. Countless particles of light gathered, forming a shape akin to the sun. Each particle was knowledge, an equation.
Thus, at the destination reached through divine protection, the silver-haired boy stood before the being that once ruled Egypt.
Then, in Shirley's vision, Novia smiled joyfully.
"The Age of Gods has long since ended, Osiris."
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: 式模式
Raw: 型月,小开也算开?