âOh? Donât mind if I do, Lord Helia,â Tabitha Dawnbringer her seat on the empty side of the long table. After greeting Ember Killian and Astoria Braveheart, she asked with curiosity, âSo, whatâs the title called?â
âThe Book of Solomon Raphna,â Helia Ashenborn uttered.
âWhat?â Tabitha Dawnbringer was stunned, thinking she had heard wrong. However, she had no hearing problem. She knitted her brows and asked, âWhich witch is so audacious to use the name Solomon so carelessly?â
âI am that audacious witch,â Astoria Braveheart coolly said.
After Helia Ashenborn and Tabitha Dawnbringer heard those words, they were stunned, unable to think. It took some time before they could think of a response.
âWell, there must be a good reason why Headmaster Astoria chose such a name for that book,â Tabitha Dawnbringer speculated with a wry smile.
âRight⦠Headmaster Astoria did say I would understand once I gave it a read,â Helia Ashenborn recalled.
Shortly after, Helia Ashenborn gave the Book of Solomon Raphna a quick.
At first, her expression was casual curiosity. But her expression quickly changed, becoming focused, then wholly engrossed.
Tabitha Dawbringer watched Helia Ashenborn reveal a progress change from surprise to astonishment, then from astonishment to enlightenment.
Before long, Helia Ashenborn could only feel reverence for the person called Vaan Raphna.
âI completely understand Headmaster Astoriaâs meaning now. This isnât just a book with profound knowledge. Itâs the gospel of magic!â Helia Ashenborn claimed as she closed the Book of Solomon Raphna with a sigh of reluctance.
She wanted to keep reading but couldnât keep three High Witches waiting while she was only a Peak-stage Senior Witch.
Helia Ashenborn passed the book over to Tabitha Dawnbringer to read.
A few moments later, Tabitha Dawnbringer couldnât help but close the book with a sigh like Helia Ashenborn. But she wasnât in a hurry to return the book.
âMay I ask who and where Vaan Raphna is, Headmaster Astoria?â Tabith Dawnbringer asked before adding, âI would like to meet this person and pay my respects to her. Her knowledge is simply transcendental.â
âVaan Raphna is a heâ¦â Astoria Braveheart corrected with a sorrowful look at the mention of Vaanâs name.
Helia Ashenborn and Tabitha Dawnbringer were shocked to hear Vaan Raphna wasnât a woman despite possessing such profound knowledge of magic.
At the same time, they quickly understood why Headmaster Astoria was the one who named the book. The knowledge was left behind, but the person was gone.
Seeing Astoria Braveheartâs expression, Tabitha Dawnbringer decided not to pry further. She would privately investigate the person.
âHeadmaster Astoria, I have a bold request to make. Wonât you let me have this book?â Headmaster Tabitha asked with a sincere and hopeful look shortly after.
âDo you understand what you are saying, Headmaster Tabitha? That is very rude of you,â Ember Killian criticized with narrowed eyes.
âPerhaps,â Tabitha Dawnbringer calmly uttered.
âBut given our positions, I believe Headmaster Astoria understands me completely. This kind of knowledge shouldnât be monopolized. It should be spread to every academy in the kingdom.â
âAs such, I hoped to make copies of this and use it as core teaching material in my academy,â Tabitha Dawnbringer stated.
âThatâs fine. You can keep that one. I expected this when I took out the book,â Astoria Braveheart permitted with a nod. âFortunately, Iâve brought an extra copy.â
âHowever, this one is my last copy. So you canât have it, Lord Helia. I need to deliver this to the capital, so share the one in Headmaster Tabithaâs handââ
Suddenly, a firebird flew into the Great Hall and landed on Ember Killianâs hand before she received a message from it and nodded.
âMy person is here, so this is where I will take my leave,â Ember Killian informed as she stood up to leave the Great Hall. âIâll be departing for the capital right after, so can you do me a favor until I return, Lord Helia?â
âHow may I be of help for the Grand Inquisitor?â Helia Ashenborn asked, expressing her willingness to do Ember Killian a favor.
âI already have some people stationed around Red Goblin Mountains to monitor the dogs of the Assembly of Silent Night. However, my people are few in number, so there are significant gaps in the circle theyâve set up,â Ember Killian mentioned.
âAnd although the dogs of the Assembly of Silent Night are unlikely to Red Goblin Mountains, I was hoping you could deploy some troops to reinforce the encirclement on Red Goblin Mountains.â
âConsider it done, Grand Inquisitor,â Helia Ashenborn said forwardly.
âThanks, I owe you one, Lord Helia,â Ember Killian expressed her gratitude before taking her leave from the Great Hall.
Right after, Astoria Braveheart also stood up to follow her out.
âI need to follow Marquis Ember to the capital, so I will also be taking my leave,â Astoria Braveheart informed and left without waiting for their response.
Helia Ashenborn and Tabitha Dawnbringer actually wanted to talk to Astoria Braveheart further. Still, nothing could be done when she was in a hurry to leave.
A few moments after they left, Helia Ashenborn shifted her attention to Tabitha Dawnbringer.
âHeadmaster Tabitha, how about leaving the Book of Solomon Raphna in my care? Iâll be sure to send you a copy right after I finish reproducing it,â Helia Ashenborn promised.
âWhy do I need to do that when I can also reproduce the book myself? Just be patient and wait, Lord Helia. Iâll definitely send you a copy when itâs available.â
Both Tabitha Dawnbringer and Helia Ashenborn wanted to finish reading the Book of Solomon Raphna.
Having caught a glimpse of its profound knowledge, which was no different from the gospel of magic, it was like having an itch they couldnât scratch unless they finished their reading.
âI want to read the book first, but you also do. How should we resolve this?â Helia Ashenborn asked with knitted brows.
âHow about this: I buy three-day productionâs worth of that new magic potion you put on the market last night at twice the price?â
âDeal!â
Surprisingly, Helia Ashenborn readily agreed with Tabitha Dawnbringerâs offer.