“Our lineages, and specialisations as Scholars,” Alnea mumbled, sinking into silence, as he looked at the solemn expression on Yuri’s face. “It is indeed time for us to choose our path as Scholars.”
“…I may not like the path of Scholars, but you are right. We should have chosen our paths long ago… back when we had become Wanderers. Or at least when we came together as a team. We already know about our Roots, so making that decision should not have been too difficult for us. But we were too reliant on you… We did not act like how a true team should have…”
In response to Cecilia’s gloomy reply, Yuri shook her head and said, “You are over simplifying things a little. It is true that you knew about your Roots… but you did not know about your Aspects. You had barely tamed any Aspects back then after all. And without knowing how the core of your Aspects will be, making any decision about your path as a Scholar would have been foolish, and reckless.”
“…What does our Aspects have to do with our path as a Scholar?”
“…If you look at it from the immediate impact between them, then there is indeed no relationship between your Aspects, and your path as Scholars. However, if you look at it from a broader perspective, and take your future achievements as Wanderers into account, then there is an undeniable relation between them.”
“…Are you talking about supplementing our paths as Scholar with our paths as Warrior, and vice versa?”
“So, you do remember a few lessons that big sis Nyssa taught you,” Yuri said, as the corner of her lips upturned in a smile. “I am not talking about the synergy between just two of your paths though. If you wish to accomplish great things as Wanderers, then it is imperative for you to choose all three of your paths in such a way that they complement each other, and bring out the best of your abilities.
“On the other hand, if your three paths diverge too much from each other, then you will end up wasting too much of your time, and resources on advancing the three paths at the same time. You can also just give up on two paths, and focus on only one, but then you will most likely end up as average Wanderers. Maybe even advancing to the Mystic Rank would become just a dream for us.
“However, we cannot really have much of a choice when choosing our paths as Arcanists, or Warriors. One of them is tightly linked to our Roots, and the Mysteries that they are based upon, while the other is linked inherently to our nature, personalities, and actions. The most we can choose on those paths is how we specialise in them. Only when we choose our path as Scholars do we have a real choice. One that can directly affect our future. But it also because of that reason that we must be very careful with our choice.”
Alnea nodded along with what Yuri was saying. He already knew most of it. His master had personally helped him with his foundations, after all. What she had taught him though, was slightly different than what Yuri was saying. According to his master, it was not just his choice on the path of Scholars. His future as a Wanderer would depend just as much on his choice on the path of Arcanists, and Warriors.
Yet what Yuri was saying did make sense. His only real choice was on what kind of Scholar he could be. As for future as an Arcanist, and a Warrior, except for his specialisations, no other choice was left to him. Then what his master said…
It was probably too esoteric for him to understand. And maybe even for Yuri. Besides, his master would remind him when the time to make a choice would come anyways, so there was no need for him to worry too much. He just had to focus on the choice he could make at the moment. His choice as a Scholar.
“The first choice in choosing our path as a Scholar is the lineage of Glyphs,” Yuri said after a pause, giving enough time for both him, and Cecilia to digest what she had said earlier. “Technically, there are twelve lineages from us to choose from, but no one is stupid enough to choose the lineages on which their Roots are based upon. Since both of your Roots are based upon two lineages, that would leave ten lineages open for you to choose from. Of them—
“Wait a moment,” Alnea said, raising his hand to motion Yuri stop, while using his hand to massage his head. “Something does not feel right.”
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“What is it?”
“You said that no one chooses the lineages on which their Roots are based upon.”
“…I did say that, but what about it?”
“…Then how come master can inscribe Glyph Arrays from both the lineages of Day, and Time?”
“…You are confused about big sis Nyssa’s Glyphs?” Yuri said, smiling at the confusion on his face. “Should you not be more confused about how big sis Nyssa can inscribe Glyph Arrays from two different lineages?”
“…I was getting to that,” Alnea said, replying to Yuri’s amused look with an earnest nod. “I asked master about it once. But she said that it was a secret, so I did not pursue it.”
“A secret…” Yuri mumbled, before nodding with a smile. “It is indeed a secret, one that even Supreme Wanderers, both of the Union, and of the other Orthodoxies want to know. It is only because of her exceptional abilities that big sis Nyssa has been able to keep that secret safe. That, and the fact that she is not the only one in the world who can use Glyphs from more than one lineage.
“Such people are very rare though, and are exceptions among exceptions. Unless big sis Nyssa tells you how to bypass the mutual rejection between the Glyphs, which I doubt she would do so—for your own safety, of course— it would be best if you would act like normal Wanderers, and just choose one lineage for yourself.”
“…I understand.”
“Good, then let us come back to what I was talking about,” Yuri said. “Choosing your lineage is a major decision for all Wanderers, whether they want to walk on the path of Scholars or not. First of all, like I said, the chosen lineage must not be from the lineages that the Wanderer’s Roots are based upon. Next, it is recommended to not choose a lineage which is diametrically opposite to the lineages of your Roots.
“For example, Cecilia, your Roots are based upon lineages of Good Fortune, and Night. So, it would be best if you do not choose the lineages of Fate, or Day as the lineage for your path as a Scholar. Unless the Mysteries forming the Roots of Wanderers are from diametrically opposite lineages, comprehending such Mysteries can cause some backlash when creating Arcanas. And if the Roots of Wanderers are truly formed form lineages directly opposing each other, like in Alnea’s case, then there is no use in inscribing them onto your Spirits anyways.”
“…That leaves only eight lineages for me to choose from, and ten for Alnea…”
“Nine for me, actually,” Alnea said, smiling awkwardly. “I have also comprehended some Mysteries of Life, after all. I probably should not choose the lineage of Death.”
“…You are right in that you should not choose the lineage of Death, but not because of the Mystery of Life that you comprehended. Just a single Mystery would not be able to create too much of a rejection from the entire lineage of Death.”
“…Then why should I not choose the lineage of Death?”
“There are many reasons behind it. Like the fact that the Mysteries from the lineage of Death does not form a link with your abilities as a Warrior, or an Arcanist. That is another thing we must look out for when choosing the lineage for our path as Scholar. Whether we will be able to link up our abilities between our three paths.
“Take my case as an example. Both of your already know that my Roots are based upon the Mysteries of Night, Death, and Fate. And you already know that most of my Arcanas focus on direct offensive methods. Even my Aspects are more suited for direct frontal combat. And that leaves me vulnerable in my defensive, and supportive capabilities. I can probably still forcibly defend using my offensive Arcanas, or Martial Styles. But when it comes to providing support for the team, or even for myself, my abilities will fall short dearly.
“It is for these reasons that when I was choosing my lineage as a Scholar, I decided to go with the lineage of Decay. The repertoire of Glyphs that the lineage of Decay has is a perfect match for my abilities as an Arcanist, and a Warrior. Not only will these Glyphs help me fill up my deficiencies as a Wanderer, but the fact that they are from the lineage of Decay, forming a link with the other three lineages of my Roots, will increase my chances of encountering Mysteries from the lineage of Decay. It will be akin to reaping twice the benefits with half the effort.”
“…But that’s not the only reason, right? After all, as long as I wish to do it, I can change the type of Arcanas I create to match the abilities I will get from the Glyphs of the lineage of Death, creating a perfect link between my three paths.”
“…You are as perceptive as ever,” Yuri said, nodding at him with a smile. “You are right, that is not the only reason. Rather, it is not even the main reason why I do not want you to choose the lineage of Death.”
“…Then what is it?”
“…Is it not obvious from the Arcanas that I have created? I am already specialising in the Mysteries of Death, so why should you dip your hands into in the same Mysteries?”