"Unfortunately, you're not a wizard," Sean said with a hint of regret, after chatting with Harry for some time. "If you were, you'd surely progress quickly. Your understanding of these concepts is already impressive."
Harry, clearly intrigued, asked, "Does a wizard's growth have anything to do with what we were talking about earlier?"
"Of course it does," Sean replied with a confident smile. "The core of magic is knowledge. The more deeply you understand the principles behind it, the easier it becomes to cast spells."
He paused, letting that sink in. "That's why Loremasters have such an advantage among wizards, they know how things work at a fundamental level."
Harry nodded, taking in the explanation, but his curiosity wasn't fully satisfied. After a moment of thought, he asked, "How does one become a wizard?"
At first, Harry had intended to ask if 'he' could become a wizard, but after considering it, he realized it might sound too blunt. So, he rephrased it more tactfully.
Sean smiled at the question. "In theory, anyone with the right mindset and dedication can become a wizard."
He continued, more seriously, "But the reality is, becoming a true wizard is incredibly difficult. It's not just about desire, it's about having the right qualifications, both physical and mental."
He explained further, "If you lack the necessary talent, you won't be able to control the elements, and casting spells will be impossible. If your spirit isn't strong enough, you could suffer a mental breakdown from the strain of magic and that could be fatal. It's a dangerous path."
Sean seemed in a good mood after their earlier conversation and elaborated more than usual, breaking down the complex process into terms even Harry could understand.
"In short," Sean continued, "there are two key factors in determining a wizard's potential: 'aptitude' and 'spiritual strength'."
He paused to make sure Harry was following. "A wizard's aptitude is their affinity for the elements, this determines their ability to interact with magic itself. Spiritual strength is just as important, it's the foundation of your mental resilience. Without it, a wizard won't survive long."
Harry listened intently, absorbing the information. "When the opportunity arises, I can test you to see where you stand."
Sean's tone softened slightly as he added, "With your scholarly background, I think the path of wizardry could be a good fit for you."
Harry smiled, grateful. "Then I'll be in your debt," he said sincerely.
As Harry spoke, David, who had been quietly listening, opened his mouth as though to ask Sean about testing his own potential. But after noticing Sean's cold demeanor toward him, he hesitated. David couldn't shake the feeling that Sean was distant, almost dismissive of him, while Sean's attitude toward Harry was notably warmer.
This left David feeling a little discouraged. Though Sean was aloof, Harry remained kind and considerate, regularly engaging with him and making him feel more at ease on the journey.
Finally, they arrived at Harry's manor, the place where the corpse beasts were being held.
The manor had a desolate feel. Fearing the plague might spread, Harry had moved many of the inhabitants to safer locations. Only a handful of guards remained behind, and they quickly greeted Harry with respectful bows, stepping aside to let him pass.
As they walked into the manor, Harry led them to the iron cages where the corpse beasts were being kept. A few more bodies were scattered nearby, their appearance eerie and unsettling. The sight of them raised the hairs on the back of David's neck.
The bodies before them were truly unsettling. What made these corpses stand out wasn't just their death, but how they had died. Their stomachs were sliced open, and their internal organs removed with surgical precision, as though they'd undergone some kind of gruesome, unnatural procedure.
"When I captured these creatures earlier," Harry began, "I used a few of the corpse beasts for experiments to test some of my theories."
He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "I removed their organs and found something astonishing, the heart in particular has changed dramatically. It's no longer like a normal human heart. It's far more complex, almost as if it's turned into an entirely new organ."
Sean nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Exactly. The heart is the most important part of a corpse beast. These mutated hearts are now a unique resource. They're used in refining potions and other substances."
Harry blinked, processing the information. "You mean... they use human hearts to make potions?"
Sean's calm response only deepened Harry's shock. "Yes," Sean said, "and it's not just for these creatures. Many wizards have long experimented with these hearts. They're used to create potions that are highly sought after, especially in human kingdoms."
David, who had been standing quietly, visibly recoiled at the thought. As a knight, the idea of using human body parts for anything, let alone a potion, was completely foreign and revolting to him. His face contorted in disbelief.
Sean noticed David's reaction and raised an eyebrow. "Don't be too shocked," he said, his tone measured. "Isn't the knight potion you use made from something similar?"
Harry's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "The knight potion... is made by wizards?"
Sean nodded, as though the answer was obvious. "Yes, many wizards specialize in creating these potions, which they trade with kingdoms like Meissen. In fact, they're quite popular."
Harry recalled the rare occasion when he had taken the knight potion. It was expensive, and only the nobles could afford it. Baron Ethan had occasionally bought it, but it was mostly for his personal use or to share with trusted knights who were his own blood like Rigg and Al. People like Harry, who lacked magical talent and was illegitimate, could only dream of using such potions.
Harry frowned, his curiosity growing. "So wizards need to trade with human kingdoms, too? What could they possibly want from us? Are ordinary things like food and gold really valuable to you?"
Sean's gaze shifted, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Don't think wizards are entirely above the world of mortals. Gold, food, and even everyday goods can be of interest to us. But what we need most are the best slaves and experimental subjects."
Harry was taken aback. "Slaves? Wizards buy slaves?"
Sean sighed, the weight of his words clear. "Yes. Most wizards don't mingle much with the mortal world unless they have a specific task or commission. Like me, for example. I've taken on this plague investigation, and once it's resolved, I'll receive compensation."
He paused, a slight frown forming. "But the truth is, many wizards prefer to stay isolated. We're not really interested in mortal affairs unless we need something, whether it's resources or research subjects."
As Sean spoke, it became clear to Harry that wizards were very different from what he'd imagined. They were not completely detached from the mortal world; they needed things, too; just not the things ordinary people would expect.
Harry now understood why he had never encountered a wizard before. They typically stayed away from places like this, concentrating in select areas where their needs could be met without the inconvenience of dealing with common folk. Sean, however, was an exception, having accepted a commission to deal with the plague and the Soul Beast problem.
And so, the mystery of Sean's presence here became a little clearer. For wizards, rare creatures like the Soul Beast hold immense value.
Even a corpse beast, merely transformed by the aura of a Soul Beast, can be used to brew knight potions. So, it's easy to imagine the power and potential of an actual Soul Beast.
After a bit more discussion, Sean grew focused on his work. He sent Harry and David away, asking for some assistants to help him, and then he dove into his research alone.
Three or four days later, Sean emerged from the manor, leading Harry and David on a final exploration. After a bit of searching, they zeroed in on a likely spot.
"It's almost certain now," Sean said with confidence, pointing to a distant area. "I'm sure it's there."
David nodded. "I'll head back to inform my father and gather some people."
"Hold on," Sean interrupted. "Before you go, we need to set up some preparations."
David raised an eyebrow. "What kind of preparations?"
"I need some time to set a trap," Sean explained calmly. "If we don't, it might not be easy to find them."
Harry smiled, understanding. "That works out perfectly. I can use this time to handle a few things back at my manor."
"Good," Sean agreed. "I'll send word when everything's ready here."
Harry gave a nod and headed out, riding back to his territory.
But instead of going to find Marina or the others, he went straight to the manor where the corpse beasts had been kept.
After Sean's previous work, only five of the beasts were still alive, locked securely in iron cages under the watchful eyes of the guards. They were carefully monitored to prevent any escape.
Harry glanced at the creatures, a smirk forming on his face. "I never imagined you'd have so many uses after all," he muttered, inspecting the beasts.
As he had done before, Harry had observed Sean working with the corpse beasts. Over time, he had begun to notice something curious.