Cycle of Destiny

Chapter 18 The Birth of an Enchanter

The enactment of the Dress Code was like a clear boundary defining the social pyramid. However, this boundary did not extinguish the desire of the lower classes for glamorous clothing; instead, it became a melting pot of innovation. Faced with the ironclad rule of "not allowing upward mobility," the vitality of society was not stifled, but rather forced to seek more sophisticated outlets.

Although colors and types of velvet are strictly regulated, luxury can still be created by avoiding these restrictions.

Unable to use velvet, wealthy merchants hired artisans to embroider patterns on permitted wool or linen fabrics with gold thread—patterns far more intricate and time-consuming than those in velvet. The value and time spent on a single top-quality embroidered robe could buy ten bolts of silver velvet. This was morally controversial, but legally unassailable.

Merchant ships controlled by the Church of Light began importing large quantities of an Eastern fabric never before seen in the empire and never mentioned in its laws—"Yun Jin." It shimmered with a unique luster, possessed a crisp texture, and its magnificence was in no way inferior to gold or silver velvet. The Church declared it a "fabric of sacred significance," initially intended only for making the robes of high-ranking priests. Soon, through various "donations" and "gifts," emerging nobles and wealthy merchants closely associated with the Church also began to receive and use it under the guise of "expressing piety."

At the same time, the law could not regulate the structure. A style of "draped gown" that was extremely wasteful of fabric, inconvenient to move in, but exceptionally elegant and luxurious became popular among noblewomen and was soon imitated by wealthy women, to the point that it became a standard accessory for women attending banquets.

The law prohibits "purple," but it does not prohibit highly saturated deep violet or magenta. In this gray area of ​​legal definition, a subtle and refined "quasi-purple" fashion has even emerged, constantly testing the sensitive nerves of the royal family.

Those who possess wealth but lack the corresponding social standing yearn for the prestige that is rightfully theirs, and thus constantly seek various ways to circumvent the hierarchy, hoping to find a suitable path to showcase their wealth.

Enchanting, on the other hand, is far superior to the methods mentioned above. It not only perfectly solves the problem but also brings unexpected results.

Initially, these were merely sporadic attempts. An anonymous folk magician, perhaps to repay a favor, or perhaps simply for a few gold coins, at the request of a minor noblewoman, applied a faint "luminescence" spell to her regulated silver velvet evening gown. When this lady appeared for the first time at a noble's banquet in this gown, which shimmered with a soft, moonlit glow in the shadows, the sensation she caused far exceeded everyone's expectations. She hadn't used any forbidden colors or materials, yet she effortlessly became the center of attention. The nobles, while initially shocked, immediately recognized the immense potential it contained—a luxury that transcended the laws of hierarchy.

Astute merchants and nobles bound by hierarchical laws realized this almost simultaneously. Magic, a power once scorned by the nobles, found a vast and lucrative new world here.

Back then, all nobles were knights, and owning a set of knight's armor was a standard feature of their living room decorations. This set of weaponry, used for display, was something they might never use in their lifetime, so the nobles didn't demand much practicality. It was more of a symbol of their knightly status, meant to be unique and, more importantly, magnificent.

Driven by this pure pursuit of visual effects, enchanters have also given full play to their talents.

All they needed to do was draw a glowing magic circle on the surface of the armor using a special magic-conducting material (ink mixed with mithril powder). An energy storage crystal could be placed in the hollow center of the armor, so it appeared as if the armor was constantly emitting light, as if it were releasing battle aura. Even more ingenious was the fact that the enchanter could choose a specific color for the light emitted by the armor according to the noble's request. If the armor's owner possessed fire-attribute battle aura, the armor would emit a red glow; if it possessed ice-attribute battle aura, it would glow with a chilling blue light.

And then there's the jewelry they wore. Of course, these noblewomen wanted it to be dazzling and look incredibly valuable. In the past, top-quality emeralds from the distant East or deep mines were not only priceless, but also incredibly rare treasures. Even nobles willing to pay exorbitant prices might not be able to acquire a piece they truly desired. Moreover, even if one were fortunate enough to own one, they had to painstakingly coordinate it with their clothing and accessories. And what was most unsettling was that—even though they loved it so much, they dared not wear it constantly, fearing that other nobles would misunderstand whether they had financial problems by wearing the same piece of jewelry all the time.

But things are different now. With just a little magic, even the most ordinary sapphire brooch, as long as it is surrounded by a dreamlike, watery halo, is enough to elicit silent gasps of amazement at the banquet.

Attending a banquet in the summer is almost pure torture. The banquet hall is crowded and stifling, making it hard to breathe. Your elegant attire feels like an airtight steamer, and you'll soon be drenched in sweat. This not only easily leads to embarrassing odors, but for ladies, it's also a relentless test of their makeup—exquisite makeup slowly smudges in the humid heat, gradually disappearing from its former beauty, leaving only a mess and causing embarrassment. This is undoubtedly the most fatal mistake in a social setting.

Now, with just a gentle, enchanted breeze in the banquet hall, all worries vanish. An invisible, cool barrier seems to surround the ladies, keeping their skin refreshed and comfortable no matter how hot it is outside. The sweat and odor that once caused concern are quietly carried away by the barely perceptible breeze. Their beautiful faces seem frozen in time; from the moment they step into the hall until the night deepens, their blush remains radiant, and their eyeliner is still sharp. From now on, they can confidently and effortlessly become the center of attention throughout the summer afternoons and evenings, without a care in the world.

But when winter comes, other problems arrive as expected. To stay warm, one has to wear a heavy fur coat, making one feel clumsy and awkward, even walking is a struggle. Going to a banquet is like marching with a heavy load, not to mention dancing gracefully at a ball—the thick fabric swallows up all the body lines, and even the most beautiful posture cannot be shown.

But now, magic has given ladies the courage to brave the cold. They can wear light, flowing dresses just like in summer, feeling the warmth of spring even when it's snowing heavily outside, freely radiating elegance in every moment.

This phenomenon was initially met with unanimous disdain from conservative nobles, who viewed it as a vulgarization of aristocratic etiquette.

However, the trend was unstoppable. When the first duchess boldly attended a banquet in a gown with a "shimmering" effect, and when the first marquis displayed his enchanted riding boots that never got muddy at a hunting party, all doubts vanished. Wizards quickly transformed from a despised group into a real and sought-after profession. They no longer needed to brave the elements to complete dangerous commissions, but were instead treated as honored guests by major merchant guilds and even some far-sighted nobles. The cost of enchanting also continued to rise, along with the value of the wizards themselves.

Later, as magic continued to permeate the scene, no one bothered with the regulations of the Dress Code anymore. The gold and silver velvet and royal purple, which were once used to signify status, were still upheld by the nobility, but their meaning had undergone a fundamental transformation. They were no longer materials for making formal wear, but rather a kind of hidden emblem, a tacit gesture of homage to tradition.

A fashionable viscountess might wear an evening gown made of enchanted silk shimmering with mother-of-pearl, its flowing light and shadow not only glamorous but also enhancing her charm. As for the silver velvet, legally reserved for nobles of her rank, it would now be used only as a delicate trim on the cuffs or collar, a small, perfectly placed detail that signifies her aristocratic birth without detracting from the gown's overall allure. Purple and gold velvet, once the exclusive domain of royalty, dukes, and marquesses, follow the same logic—they've retreated from the center stage to become a subtle ribbon at the waist or a modest embellishment on the brim of a hat.

These materials and colors, once strictly limited by hierarchical laws and representing supreme privilege, now appear only briefly on clothing as embellishments, becoming purely symbolic.

Enchanting made magicians popular, and their pockets filled up. But in the eyes of the church, it was an intolerable sin.

In the eyes of the sorcerers, it was already unforgivable for those magicians to steal the goddess's blessings, but to turn magic into needle and thread in the hands of a tailor was even more unforgivable.

While the practice of adding magic to clothing was encouraged, the "Crimson Invasion" of the capital over twenty years ago saw demons descend upon the city. The eldest prince, a staunch defender of royal authority, used evil magic, resulting in the deaths of millions of citizens. The second prince, who supported the church—the current Archanos XV—with its assistance, utterly vanquished the demons. Alexander Langdon received his dukedom for his outstanding contributions in this event.

Upon ascending the throne, Arcanos XV solemnly announced that he would be baptized by the Church of Light and acknowledge the Pope as his godfather, thus demonstrating the empire's devout faith in the Goddess of Light. Since the founding of the empire, there had never been a precedent of a member of the royal family being baptized by the church, let alone His Majesty the Emperor himself. Everyone knew that Arcanos's political landscape was about to undergo an unprecedented transformation.

Changes happened quickly, and the revised Law on the Granting and Inheritance of Noble Titles added a clause on the granting of titles: no conditions were required, only divine approval and nomination by the Church were needed to participate in the duel to inherit the title.

Furthermore, the Church shifted the responsibility for training standard warriors in the dueling succession from the royal family to itself. Everyone understood that those who worshipped the Goddess of Light were about to rise to great heights.

As the church's power grew, the situation for mages became extremely dangerous. Fortunately, soon after, a holy mage appeared, founded the Orion Magic Academy, and increased the status of mages in the succession of noble titles, allowing them to inherit titles just like knights.

The Holy Mage then demanded that the royal family amend the Compensation Law. Previously, crimes against mages were simply categorized as crimes committed by mages under the Compensation Law, classifying them as commoners. This meant that killing a mage only required paying two gold coins, the same as a commoner. However, the amended Compensation Law placed mages on the same level as nobles, stipulating that in addition to exorbitant compensation, the murderer would be sentenced to death by hanging.

What excited mages even more was that, previously, their power seemed to be sealed off, limiting them to a maximum of level six. No human mage had ever broken through this power ceiling. This was a major reason for the low social status of mages. But with the emergence of holy mages, power began to favor them, and high-level mages sprang up like mushrooms after rain. Mages finally held their heads high.

However, in today's aristocratic society, being a mage is still not a very respectable profession. And even though more than a decade has passed, not a single noble descendant has inherited the title through a duel as a mage.

If Harry can defeat the standard knight in the succession duel, he will become the first wizard noble.

Just as Harry was pondering these things, there was a knock on his door, and then an innkeeper handed him an invitation:

Dear Harry:

I'm so glad to know you're back. So many exciting things have happened in the capital, and I've been wanting to share them with you. I'm also really curious about your life at the magic academy, and I'm sure you're just as excited as I am for this reunion. Tomorrow at noon, I'll be waiting for you on the second floor of Lionheart to have lunch together.

Beloved

Veranika

The invitation was written in a strong, angular hand, clearly in the style of the Knights Academy. At the same time, it also possessed a touch of feminine elegance; the letter's content was so enthusiastic that even without seeing the signature, Harry knew it was Veronica—his childhood friend.