The night was deep and heavy, dust swirling around the derelict barn at the fringes of Thebes. This was supposed to be the site of a secret wizard gathering, but now it had become the target of a raid by the Temple Knights and Priests.
The flame was forcibly extinguished, leaving a tense atmosphere lingering in the air.
A dozen Temple Knights clad in silver armor, wielding long spears, surrounded the wizards inside the barn. Behind them, a High Tier Priest adorned in a golden robe, wearing Athena's Holy Emblem, strode into the barn with cold and arrogant eyes.
"Desecrators!" he proclaimed loudly, "You are engaging in unauthorized witchcraft, violating the sacred Law!"
"We are just learning!" an elderly wizard attempted to argue.
"Silence!" the Priest cut him off coldly, pointing a finger, "Take everyone away, burn everything here."
The Temple Knights moved immediately, swinging their weapons and forcing the wizards to the ground one by one.
"Don't touch my book!"
A young Witch screamed as she struggled, only to be kicked harshly to the ground by a knight.
The scene descended into chaos instantly.
Inside the barn, time seemed to burn.
The tip of the Temple Knight's sword was only half an inch away from the nearest wizard. The gold divine patterns on the Priest's scepter shimmered, suppressing everyone's magic power. Despair spread through the air — these Wild Wizards knew all too well that once captured and brought to the Divine Hall, what awaited them was the stake or, worse, the "purification ritual."
Directly stripping away the right to wield magic — as despair loomed, a calm and low voice resounded.
"Ahem."
The voice wasn't loud, yet it sliced through the heavy silence like a sharp blade.
Everyone's gaze turned towards him. The man in the corner, wrapped in a black robe, was calmly tidying his sleeves, as if the crisis before him was less important than the neatness of his attire. His silver-gray right eye gleamed coldly in the dim light, a hint of a mocking smile on his lips.
"If the Goddess of Wisdom dislikes the wizards, then let your God come face me directly." It was, of course, Ian speaking, particularly irked by this suppression campaign akin to the Witch Hunting Movement.
The nature of both was the same.
Persecution of wizards seeking the truth of magic.
Clearly.
This reminded Ian of a forgotten truth: the Gods might fear the unruly wizards, just as the Titans once feared them — the Gods, too, were rebels.
They had overthrown the Titans, seized control of the universe. And back then, what the Titans feared was not the power of the Olympus Gods, but their uncontrollability — they broke the established order, created a new set of rules.
Now, this fear seemed to be repeating itself.
"Wizards possess knowledge," Ian whispered to himself, "And once knowledge awakens, it can no longer be easily suppressed."
He observed the caution and restraint during the Wild Wizards' gathering, suddenly understanding something: the Gods do not merely detest witchcraft but fear these powers beyond their control.
Just as the Titans once feared the Olympus Gods.
Wizards do not rely on Gods; they gain power through understanding the world and deciphering its laws. If this trend continues, one day humans will no longer need the Gods' protection, and may even challenge the Divine Throne. This isn't idle speculation but the cycle of history.
Thus, the Gods cannot tolerate Wild Wizards beyond their control. Ian, as a wizard, couldn't stand it, so he stood up and addressed the Temple Knights and Priests.
All eyes instantly focused on the source of the voice.
Ian.
The traveler who had been quietly listening in a corner now slowly rose, adjusted his sleeve, and his gaze, sharp as a knife, swept over the Temple Knights and Priests.
There was no anger in his gaze.
Only disdain.
"Who are you?"
The Priest frowned, his tone unfriendly.
"Daring to obstruct the Holy Hall's law enforcement?"
The Priest's tone was still filled with arrogance. The night was heavy, the candlelight flickered in the barn, tension and oppression filled the air. The wizards, who moments ago had been pushed to the ground, had just gained freedom, but the Temple Knights were already regrouping, their silver armor gleaming coldly under the weak firelight.
Clearly.
These Temple Knights were planning to make an example, attacking this unknown wizard Ian with caution.
Ian stood before everyone, his expression calm, his knife-like gaze sweeping over those knights.
"You've already lost," he stated, "Don't you understand?"
"Impudent!" cried a burly knight, drawing his longsword with a flourish, pointing it at Ian, "Let us teach you what it means to show reverence!"
With that, he charged forward, several knights following closely behind, their sword blades gleaming with lethal intent.
They intended to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys — to strike down this one daring to challenge Divine Authority in the most direct way, intimidating all the Wild Wizards, showing them the cost of rebellion!
However.
They underestimated Ian.
Just as the first sword was about to come down, Ian moved his right hand gently.
"You…" he spoke softly, his voice warm like jade yet carrying undeniable majesty, "Facing a Legend, how dare you attack me?"
"Nuisance."
In the next moment, the air suddenly solidified.
The knights' movements seemed frozen by an invisible force in mid-air, the sword blades halted just inches from Ian but unable to advance further.
The entire barn fell into a deathly silence.