Chapter 19

In the afternoon, Sigma went to learn the famous scythe martial techniques of the druids.

The scythe, which looked very fashionable, was not as easy to use as he had imagined. In fact, this tool was originally used for agricultural harvesting. It came in various lengths and was often used by peasants, who were forced into poverty by tax collectors, to resist feudal rule. In reality, without the skill to master long weapons, one could hardly wield a scythe proficiently. Even the highland warrior races of the Northern Kingdom were reluctant to use it.

The druids, however, were the ones who truly popularized the scythe as a weapon. Short scythes, crescent scythes, and giant-bladed scythes—these versatile tools and weapons were very popular among druids. First, they were indeed convenient, much like a multi-functional engineer's shovel. Second, they were very suitable for druid combat. After all, druids had a rather awkward occupational positioning, being more robust and physically strong than ordinary mages. For them, staves were too light, lacking the feel when swinging and entangling. Mage swords were too short for slashing and stabbing. Arcane blades were too unpredictable when thrown, giving a very insecure feeling. A sturdy and simple scythe was more appropriate, capable of cutting heads like grass.

When he mentioned this to the druid martial arts instructor, the instructor indeed taught him enthusiastically. However, in just one or two hours, he couldn't learn the essence of the techniques. This druid, who looked much more kind and benevolent than Instructor Arno, gave him a textbook on scythe martial techniques after class. It covered everything from basic techniques to advanced moves. He gently reminded Sigma not to spread the knowledge and sincerely advised him that the reason scythes became famous weapons for druids was because druids were stronger and more physically capable than ordinary spellcasters. For a necromancer, it was best to just look at the techniques and not spend too much time practicing them. After all, while defensive martial techniques were developed by mages together, each type of mage had their own specific way of using them in conjunction with different types of magic. Mages must know how to engage in close combat but should never become too engrossed in it—thus, he gave a long, gentle warning.

In terms of sharing and mutual verification, mages did a great job. The High Priest had also mentioned this when Sigma first arrived at the College of Nature: there was nothing the druids showed them that they couldn't teach.

After sincerely thanking the enthusiastic and responsible druid, Sigma carefully stored the martial arts manual. Martial skills and physical abilities depended on talent and genetics. Fortunately, the Washington family had the potential to be muscular. Although he had become a necromancer, the foundation he built in his childhood was still there, and playing with a scythe wasn't out of the question—most importantly, the "otaku" blood that flowed through the veins of the Washington family made Sigma feel that a necromancer paired with a scythe was the coolest.

—After advancing further in alchemy, he would forge a scythe-shaped specialized staff.

With this thought, Sigma relaxed his muscles, which had tensed from practicing martial techniques. As he walked, he observed the passing druid beauties. Druids, who studied life and natural forces, exuded a serene natural aura and a hint of wildness, giving the druid girls an even more attractive quality—unfortunately, every time Sigma tried to approach them, they would run away first, which was quite strange.

As he walked, his eyes lit up. He had somehow arrived at a beautiful pond.

The clear green water of the pond rippled, and the aquatic plants were in bud. A cool breeze blew across the water, bringing a refreshing chill. A young druid sat by the water, his back filled with a melancholy that seemed to pierce the sky at a 45-degree angle.

This budding literary air stirred up Sigma's fond memories. In his youth, he had also been a passionate literary youth, but harsh reality and the merciless passage of time had transformed him into a rebellious child. He liked this place because the druids of the Maya Great Forest were literary but not pretentious, with a subtle and unobtrusive sense of coolness, which made him feel especially nostalgic—he believed the world belonged to these literary otakus.

So Sigma felt he needed to get to know this person, as more friends meant more opportunities.

He sat down next to the druid, not too close and not too far, just enough to avoid making the other person feel awkward or impolite. He smiled at the druid and said, "Hey, buddy, what are you thinking about?"

"..." The druid turned his head. He was a handsome young man, but his face was full of sorrow. For a young man of his age to look so dejected, there were usually two reasons: he had been dumped, or he was suffering from a personal issue.

Perhaps the druid needed someone to listen to him, so he didn't even ask about Sigma's identity and started talking.

"My love life... has had some problems," he said, organizing his words, "Whenever I encounter such heart-wrenching matters, I come here to be alone and calm down..."

From his words, Sigma drew two conclusions: first, this guy's love life wasn't just problematic but had encountered a catastrophic issue; second, this wasn't the first time his love life had run into trouble.

He kept a straight face, nodded to show understanding, and knew that when communicating with someone, especially when listening to their troubles, one must be sincere, make eye contact, and nod occasionally to show empathy and kindness.

The druid continued, "But today, I learned a lesson from a trivial matter..."

He picked up a cup made from a large leaf, which was skillfully and intricately crafted, clearly the work of a druid. He plucked a small, unknown flower and gently flicked it, causing a drop of red sap to fall into the cup, instantly turning the water red.

Then, he flicked the flower again, and a second drop of sap fell into the clear green pond. A thread of red spread out but quickly dissipated, leaving the pond as clear as before, with no trace of the red.

After doing this, the druid turned to Sigma, his face filled with melancholy, and asked, "Do you understand?"

Damn, so philosophical? Sigma felt a jolt. Discovering profound truths from trivial matters, the Zen meaning was off the charts. Druids were indeed detached and literary youths.

He enjoyed this kind of witty exchange and decided to go into full "cool" mode. With a mysterious smile, he said calmly, as if he had drunk too much chicken soup, "The water in the cup changes easily because it is confined to a small space. The water in the pond remains unchanged because it is vast and flowing. Similarly, a narrow mind is easily swayed by intense emotions and temporary setbacks. Only a broad and open heart can allow the soul to be free—am I right?"

"…No," the druid looked at Sigma, his eyes filled with endless sorrow and melancholy. He pointed to the clear green pond and said resentfully, "What I learned is that I can never, ever, change a bitch."

"…" Damn, what a painful realization.

***

PS1: For the sake of purity, "bitch" is a phonetic translation of the English word. As for its meaning, I'm afraid it might be censored, so I won't say it. Those with curiosity can look it up on Baidu.

PS2: Thus, the main male supporting character of this volume appears. As usual, please vote, click, and collect.

PS3: At the request of a friend, I'm promoting a new book by an author in the group. Interested friends can check it out. [bookid=3227885, bookname=《位面交易狂徒》]

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