Arguable. It was something that couldn’t happen if he was only a newcomer.
"It is actually my first day, so I don’t know what the rules are. So, since this is an array specialized sect, I bet you won’t ignore the fact that I only protected myself with it." Lucas nonchalantly said, but deep inside, his soul was shouting wildly.
’Array shit! I don’t know a thing about arrays, so can you please let me have my peace of learning arrays!’
If ever Lucas learned an array that could absorb specific energy, he’d leave this sect at once, but since he didn’t know where it was and if it even existed, he could just learn it normally.
As ’normal’ it was, Lucas also wanted to learn how sects operate. However, he wasn’t totally expecting that even inside sects, there would be a strong hierarchy that sets rules that only exist in disciples. Well, of course, it was natural, but not to this extent that he would be slightly troubled.
As soon as they heard Lucas say it was his first day, all of them were frozen, as well as the spectators.
It only meant one of two things. Lucas might have been a talented person that passed from being an outer court disciple, became a member of a faction that passed through the restriction, or became an inner disciple immediately.
"Y-You are? I don’t believe you. You must be joking." As Dylan wanted to deny it, Lucas kept on pushing it on him.
"I am not. Actually, it is not that I am boasting, but I hope we don’t make some fuss over simple things. I am a disciple under the Faction of Senior Elder Wong. So let this be easy between the two factions. I hope you understand."
All of them remained stiff as Lucas left them since it was his time from the line to take his food. He took his part and then left the stall, picking a table.
People around him were still on the edge of disbelief. How could this suddenly happen? It was unthinkable since hierarchy was already existent to the point they couldn’t deny it. But, at this point? Would it be really reasonable?
Strongly, for others, hierarchy was just an illusion. And it ran to Dylan’s mind over and over again, he made up his mind and approached Lucas after he had his meal.
Without the two disciples with him, he humbly faced Lucas.
"I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier. It was actually a misunderstanding since it is a privilege of a member of a faction to be the first in the line. I don’t know you were also a member of a faction."
Lucas took a moment of silence and then faced Dylan.
"Were you not arrogant?" Lucas asked.
Dylan shook his head with sincerity that made Lucas chuckle.
"Tell me. Why are you respectful to me?" Lucas asked.
"Because it is disrespectful to be rude to a number one faction in the sect. There are no conflicts between factions, it was only meant for the competition, so I was being sincere and wanted to apologize."
Lucas paused at what Dylan said. Were the things that happened earlier just a mere play of prestige to the public? From what he heard, Lucas thought that it was literally dividing the sect into factions. Hence, made him think that Dylan’s attitude earlier was reasonable because of the hierarchy set by the factions as well. But he didn’t realize that it must be a misinterpretation of someone outside the sect.
He sighed and then tried to remember the words he exchanged with the elders and the other members of the faction. And as far as he could remember, there was no particular part that said they were all in conflict.
He sighed again and cursed the elders in his mind. He thought that things were seriously going on between the factions and the misconception continued because they didn’t explain it to him. But things had already happened, and he took part in that mistake as well.
"So the factions were just there for the purpose of making a talented array master by encouraging the disciples?" Lucas asked, making Dylan nod.
"Forgive me too. So I want to ask something. Does the sect have some stereotypes and arrogant disciples that underestimate fellow disciples?" Lucas asked again.
"I don’t see anyone. We just have the privilege here and what I showed earlier to everyone was the point of the privilege." Dylan answered respectfully.
"Then what happened there? The whispering?"
Lucas was starting to doubt his ability to assess the environment. And so, since he basically didn’t know much about the sect and its nature, he remained calming himself to concentrate.
"That was only whispers. The fellow disciples think that I’ll showcase my ability to make an array that would shock you and make you think of quitting. The dead part, it wasn’t actually literal."
’The fuck?’
Inside, Lucas was obnoxiously squirming in irritation.
"Okay. You are good. Then does this mean that for the next meal I don’t need to wait in line?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, but since I am also not sure if you really are a member of the faction run by Senior Elder Wong, you must bring your identification."
Lucas realized that Dylan was just being respectful and even if he made a mistake in identity, it wouldn’t make him a lesser person.
"Okay. Thank you for reminding me. I’ll be on my way." Lucas said, then headed to his room in an instant.
He took a deep breath, then started comprehending what he had learned.
Outside the sect, there were words that the Profound Symbol had struggled with the hierarchy and thus created the factions. Also, the factions served as the dividers of the sect that basically divided disciples into respective orders based on yearly competition.
However, what Lucas believed was wrong. But all he did to the people he asked was to see through lies, and since they weren’t lying, he thought of the information as trustworthy. But now since he learned more information, he didn’t stop there and believed everything.
However sometimes, even in his deep thoughts, he would be cut by the realization that he was dealing with too much.
"Ah... I guess all of my assessments have flaws. I clearly degraded that part, and I am too naive to think that my socializing skills were still okay."
Lucas realized that the brain didn’t end there. As time went by, it didn’t stop developing personality and habits. Since he had been secluded from society for plenty of years, he thought that at least he had kept his wise thoughts.
But things didn’t work that way.
And as it was, he sighed and then tried to fix his plan again.
"From now on, let’s make things simple."
Lucas fixed his plans for his stay in the sect. Since he became aimless and couldn’t stay in one place, he thought that discipleship ’normal’ life was done. He’d just have to make a deal with the sect and exchange for the knowledge of making arrays. His initial plan was messed up again for the nth time.
It could also be possible if he could just go to the archives and read the contents of the book. However, as laughable as it seemed, it was too stupid since he needed to be wary of arrays that might detect him.
Thus, the easiest and safest way was to face the leader and try to make a deal.
Basically... he didn’t know what to offer, but treasures were okay, right? He still had plenty of unused artifacts in his storage magic that might or might not work in this world. Which was why he hadn’t thought of them as important.
If he could at least learn arrays, it would be his stepping stone to creating a sect of mages. He’d gather mana in one place and then teach unknown geniuses that might be hiding in this world.
As a result, while searching for the geniuses, he’d also need to break through the Emperor Spirit Realm.
As absurd as it seemed, Lucas wanted to keep things simple as his brain might collapse in the next second.
"Enjoy life my ass. I can’t even fix one idea!"