#archmage luma

Never mind the fact that from the three of them, he's the one with the most exposition so far into the story, where we even have one person in the cast who knew him personally. But finding out more about Luma adds depth not only to who he was as a mage and as a person, but to what his place is in the narrative and plot, and what he represents or means to our main characters.

So far into the latest chapters, Yuder and Kishiar's current conjecture is that Luma possibly could have possessed the man that Yuder knew as his grandfather, using a spell that Enon says could have been possible if it were Luma to have done it. This new plot point made me think back to many things about Luma that connected him to Yuder, both in their parallels to each other to who they meant to one another.

In the early parts of the story, Yuder doesn't have any interest in magic, nor does he fully understand how it works and could only understand it in terms he knows, usually through the eyes of an Awakener. He's basically as separate from mages or magic as a whole in that regard. But when the west monster subjugation arc came around, it basically teased us the idea that Yuder could have possibly been a mage. Of course, we would later forget about this part when shit started going down, but we would eventually come back to this.

This small yet important detail was not only foreshadowing to Yuder's grandfather's true identity and the reasoning for his isolation from the outside, but it is also a thread the narrative gave to us that points toward a connection to Luma.

Because Luma's name and influence appears sporadically across Turning, it's suspect why he keeps popping up. There's the magic armored knight within the Imperial Palace and the enchanted conch from Nelarn, just to name a few. Hell, even the sword slash by the first Emperor mentioned Luma as having had direct involvement for that slash being there (First Emperor/Luma and Kishiar/Yuder parallels go crazy but that's not what we're here for lol).

He's certainly important as a historical figure who was the progenitor of magic and was a legendary archmage, but if we're gonna be mentioning people like him, surely the first Emperor would have as many mentions to his name as much as Luma in Turning. But no, that isn't the case, and Luma has more stakes in the current story than in the past events. It's why he's being brought up quite frequently, because he has a role to play here, and it all starts with Yuder.

In terms of story roles, the two of them are the opposite, but in personality or conviction, they are the same. Yuder is the hardened Commander of the Arcane Legion/Cavalry who died trying to save a dying world only to find himself travelled back in time. Luma doesn't share this similarity with Yuder, but he does so with Kishiar, in which he's the one who would go on to bear the burden of knowing and caring about a person who experienced a grim future that would not come to pass. They contrast in their roles in the story, but personality-wise or at least some of their traits are quite similar. They are single-minded in their own pursuits; Yuder when it came to his personal training and growing his strength, and Luma furthering his own magic knowledge.

Hell, they even have rather unrealistic goals that involve the person they deeply care about; Yuder with saving White Gloves/TL1 Kishiar from the beyond the cracks, and Luma with reviving or bringing back the first Emperor.

With all that said, where am I going with this?

I highlighted my primary thoughts concerning the connection between Luma and Yuder, all to speculate on what this could mean for future story events/chapters. Now that the next major (I only say major because so far, the chapters are going on a bit of a detour for a Yuder vs Nathan duel + grave violation of a rotten Empress Dowager) point in the story will take Yuder and Kishiar to Nelarn for Ejain's coronation, we're not gonna get much info on Luma except maybe concerning the magic conch, but we might get hints.

There's still holes to Yuder and Kishiar's understanding of Luma's possession of Yuder's grandfather, not to mention Luma's end goal here. In so far, from the guesses our two mcs made, Luma did he what he did to protect and nurture Yuder as the one to save the world from a future calamity.

But if this was the case, then how exactly would he have known that something terrible was gonna happen in the future? Did he also know for sure that Yuder would become someone like the first Emperor, a person who travelled back in the past through time?

All in all, it all boils down to what exactly Luma had been up to after he left the Empire. We know he travelled down south, but that's where the trail goes cold. Whatever Luma was doing to honor the first Emperor's dying wish seemed to have worked, in some shape or form. We don't even know if the Luma who was Yuder's grandfather was fully Luma or just the last vestiges of the man or something.

My current brainchild theory is that Luma's spell broke through the laws of space-time, as he's not only seemingly able to travel to the future via mages who received the Archmage's Blessing, but also appeared to have known that Yuder would travel back in time just like the first Emperor or knew that the future would experience many tragedies.

So there was a line that bothered me. In Ch 786, Yuder had a conversation with Enon where Enon asked:

“Didn’t you want to come back for revenge? You could have rested instead of joining the Cavalry right away. Why didn’t you think of that?”

And Yuder eventually replies

“I don’t know the reason. It wasn’t anything grand. Maybe it was just the biggest regret of an unfinished task. It’s the same even now.” Yes, it wasn’t a grand reason. The mere thought of having another chance to avert the impending disaster filled him with an involuntary joy. Captivated by that thought, nothing else mattered – not revenge, not emptiness. The newfound opportunity overshadowed everything. “Who asked you to save the world? If nobody believed in you, why go to such lengths?” “...” Well, why indeed? Yuder knew he was not a paragon of virtue. He had used his power for his Commander, for the Empire, for the Cavalry, living without questioning his actions. His sole purpose was what drove and sustained him, and that was no exaggeration. But then, one day, he found himself facing the people crumbling before the disasters striking all over the Empire. During moments when he was engrossed in researching ways to predict and avert these disasters, lost in problems with no apparent solutions. And then, in an almost indescribable sensation, harder even to call instinctual, he felt the onset of destruction amidst those inexplicable disasters. He was seized by an intense feeling, like a tidal wave crashing over him. If there was one single purpose for which his power was meant to be used, he was certain this was it. It was as if a command, etched deep within his heart, had suddenly become clear. This command, its origin unknown, compelled Yuder to rise and move in a direction entirely different from before... That voice... “...Ugh.” Lost in thought, Yuder suddenly furrowed his brow, touching his temple, overwhelmed by a piercing sensation in his head. 'What is this?'

Continuing in the next chapter, it's implied he has a memory he can't recall

"No... Just now, something... I felt like an odd memory I never had was about to surface, but it's gone now." "What was that?" Yuder bit his lip tightly and removed his hand from his head, where the headache had vanished. The strange sensation had surged up naturally the moment he heard Enon's question. The question about why he had strived so hard when no one had asked him to save the world. Yes. There was no such person. Obviously not, but... What was that odd thought that had naturally seeped out of his subconscious?

All this implies there was someone who asked him to save the world. At first I thought it may have been part of his memories with Kishiar that got "pushed" out of him but now it is finally becoming clear who might be behind this memory.

Finally in the latest chapter we learn that Yuder's grandpa was probably possessed by the soul of Luma as he was part of a sect of wizards that were able to receive a "Blessing of the Archmage" where a wizard who dies could be brought back to life miraculously but are implied to be possessed by a diff soul (Luma's). This is an excerpt of a similar accident happening that Kishiar found in historical records:

"Poor Mizere (presumably the name of the wizard who returned from the dead) went completely mad. He said that he knew that he was Mizere, but at the same time, he insisted that he could be someone else, and he said that he knew nothing about it nearly a hundred times a day" - from the diary of the investigator, wizard Anamessimo. Mizere used to talk about magic that he had never heard of before, but they were all magic that was known to have been used by Archmages during the founding era, and in particular, his remarks about 'Space-Linking,' a magic exclusive to Luma, surprised many. This must be why the investigators recorded that he claimed to be an Archmage The investigators at the time seemed to have guessed that the wizard's head had gone blank while he was still breathing (this is how he was described as dead). They used various magics under the pretext of restoring their comrade's memories It is not known exactly, but it seems that several terrible magics that cannot be used now were used. Despite this, the investigators were ultimately unable to find out how the person could have come back to life after death The 'investigation' was concluded after about half a year. That was probably the last time the wizard who had been revived was alive. In the end, the wizards concluded the investigation report by stating that his memories could not be fixed. However, in a personal letter written by a wizard who had investigated the wizard to a friend who became the owner of the Pearl Tower more than 10 years later, there is this sentence: "It's strange, When I think about Mizere, I think that what he was saying might have been true. Is it because it wouldn't be strange if the world were to end soon? If what he said was true, what would another Mizere have done before Mizere? Should we have believed in Mizere and helped him?" The letter's recipient's response was that the world was in disarray these days, so he must be feeling uneasy and should drink and rest. After that, this incident was not mentioned again in the Pearl Tower. However, if it was truly the "Archmage's Blessing" as it was handed down in a certain magic school sect, did the wizard who received the blessing realize something about this world? What did he wish for? Was there another wizard who died and came back to life before? It was an interesting fact that piqued the curiosity of the wizards, but it is now something that cannot be answered (Chapter 1261)

A similar thing happened to Yuder's grandpa who was implied to have died but he miraculously came back to life and saved Yuder and continued to care for Yuder since then.

Since the accident Yuder's grandpa has had weird behaviors such as changed handwriting, jumbled memory, etc similar to the previous case of the "Archmage's Blessing." Kanna even read via his belongings:

“Just like you said, Yuder, it’s someone else. Definitely.” That’s it. “I read someone who is in pain and confusion, who doesn’t remember who they are.” (Chapter 1253)

And notably Yuder remembers his grandpa was always convinced he would do something great. Kishiar thinks it's because Luma may have been able to see into the future and know Yuder would become a powerful awakener - to the point where he specifically prevented Yuder from being a wizard in case that interfered with his awakening:

“Melah Cantinto originally had an excellent eye for magical power. The Royal Magician’s Office selected him based on that ability alone. If that eye had been intact ‘in any situation,’ wouldn’t he have been able to recognize at least one of your potentials as soon as he saw it?” So, perhaps he might have avoided contact with the outside world because he had discovered the extraordinary magical powers that Yuder possessed? Yuder felt quite shocked. It is said that magical powers are almost innate. If there were a wizard around the child who was born, he would be able to immediately see the possibility, but such wizards are not common. Even wizards have different capabilities, so they need to have good eyes to know more clearly, so they needed a certain amount of skill to detect this. However, the grandfather who raised Yuder when he was a baby had this level of eyesight from the beginning. It is said that he never used magic after the acident until he died , but did he really lose all his abilities? If, as Kishiar said, his grandfather's Melah Cantinto's abilities were still intact after the accident, he would have certainly noticed Yuder's magical powers. If that were the case, then it means that he did not tell anyone even though he found out. What is this? It's like... 'It's like he was trying to block my path to becoming a wizard.'

(chapter 1264)

In the end Kishiar concludes:

“As we already know, the Archmage Luma was worried about the disasters that would come repeatedly in the future. In order to prevent that, he tried to find a way to leave a warning that would not be erased for future generations. If the Archmage’s Blessing was part of that method, and if it was true that your grandfather appeared as a result, then so be it.” Kishiar’s voice continued. Yuder couldn’t take his eyes off of the voice as if he was being sucked in. “In the end, he may have accomplished what he wanted. He saved the young hero, who was given new powers like the magic of the old days, and protected him from other dangers until he became an adult.” [...] “I just had a thought. If the Great Wizard Luma tried to break free of the constraints of time and space to warn and help future generations, what would he have done when the magic succeeded?” “…….” “He didn’t try to save the world again himself. That’s clear even from the journal. Those who received the Archmage’s Blessing may have recovered from death, but they didn’t gain any strength. So who would he have found, and how would he have tried to help them?” “…….” “We heard that your grandfather once said that his grandson would become a great person. If that was a passing remark because he already knew your potential, then it wouldn’t be wrong to guess that the reason he raised you there was based on the ‘help for future generations’ that I just mentioned.” Kishiar glanced at the paper that Yuder was holding. “We don’t know if he already knew the information about the future or not. However, even someone who doesn’t remember could judge how chaotic and dangerous the present era is by looking at the way the world is going.” It’s not a good world for a child with so much potential to grow up alone. A faint bitterness appeared in his voice and then disappeared. “If you think about it, Grand Wizard Luma lived through the first time wizards appeared in the world. Who else would know better than him what happens when the world is about to end and when a new power is born? He himself was born as a new wizard hero who will prevent the end.”

(Chapter 1265)

So basically Luma took care of Yuder so that he would later save the world, and possibly implanted an order to do so. It wasn't completely to use Yuder as a world-saving tool though as Kanna has read from Melah's belongings that he loved Yuder. Similar to how Enon was also a tool to protect the walls but also loved and cared for. (I love the parallels they really are brothers lmao)

I figure the order is something similar to an oath that Yuder is bound by.

I really do hope we meet Luma again and find out more about it. I feel we definitely will get a flashback of Luma telling Yuder he needs to protect the world...

Yuder believes in most people. He thinks as long as they start on the right foot this time, he can change their relationship. It's why he reached out to Sunz, it's why despite old memories of begrudging Fay for a little bit he's approaching him as a senior Cavalry member and seeking to guide him in a better direction, and it's why he's with Kishiar now.

This has come to worry Kishiar. It's not just about the possibility that people are just going to be rotten no matter what, but the mental toll. He's seen and felt Yuder's dark mental states and he wants to keep him as far away from those as much as he can. He doesn't stop him, but he certainly doesn't keep his discomfort with it a secret.

He keeps mental tabs on who needs a good slam dunk, though. Like Katchian (...mainly Katchian in fact), and I think a new "you're on my HIT list buddy" target is Luma.

Yuder's being set up for something big to be revealed about Luma that will plunge him into a dark place, I'm sure. His insistence over and over again that no matter who he was, he loved his grandfather and knew he had to have loved him back, that he wouldn't have gone out of his way to raise a stranger for 13 years with kindness and warmth, almost reads like a denial stage. Personally, I think Grandpa MeLuma also came to love him, but he clearly knew, guys. He quite obviously knew what Yuder's future looked like.

I'm sure Kishiar's already on alert, and it would have started softly around the time he learned from Yuder that his grandfather didn't know his exact birthdate. It probably strengthened even more as soon as he learned that Yuder's grandfather made a bracelet with magic stones that symbolized "unchanging eternity" for him (ch.1043).

At this point, Kishiar knew that Yuder had been granted a name that meant "Eternity". He once demonstrated what "Yudrein" would have meant in ancient times by taking a string and tying both ends together to form a never-ending circle. Like a bracelet.

Like he knew about Kishiar, too.