Digging to the Root

The magic bell for class rang, and all the students found their seats. In front of each of them on their desks, a set of magic materials was laid out.

Chen Cheng looked at the materials on his desk: two crystal-like pillars, some unnamed special powders in boxes, and a brush.

When he saw the brush, his eyes went unfocused for a moment. He was surprised to see such an item in this world. The writing tools he knew of in this world were more akin to medieval Western ones.

They were either charcoal sticks in cork holders or bird feathers dipped in ink. This was the first time he had seen an ancient Chinese writing tool.

Isabel, standing on the podium, saw that no students were late. Without any preamble, she began her lecture.

She picked up a transparent crystal in front of her and held it up for everyone to see, then began to explain:

"This is a Magic Crystal. You are all still apprentice mages, and you don't have enough magical energy in your bodies yet to cast spells. The great mage Kunbu spent years researching and finally developed this crystal that can store magic.

Now, all you need to do is remember the sketching of the magic corridor and magic lines, and you can release an equivalent amount of magic using the Magic Crystal in your hands."

Then, Isabel introduced the other magic materials.

"This is powder made from the processed gall bladder of a second-tier Fire Spirit Snake, used to sketch basic fire magic. And this is the petal of a Spark Flower..."

Most of the materials Isabel introduced were used for sketching beginner fire magic array patterns and corridors on the Magic Crystal.

After explaining the materials and ensuring everyone understood their purpose, Isabel began teaching everyone how to sketch the magic array patterns and corridors.

"Alright, let's start by sketching the simplest magic, Fireball Magic. The array pattern for this spell is very simple, and it only has one magic corridor. Students, watch carefully."

Afterward, everyone's eyes were fixed on Isabel's hands.

She picked up the Magic Crystal, then used a brush made of fine Gale Wolf fur, dipped it into ink mixed with unique materials like Deep Sea Sunflower Cuttlefish ink and Fire Spirit Snake gall bladder powder, and began sketching on the surface of the Magic Crystal.

When she drew the final stroke, everyone saw the originally black ink emit a red glow, instantly turning into a connected fiery red. Simultaneously, a pattern with red flames appeared inside the colorless Magic Crystal.

Isabel showed everyone the Magic Crystal in her hand. Then, she held the Magic Crystal with her hand and began to softly chant the incantation for Fireball Magic.

When she finished chanting, a small fireball was released directly from her hand. Afterward, the Magic Crystal in her hand turned to ash after its stored magic was depleted.

After the demonstration, Isabel drew the magic pattern and corridor for the beginner fireball spell she had just used, enlarged proportionally, on the blackboard.

The second-generation students with noble or wealthy merchant backgrounds were not surprised by this. What they were most curious about was Isabel's method of sketching magic.

Chen Cheng, however, wasn't thinking about these things. In his opinion, these were just techniques. He was more concerned about his previous speculations regarding magic.

Although he didn't know the energy conversion equation behind it, what was happening before him told him his guess was correct: magic also obeyed the law of conservation of energy.

Otherwise, Isabel wouldn't have said that the magic released was equivalent to the magical energy stored in the crystal.

However, even though he confirmed that magic also had to obey the law of conservation of energy, his inner doubts only grew.

For example, how did magic achieve different energy conversions without any loss in the process? Such technology was something he hadn't seen in his previous life.

Also, how could people in this world, who had reached such a level of energy application, still have such backward social civilization? A series of questions from various aspects arose.

After the demonstration, Isabel began to have the students pick up the Magic Crystals in front of them and practice sketching, following the patterns and corridors on the blackboard. She then started providing guidance to the students.

Fini, next to Chen Cheng, was very interested. She also wanted to see herself release a fireball using the Magic Crystal, just like Teacher Isabel.

She held the Magic Crystal in one hand and began sketching the magic pattern and corridor with the other. When she inadvertently saw Chen Cheng spacing out beside her, she couldn't help but nudge him, reminding him to pay attention in class.

Chen Cheng, however, remained motionless, lost in thought and occasionally showing a pensive expression. His behavior quickly caught Isabel's attention.

Although she was gentle when explaining in class, her military upbringing deeply influenced her. Seeing Chen Cheng spacing out during class, her pretty face instantly turned icy.

"Does this student have something you don't understand, or was my explanation not detailed enough? Why are you still spacing out?"

At this moment, Chen Cheng was jolted out of his brainstorming by Isabel's imposing military aura.

However, when he picked up the Magic Crystal in front of him to start sketching, he felt awkward and unsure. Seeing his hesitation, Isabel became even more annoyed. The other students couldn't help but snicker.

They all knew Chen Cheng was a slave. If it weren't for Teacher Melinda, they would have already mocked him for overestimating himself.

Fini, who was diligently sketching beside him, felt deeply embarrassed. However, she was silently praying for Chen Cheng, hoping he wouldn't be kicked out of the classroom by Isabel for spacing out.

But to everyone's surprise, Chen Cheng spoke up and asked:

"Teacher, why can we draw this pattern on this crystal containing magical energy and then activate the energy within the crystal to convert it into flames?

And is the energy conversion rate in this process 100% with no loss?"

Chen Cheng's question stunned everyone. Afterward, he was met with a burst of laughter from all the students. Fini, beside him, couldn't hold back either. Fearing Chen Cheng would be kicked out, she quickly said:

"You're such an idiot! Teacher Melinda just said during class that magic comes from the God of Magic. These magic patterns and corridors are naturally the imprints of the God of Magic. By following these imprints, we can communicate with magical power and use magic.

And about that loss, why would you ask such a strange question? Why should there be any loss?"

Chen Cheng naturally knew this explanation. However, this was clearly a religious explanation. For Chen Cheng, a scholar who studied science in the 21st century, it was an unacceptable reason.

Because it made people seem foolish, without their own thoughts, attributing everything to God. In that case, the driving force for human societal progress would be suppressed and extinguished.

What he truly wanted to know was the energy conversion mechanism. Perhaps people here didn't know what an energy equation was, but Chen Cheng believed that their understanding of magic was definitely not just a doctrine of divine bestowal. Otherwise, the Magic Crystal wouldn't have been researched and developed by humans.

However, Isabel coldly swept her gaze over the students. After seeing Isabel's eyes, their expressions changed, and they turned back to their own tasks.

Although Isabel was not of noble birth, she was once part of the Royal Guard. Her connections were very extensive. Even if she beat them up, their fathers wouldn't dare to seek trouble with Isabel at the academy.

After stopping the laughter of the crowd, Isabel looked at Chen Cheng and said coldly:

"It's very simple if you want to know these things. You must sketch a perfect Fireball Magic Crystal before the end of class.

Oh, I forgot to remind you that there isn't much time left until the end of class, so you'd better hurry. And you only get one chance."

Chen Cheng glanced at the magic crystal taking shape in Fini's hands, then at his own, which he hadn't even started on. Recalling the sketching process Isabel had just demonstrated, he began to draw.

This lesson from Isabel tested students' memory the most; the magic crystals provided the magical energy needed to sketch the magic array patterns.

For a researcher like Chen Cheng, a good memory was standard equipment. Moreover, as a designer, drawing was also a fundamental skill.

With the image clearly etched in his mind, he drew with swift, fluid strokes. To Isabel's surprised gaze, he completed the magic array patterns and corridors for Fireball Magic in under a minute, without a single line out of place.

At that moment, Fini beside him finished her final stroke, letting out a joyful cry.

Before Chen Cheng could fully appreciate the flow of energy from the magic crystal as his pen moved during the sketching process, Isabel, who had been beside him, took the magic crystal and spoke:

"Fini, you did wonderfully. You're the first student I've had in all my teaching years who perfectly sketched the Fireball Magic array patterns and corridors on the first try."

"However, come to my office after class."

But before Chen Cheng could feel happy for Fini, Isabel spoke coldly to him.

The other students inwardly gloated over Chen Cheng's misfortune, especially since Fini had just shown off so impressively.

Yet, only Fini, standing next to Chen Cheng, knew just how monstrously talented he was. While the magic array patterns and corridors for Fireball Magic weren't numerous, that was from the perspective of a professional mage like Teacher Isabel.

For them, the rookies, it was a complex and intricate magic array pattern, something no young person could complete perfectly in such a short time on their first attempt – unless, of course, they were a beautiful genius like herself.