Mental Power Impact, Magic Plant Identification

"Second-class Talent?"

Ian sucked in a sharp breath.

The highest talent in the class had originally only been Third-grade Talent. Yet upon entering this new stage, even Second-class Talents had appeared.

At first, Ian had only thought that Second-class Talent meant twice as much as Third-grade Talent, and four times as much as Fourth-grade Talent.

But as his talent gradually improved, he came to understand just how wrong that idea was.

That was merely the difference in the number of meditation sessions; it did not even account for the quality of meditation or the rate at which one's Mental Power grew.

The gap was probably more than double.

"Am I supposed to compete with people like them?"

Ian's expression turned grave.

"What are you thinking, man? Those with Second-class Talent don't even need testing to get into whichever department they want, okay? Besides, can you even compete with them?"

At that moment, a chubby apprentice sitting in front turned to look at Ian as though he were an idiot.

"What did you say?"

Hearing that, Coro widened his eyes and rose to his feet.

"It's fine, it's fine."

Ian waved him off.

The apprentice's words helped him set his mindset straight as well.

He was merely a tiny Fourth-grade Talent. He absolutely could not grow arrogant, or he would sooner or later take a disastrous fall.

"Learning cantrips step by step will take at least three months to reach Third-grade. I hope the later courses will bring me some surprises."

Ian pressed his lips together and regained his calm.

At this point, the classroom fell quiet as well.

A man with long curly hair and a hooked nose walked in, a silver badge pinned to his chest.

The badge resembled a shield, entwined with vines around its edges, with an open wizard's book at its center.

"He's a Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice."

Emily's gaze fixed on the badge.

"Indeed. A silver badge means a Third-Rank Apprentice. Black iron, bronze, silver, and gold represent the four levels of the apprentice stage: first, second, third, and peak Wizard Apprentice. The book represents the Secret Source Department."

William from the Mutual Aid Society beside them sighed in admiration.

The Secret Source Department... it was even harder to enter than the Logistics Department.

Ian nodded.

They had badges too, but their centers were completely blank. They would only be replaced after they entered a department.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Joran Fuller. I'll be teaching this course from now on. Classes will be held every Monday."

The wizard walked to the center of the podium and smiled at the crowd.

The course was related to meditation methods and covered the later contents of the Basic Meditation Method.

"For a First-class Apprentice Witch to advance to a Second-class Apprentice Witch, you must condense a total of twenty basic runes. The final assessment will also be based on the number of runes. The lowest grade is C-, and the highest is A+, for a total of nine grades. C- requires only one rune, while A+ requires nine. But if you're still at C- after half a year, then I'm sorry—no department will want you. As for the result..."

Though Joran did not say it outright, everyone clearly understood what he meant.

"Besides that, there are additional rewards. The first ten people to condense each rune can receive extra rewards. Tenth place gets one Magic Stone, and every place higher earns one additional Magic Stone. The top three can also receive extra potions."

As Joran spoke, he could not help glancing at the three apprentices with Second-class Talent.

For them, the top three were practically already in the bag.

"Extra Magic Stones..."

Ian took a deep breath, wondering whether he had any chance of reaching the top ten.

The first four months would likely be difficult. He would have to wait until he advanced to Third-grade Star Talent.

After finishing the preliminary material, Joran began the lesson in earnest.

"My proficiency is increasing?"

At that moment, Ian stared at the panel in astonishment and discovered that his proficiency had increased by 1.

That made sense. Even exchanges within the Mutual Aid Society could increase proficiency, so formal teaching would naturally be even faster.

The reason it had not happened before was probably only because what Victor taught had been too simple.

"I didn't expect there to be such a benefit. Maybe I can even bring the meditation method to mastery within three months, and my talent might improve sooner."

A glimmer flashed through Ian's eyes.

There were also Wizardry courses. Those were the real big prize.

The instructor for the Wizardry course was named Charis, a square-faced man with a flame at the center of his silver badge.

"Zero-ring wizardry differs from tricks. The greatest difference is that it requires the involvement of Mental Power Runes.

"The more Mental Power Runes involved, the greater the power.

"For the first three months, I will teach you one zero-ring trick each month. The final three months will be devoted to combat practice."

Charis walked through the training grounds, looking at the apprentices before him.

"Next, I will introduce Mental Power Impact. Watch carefully."

For the sake of the demonstration, several dozen servants soon carried over a large tree trunk more than a meter in diameter from one side.

Charles took a deep breath.

"Qilaso!"

Along with the incantation, everyone felt the air before them ripple.

Rumble!

The tree was instantly torn in half. The fractured section was streaked with striations, as though it had suffered an immense tearing force.

Hisss!

All the apprentices present widened their eyes.

That was a tree trunk over a meter in diameter!

Ian's heart burned with excitement as well.

"In one month, there will be a test. The top ten will receive Magic Stone rewards, while the top three can obtain additional wizardry rewards."

Ian's heart grew even hotter.

Never mind the Magic Stone rewards—there were wizardry rewards too.

The Meditation course was difficult to compete for, but this course was entirely within reach.

Could I push this wizardry to Master Level within a month?

Ian's eyes flickered.

Before class ended.

A new skill appeared on Ian's panel.

[Mental Power Impact (Beginner 1/100)]

The third class, however, caught Ian somewhat by surprise.

It was not the content that surprised him.

"Instructor Victor?"

Ian stared at the instructor on the podium in astonishment. It was actually Victor.

Victor had changed into a dark green Witch Robe. The badge on his chest was made of bronze, its core a small pot set within a ring.

"Hello, everyone. I am Victor from the Potions Department, a Zero-ring Intermediate Potion Master. I will be teaching the upcoming classes."

He smiled at everyone as he introduced himself.

"This course will mainly provide a preliminary introduction to potion studies, focusing on familiarizing yourselves with the magic plants of Veridian Forest, as well as basic first aid and potion-making.

"The first three months will involve potion identification tests, while the latter three months will be practical potion studies assessments. The final examination will be an unspecified potion formulation.

"All right, let us begin today's lesson—getting to know Veridian Forest's Three-leaf Blood-stopping Grass..."

Victor took out a sprig of emerald-green clover and began introducing it to everyone.

Ian listened carefully.

Soon, a new skill appeared in his skill list.

[Magic Plant Identification (Zero-ring—Beginner 1/100)]

Seeing the skill appear on his panel, Ian immediately felt much more at ease.

It not only meant that he had gained another skill, but also that it could be steadily improved.

Night.

"Qilaso!"

After a surge of mental power, the chair on the ground in front of the house seemed to be pushed and pulled, toppling over with difficulty.

On the panel:

[Mental Power Impact (Beginner 2/100)]

"My proficiency increased by 1. Looks like it increases by 1 each time, but using Mental Power Impact consumes mental power. I can probably practice at most twenty times a day. In one month, I can probably only reach Expert Level."

Ian pondered.

Would Expert Level be enough?

Was his progress a little too slow?

Meanwhile.

In a certain room.

Halman looked at the pale blue potion before him.

"This is a Minor Energy Potion. It can ease mental fatigue, letting you practice wizardry more times. In a month, you should be able to use it proficiently," Ross said to Halman.

"Is merely using it proficiently enough?" Halman asked.

Ross nodded. "Going by past conventions, using it proficiently is enough to place in the top ten. Wizardry isn't as simple as you think. There's also meditation, and I'll guide you through that as well."

"Alright."

Halman nodded, thinking of Ian.

"Brother, could there be some geniuses who quickly become proficient and master it, reaching an expert's level?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Unless you improve every single time, without encountering even the slightest setback—but how could that be possible?"

Ross said irritably.

In his memory, the Academy had never had anyone that formidable.

Only then did Halman finally relax.

His defeat at the hands of Ian, a mere serf, had always remained a knot in his heart.

Even as he looked down on Ian, a fire had been smoldering in his heart all along.

In the upcoming lessons, he would surpass Ian openly and honorably.