Top floor of the clock tower.
"What should I learn next in magic?"
Xian was not excited by Ilith's praise. No matter how great a genius he was, it was merely potential. Only power held firmly in his own hands was real.
"You have already sensed mana. If you did not already possess a Mortal Rank profession, you would have gained the profession of Magic Apprentice by now."
Ilith looked at the white "College Student" above Xian's head and spoke with faint regret.
"Your Highness, what you need to learn next are magic runes. They are the foundation for constructing all magic, as well as the truth that describes everything in the world."
Ilith raised one finger. White light flowed across her fingertip like water, then her finger deftly traced graceful arcs through the air.
A moment later, an intricate pattern radiating soft white light gradually emerged and hung in the air.
"Your Highness, this is the most basic magic rune. Its meaning is wind," Ilith said softly.
She then lifted her fingertip again and continued drawing. A moment later, an even more intricate pattern appeared in the air.
"This is cutting."
Under Ilith's control, the two magic runes slowly overlapped.
The next moment, the wind stirred.
A transparent Wind Blade abruptly appeared, slicing through the air and slashing viciously into the enormous bronze bell with a piercing howl.
Buzzzzz! In an instant, the bronze bell let out a deafening roar, its sound waves echoing like tides over Black Wolf Castle.
For a time, who knew how many people in the castle were jolted awake from their sleep.
"So this is magic?"
Xian walked up to the bronze bell and stared at the distinct crack carved into its surface by the Wind Blade, his expression shaken.
If it could cut through bronze and iron, it could surely tear through flesh with ease.
"Your Highness, this does not count as magic. True magic is far more powerful than this and several times more difficult and complicated to draw," Ilith said, shaking her head.
"This can only be called a spell trick."
Ilith spoke calmly, though a trace of barely perceptible disappointment flashed through her mismatched eyes.
As expected of a mage, huh?
Even a mere spell trick is this powerful! "Ilith, is my next task to learn magic runes?" Excitement flashed across Xian's face. He could not wait to cast spell tricks like Ilith.
"Yes, but it will be a long process. You need to memorize the seven basic magic runes, such as sun, wind, and earth, along with hundreds of commonly used runes."
"Beyond that, what is even harder is mastering the flow of mana and the drawing process, layering magic runes together. This process greatly tests the flexibility of your fingers and is also the most difficult part of casting magic."
"The vast majority of people need several years of practice before they can learn to draw their first basic magic rune."
Ilith spoke softly.
Becoming a mage required more than a talent for meditation. Memory, comprehension, and even finger dexterity were all crucial.
That was why mages were considered the hardest profession to advance in, and why she had not exaggerated by calling His Highness a magical genius.
"Wait, Ilith. Learning magic runes is basically the same as learning a language, isn't it?" Xian keenly noticed the key point.
Basic magic runes and commonly used magic runes—no matter how he looked at them, they resembled a language.
"Yes. Your comprehension is excellent. Great Mage Byers once called the study of magic runes 'Magic Language,' and he speculated that the supreme gods might communicate through magic runes."
Ilith praised him. She had deeply realized how easy it was to teach an intelligent "student."
Hearing this, Xian fell into thought.
If learning magic runes counted as learning a language, then Language Comprehension, the ability brought by his "Heir to a Kingdom of 1.4 Billion Citizens," should be useful.
As for drawing the magic runes... didn't he have Absent-mindedness?
Let his fingers move on their own!
1.4 Billion + College Student = ?
At that thought, the corners of Xian's lips curled upward.
"Ilith, I need to clarify something with you," Xian said solemnly.
"Ah?" Seeing the grave expression on the Black-Haired Youth's face, Ilith immediately panicked inside.
It was her first time seeing His Highness look so serious. Had she said something wrong and offended him? Under Ilith's nervous gaze, Xian slowly said, "Not only in meditation—in the entire path of magic, I will be an unparalleled genius!"
Ilith: "..."
Was this prince not being a little too arrogant?
At noon.
Bright sunlight spilled across the castle's stone steps. Viscount Hughes stood at the main gate with a pack on his back, while the massive Black Abyss Wolf lay beside him.
"Danielle, I'm leaving. Make sure you take good care of Prince Mingyu in the castle. Whatever His Highness asks for, agree to it on my behalf."
"And regarding Little Hayden's Infant Honor Ceremony, I will remember to notify your mother and brother, and ask my comrade Rune to serve as Little Hayden's godfather."
Karen instructed the wife standing before him.
At His Highness's request, he was heading to seek a potion from the bishop of the Storm Church. While he was at it, he would also arrange his youngest son's Infant Honor Ceremony.
"Alright, darling. Have a safe journey." Danielle embraced Karen and kissed him deeply.
"You too. Take care of yourself." Karen stroked his wife's long hair and whispered.
Then, without lingering any longer, he leaped onto the Black Abyss Wolf's back and gave its Wolf Head a hard slap.
"Let's go, Black Tail."
Awoo! The Black Abyss Wolf threw back its head and let out a mournful howl. Then it kicked off with all four paws and shot into the distance like an arrow released from a bow.
"Does it have to be Bishop Rune as Little Hayden's godfather?"
Danielle murmured as she watched her husband's retreating back.
She had originally been very satisfied with that choice. After all, the Storm and Hunting Church was currently the largest church in the Sossia Kingdom.
And Rune, as the bishop of the Storm Church's southern branch in the kingdom, undeniably held great power and status.
Let alone serving as her son's godfather, he would be more than qualified to serve as the godfather of a direct heir of the Masha Family behind her.
But now, there seemed to be a more suitable candidate. Danielle turned to look toward the castle library, where she could vaguely see a figure leaning by the window and reading.
"Great gods, please let this noble person become my youngest son's godfather. I would be willing to exchange twenty years of my remaining life for it!"
For the sake of her child, the woman who had never believed in gods clasped her hands together and prayed with unprecedented devotion.
Two days later.
Library.
Having finally finished learning the basic magic runes and hundreds of commonly used runes, Xian lazily stretched. Beside him stood Ilith, already numb with shock.
"I'm trash. I'm an idiot. Teacher has been lying to me..." The girl repeated over and over with a vacant expression.
The sight made Xian feel genuinely guilty.
No matter how he looked at it, Ilith absolutely qualified as a magical genius, but... he was using cheats!
I spent the day reading comments. Some readers said the plot had become a little bland, so my response is this: starting today, there will be three updates a day to speed up the pace and quickly enter the main storyline. I hope everyone enjoys reading. Thanks (ω)
Before you continue