Mental Power Core and Initial Magic

The next day, at dinnertime. (If you really do not want to read the castle portions, please skip directly to Chapter 48.) Accompanied by soothing classical music, Anvis explained his situation to the duke.

At that moment, Duke Carlot was savoring a delicious Annie Cake.

It was a meringue berry cream cake made of thick layers of sweet, rich white cream, neatly piled fresh berries with vivid colors and fragrant aromas, and uniquely flavored Wyvern Meringue.

The pastry chef had perfectly combined the strengths of all three, baking a dessert with both exquisite flavor and appearance.

It was said that this dessert had been specially created in the early days of the Magic Empire by the royal head pastry chef to celebrate Fourth Princess Annie's birthday.

The little princess had been very pleased after tasting it. When she asked for the dessert's name and learned that it was a new creation without one, she named it after herself.

Carlot greatly enjoyed this cake, crisp on the outside yet incomparably soft and fluffy within. It always reminded him of his first encounter with Elena.

She had been like that too—elegant and capable in her actions, yet with a delicate, endearing side as well. Her flavor had also been sweet and tart.

"You're saying you're preparing to advance officially?"

After taking another bite of Annie Cake, the duke set down his fork and dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin. Then he looked up, his Azure Eyes fixed on Anvis's smiling face, his expression slightly surprised.

Even in Olivenndi family history, Anvis's rate of advancement was considered exceptionally fast.

"Yes, Father. Last night, I completely reached the limit of my mental power. Even if I do not advance voluntarily, I will naturally advance at midnight tonight."

Smiling elegantly, Anvis reached out and took a glass of Forest Dream from the maid's drink tray, taking a light sip.

This juice resembled pale green, faintly glowing mist. It tasted fresh and sweet, like drinking a mouthful of flowing fog, or a soft, cool cloud.

"Haha—good! Very good!"

Upon receiving Anvis's answer, the duke was so delighted that he could not help laughing. His laughter was filled with a father's joy at hearing of his child's growth.

Elena and Fiona also looked at Anvis in surprise. The difference was that Elena admired her youngest son's talent, while Fiona was simply happy that her brother was about to advance.

"However, since you are preparing to advance, how much do you know about the specific process of becoming an official Spellcaster, as well as the concept and selection of Initial Magic?"

After laughing, the duke's expression turned serious as he shifted the subject to the specific details of advancement.

Hearing this, Elena and Fiona also paused what they were doing and looked up at the two of them.

These two questions were extremely important. A thoroughly prepared advancement and a rash advancement could lead to vastly different final achievements for a Spellcaster.

Setting down his goblet, Anvis raised his white napkin and gently wiped the corner of his mouth, making his expression appear more relaxed and natural.

Then, he sorted through the contents of his memories. His sky-blue eyes met the duke's as he delivered the answer he had prepared in a clear, measured tone.

"Basic Magic Theory once mentioned that becoming an official Spellcaster requires fulfilling two conditions.

"First: condense a Mental Power Core.

"Second: construct an Initial Magic model within the Sea of Spirit."

"Once mental power reaches a certain standard, a Spellcaster can take a point in the Sea of Spirit as the center, control their mental power to rotate around that center at a specific frequency, and continuously 'compress' it with their will.

"Once it has been compressed to a certain extent, a Mental Power Core will naturally form.

"The stronger the Spellcaster's mental power, the higher the chance of successfully condensing a core.

"If the total amount of mental power reaches the upper limit of the Sea of Spirit, the Spellcaster will also spontaneously condense a Mental Power Core within twenty-four to thirty Magic Hours. This was also the original method of advancement used by ancient Spellcasters.

"However, by the middle period of the Ancient Magic Empire, this method of advancement had basically been abandoned by mages.

"The reason was that, with the same total amount of mental power, naturally condensed cores were generally inferior in quality to cores condensed through compression."

At this point, Anvis paused for breath. He picked up his crystal-clear goblet and took another small sip of the cool, mist-like fruit juice, moistening his slightly dry throat.

"Just as a newborn first opens its eyes to see the world, at the instant the core is successfully condensed, the Spellcaster truly opens the 'eyes' of a mage and sees a more real world for the first time.

"At this time, the Spellcaster briefly enters a special state of 'Transcendence.'

"In this state, the spell models constructed in the Sea of Spirit before advancement will transform in some unknown, beneficial direction. This is the principle behind the formation of Initial Magic.

"As the Spellcaster's rank rises, the rank of their Initial Magic will rise as well, undergoing more unknown changes with every order.

"Due to talent limitations, an ordinary Spellcaster's mental power before entering the First Order is only enough to construct spells with the simplest structures.

"Furthermore, the limit for Initial Magic is two. Even if a genius can construct more than two spells before the First Order, only the first two spells constructed will undergo mutation.

"According to statistics from the Continental Magic Council, due to their relatively simple spell structures and their impressive power after mutation, Magic Missile and Fireball are the two universally recognized Initial Magic spells constructed by the greatest number of people."

After speaking such a long passage in one breath, Anvis drank the remaining fruit juice in his glass and placed the empty glass back onto the tray.

"I'm finished, Father."

Duke Carlot nodded in satisfaction, praising Anvis's knowledge. Elena likewise revealed a delighted smile.

Beside them, Fiona's clear, lake-blue eyes, like a mountain lake, had gone somewhat blank from listening.

She had read Basic Magic Theory too. It was filled with dense little words! There was not even a single illustration!

Her brother could actually memorize that thick, boring book! So amazing! "Then, have you chosen the Initial Magic you intend to construct?"

The duke nodded in satisfaction. There was now an additional trace of reassurance in his gaze toward Anvis.

"I have, Father. At present, I am preparing to—"

"Oh—Anvis, why can't you call me Daddy more affectionately, like you did when you were little? It isn't too late to use such formal forms of address after a few more years."

But just as he was about to state his choice, the duke suddenly interrupted him in a somewhat dissatisfied tone. The reason left Anvis both amused and helpless.

"My dear Carrot~, why couldn't you wait until our child had finished speaking before opening your mouth? Go on, my lovely Little Anvis. Mommy's listening."

The beautiful Duchess's eyes narrowed slightly when what she wanted to hear was suddenly interrupted, and she gave the Duke a "gentle" smile.

Then she turned back, her Amethyst Eyes gazing at Anvis with encouragement and affection.

The Duke shrank his neck and casually picked up his knife and fork, cutting apart the remaining meringue on his plate. Then he swallowed the dessert that Elena had frozen with a single glance, leaving it stiff and hard through and through.

Gulp—