Blind Guess

Ten minutes later, a "very simple" blue-black magic array appeared on Niedern's magic book.

Within the circle, dense lines and complex geometric patterns filled the space.

If one looked closely, they would find that every line was clean and powerful, every pattern brimming with magical charm, giving the entire Magic Array Diagram a wondrous beauty.

It was just a bit dizzying to look at.

Suye stared at Niedern, wondering if he had been joking earlier.

A Golden Mage, spending ten whole minutes drawing a magic array diagram, and calling it simple? "How long would you need for a Golden magic array?" Suye asked.

"If I'm lucky and don't fail once, two hours."

"And a Legendary magic diagram?"

"One month."

"Now I finally understand why art is a Major Course," Suye said.

"It's fine if you can't draw well. The first magic array diagram I successfully carved on a Magic Tree Leaf was crooked too. Later, through constant Meditation and practice, I trained it to this level. Here, let me show you my first magic array diagram—I've kept it to this day."

As Niedern spoke, another magic array diagram appeared on his magic book.

Suye froze for a moment. This diagram wasn't even close to a circle; it looked like a deformed potato, with lines and patterns that resembled a child's scribbles.

Seeing this diagram, Suye recalled his own first attempt at drawing a cube after learning sketching—clumsy, rough, but earnest.

"I see joy in this magic array diagram of yours," Suye said.

"I don't remember if I felt joy back then, but I do remember the feeling of Teacher Thucydides' spit splattering on my face," Niedern said.

"Your teacher isn't as good as mine," Suye said with a straight face.

A warmth flickered in Niedern's eyes, but he said, "Next time you see Teacher Thucydides, don't forget to say that."

Suye looked up at the sky and said nothing.

Thucydides was famously a Grumpy Old Man, completely unlike the gentle and refined Plato. Basically, whenever something happened at Plato Academy that required violence, Thucydides was the one to handle it, earning him the nickname the Executioner of Plato Academy.

For mages, it was better to offend Plato than to offend Thucydides.

"Give it a try. You don't need to finish it all at once. Take your time, just get it roughly right," Niedern said.

"Can I sketch a draft first?"

"No."

"Switch back to that earlier diagram," Suye said, carefully hiding a subtle hint of disdain.

Niedern silently waved his finger, and the perfect magic array diagram reappeared on the magic book page.

Suye placed his magic book on the magic carpet, alternating his gaze between Niedern's diagram and his own as he drew.

Suye drew slowly, but earnestly and excitedly.

It reminded him of his early days learning sketching, when his cube looked like it was built from a few chopsticks—thick and messy—but as long as he ignored the Details, everything was fine.

Niedern watched quietly.

A full half hour later, Suye withdrew his finger and let out a breath.

Suye's magic array diagram was far inferior to the one Niedern had just drawn, but it far surpassed Niedern's own diagram from back then.

"This is a level that even last year's art top student couldn't reach," Niedern said.

Suye replied calmly, "If you spent half a summer break practicing drawing on a beach by the sea, I believe you could reach my level too. Besides, I'm good at drawing lines."

When learning sketching, practicing line strokes was no easy task.

"I can see that your linework has deep foundations. In some details, you even surpass me," Niedern said, staring at Suye.

"Shame drives improvement. If you were called one of the Three Idiots every day, you'd work just as hard as I did," Suye said, still expressionless.

"Very well, I'll pretend to believe your nonsense."

"..."

"Still, there's a flaw in your lines—both the start and end strokes are too light. Pay attention to that next time."

"Yes." Suye thought to himself that this was a basic sketching technique, but when used for magic array diagrams, it became a flaw.

"Alright, now you can try carving the magic array diagram onto your Magic Power Tree," Niedern said.

Suye asked in surprise, "Right now?"

"If I don't let you taste failure now, how will I teach you later?" Niedern asked with a serious expression.

Suye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Though he hadn't even finished the second chapter of Basic Magic Study, he understood the fundamentals. To draw this diagram properly, even last year's art top student, Rolon, would need half a month of practice.

Just as Suye was about to enter the Magic Tower, he suddenly said, "Teacher, the Magic Tower in my eyes is just a blurry mist, hazy and indistinct. I can't even find the leaves on the Magic Power Tree. How am I supposed to carve onto it?"

"Guess blindly."

Suye paused for a moment, then asked, "What did you rely on for your first attempt?"

"Luck."

Suye fell silent.

"Teacher, I have a small suggestion—can we please teach properly?" Suye asked.

"That's exactly what Teacher Thucydides said back then. He said Master Plato taught the same way."

Suye vaguely understood—it wasn't that mages refused to teach well, but that the magic system was simply too vast. Everyone could only study a specific direction; no one could cover everything.

"A tradition of sloppiness passed down... But how do I record this Magic Array Diagram?"

"You're already a Magic Apprentice now. You can consume magic power to copy a Magic Array Diagram and bring it into the Magic Tower, but it only lasts at most one day."

"Then send me the diagram."

Niedern placed his finger on his own page and swiped his right hand. The Magic Array Diagram on his page vanished, but an identical one immediately appeared on Suye's page.

"The method is simple. Imagine the power of the Magic Power Tree flowing into your brain, then stare at this Magic Array Diagram. Once you feel magic power being consumed, it will be complete. This requires concentration; you might fail a few times."

Suye nodded. The image of the Magic Power Tree appeared in his mind, but before he could proceed further, he felt a Warm Current at his Eyebrow Center, and then it disappeared.

At the same time, a scene flashed through Suye's mind—a Magic Array Diagram was born out of thin air and settled into the Magic Tower.

"Hm, it worked." There was something new in Niedern's tone.

"I felt it. Thank you, Teacher."

Suye sat back down on the magic carpet and once again entered the Magic Tower through Meditation.

Spirit Body Suye stared at the Magic Tree Leaves, so clear that even the veins were visible, and sank into thought.

"Should I keep a low profile, or make a stunning debut?"

Countless images flashed through Suye's mind.

"Go all out! I have no time to waste. Besides, compared to those geniuses, compared to Aristotle and the others, I'm just ordinary." A boundless light burst from Suye's eyes, brilliant as a galaxy of stars.

Suye looked at the Magic Array Diagram floating on his Left Side and slowly began drawing on the Magic Tree Leaves with his will.

Suye hadn't expected that in the spiritual world, his drawing ability would increase tenfold. In terms of pure technique, he was no less skilled than Niedern.

Suye didn't grow arrogant because of this. Instead, he suppressed the restlessness in his heart, calmed down, and focused on the engraving.

Twenty minutes later, a Magic Array Diagram appeared on the Magic Tree Leaves.

Though this diagram still had flaws, it far surpassed Suye's first attempt and even reached eighty percent of Niedern's level.

Suye looked at the Magic Array Diagram on the Magic Tree Leaves, his heart filled with joy. "It's all thanks to the years of hard Meditation practice on Blue Star that my Magic Tower is so clear now."

Suye left the Magic Tower, a bright smile spreading across his face.

"Teacher, I've finished drawing."