Three Years of Spellcasting, Five Years of Simulation

Lux performed the funeral rites with meticulous care. Though somewhat absentminded, anyone who witnessed her would only assume it was due to grief and shock.

Meanwhile, Karya, who was in the process of binding this rechargeable battery, was diligently crafting a teaching plan. As he recalled the contents of basic magic education, he silently outlined a complete curriculum for Lux.

Seriously, they all say transmigrators get a system... Why is it that for me, the transmigrator became the system?

Although there was no direct infusion of Magic Power, Karya, in standby mode, lacked the five senses. However, this did not hinder his ability to think.

Karya's first step was to solidify Lux's foundation.

On this matter, Karya, a former president of the Royal University of Shurima, felt no pressure. While talent in Light Magic was indeed rare, as a first-generation Ascended, what hadn't Karya seen?

Had they heard of Nezuk?

He was Ixtal's Great Elementalist, the creator of the Monolith, and now the ancestor of the Kingdom of Ixtal!

Hadn't he graduated from Karya's tutelage?

Karya had personally awarded Nezuk his outstanding graduate medal!

Although Karya himself possessed little spellcasting talent and relied entirely on resources to get by, making him the top resource magnet in Shurima, so what?

With Karya's capabilities, teaching Lux... wasn't it a piece of cake?

In the time it took for a mere funeral, Karya had thought of over twenty essential books for Lux. Unfortunately, Lux wouldn't be able to find a single one of them.

In the current Runeterra, perhaps only Nasus, still wandering the deserts of Shurima, would know where these books could be found.

But it didn't matter if there were no books; Karya could recite them!

It was hard for ordinary people to imagine how bored an old man with average talent (or no talent at all) who ascended through merit and accumulated resources, living for over a thousand years, must be. Setaqa did not permit Ascended to engage in romantic relationships, and Shurima prohibited Ascended from participating in political struggles. Thus, the daily lives of most Ascended consisted of work, training, and pushing themselves to the absolute limit.

But the problem was, Karya couldn't train!

Karya had transmigrated in his original body. One couldn't expect the physical fitness and combat talent of an ordinary person from Earth to compare with those from Runeterra!

Could you imagine? After Aatrox became an Ascended, he was immediately far stronger than Karya, who had been ascended for over five hundred years!

In such a situation, to maintain his dignity as a senior and to enhance Shurima's national strength, Karya chose to develop in the direction of profound knowledge—in simple terms, becoming a "keyboard warrior" with extensive theoretical knowledge.

After all, Karya's memory became exceptionally good after ascending.

In the beginning, Karya simply enjoyed reading.

Then, as he read, he memorized.

Later, as he memorized, he found that reciting books was also boring. It was more interesting to record others' stories.

Thus, Karya meticulously remembered the embarrassing past of every Ascended: wetting the bed as a child, being weaned late, first loves and heartbreaks...

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to pry into such miscellaneous gossip, but Karya knew it all like the back of his hand. Coupled with his position managing the Shuriman University, it could be said that all Ascended trembled and wanted to flee upon seeing him.

Setaqa was respected.

Karya, on the other hand, inspired fear.

If Karya's consciousness hadn't gradually lost its sanity due to Void corruption later on, the Darkin War would never have escalated. If these brats dared to cause trouble, Karya would expose their embarrassing past to everyone.

What if, you ask, some Darkin decided to make a move against Karya?

Heh.

Although Karya wasn't strong, he was definitely good at surviving. This was because Karya's Ascended form was an eagle.

That's right, Karya could fly. Even after becoming a Darkin, he could still soar through the skies. Although his combat power was trash, it was impossible for other Darkin to attack him.

(Eagles living in the desert... are naturally called "Sai-peng," as "Sai" means desert in Shuriman. The last Ascended who, after drinking, suggested Karya's Ascended form should be called "Sand Eagle" was Kalibakan. The day after that banquet, the entire city of Shurima knew about Kalibakan's childhood crush on his buxom governess. Poor Kalibakan then voluntarily applied to guard Zaun for a hundred years, enduring until everyone who knew the news had died before returning to Shurima.)

(Incidentally, the traitor who snitched was Rhaast. During those hundred years, he took over Kalibakan's lucrative position in Shurima. The official explanation was "selection of the worthy and appointing the able, unrelated to other factors." Regardless, "Sand Eagle" became a forbidden word among the Ascended. Even Aatrox, known for his foul mouth and fiery temper, dared not utter the word.)

In conclusion, Karya was not a talent-driven individual, but he had tutored many talented individuals. He was full of confidence when it came to teaching Lux.

The materials for solidifying the foundation could be taught through rote memorization. He would lecture, and Lux would take notes. Once the lecture was over, the notes would be complete, and soon Lux would possess an incredibly thorough theoretical foundation.

After laying a solid foundation, the second step should be physical training.

Yes, not casting spells, but physical training.

Karya knew very well that, at least before transcending the mortal realm, a spellcaster's Magic Power was almost directly proportional to their physical fitness. Strong physical fitness could increase the Magic Power cap and allow spellcasters to train without restraint, preventing them from accidentally injuring themselves.

Furthermore, spells could be considered an extension of a spellcaster's body. Those who could control their bodies well had a unique advantage when casting spells, an advantage that was particularly evident during adolescence.

Therefore, before Lux reached adulthood, she had to maintain her training. The goal wasn't for her to become a master swordswoman, but at least to have a healthy body.

While Karya's martial arts skills couldn't compare to a weapon master, as a "keyboard warrior"...

Karya was intimately familiar with the various sword styles of Shurima. Teaching Lux swordsmanship would not only reduce her resistance towards him but also grant her higher status and greater freedom of action in Demacia, achieving two goals with one action.

In the third step, Lux could begin using spells. At this stage, the memorized theoretical knowledge and abundant Magic Power would combine, allowing her to quickly cross the threshold of transcendence. At this stage, in ancient Shurima, she would already possess the qualifications to become an Ascended.

Runeterra has never had clear hierarchical divisions. The Summoner's Rift can be leveled up, but Runeterra cannot. However, a general, albeit vague, classification of mortals, heroes, transcendent beings, demigods, and gods can still be made.

Mortals are ordinary people who have not undergone special training and possess average talent. Those with average talent who undergo normal training often cannot exceed this category.

Heroes are individuals with exceptional talent who surpass ordinary people. They are either innately gifted or have achieved mastery through diligent practice, but they are still in the stage of understanding and applying techniques.

Transcendence signifies breaking free from mortal fetters and glimpsing the true laws of Runeterra, though it is merely a glimpse.

As for demigods and gods, their existence is intertwined with faith, making them difficult to discuss here.

Lux's talent and Karya's teachings would allow her to cross the threshold of transcendence within ten years, an astonishingly fast pace.

As for the fourth step...

Karya planned to use Lux as a starting point to lay the groundwork in this era. He would impart his own thoughts to her, enabling her to become his proxy. Later, whether it was dealing with the bothersome Spirits or confronting the stirring Void, a greater, more united force would be needed.

Of course, that was something for the distant future.

For now, Karya's only task was to lay the foundation for Lux—and for a child, the best way to build a foundation was through rote education.

While understanding the "how" and the "why" was ideal, unfortunately, many "whys" were beyond a child's comprehension. To give Lux an incredibly solid foundation for spellcasting, Karya decided to give her a special training program called [Three Years of Spellcasting, Five Years of Simulation]!

He hoped Miss Lux would achieve great success!

Just as Karya had preliminarily planned his teaching syllabus, Lux's uncle's funeral on the other side finally concluded.

As the guests departed, Lux finally grasped her sword hilt again.

"Mr. Karya," Lux said, watching the coffin being closed, suddenly realizing a serious problem. Her voice was urgent. "You said Uncle's soul was dragged into the Shadow Realm, but what about his body? I got his soul back, but if his body decays, will it be unsalvageable?"

"Very good, little girl. You haven't let grief completely cloud your mind," Karya replied with satisfaction. "His body is unharmed, but it's true that a body rapidly decays after losing its soul. To prevent this, you need to prepare a preservation array for him."

"I don't know how?" Lux asked, a little lost. She could barely understand what preservation meant, let alone an array. "How do I do it?"

"Do you have a custom where family members give something precious to the deceased to be buried with them?" Karya had already prepared a plan. "We can prepare a doll or something similar. If it's placed in his arms, his body will absolutely not decay for at least ten years."

"That should be possible..." Lux thought for a moment and gave a positive answer. "Uncle wasn't married, and I don't have an aunt, so my brother and I should be able to place something commemorative in his coffin."

"Then it's settled," Karya said with certainty. "Prepare it tonight and work through the night. You just need to prepare a doll according to my method."

"A doll?" Lux blinked. "I have one in my bedroom. It was a gift from Uncle..."

"With a little modification, it'll be perfect!"

Tomorrow was the burial ceremony. Lux would have a tough night ahead.

For ordinary people, preserving a corpse was no simple feat, but for Karya, it was practically effortless.

A mere bit of Darkin flesh and blood would be enough to keep Lux's uncle preserved for ten years.

As for what would happen after ten years...

If Lux's talent wasn't enough to reach the point where she could freely enter and exit the Shadow Realm in ten years, then Karya, as her mentor and system, might as well end it all!

Returning to her bedroom, Lux immediately found her doll—it was a lifelike Poro with a pink heart on its belly. The doll was sewn from soft plush fabric, filled with Dragonbird feathers, making it soft and warm to the touch, and delightfully springy when hugged.

It was a gift from her uncle on Lux's fifth birthday. Back then, he had promised Lux that when she turned fifteen, he would take her to hug a real Dragonbird.

"If you can master the Crown Guard's swordsmanship by then, I'll give you a Dragonbird egg."

Looking at the Poro doll sticking its tongue out on her bedside table, Lux's eyes welled up with tears again.

Even though Karya said her uncle wasn't dead, Lux was still incredibly sad. For a nine-year-old little girl, ten years was an eternity.

Pursing her lips, the little girl picked up the doll and then grasped her sword hilt once more.

"Is this the doll? Good, it's the right size—now, find any small knife or scissors and scrape off some Void Chitin from the Staff of the Void."

"You mean, from your body?" Lux was stunned. "From your body?"

"...Otherwise, what material does Demacia have that can support a preservation array?" Karya calmly retorted. "Hurry, you'd best finish this before someone urges you to go to bed."

"But, Mr. Karya, won't it hurt?" Lux asked timidly. "It must hurt a lot to get scraped, right?"

"Your focus is a bit strange, little girl," Karya said, as if scolding, but his tone was somewhat cheerful. "But rest assured, it won't hurt me—if I had to compare, Void Chitin is like your hair to you. Scraping a little won't hurt."

"Oh."

Since Karya didn't seem inclined to elaborate, Lux politely didn't press further. She quickly jumped off the bed, put on her slippers, and tiptoed away, soon finding a pair of scissors.

Then, following Karya's instructions, she easily cut off a small piece of Void Chitin.

"Mr. Karya, are you that soft?" Lux asked, looking at the Void Chitin in her palm, very confused. "But I don't feel that way..."

"I can control it myself," Karya answered quickly without impatience to Lux's question. "Alright, now, follow my instructions and sew the Void Chitin into the doll..."

One couldn't expect much from a nine-year-old girl's handiwork, but fortunately, the preservation array created this way only needed to function based on the properties of the Void Chitin itself. Before bedtime, Lux successfully completed the task.

Then, just as she was about to turn off the lights, her mother, Ogesha, knocked on the door.

"Lux, are you asleep?"

"Not yet!" Lux instinctively clutched the doll she had just sewn, suddenly feeling a little nervous. "Is something wrong?"

"Of course, I came to see my little princess," Ogesha replied in a voice that was tired yet still gentle. "Today... you worked hard, my dear."

Under Karya's reassurance, Lux relaxed a little. She let go of the Poro doll, put on her slippers again, and opened her door.

"Mom," Lux threw herself into her mother's arms. "You worked hard too!"

"..."

Feeling her "little padded jacket's" concern, Ogesha's fatigue seemed to lessen considerably. Even for the matriarch of the Crown Guard, who had seen her share of storms, everything she had experienced today had been too tumultuous.

First, her youngest daughter exhibiting magic that morning, then the grim news of losing a vital pillar of the family. Upon hearing the news, that rascal Garen clamored to join the army and even attempted to run away from home...

The string of troubles left Ogesha physically and mentally exhausted, but even so, she still made time to check on her youngest daughter and see how she was doing.

She had expected to spend a lot of effort calming herself down, but in the end, she was the one who was healed by Lux.

"It seems Tiana's method really works." Confirming that Lux's hands had stopped glowing and stroking the soft, golden long hair of the sweet little padded jacket in her arms, the weary Ogesha finally felt a little comfort. "Daughters are the best. Unlike that little scoundrel Garen, who wanted to leave without saying goodbye—it's just that he's late today, tomorrow he'll be clamoring to join the army. I have to beat him up. Is this the time to join the army!"

Lux clearly didn't know that her mother, smiling at that moment, was already thinking about what handy item she would use to beat her brother tomorrow.

The little girl had also experienced a series of ups and downs today, and she had her own little secret, so she felt a little uneasy in her heart.

The mother and daughter embraced in silence, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

A moment later, Lux pulled her little head out of her mother's embrace and then pointed to the Poro doll on the bedside table.

"Mom, can I give it to Uncle tomorrow?"

Ogesha glanced at the doll and then nodded, "Okay!"