Spell Slots

"Mastering both magic and martial arts" was a joke in Nether. Human lifespans limited the possibilities for diversified development. Even Elves, famed for their longevity, rarely reached the pinnacle in two different fields!

Specializing in one field and becoming outstanding was already remarkably difficult. But Borne knew that lifespan would not be a problem for future Arcanists. Any great Arcanist without two or three hundred years of life was considered young.

But that depended on Borne surviving until then. As for ways to live that long now, one was to become a Lich through reincarnation once one's lifespan ran out; the other was to change professions and become a Druid.

Borne had no love for the former, even as a necromancer. As for becoming a Druid, Druids were currently the exclusive domain of Elves. It was far too difficult for a human to become one. Ioulaum House did indeed possess a branch inheritance for it, but the price of inheriting it was too high, and the ensuing troubles were endless. Moreover, Druids would undergo a series of schisms afterward. In the long run, it simply was not worth it.

[Monk] was an excellent choice, but there was no inheritance, only a half-baked Breathing Technique. Still, that did not stop Borne from making his choice. He was young now and had plenty of time to search for an inheritance.

The count's [Longevity] Ioun Stone could not be replicated. It depended too heavily on materials and luck, so Borne dismissed it without a second thought.

So Borne asked the old butler, Walker, to let him practice swordsmanship. The latter was greatly surprised upon hearing this.

The learning schedule arranged for Borne each day already pushed him to the limits of his mental power. And now he wanted to study martial skills too? Was he trying to get himself killed?

Although a fixed magic circle had been set up in the study to help him concentrate and focus his mental power, the magic circle was only an aid. Borne still had to understand and absorb the knowledge himself.

Before becoming high-level mages, spellcasters were actually rather fragile. Some deliberately trained defensive techniques, while others recruited followers.

And Ioulaum House's tradition was to have retainers as close as brothers, supporting one another through the generations and walking side by side.

Since Borne had chosen the path of a spellcaster, then his guardian, Cecily—the daughter of Uncle John, the captain of the knights—would naturally follow the path of a guardian knight!

Borne did not need to practice martial skills at all. It would distract him, and his talent was not particularly good. Although Arcanists relied on knowledge and wisdom, better talent naturally let one go farther. He had not even learned to walk and already wanted to run. The count refused without hesitation.

Borne did not give up after being refused. That very night, he waited outside the count's door.

The two had a "heart-to-heart talk." During that hour, no one knew what exactly they discussed.

But the next day, the count brought in an instructor from the academy. He was a swordsmanship master at the school, responsible for teaching Borne tactics after he completed his daily lessons!

The instructor was somewhat reluctant to teach tactics to a little brat. He did not think a child that young could persevere. Unfortunately, the vice dean's offer was simply too generous, so he could only "shamelessly" accept.

Still, most people did not think highly of Borne's training. Many were betting on whether he could last until the third day.

Yet, to everyone's surprise, Borne truly persevered. Even the instructor was stunned. His teaching went from somewhat perfunctory, to serious, to fully invested. Even the servants in the manor began looking at Borne differently.

But Borne noticed none of these changes. The dual "torment" of mind and body left him asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. His Breathing Technique ran constantly as well. What kept him going was the growth of his qi. Though it was only a tiny amount, and he would not have sensed it without his powerful mental strength, it at least proved he was on the right track!

Finally, during a spar with the instructor one day, Borne felt as if his qi had filled to overflowing. His whole being instantly "ascended"!

The instructor sparring with him was completely dumbfounded. Looking at Borne, who stood motionless in the middle of a breakthrough, the instructor's mouth twitched. It felt as if ten thousand grass-mud horses were stampeding through his heart.

Wasn't this kid a spellcaster...

How had he condensed a Seed of Power just by training...

The Seed of Power, also known as the Seed of Life, was the hallmark of a warrior condensing a Seed of Life and advancing into a professional.

There were mages who took up martial professions part-time, but that was only after they advanced to higher levels, to improve their mobility and survivability.

But he had never heard of a martial professional becoming a mage afterward.

If he remembered correctly, this kid was the vice dean's only grandson, right? There was no mistaking the mana of a magic apprentice on him. But how had he condensed a Seed of Power just from training...

Since when had his teaching ability become so outstanding? Elsewhere, this would have been a glorious achievement on his record. But since it happened to the vice dean's grandson, it was anything but good news.

The vice dean was a high-level Arcanist, and Borne had spellcasting talent. Yet he had forcibly trained him into a martial professional. The instructor felt that his future had gone completely dark.

The instructor raised his hand and looked at the boy before him. This kid had only just condensed a Seed of Power, and the "seed" was not yet stable. Should he take advantage of the fact that it had not completely stabilized and disperse it, correcting this "mistake"?

But a failed advancement would greatly damage the body. Still, if he did not "correct" the mistake in time, the child would be ruined afterward. Just as the instructor was torn by indecision, a chill ran down his back during Borne's breakthrough...

"So powerful..."

The aura came quickly and vanished just as quickly, snapping the instructor back to reality.

The instructor turned to the old butler. "Mr. Reyes, let's stop here for today. The young master may be feeling unwell." The old butler smiled and signaled for the surrounding servants to leave. Then he said softly, "You needn't worry too much. This is not your fault... I also hope you will honor our agreement..."

"Mm... Mm? All right... I understand."

Instructor Reyes quickly replied, then left with the others. As he passed through the doorway, he cast a fearful sidelong glance toward the old butler.

"That aura..." Reyes swallowed. "Is this the foundation of nobility...?"

Borne knew nothing of the changes around him. He was wholly immersed in the "power" he had just gained. He felt qi surging through his entire body, giving him the sensation that some divine martial art had only just reached its initial completion.

He did not know what internal energy in martial arts novels was actually like, but this feeling of qi was at least eighty percent similar to its descriptions in those novels.

Previously, the qi produced by the Breathing Technique could only move through his body along a fixed route. Now, he could finally guide it with his thoughts. It was just not obedient enough yet. He would probably need practice before he could properly "tame" it.

It had truly been luck that he managed to control qi this time. He had simply stumbled upon it by blind chance.

With the inheritance severed and no information available on how to master the power of qi, Borne could only explore on his own. Ioulaum House had no relevant records either. Perhaps other Houses did, but he could not even get a word in with them right now.

The only useful information was limited to the description of "qi" in his memories.

"Only continuous, brutal training can grant mastery over the power of qi!"

What kind of training counted as "brutal"?

After many attempts, Borne discovered that this was just "self-torture"...

Damn it...

First came the mental strain. When that was not enough, he found an instructor to train him too, subjecting both mind and body to "torment." He had not expected it to actually work.

Borne could not help grumbling inwardly, "What kind of idiotic cultivation method is this? Are all those Monks freaks and masochists..."

After the torment of both mind and body, Borne could not believe he had actually endured it.

"Looks like there's something wrong with my head too..."

A powerful current of heat flowed through his body. For the first time, Borne felt the world with startling clarity, as if he had been reborn!

World Favorability +1?

"Did I advance as a Monk?"

"What was a Monk's first skill again?"

Borne was a little dazed...

Monks actually possessed many miraculous abilities, which existed in tabletop games or video games in the form of skills.

But the real world did not work by clicking a button to activate them. A Monk's "skills" were more like abilities developed when the body was pushed to its limits. Like Buddhism and Daoism, they were abilities and divine powers the body naturally gained upon reaching a certain realm of cultivation!

Still Mind and transcendence were not things that suddenly appeared only after one cultivated to that stage. They existed from the beginning, merely less noticeably. Once one's level and energy reached the threshold, their power would immediately reveal itself.

Borne's Breathing Technique had nearly fused with instinct. Even while meditating, his body continued it slowly on its own.

With this advancement, he discovered that the qi within his body had changed.

Not only had his qi grown stronger, it seemed to have become "alive." It was a wondrous feeling. Borne had the sense that this qi had gained consciousness!

But for now, his control over "it" was limited to making it "circulate" through his body to temper it.

The advancement of the Breathing Technique even accelerated the recovery of his stamina, and his energy improved as well.

As qi circulated through his body, Borne could clearly feel tiny hidden injuries slowly healing on their own.

"Looks like my judgment was completely correct..."

Borne's advancement did not cause much of a stir in the manor. It could even be said that no one cared at all. The next day, classes continued as usual, and Instructor Reyes continued his normal training.

Borne did not think anything was wrong either. The only change was that the pace of his lessons became much faster, while Instructor Reyes grew more "meticulous." But he still got beaten up when he was supposed to get beaten up. This was not a novel where the protagonist broke through and immediately slaughtered everyone in sight. Borne had only just "broken through," and he was still young. In strength and skill, he was several streets behind the instructor. Fortunately, after his Breathing Technique "broke through," both his stamina and energy recovered astonishingly fast. Monks seemed "naturally" suited to this kind of abuse. Borne quickly adapted to his nearly packed schedule.

And this continued for a full two years!

There were no rest days, no holidays, and even sleep was a luxury. Borne directly replaced sleep with meditation, used the Breathing Technique to restore his stamina, and spent all remaining time studying and training.

That year, Borne was seven years old. Long-term training had long since rid his body of its former sickly state. He had become sturdy and strong, his physical development even far surpassing that of children his age. His strength could rival that of an ordinary warrior.

Borne needed four meals a day. He consumed all kinds of expensive meat and vegetables. Not only did he need enormous amounts of nutrition, but every so often, the count also had him take potions to ensure that the intense studying and training would not damage his foundation!

Ioulaum House Manor.

Third-floor study.

This was Borne's private study. The spacious room had long been filled with books and notes. Apart from a bed, there was only a writing desk cluttered with homemade rulers, compasses, and other tools.

Borne was intently planning an operation on a square meter-wide sheet of parchment, occasionally flipping the drawing from left to right to make revisions. What was drawn on the parchment was clearly a magic circle composed of geometric patterns!

After Elwood, the count invited different spellcasters to teach Borne at intervals. Their fields of study all differed, and there were even witches and priests among them!

Witches were humanity's earliest spellcasters. Rather than true spellcasters, they relied more on the characteristics of plants and animals to perform extraordinary feats. Priests were even more remarkable. Nine out of every ten sentences they spoke praised the might of their gods, and they never forgot to constantly sell Borne on how wise and mighty their own deity was.

They reminded Borne of fans from his previous life, the brainless-fan variety!

Strange as they were, the various magical theories they offered greatly broadened Borne's horizons. Many of their theories even contradicted and attacked one another.

But Borne discovered that they shared one common trait: every one of them possessed unique insights in a particular field. Although many of their ideas seemed absurd, laughable, or even somewhat anti-human to outsiders, Borne saw them as pioneers!

They were like scientists exploring the world in an age of feudal superstition. They might take wrong turns or detours, but their spirit was worth learning from.

As Borne drew faster and faster, his eyes grew brighter. Even the light of the oil lamp could not conceal the glow in his gaze. It was light from his boiling mental power, shining through his eyes!

When some spellcasters cast powerful magic, their eyes would often shine as well.

As the pattern became more and more complete, Borne felt himself drawing closer to the Weave. When the final line connected beneath his pen, the parchment radiated a mysterious glow and slowly rose from the desk. Borne's mana and mental power completely "boiled" over.

Strangely, he was exceptionally "calm" at that moment. His consciousness felt as though it were being pulled somewhere, and the sensation was extraordinarily familiar.

"The Weave?"

Following that pull, Borne entered the Weave once more. At the same time, the parchment spontaneously ignited with magical flames, leaving not even a trace of ash behind.

Borne's consciousness was drawn into the Weave. Above the "world," a strange magic circle began taking shape. It was the magic Borne had designed using geometric patterns. Once the pattern was fully formed, it rapidly shrank into a point and merged into the "seed" of the Weave. Only then did Borne discover that the Weave was composed of "countless" spells!

Then Borne was "kicked" back out. In truth, only a few seconds had passed from the moment he entered the Weave to the moment he emerged. As his consciousness returned to his body, Borne immediately sensed that something was wrong. His previously overflowing mental power seemed to have been transferred into a larger container, rising by another huge amount.

His mana had done the same. It had directly doubled and even "evolved"!

Yes! Evolved. Borne could find no other word for it. It was a qualitative improvement, and the process would continue for some time.

While Borne was immersed in the changes to his body, the count had already appeared beside him. The moment Borne triggered the Weave, the count had sensed it. Looking at Borne, who had advanced into a spellcaster, the count could not contain his joy.

He immediately set up a barrier and summoned a guard. "Stand at the door. Do not allow anyone to approach!"

When Borne came back to his senses, he immediately noticed the barrier around him.

"Grandfather came... Of course..." Borne was no longer a complete novice. The Weave was the origin of the world. Creating a new spell would inevitably trigger the Weave and naturally alert his grandfather.

Borne then raised his right hand. A sphere of light appeared in his palm, illuminating the entire study and completely overpowering the oil lamp's glow. This was also his first spell.

[Light Orb]!

That was right!

As its name implied, this spell worked like an electric lamp. It had no offensive or defensive power and was simply used for illumination.

The spell was not powerful. It could even be called "useless," but what it represented was different, because this was an "initial spell." In Nether, it had another name—arcane magic!

And Borne, who had advanced into a spellcaster through an initial spell, could officially be called an Arcanist!

That was why the count was so excited.

"So this is an Arcanist?"

"My mana doubled the moment I advanced, and it's still growing. Is this why Arcanists are so powerful? No... That's not right!"

As Light Orbs continued flying from Borne's hand, more than ten spheres revolved around him, their blazing radiance filling the entire study.

"This... So that's how it is... No wonder Arcanists are so powerful. Hm? This feeling is..."

At that moment, the familiar sensation returned once more.

World Favorability +1!

Borne felt as if something had been lifted from his body, leaving him much lighter. At the same time, he received feedback from the Weave.

Four level 0 cantrips and two level 1 spells!

These were Spell Slots!

Of course, that did not mean one was limited to only this amount. Rather than Spell Slots, they were more like a kind of "currency"!

A universal equivalent—currency—granted daily by the Weave to spellcasters!

For ordinary spellcasters, one unit of currency, or one Spell Slot, was exchanged with the Weave for one spell. This was the path most spellcasters followed. Priests, meanwhile, could obtain more currency—more Spell Slots—from the "alms" of their gods.

The whole process was essentially a disguised "transaction," while Arcanists were masters of "transactions." A single copper coin could be split into several portions and spent multiple times. Just like the dozens of Light Orbs revolving around Borne now, they had consumed less than half a Spell Slot!

When Borne stepped out of the room, the old butler Walker was already waiting outside.

"Young master, the banquet is ready. We are only waiting for you!"

When Borne arrived in the hall, it had already been transformed into a banquet venue. It bustled with voices and people coming and going. The moment Borne entered, he drew everyone's attention. No one knew who started clapping first, but soon the entire hall rang with enthusiastic applause.

The count, standing in the distance, allowed the corners of his mouth to rise slightly when he saw Borne. The people beside him revealed looks of amazement as well—envy, disbelief, jealousy, and more.

Afterward, people continuously came over to introduce themselves and offer toasts. Though Borne did not know what was going on at first, he quickly found his footing. His conduct toward others was flawless, even better than that of most people present, perfectly displaying the upbringing of a top noble House.

And from their words, Borne understood that this was a banquet celebrating his advancement.

Borne naturally did not think he could hide his advancement as an Arcanist from his grandfather, but he had not expected the count to place such importance on it. It seemed he had underestimated the status of Arcanists in Nether.

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