Arcane Mage

Fran was certain that the [Steam Concerto] spell wasn't already on her Panel when she successfully channeled it.

She knew she had created this First Order spell, but the problem was that she had already created a First Order spell, [Hydraulic Power], before this.

However, she remembered that when she actually applied the hydraulic structure to spells, the Arcane Mage Profession not listed on the Panel.

"It's because the standards for creating spells are different."

After some thought, Fran understood why all of this had happened.

Or rather, she finally understood what the definition of Arcane Mage truly meant.

She had seen the requirements for this Profession a long time ago, but due to being busy and other issues, she had never been very interested in Profession.

This is why she has only now successfully met the conditions for becoming Arcane Mage.

The reason she didn't get the Profession despite creating [Hydraulic Power] is that she didn't fundamentally change the nature of magic.

To be precise, according to the definition of Arcane Mage, she did not actually create a spell.

The spell structure of [Hydraulic Power] is that she borrowed the structure of the spell [Tool Enchantment], converting all the parts related to instrument resonance into the physical structure she created.

After a few adjustments, Fran created the spell without much effort, but the problem is that her actions might not be considered strictly creating a spell.

"I didn't design a specific spell structure for [Hydraulic Power], but simply applied this spell, achieving about 70% of the effect."

This was actually foreshadowed when Fran designed it. She created it directly without spending much time because she felt that applying this spell structure would be more effortless.

Fran felt that about 70% of the effect was already good enough; if she were to start designing the remaining 30% from scratch now, it would be difficult for it to even appear on the Panel.

"The direct application approach has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is speed; I can easily apply a bunch of spells. However, this obviously cannot trigger the Arcane Mage's bonus."

Fran moved her gaze to the attribute panel, where her Mental Power remained at 43.5, and her physical constitution had not changed at all.

"Is a one-and-a-half-star Profession no longer able to improve my current Mental Power?"

Fran clicked her tongue in amazement; she hadn't expected such a change at all, but thinking about it, it made sense.

According to the mages' theories, after advancing in Order, one belongs to a new level of life.

After reaching the Formal Rank, Fran never encountered a half-star Profession, which is not Formal Rank, so she had never encountered such a situation before.

Looking back now, it's normal that if you get a low-level Profession, it won't affect higher-level jobs.

"But it doesn't matter, since even if it improves, it probably won't improve by even a little bit. Having one trait is enough..."

Fran then looked at the trait column. Based on her experience, generally, once you acquire a Profession, regardless of the Profession, you will gain at least one trait.

There have been no exceptions before, and the same is true now.

Fran scrolled through the trait section and then saw something new.

[Arcane Familiar (You are more familiar with the spells that haunt a mage's inspiration, which will give you greater enthusiasm and inspiration for such spells.)]

Fran blinked, thought for a moment, and guessed.

"It probably improved my ability to create spells..."

Fran's thoughts drifted to the newly acquired spell [Steam Concerto], its specific structure floating in her mind.

After she became completely absorbed in the spell, a strange feeling welled up inside her, her heart raced, and she became so engrossed in a small corner of the magic that she lost herself in it.

"This is incorrect; it can be omitted, and another nearby line can be used to connect it... The same applies here."

She began to modify the spell in her mind using her Mental Power. In the past, she would stare at the spell for a long time without any ideas, but now she felt that there were countless thoughts in her mind, and she understood some of the mysteries of many spells that had been tested for thousands of years.

When she came to her senses, she found herself in complete darkness. She turned on the light and looked out of the house.

The lights outside had long been turned off, and it must have been nighttime by then. Fran realized that so much time had passed.

She shook her head, held her wrist horizontally, and looked at the watch she had made.

"Three hours." That was the time she had just spent thinking.

"This trait is probably the strongest one I've ever acquired."

After carefully reflecting on the feeling she had just experienced, Fran was somewhat surprised to discover this.

She wasn't just imagining things; she genuinely believed that this trait was the strongest one she had acquired.

If she didn't have the Panel, just this trait that enhances her creativity would probably be enough for her to reach the Fifth Order, it would just take a bit longer.

This creative advantage is unmatched by any other trait. She used to think that with her knowledge from her past life, she could rely on creating magic to have a smooth journey.

However, after actually practicing creation magic, she was shocked to realize that the knowledge from her previous life only provided her with a large resource library. To fully transform this knowledge into her power, she still had to continue to work hard to change the structure.

The ability to convert a portion of the mental attribute into physical constitution, as granted by [Mental Power], is incomparable!

The [Blurry Shell] ability provides a significant boost to all attributes and allows external organs to integrate into the body, making it far superior to the best traits of the Transmutation School!

The [Light in Blood] ability, granted by the Proxy of Lord of Radiance, allows her to heal on a large scale, which is far superior to anything else!

With this powerful boost to her creativity, there's so much she can do.

She glanced at the still-running Steam Engine on the table, but her mind was completely blank.

"It seems that my trait only enhances spells that can be considered creations... and these machines certainly don't count."

"Although it's a bit of a regret, with my own learning and supplementation, my development in the field of machinery won't be slow..."

Fran looked at her palm and smiled. She was quite satisfied with this trait, even if it couldn't be applied to the mechanical aspects that were currently giving her a headache.

"Not bad. Once Antir is somewhat better developed, it will greatly help me to conduct new magical research."

"Only..."

Fran seemed to have thought of something, and the smile on her face faded. She needed to consider something else now.

That is the food problem.

The food in the mine is now supplied by the man who transports the Ore. He brings the food from the city and then takes the Ore away; this has been the routine until now.

Fran could not continue down this path, because she had no intention of supplying the lord of the River Valley Territory, even though they could conceal it for a while through various means, Fran did not want to do so.

In her view, this matter could not be kept secret at all; she had to build a railway and spend several days at the designated location constructing a large-scale Ore -calcining facility.

Furthermore, the mines that had to work at night to increase production couldn't be kept secret. Some Adventurer might have passed by, witnessed the scene, and informed the lord of the River Valley Territory.

Moreover, Fran had no need to hide it. Only after the lord sent several groups of people and found that none of them returned would he truly realize that this region had effectively slipped out of his control.

By then, the lord might come in person, and Fran would have already spent some time developing the situation before dealing with him.

Although her Sect couldn't extend her influence throughout Antir at that time, they were more than capable of controlling a small River Valley Territory.

Therefore, Fran had no intention of disguising herself to slow down her own development.

This leads to another problem: the issue of food. After the man who came to deliver the food was caught, no one would deliver food anymore.

This is where Fran needs to solve this problem.

This problem is simple in a way; ultimately, her current team is very strong, and it would be easy for them to raid a farm for some grain.

However, Fran still didn't want to use this method, not because she felt there were any hidden dangers or additional costs involved.

She felt it unnecessary to resort to such a brutal method; she had many other ways to obtain enough food.

"We can go back to White Flower City now and ask Finley for some food. He should still have some in his storeroom; feeding a few more people shouldn't be a problem."

Even without this incident, Fran planned to return to White Flower City, because she still needed to bring the hundred young men Finley had given her to work there.

In order to develop a complete territory, she needs to prepare some supplies in advance.

She also needed to find out the details of the missionary work within the city and its current state.

"I've been really busy, but once this busy period is over..."

"Forehead..."

Fran tried to comfort herself, thinking that things would be easier once this busy period was over, but she soon realized that after finishing developing her territory, she would still have a lot of things to do.

The apprentices who came from the City of Apprentices need her guidance. Only after she gives them careful instruction can they help her with the work. Moreover, she must arrange their work herself, as the others who are barely literate simply do not have this ability.

After the conflict with the River Valley Territory, Fran also had to deal with Duke Theodore's affairs first.

She needed to ensure that the enemy's counterattack wouldn't slow down her own development, but also not overexert herself and cause Duke Theodore to collapse, leaving Antir in a state of division and fragmentation.

"There's so much to do, but things should get a bit easier after we get to the Floating City."

Fran made this excuse for herself.