What was a spell? What was a Wizard? To Ruger, Wizards-or at least some of them-were explorers of higher forms of life. These were the idle thoughts that often occupied him as he lay sprawled over the counter while minding the shop in Burning Blood City. Some Wizards gradually became strange, or specialized too heavily in a particular spell, and their forms of life changed accordingly. Seen from another angle, they were practically no different from bloodline Wizards. The path and the person adapted to each other, or perhaps became each other's paths, advancing together toward a higher form of life. He believed that Wizards at a certain stage, at least, ought to be like this. As for what Wizards at greater heights pursued, it was just as old Lunse had said: when somewhere was too high, even the sights glimpsed by looking up were nothing but unfounded speculation.
Transformation was happening every moment.
Ruger stretched his body with a broad smile and brought his fists down without restraint. He had discovered that his opponent was far weaker than he was. His dragonborn kobold body, baptized in the blood of an aberrant dragon and bolstered by two strength-related spells, one strong and one weak, let him expend his strength freely. The reason he could act so fearlessly was the Miserly Spell he had just cast. The chances of his opponent injuring him within these two breaths were extremely low, making it worth seizing the opportunity to go all out.
At the same time, his next spell was quietly being imbued with power. Ruger changed his fist into extended fingers, the radiance of Lesser Sharpness flickering at their tips. Foul-Smelling Skin remained ready to activate at any moment, demonstrating the convenience of permanently embedded spells.
The demon Wizard Apprentice retreated steadily,