All spell models were alive, and they even breathed. Ruger did not know how many people would agree with that view. He only knew he could not be the only one who had felt this way and reached this conclusion. At the same time, in the world of wizards, any view-even one widely accepted and endorsed by the Supreme Council-would inevitably have opponents who held a different opinion.
Throughout wizard history, even basic, long-established matters of common knowledge had been met with skepticism by some wizards. These were usually higher-level wizards; low-rank wizards, by contrast, had neither the time nor the inclination to study and question things so elementary.
They were more occupied with advancing and pursuing their own paths.
Much like peak level-five apprentices, some old wizards would inevitably slow their progress at a certain stage, leaving them more time to attend to things beyond themselves. During such periods, they could generally take stock of themselves, then do things that interested them. It was usually these wizards, after putting their affairs in order and looking beyond themselves, who explored matters low-rank wizards rarely noticed. They might even find a miracle of their own, or make a discovery that overturned the very foundations of the wizard world.
Ruger believed wizards were precisely this sort of people: they might spend decades or even centuries constantly busy, then become utterly idle.
Ruger also wanted his own time of leisure to arrive, when he could sleep in without a care, scratch his fur, roll over, and go back to sleep. Even his stone bed would do.
He had missed out on a long vacation during his time as a peak level-five apprentice. The allure of becoming a Formal Wizard had simply been too strong.
These thoughts also reflected his assessment of himself. Compared