Core Knowledge (Part One)

"During the long war, I discovered that whenever the two moons drew closest each year, troll casters would gather in groups within their nests to perform some kind of ritual. My team and I took advantage of this troll custom to kill large numbers of them. Later, I discovered they were summoning divine beings. Naturally, we could not let them succeed, or a war already unfavorable to us would become even more so. As an elven caster, I had a duty to stop their rituals and eradicate this custom."

There was no news of the manuscript's author anywhere in modern elven society. He had most likely perished in the war. Shane closed the manuscript. He had finished reading all the available knowledge on trolls. He could only feel that the casters of the Troll Wars and modern casters were in entirely different states. The traditions of seeking knowledge, fearing no hardship, and facing danger with courage had faded away. No wonder Silvermoon City wanted to change the spirit of modern elves. But with the tide of the times flowing as it did, nothing would be easy to change without being tempered by blood and fire.

The manuscript's final destination was the library's humanities and geography section, where it would enrich the collection of knowledge.

The Royal Mage Association also responded. They generously transmitted knowledge related to defensive barriers to the mage tower and told Shane to modify the defensive barrier himself.

Naturally, Shane had no complaints. He was delighted instead, because he did not want to miss any opportunity for practical work. Solarian also said she wanted to join the project.

"After reading the spellbooks Mage Shane copied, I noticed that every one of them emphasized the importance of practice. I believe Mage Shane is unquestionably right, so I also wish to put it into practice myself."

It was the first time Shane had heard her speak so much. Perhaps Solarian's usual reticence was selective. When she encountered something that interested her, she could express herself clearly enough.

Teaching one more person was no trouble. Shane had already used the Eye of Truth to analyze the basic structure of the defensive barrier when he first arrived at the outpost. He gave Basic Study of Rune Barriers to Solarian to study while he examined the engineering blueprints for Windrunner Outpost's defensive barrier.

The defensive barrier's effects came from runestones, while its energy was supplied by the leyline network. The runestones were buried underground and connected to the leyline network. Energy flowed through every runestone, activating the defenses.

To expand the defensive barrier, they first had to excavate the leylines and connect new runestones. The core technology of barriers lay in runestone crafting. Unlike the barriers of Silvermoon City, which were linked to the Sunwell, the outpost's runestones did not need to withstand high levels of energy, making their structure far simpler.

Shane began crafting new runestones, leaving some materials for Solarian so she could create them while studying and put her knowledge into practice. According to the plan, the outpost's area would be doubled, requiring eighteen runestones to establish a defensive system for the new section. Starting from the side of the mage tower, they dug into the earth until they found the leyline network and the runestones. Then they excavated outward along the course of the leyline, clearing the required area.

They connected the new runestones to the leyline network and formed a complete circular defense. Together with the original barrier, it was like twin sisters embracing—two adjacent circles with part of their areas overlapping.

"Mage Solarian, did you record everything?" Shane asked.

"It has all been recorded." During the work, Solarian had documented every step and written down her insights from the practice. She treasured her record book. Shane had seen her wrap it in a small pouch of enchanted cloth after every recording, taking it out only when she needed it.

"The final step is to record how to guide leyline energy into forming a cycle."

Shane raised his hand toward the leyline and projected arcane energy into it. Then, as though drawing a picture, he slowly dragged it along, guiding the leyline energy through the runestones and tracing a circle. The leyline energy was dry and scorching, giving him the unpleasant sensation of swallowing burning coals.

The connection was complete. Every runestone lit up. Shane took out a prepared key, clenched it in his palm, and spoke the secret words: "Arcane is omnipotent, and secrets are endless." The defensive barrier rose, covering the new area like a bubble.

It's done. It feels inappropriate for both the old and new areas to be called the outpost. What should the new area be called? Shane fell silent for a moment, then thought of the naming style of a particularly difficult dungeon. "The new area will be called the Mage District. The old area will be called the Ranger District."

"Mage Shane, wasn't the purpose of the modification to make it usable by both military and civilians?" Solarian asked as she scribbled furiously in her book.

"Don't worry. I've already prepared two secondary keys—one for the rangers and one for civilians' daily access." A sense of accomplishment filled Shane's heart. Practice truly was the best form of training. "Mage Solarian, what did you gain from this?"

"Thank you. I will let Mage Shane read it after I organize my notes." Having finished recording, Solarian gave a slight bow and hurried back to her residence.

Shane also returned to his study. He poured himself a cup of black tea, took a sip, and leaned back in his chair. Through the window, he could see the entire outpost. The engineer's family was taking a walk, off-duty rangers came and went from the inn, and the striders in the stables squabbled noisily over food.

Ever since his arrival, buildings had risen one after another throughout the outpost, and it had gradually become more lively. Though the place was still humble and austere, it had begun to feel a little like home.

"I'll take it easy today." Shane closed his eyes to meditate and rest. His awareness gradually spread outward. Beneath the ground lay blue leylines; the blacksmith shop rang with clanging metal; several rangers were brawling in the inn; beyond the barrier, Sylvanas was returning with the rangers.

"She hasn't been very happy about the expansion. Whenever she sees me, she pouts, and we haven't had a proper conversation. I should talk to her tonight. What are those black dots in the sky?"

His awareness stretched out to touch one of the black dots. Like a vacuum, it sucked in his awareness. Inside was a purplish-black world. His awareness could not see very far, only the purplish-black color filling all of space. It was monotonous and dull. He withdrew his awareness, only to find more black dots in the sky. His awareness ventured into them on its own, but they were still purplish-black worlds.

After some time, his awareness returned. Shane opened his eyes. The White Lady and the Blue Child hung high in the sky. "I've advanced!" During the armed reconnaissance, his mind had already stood on the verge of advancement. Shane had not deliberately pursued it, instead accumulating strength slowly and waiting for it to happen naturally. Examining his mind, he found it full and robust. The spells he had previously inscribed seemed much smaller by comparison. Against his now boundless mental space, even his mana was continuing to fill it. He truly had advanced to the sixth circle.

"Mage Shane, may I come in?" Solarian asked through magical transmission.

"Come over," Shane replied through transmission as well.

Solarian teleported to the chief's floor, opened the study door, bowed in greeting, then walked to the desk and placed her organized records upon it.

Her handwriting was neat, and her records were meticulous. Nothing was missing: the objective, the knowledge learned, the tools prepared, the process, and the details. At the end, she had written: "I am very satisfied with the system of the Red Sun White Tower. Every mage may leave behind their own views and experiences for those who come after to learn from. While recording my reflections, I have already gained something even more important than the completion of the project. I thank Mage Shane Dawnblade for giving me the opportunity to practice."

The final sentence was not meant for Shane to see. After skimming through it, he returned it to Solarian. "Are you going to share it with the library?"

"Yes," Solarian answered. After a pause, she addressed him by name. "Mage Shane."

"Yes?"

"Congratulations on your advancement."

"Thank you."

"May I ask if there are any tricks to arcane magic?"

"Tricks? Yes and no, because everyone's talent is different." Apprentices in Silvermoon City had once asked Shane the same question, but he would not answer Solarian the way he had answered them. She was a different kind of mage from those apprentices. "But there is one thing that is fair to everyone: time."

Shane spread his right hand and gathered energy, casting a Pyroblast. The fireball in his palm shrank from half a meter in diameter to the size of a fist. Its color changed—orange-red, golden orange, gold, then golden white—as its heat accumulated inward to prevent it from escaping. As his circle increased, both his control and the amount of energy he could compress had improved.

"I began training my control from the very first circle. Now, I can control spells well enough to make extreme alterations. Can you sense the energy within the fireball?"

Solarian looked at the fireball and nodded.

"That's right. Talent alone does not determine how far an arcane caster can go. The efficiency with which one uses time matters as well. Do you understand?"

"Thank you for your guidance."

Solarian left. Shane returned to the living room and pushed open the door, finding the female elf inside. "I knew you were here."