Level 1 Wizard Apprentice

Night

The night was exceptionally quiet. After finishing his work and returning, Taylor did not continue studying his knowledge. Instead, he began to meditate silently, because tonight, he would attempt to break through to become a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice.

Recently, Taylor had been trying to construct his own spell model. After more than a dozen failures, he had finally managed to steadily use his mental power to outline three spell runes representing flame, burning, and explosion.

It did not matter much if the construction of a spell model failed. It would simply collapse, and he would need to rest and recover for two days.

After completing the outline of the three spell runes, Taylor continued accumulating experience for a while. Through more knowledge and tireless meditation, he improved his scholarly foundation and mental power.

Only after feeling that his accumulation and mental power had reached a sufficient level did Taylor attempt to complete the final mental power node connections around the three spell runes, thoroughly completing this spell model.

As he connected the mental power nodes, Taylor analyzed portions of the records in the books based on his own accumulated knowledge, changing the distance and direction of two mental power nodes.

This alteration was insignificant. It merely made the nodes somewhat more stable. In Conjecture on Flame Intensity alone, there were no fewer than twenty such minor adjustments to spell models.

Taylor deliberately controlled the fine division and manipulation of his mental power. Under the command of his will, mental power as thin as strands of hair was woven into threads and connected the mental power nodes.

Taylor was especially nervous when passing through the two mental power nodes he had altered through his own analysis. Strands of mental thread trembled slightly as they connected the two nodes bit by bit. As expected, nothing unusual happened; the three spell runes even began to emit a faint radiance.

After successfully connecting those two mental power nodes, Taylor let out a breath of relief. Then, steadily manipulating his threads of mental power, he thoroughly completed the construction of the entire spell model.

When the entire Lesser Fireball Spell Model was completed, a faint red glow suddenly bloomed within Taylor's Mental Space. His entire Mental Space, including his soul and body, began to undergo slight changes.

The Lesser Fireball Spell Model drew in surrounding Fire Element particles and began making certain changes to Taylor's body.

After Taylor's mental power underwent its transformation, the elements it drew in strengthened his body. Though Taylor was only around nine years old, his physical fitness was already comparable to that of some relatively frail adults.

In the eyes of the White Wizards, mental power was the foundation of wizards. Only powerful mental power could drive the body to become stronger and further evolve one's life level. Yet knowledge was what truly determined their limits. With knowledge, wizards had pursuits; with knowledge, wizards could increase their mental power; with knowledge, wizards could satisfy their endless thirst for understanding...

Now, Taylor only felt that every part of his body had changed. It was a refreshed, completely clear sensation.

Feeling the strength and vigor continuously welling up from his body, utterly unfitting for someone of his age, Taylor could not help murmuring inwardly.

"No wonder the basic rules of wizard knowledge say that mental power is the foundation of wizards. So only an increase in mental power can bring about changes in the body..."

As he thought this, Taylor extended his hand. Flickers of flame appeared in his palm and gathered into a small fireball. This was merely the most basic application of Lesser Fireball: creating a cluster of flames.

"Flame, power, the supernatural."

Looking at the small fireball in his hand, Taylor sensed that it had been born from his mental power mingling with magic power, then released through the spell model and finally transformed into a tangible, elemental fireball.

"How wondrous..."

Watching the small fireball rise and fall in his palm, Taylor narrowed his eyes. He felt that such a supernatural sight had been unimaginable in his previous life, yet now he possessed the power to command blazing flames, even if that blaze was only a small fireball for now.

"Hah... So this is the power of wizards, a world governed by knowledge and mental power..."

Letting out a breath, Taylor contentedly dispersed the floating fireball in his palm. He closed his eyes and continued meditating, slowly increasing his mental power and magic power.

The next day

Feeling refreshed, Taylor immediately went to the Apprentice Library and found its administrator, where he registered that he had become a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice.

"You've already become a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice? It hasn't even been half a year. That's quite fast."

The library administrator was a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice. He was already quite old and had no hope of becoming a powerful Level 1 Wizard.

The White Tower Alliance still retained a trace of human warmth. Following its rules and regulations, it assigned these elderly Level 3 Wizard Apprentices to positions that were important to other apprentices, allowing them to continue contributing the last of their brilliance to the training of apprentices.

Looking at the young apprentice before him, who was only a little over nine years old, the librarian saw that while other Menial Apprentices were still slowly figuring out how to construct their spell models, this one had already become an official Wizard Apprentice. He felt that this child surely had a bright future ahead of him.

Looking at Taylor, the librarian unusually spoke a few more words.

"You possess abundant potential and ambition. Compared to other children your age, your heart is also steadier. But you must always maintain humility. The powerful wizard masters have all said that when you become arrogant, that is when you will lose your life."

Taylor raised his head and looked at the librarian behind the counter. The man's beard was streaked with gray, his forehead was full of wrinkles, and his eyes were filled with envy and wistfulness. Taylor smiled, nodded, and spoke respectfully.

"Administrator, I will remember your teachings. I will always face my future with the mindset of an apprentice."

Sensing Taylor's respect and sincerity, the administrator nodded in satisfaction. At the same time, he took a small object from his robes and placed it before Taylor.

The small object looked like a Medal. It was engraved with dense, tiny patterns, and Taylor recognized that at its center was a spell rune symbolizing the Fire Element.

A flicker of emotion passed through Taylor's calm eyes. He seemed to recognize what this was.

Seeing Taylor's reaction, the librarian nodded in satisfaction. "With your current level of knowledge, you should be able to tell that this is a spell tool related to flame."

"In fact, it is called the Flame Medal. When you infuse it with magic power, it releases a circular flame barrier around you. Besides that, it enhances Fire Element perception, meditation, and mental power."

"The amount of magic power you put into it determines the strength of its barrier. At most, it can defend against attacks from a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice. Having this Medal during your apprenticeship can shorten the time you need to increase your strength."

After hearing the librarian's introduction, Taylor's heart grew hot. Without a second thought, he decided that he had to obtain the Flame Medal. With it, he would have something to protect himself.

If he needed to use his special ability during his apprenticeship, this Flame Medal would certainly be able to play an extraordinary role.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Taylor raised his head and stared intently into the librarian's eyes.

"What do I need to pay?"

The administrator withdrew the Flame Medal he had placed before Taylor, looked into Taylor's eyes, and said,

"It seems you truly are a natural wizard. You understand what equivalent exchange means. That's right, this Flame Medal does require you to pay a price: 300 points."

Three hundred points?!

That was the amount a Menial Apprentice would need to work for 300 days—nearly a full year—to earn.

The copy of Conjecture on Flame Intensity Taylor had exchanged from the Apprentice Library for 100 points could only be borrowed for two weeks.

Was it really this expensive?