Single-Layer and Multi-Layer

A blazing fireball appeared before him, then shot forward with explosive force!

Moreover, because he had modified some of the redundant structures, Zeliel's casting speed was slightly faster than it had been in Graywood Forest.

It had been reduced from around five seconds to just over four, without any loss in power.

Bang!

The fireball struck the crystal pillar and burst into a shower of sparks.

"Hoh..." Marvin raised an eyebrow slightly.

He was a promising one.

The three spells Bev had cast earlier had each taken an average of around six seconds, while Zeliel had released a Fireball in just over four.

Don't underestimate that difference of a little over one second. A caster might need an entire year of refinement to improve by that much.

Clearly, Zeliel's magical control was superior to Bev's.

"Not bad. Continue." Marvin lifted his chin.

"Uh..."

Hearing that, Zeliel scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry, Instructor Marvin, but this is the only spell I know."

"You only know one?" Marvin frowned.

"Yes."

It couldn't be helped. The previous owner's family had been truly poor.

He had only managed to save enough money to buy that damaged Fireball scroll after several years of odd jobs. As for other spells, he had never even been able to consider them.

"Your Fireball is good. It fully meets the standard for a Magic Apprentice."

Instructor Marvin stroked his chin.

"However, according to the guild's rating rules, even if your magical power and spellcasting standards are met, you must also master three Level Two Single-Layer Spell Structure Magic spells before you can become an official Magic Apprentice."

Based on their spell structures, magic was divided into two major categories.

They were Single-Layer Spell Structure Magic and Multi-Layer Spell Structure Magic.

A single-layer spell structure could be regarded as a plane—in other words, two-dimensional.

All circuits were inscribed upon that two-dimensional plane, making it the most basic magical configuration.

For a considerable stretch of history, the mages of the Candia Continent could only use Single-Layer Spell Structure Magic.

Yet throughout the long river of time, there would always emerge a few figures of astonishing talent.

Through the constant exploration and development of spell structures, Multi-Layer Spell Structure Magic, with greater power and broader applications, was invented.

Compared to the two-dimensional plane of Single-Layer Spell Structure Magic, Multi-Layer Spell Structure Magic was a three-dimensional construction formed by numerous intersecting planes.

With more space available, its complexity increased exponentially, making it even harder to master.

Based on the complexity of their circuits, these two major categories of magic were further divided into tiers from one to nine.

Fireball, Wind Blade, Water Ball, and Illumination were all Level Two Single-Layer Spell Structure Magic spells.

Bev revealed a regretful expression.

She had already seen during the assessment that Zeliel's magical ability was definitely above her own.

The fact that he knew only one spell was likely due to his family circumstances.

Want to learn new magic?

Simple. Just spend money to buy magic scrolls inscribed with spell structures.

A high-quality Level Two Single-Layer Spell Structure Magic scroll cost around five gold coins, roughly equivalent to nearly a year's income for a common family.

The Fireball scroll the previous owner had bought from a bard had been so badly damaged that he could get it for forty silver coins.

The spiritual imprint remaining on it had been extremely faint, which was why the previous owner had spent such a long time deciphering its spell structure. The efficiency had been terribly low.

"I understand. I'll work hard to master two more spells, then come back for another assessment," Zeliel said.

Though he had failed, he was not discouraged.

After all, he had already learned three new spells from Bev. Once he finished analyzing them, officially becoming a Magic Apprentice would only be a matter of time.

"Wait."

Marvin suddenly stopped Zeliel. "I want to ask you a few questions... Of course, they're somewhat personal. You can choose not to answer."

"What questions?"

"What does your family do? Merchants, perhaps, or...?" Marvin asked.

"I come from a small village on the border of the Ser Kingdom. My parents were farmers, but they have already passed away."

Zeliel answered honestly. "I'm an adventurer now, making a living by accepting commissions."

"I see..."

Marvin lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, he finally spoke.

"Then I can let you pass the Magic Apprentice assessment early. But you must promise me that within three months, you will come to me for a second mage assessment. I hope that by then, you will have mastered three new spells."

Zeliel froze upon hearing that.

"Huh...?"

What did that mean?

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank Instructor Marvin. He's looking out for you."

Bev nudged Zeliel with her elbow. "Once you become a Magic Apprentice, you can receive guild subsidies. You get one gold coin every month."

There was such a good deal?

Only then did Zeliel come to his senses, and he hurriedly thanked him.

"Thank you for your consideration, Instructor Marvin! I definitely won't disappoint your expectations."

"The path of a mage is long, arduous, and full of hardship. With your talent, I do not wish to see you buried."

Marvin encouraged him. "Remember our agreement. Come find me for another test within three months."

"Alright."

Zeliel suddenly remembered the condition for unlocking his second talent skill: becoming a Lower-Level Mage.

This was the perfect opportunity to ask about it all at once.

"Instructor Marvin, I'd also like to know: what standard must I reach to pass the Lower-Level Mage assessment?"

"You've only just become a Magic Apprentice, and you're already thinking about becoming a Lower-Level Mage?"

Marvin smiled.

"The little fellow has quite lofty ambitions... You must master at least ten Level Two Single-Layer Spell Structure Magic spells and reduce your casting time to within three seconds."

"Additionally, you must master one Level Three Single-Layer Spell Structure Magic spell and cast it within five seconds. That is the standard for a Lower-Level Mage."

"I needn't elaborate on learning magic. Gather magic scrolls yourself and slowly comprehend them. As for reducing casting speed, that requires years of persistent practice."

Marvin adjusted his glasses.

"What we need to understand is that spell structures are not fixed and unchanging. As long as your magical control improves, you can naturally optimize the original spell structure and increase your casting speed."

"Like changing a winding, twisting road into a straight line?" Zeliel recalled his earlier realization and spoke.

"That is a very apt analogy."

Marvin nodded.

"Natural spell structures are usually quite complicated. In your words, they are a tangled hodgepodge of twists and turns, and you might even get lost in them."

"Only by improving your magical control can you gradually modify them into something more efficient, eventually reaching the supreme realm of a single spell—instant casting."

"I see..." Zeliel nodded slightly.