"Fray Wizard will handle everything from here. I look forward to your next visit," Lus said with a smile.
"Mm, see you next time."
Lohr nodded and left the Optimization Model Testing Grounds with Kateya.
"Lord Lohr, where would you like to go next?" Kateya asked after they left the testing grounds.
By now, her attitude toward Lohr had become increasingly respectful. She had clearly come to see him as her only stepping stone toward becoming a First-Circle Wizard.
"Hmm..." Lohr thought for a moment. "There's no rush to visit anywhere else. Can you tell me about the process of applying for a laboratory?"
His most urgent needs right now were, first, earning Contribution Points; second, creating the Microscope Spell; third, increasing his mental strength; and fourth, safely and quickly absorbing Magic Crystal energy.
The next time he earned Contribution Points, it would be best to use a laboratory as cover.
After all, he could not keep using intuition as an excuse. People could accept a genius, but they found it hard to accept a freak.
Creating the Microscope Spell would lay the groundwork for becoming a Space Wizard, and he would also need the apprentice slots reserved for laboratories to carry it out more effectively.
Absorbing Magic Crystal energy and converting it into Charge Points likewise required a laboratory.
As for increasing his mental strength, that had to be done slowly. There was no rushing it.
All in all, a personal laboratory was his most urgent need right now, so naturally he had to learn the details.
"To apply for a personal laboratory as an apprentice, you need to make major contributions in optimizing spells, Potions, or magical equipment."
Kateya spoke somewhat helplessly. "If the school has application slots available, the requirements can be lowered somewhat."
"But the Earth-Fire School's current slot is already occupied by Randolph. If you want to apply, you'll need solid contributions."
"In terms of improving spell models, you would need to create an apprentice-level spell useful to a First-Circle Wizard, or improve an apprentice-level spell until its power rivaled that of a First-Circle spell."
"I suggest you wait. Once Randolph becomes a First-Circle Wizard, applying for a laboratory will become much easier."
In Kateya's view, those conditions were far too demanding.
For Lohr to spend his effort on this would be extremely uneconomical.
He would be better off first improving some low-level spells to 0.9 Circle. Once Randolph became a First-Circle Wizard, he could naturally rely on an internal slot to apply for a personal laboratory.
"Then Randolph is currently—"
Lohr had only gotten halfway through before suddenly swallowing the rest of his words. He reorganized his phrasing before speaking under Kateya's puzzled gaze.
"I mean, how long will it take for Randolph to break through and become a First-Circle Wizard?"
Only after getting halfway through his question did he suddenly remember that he should not yet know the procedures required to advance to First-Circle Wizard.
One or two minor slips might not matter, but if they piled up, they could very easily arouse suspicion.
Therefore, whenever he could avoid them, he would do his best to do so.
"I heard that his mental strength has reached the standard, and his meditation rune model has basically completed its advancement. He's only choosing the direction of his core spell now."
Kateya answered, "If nothing unexpected happens, he'll definitely break through within seven years."
Choosing the direction of one's core spell essentially meant determining which of the future fire and earth elements would take the dominant role.
One could follow the path of predecessors, or forge a path of one's own.
Following the path of predecessors required no choice. If one wanted to forge a new path, however, one had to consider it carefully.
Usually, it took five to ten years of gradual contemplation before one could make a prudent decision.
"Kateya, can you find an apprentice who has given up the wizard's path but still has unused spell slots?" Lohr asked.
He could not possibly wait seven years to obtain a personal laboratory. After all, in ten years, the Murphy Continent would be thrown into ruin by the Faith Wizards.
As for optimizing a 0.9-Circle spell into a First-Circle spell, his meditation model simply could not withstand it yet.
Therefore, there was only one way to achieve his goal now: create the Microscope Spell.
Creating an apprentice-level spell was not difficult. As long as he spent more time flipping through basic rune books in the dormitory study, combined with his already clear direction—
At most three months. He was confident he could create an apprentice-level Microscope Spell.
"You intend to create a new spell?" Kateya frowned slightly and hurriedly tried to dissuade him.
"This will waste a great deal of time and resources, and there's no guarantee it will be useful to a First-Circle Wizard."
"If it isn't, then all your time will have been completely wasted."
"You would be better off spending your time cultivating your mental strength first. In a few years, once you become a Second-Level Apprentice or even a Third-Level Apprentice, you can inherit a laboratory."
"Kateya, do you trust me?" Lohr looked at the woman before him and smiled calmly.
"I..."
Kateya pressed her lips together. Thinking of what Mara Wizard had said about Lohr's experiences when he came to the Wizard Tower, and everything that had just happened at the Optimization Model Testing Grounds, she could not help nodding.
"I do!"
"Then help me find an apprentice in a month. Tell me how many Contribution Points you need, and once Fray Wizard's side finishes verifying it, I'll reimburse you," Lohr said.
The reason he needed a month was that he only roughly understood the operating logic and framework of the Microscope Spell. He had not yet specifically studied the composition of spell runes.
There was no shortcut for this. He had to truly study them before he could understand how to create a spell.
"All right." Kateya nodded. "I'll find one for you."
"Let's leave it here for today. Go back and rest early," Lohr said with a smile.
Seventh-floor apprentice dormitories.
"In one month, I'll begin trying to construct the Microscope Spell model. I need to set up the general framework quickly."
Lohr sat in the study of his single dormitory room, looking at the row of bookshelves before him as he recalled the Bloodline Microscope Spell runes he had constructed in his previous life with the help of the Earth Bear.
"First, I need to construct the basic earth-element runes."
He pulled Detailed Guide to Earth Element Runes from the bookshelf and read it carefully.
Combining the rune structures of Rock Wall and Wall of Flame in his Sea of Consciousness with his experience from his previous life, he quickly understood the most basic earth-element runes.
"Next, construct a rune model representing compression."
He put Detailed Guide to Earth Element Runes back in its place and pulled out a much thicker copy of Comprehensive Compendium of Basic Universal Rune Models.
After opening the table of contents and looking through it, he flipped through three full pages before finding the page number corresponding to the compression rune model.
This time, instead of memorizing it directly, he walked to the desk and copied the compression rune onto parchment.
The Microscope Spell looked simple, but it actually required quite a large number of rune models.
"If I could just build a microscope by hand in reality and produce the rune model, that would be great!"
After recording the compression rune and thinking of all the runes that still needed to be arranged and combined, Lohr could not help rubbing his brow.
His head hurt.
"Unfortunately, a real microscope can't reveal the spell models in the Sea of Consciousness, so it's basically useless."
With a sigh, he opened Comprehensive Compendium of Basic Universal Rune Models again. "The next rune: overlap."
Two hours later, Lohr looked at the nine basic runes he had recorded and nodded in satisfaction.
"That's enough for today. I'll record the rest tomorrow."
After turning off the magical lamp in the study, Lohr returned to the bedroom. He first finished constructing the Levitation Spell model he had selected during the day, then took out a Magic Crystal and began meditating.
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