Carpenter, standing behind him, had not understood, but she could sense Russell's emotions shifting.
She frowned slightly and asked hesitantly, "Then, Teacher, can we give it to our family members to use?"
Russell could not help turning to look at his younger sister.
"Only advanced apprentices can use it." Hill was unbothered. The girl had actually grasped the key point: this thing was only suitable for people who would remain low-rank mages for their entire lives.
Russell understood that his teacher was not the sort to refuse to explain himself properly when he had something to say. If he kept silent, it could only mean that even his sharp, sarcastic tongue could not speak of it.
So he immediately brought the topic to a close. "Can Mr. Ulrich use it? I remember he's already an advanced apprentice."
Hill turned to look at him. "He can, but it would be practically useless."
Russell pressed his lips together and asked tentatively, "But if he used it, wouldn't he at least be able to cast a first-circle spell?"
Both the senior he suspected belonged to the Defense Tower and Teacher Gilbert had tried to get him to learn simple first-circle spells while he was still an advanced apprentice. That could only mean that, in the eyes of those with considerable talent, this was perfectly normal.
Moreover, through his constant studies lately, Russell had felt his mental power increase substantially... As he was now, he certainly would not be scared half to death by such a request.
He felt he finally understood what it meant to naturally grasp how to begin casting first-circle spells, rather than waiting until his mental power exceeded the threshold for an official mage before trying to sense what a first-circle spell was.
Hill glanced at him. "Are you thinking