Kamar-Taj watched Wang Yang walk away, marveling inwardly.
Someone as gifted as Wang Yang was truly rare.
Still, being a teacher to such a genius brought considerable pressure.
If he had not spent so many years studying magic, he probably would have had nothing to teach him.
Even so, he did not think he could teach him for much longer.
Kamar-Taj was a sizable place. With so many sorcerers living there, it had gradually developed into something like a town. They needed places to socialize, so taverns and similar establishments had sprung up.
Amid these quaint old buildings stood one such tavern.
Kamar-Taj walked inside.
Whenever he had time off, he liked to visit the tavern for a few drinks.
That had not changed in decades.
Although they were sorcerers, they had little money. Fortunately, the tavern was run by people from Kamar-Taj, so its prices were modest.
Otherwise, they probably could not have afforded to enjoy themselves there.
Quite a few people were already inside.
Most were sorcerers from Kamar-Taj.
The sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were very united, but there were also quite a few smaller groups among them.
Those close to Wong were members of the Conservative Faction, whose views were somewhat old-fashioned.
Of course, these factional divisions were merely informal associations. No one openly acknowledged them.
After all, wherever people gathered, factions formed. Kamar-Taj was no exception.
He had plenty of friends himself, forming a fairly close-knit group.
"Kamar-Taj, you're here pretty early today!"
As Kamar-Taj entered the tavern, a middle-aged man laughed and greeted him.
The speaker was Ripa Yorsen.
Ripa Yorsen was also a veteran sorcerer.
He was one of the few truly easygoing sorcerers and got along well with most of the others, including Kamar-Taj.
"Ha! Do you think everyone has as much free time as you? I have an apprentice to teach!"
"Who here doesn't teach apprentices? But I heard you weren't taking any anymore?"
Ripa Yorsen sounded somewhat surprised.
Several sorcerers nearby also laughed cheerfully.
Most of them were responsible for teaching apprentices and served as reserve fighting forces.
Because of his age, Kamar-Taj rarely taught apprentices anymore.
"What could I do? A genius suddenly showed up, so I started teaching again!"
Kamar-Taj took a seat nearby as he spoke.
His words drew laughter from those around him.
"A genius? We all have a few promising students, but none worth troubling Master Kamar-Taj over!"
Another master sorcerer named Guri laughed as he spoke.
"Take my apprentice, Rolls. In just six months, he mastered the Magic Shield and some theory. His future is limitless!"
"I've met that boy Rolls too. He really is quite good!"
The nearby sorcerers seemed to have met him as well, and they nodded in agreement.
Most people could master the Magic Shield. After all, it was the most basic spell.
But mastering it usually took several months, if not half a year.
Without that much time, it was simply impossible.
Mastering the Magic Shield along with some theory in six months was already a respectable achievement.
After all, even Master Kaecilius had taken several months back then.
Magic was difficult. It was not something one could learn just by talking about it.
When these sorcerers had nothing else to do, they could only compare the talents of their apprentices.
Seeing Guri inspire a wave of envy,
Kamar-Taj was utterly dismissive.
"Kamar-Taj, what's with that expression?"
Guri frowned. The envy of everyone around him had greatly satisfied his pride, yet Kamar-Taj wore that expression. Naturally, he was displeased.
"Nothing. I just don't think your apprentice is anything special, Guri!"
"He merely learned the Magic Shield in six months. Does that qualify him as a genius? If I told you about my genius apprentice, wouldn't it scare you to death?"
Kamar-Taj's remarks naturally piqued everyone's curiosity.
Kamar-Taj rarely argued with others, yet now he was doing just that.
Naturally, it caught everyone's attention.
"Kamar-Taj, you say your apprentice is impressive? Then tell us about him!"
Ripa Yorsen laughed as he spoke.
Kamar-Taj drank a cup of wine, then shook his head. "I'm afraid telling you would give you a fright!"
"How long did it take him to master the Magic Shield?"
Hearing him say that made Guri even more curious.
"Judging by how confident Kamar-Taj is, I'd say it only took four months!"
Ripa Yorsen frowned as he spoke.
The other sorcerers agreed.
Since Kamar-Taj remained so confident after hearing about Guri's apprentice, his own must have learned it faster.
Hearing their guesses, Kamar-Taj gave a disdainful smile.
He held up one finger.
The sorcerers around him stared in disbelief.
"One month? Impossible!"
"Exactly. Even Master Kaecilius took three months back then. One month would be far too astonishing!"
Seeing their expressions and reactions, Kamar-Taj felt that these sorcerers really had seen nothing of the world.
Kamar-Taj shook his head mysteriously.
"One year, then. How could it possibly be one month?"
Guri naturally did not believe it.
"What do you mean, one month? One day!"
At Kamar-Taj's words, the surrounding sorcerers were dumbstruck.
"What?"
"How is that possible!"
"..."
One month, though rather unbelievable, was still something they could accept.
But what did one day mean? Surely even the Sorcerer Supreme, The Ancient One, had not learned that quickly.
Guri was even more skeptical. He said sarcastically, "Kamar-Taj, there's no need to make up such an absurd story!"
"We all teach apprentices. We know perfectly well what they're like!"
The other sorcerers chimed in agreement!
"Exactly, Kamar-Taj. There's no need to exaggerate your apprentice's abilities!"
"One day? That's simply impossible!"
"If your apprentice really is that impressive, he'll probably be the next Sorcerer Supreme. Impossible! If it's true, I-I-I'll eat this table!"
Guri looked at the table before him and declared this confidently.
For the first time, Kamar-Taj felt that Wang Yang was a truly wonderful apprentice. At least he could show him off to his old friends.
And these people really had no idea what a genius was.
"I have no reason to lie. Just ask Wong!"
"He was the one who recommended him to me!"
Kamar-Taj shrugged, then poured himself another drink.
The sorcerers around him were even more shocked, and they began discussing it among themselves.
"He mastered the Magic Shield in one day? Is he even human?"
"Exactly! Mastering the Magic Shield in one day is simply astonishing!"
"When did such a terrifying genius appear in Kamar-Taj?"
"..."
Listening to these sorcerers,
Kamar-Taj shook his head with a smile. If he told them Wang Yang learned a spell a day, wouldn't that scare them to death?
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