Terra Calendar 1589.2.17
Deer College · Wing A (Basement Level 1)
Main Assembly Hall-Plaza 2077.
"Signs and symbols are collections of concepts, and spell formulas are built upon those concepts."
"Take these two symbols: the first represents a spear and shield, modeled after the weapons of the god of war, while the second represents a mirror, modeled after the mirror held by the goddess of beauty."
"Ancient Terran scholars originally used these two symbols to represent celestial bodies, while alchemists used them to represent iron and copper respectively. Today, these two symbols are mostly used to represent heredity and male and female sexes."
Professor Laugen walked around the hall, explaining things to the students behind him. As he spoke, the teaching hologram helpfully displayed illustrations and provided subtitles in real time.
"What I'm going to discuss next is the Four Great Seals of thaumaturgy."
Laugen led the students to a thaumaturgy firing range, where straw dummies stood fifty meters away.
"The Four Great Seals of thaumaturgy are sharp, square, blunt, and round."
As Laugen spoke, four symbols appeared on the screen behind him.
[ ◇ □ △ ○]
"The Four Great Seals are used to construct forms-in other words, to construct fields, to construct concepts."
"This is how an ARad field forms, and three other factors influence the ARad field."
Laugen casually waved at the holographic display, and its contents updated again.
[The Three Factors of Thaumaturgy] : determines the strength of the field and its capacity for interference. : determines its stability. : determines its properties. In simpler terms, this means 'affinity.' Some people have EVE particles with a distinctive timbre, making it particularly easy for them to cast spells involving 'water/liquids.' This is an affinity for 'water/liquids,' also known as 'relative spell position.'
"Next, I'll give you a demonstration. Everyone, summon your lineages and get a good feel for this." A thick Blue Book appeared before them. Its edges were inlaid with gold, and its cover depicted a lifelike stag with brilliantly multicolored antlers.
Following Laugen's instructions, the students began summoning their lineages. Their Lineage Books, however, were pitifully thin, nowhere near comparable to the one Laugen had summoned.
Laugen raised his right hand and shaped it like a pistol. He deliberately expanded the spell's weave, and a small, spinning fireball appeared on his index finger. With a bang, it punched through the head of a straw dummy fifty meters away.
"Did you feel that?" Laugen asked the students.
"Loudness: 5 dB, or decibels. Frequency: 200-350 Hz, or hertz. The waveform has distinctly sharp peaks and troughs..." A soft voice caught the attention of the students pondering nearby, and they turned toward the girl who had spoken.
She was a young woman with old-fashioned glasses and a striking figure. Holding a Blue Book, she was sensing the weave Laugen had just expanded. When he asked his question, she had answered instinctively.
"Very good." Laugen looked approvingly at the student named Camille.
Only then did Camille realize what she had done. Seeing all her classmates looking at her, she immediately grew a little embarrassed and instinctively turned toward a blond figure ahead.
Xia Xiu smiled and gave Camille a thumbs-up, instantly filling her with confidence. Meanwhile, her roommate, the Three-Eyed Girl Ushas, happily slapped Camille with her large palm. The force of those slaps left Camille terrified.
"Everyone, please look at the screen." Professor Laugen resumed his lesson.
[Fireball] ++ARad field: sharp ◇-[Fire] ++Loudness: 5 dB (decibels) ++Timbre: nonconstant wave (ruby) ++Frequency: 200-350 Hz (hertz)
"This is the weave for the applied thaumaturgy spell Fireball. Its structure also happens to suit newly awakened thaumaturges like yourselves. Your average loudness should be seven, and your frequency should be around 500 Hz."
"As that student just said, the waveform of the ARad field when I cast the spell showed distinct peaks and troughs.
"The sharp seal's waveform jumps, resembling an electrocardiogram or a seismic wave chart, with clearly visible, sharp peaks and troughs. If you see this type of seal in a spell array, it means the array will definitely undergo a violent release of energy, as with a Revelation Spell, and the process will have an amplitude of at least level four."
"Sharp seals generally correspond to relatively steep ARad field waveforms. They are usually used for high-amplitude processes, and their effects are extremely violent."
As Laugen spoke, he raised his right hand again, still holding it in the shape of a pistol. This time, however, there was nothing on his hand. Just as the students began to wonder, another straw dummy in the distance suddenly exploded with a bang.
"Blunt seals (△) generally correspond to smooth ARad field waveforms. They are usually used for small processes that require concealment or processes affecting a limited area, and their effects are relatively stable," Laugen continued.
"The blunt seal's waveform is a jagged line with relatively small fluctuations. Compared to the sharp seal, its effects are gentler, making it unsuitable for processes requiring high energy. Because its energy fluctuations are relatively small, it is particularly easy to conceal. That is why it is generally used for small processes requiring concealment, or limited-area processes that do not require such violent releases. You will rarely see it in high-level processes."
"Everyone, watch closely again."
This time, Laugen stamped his right foot. The students instinctively looked toward the straw dummies, but unfortunately, they had guessed the wrong target.
The ground beneath their feet suddenly bulged upward, forming mounds as tall as each of the students. Then the mounds shook violently, and earthen sculptures matching the students' appearances emerged before them.
"Square seals (□) generally correspond to regular ARad field waveforms. They are usually used for processes requiring sustained operation or affecting a wider area, and their effects are extremely stable."
With that, Professor Laugen snapped his fingers, and a ball of water suddenly appeared above him.
Then he snapped his fingers again. Bulletlike droplets shot out of the water ball, effortlessly punching through the earthen sculptures in front of the students.
"Round seals (○) generally have no corresponding ARad field waveform. They can usually be applied to any type of process. Their effects vary, but their stability is poor."
"The four spells just now corresponded to the four thaumaturgical seals. They also corresponded to fire, air, earth, and water-the four elements of thaumaturgy.
"A week of basic education has passed, and most of you have completed your lineage awakening. You can now choose your specialized field of study."
"My instruction has come to an end as well. Before I leave, however, I'll give you an assignment.
"The four elemental spells I just used are your assignment. Every student must master any one of those spells within a month."
"For specific learning methods, check your lineage inboxes. You'll find the attachments I sent there."
"All right, class dismissed."
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