"I feel like I have plenty of mana now. Compared to before, I can cast two or three times as many spells!" Back in his cottage, Karin gave the All-Knowing Eye an honest account.
"Yes. The fundamental difference between a First Ring mage and a Zero Ring apprentice lies in their spell slots!" the All-Knowing Eye replied. "You've only just entered the First Ring, so the difference isn't particularly obvious yet. A competent First Ring mage should be able to cast five to ten times as many spells as a Zero Ring apprentice!"
"Then what's the fundamental difference between the First Ring and the Second Ring? Or, to put it another way, what should I focus on if I want to advance to the Second Ring?" Karin asked, planning ahead.
"Control!" the All-Knowing Eye said. "First Ring and Second Ring mages don't differ much in their spell slots, but Second Ring mages have far finer control over the details of their spells... Of course, once you enter the Third Ring, leaving your probationary status behind to become a full-fledged mage, both undergo a qualitative change!"
"All right, I understand..." Karin nodded, then asked, "So, would you say I advanced from apprentice to First Ring quickly?"
"If measured from the host's first contact with magic, the host took 59 days and 21 hours to reach the First Ring. If measured from the host's encounter with the All-Knowing Eye, the host took 30 days and 3 hours!" The All-Knowing Eye's voice slowly sounded in Karin's mind.
"Among the All-Knowing Eye's twenty-seven masters, the host ranks nineteenth by the former measure and thirteenth by the latter!"
"Is that so? Looks like I'm only in the lower middle of the pack!" Karin asked curiously, "Then who advanced the fastest?"
"Lord Kassas, naturally!" the All-Knowing Eye said proudly. "According to the records of Lord Kassas's memories held by the All-Knowing Eye, he took only 3 hours and 12 minutes to reach the First Ring after his first contact with magic!"
"Three hours... to reach the First Ring?" Karin was startled. His very first meditation session had probably taken three hours... Just what you'd expect from a mage who killed a god. Definitely not someone to mess with!
"But the host need not be discouraged. Your advancement was actually faster than that of 99 percent of mages of your race. It is quite an impressive achievement!" the All-Knowing Eye offered reassuringly.
"The top one percent? That's pretty good!" Karin felt rather pleased with himself. He might fall short of the best, but he was still well ahead of the rest!
"Karin!" A familiar voice came from outside the door.
"Coming... Long time no see, Oliver!" Karin stood up and hurried over to open the cottage door.
He was right. He had barely seen his old friend Oliver at all over the past month!
"Seriously, Karin, what have you been doing lately?" Oliver looked Karin up and down. "You haven't come to any get-togethers or gone on any adventures, and sometimes when I come looking for you, you aren't even home... You haven't forgotten today's magic gathering, have you?"
"Of course not. I was just about to head over... I've been practicing meditation lately. Remember that book on meditation Mr. Kirkland gave me last time?" Karin replied.
"You're actually practicing that stuff?" Oliver pursed his lips. Still, he assumed Karin was only dabbling and didn't take it seriously. He simply continued, "By the way, Karin, there's something I need to tell you. Don't take it too hard!"
"Huh? What is it?"
"Enclair. I heard he's reached the First Ring!" Oliver said.
Enclair. Karin had almost forgotten about that fellow lately. He hadn't expected him to actually reach the First Ring!
"It's fine. Good for him!" Karin waved a hand. "By the way, Oliver, I've reached the First Ring too!"
"Stop joking. Since when did you get so funny, Karin?" Oliver gave him a sidelong glance, not believing a word of it. "Ah, I'm so envious... Once you reach the First Ring, your family will finally accept you as a real member!"
"What does the First Ring have to do with the family?" Karin had been about to explain to Oliver that he really had reached the First Ring, but Oliver's last remark caught his attention.
"Our families don't take Zero Ring apprentices like us seriously at all! Sure, they give us all sorts of allowances every month, but that's just routine. Even our training is left to the instructor mages sent by the Royal Court!" Oliver said, sounding rather dejected.
"But First Ring mages are different. A First Ring mage can take part in the family's affairs and become a true member... Take Enclair, for example. His Morningwind family is a traditional alchemy family in Silvermoon City. Now that he's advanced, he'll definitely return to Silvermoon City and become a Junior Alchemist!"
"Oh, I see... What about our Sunfury family, then? What line of business are we in?" Karin nodded, then asked.
"Karin, are you kidding?" Oliver looked at him as though he were an idiot.
"Our Sunfury family is one of the largest families in Quel'Thalas. How could we possibly be involved in only one industry... You should know that, aside from the Royal Court and the Council, there are only six mage towers in Silvermoon City. One of them is called Sunfury Spire!"
"You two are late!" Mage Kirkland looked at the two young elves outside the door and spoke calmly, with a touch of authority.
"Sorry, Instructor Kirkland!" Karin and Oliver said together, lowering their heads. Karin had pestered Oliver with questions about the family the whole way, leaving them a few minutes late arriving at the Apprentice Horde.
"All right, come in. Don't let it happen again!" Since they were only half a minute late, Mage Kirkland didn't give them a hard time.
After sitting in the back row of the Apprentice Horde, Karin could clearly feel that Mage Kirkland's presence at the lectern was far less oppressive than it had been last time.
After all, the man was only a scholarly Third Ring mage.
"All right, now that everyone is here, let's get down to business!" Mage Kirkland turned his gaze toward the front row of the Apprentice Horde. "Mr. Enclair, I hear you've reached the First Ring!"
"Yes, Instructor Kirkland!" Enclair hurriedly stood and bowed to Mage Kirkland.
A Blue Crystal Orb floated out of Mage Kirkland's sleeve and drifted over to Enclair's desk.
"Give it a try! Place your hand on it, and let's see whether you've truly met the standard for a First Ring mage!" Mage Kirkland said kindly.
Enclair nodded, then reached out his right hand!
A few seconds later, the crystal orb suddenly lit up, then gave off a faint blue glow...
"Good... Very good!" Watching the blue glow, Mage Kirkland smiled and nodded. "I'll report this to the Morningwind family, Mr. Enclair. I hope that in a hundred years, the Morningwind family will have another High Alchemist..."
"Thank you for your guidance, Instructor Kirkland..." Enclair hurriedly said, overcome with excitement. "Even after I return to my family, I'll never forget everything you've taught me..."
"Wait, Instructor Kirkland!" A calm voice came from the back of the Apprentice Horde, interrupting Enclair.
"Hmm?" Mage Kirkland was clearly somewhat displeased with this young elf, who had not only arrived late but now interrupted his conversation. "What is it, Mr. Karin?"
"Well..." Karin raised his right hand and pointed at the Blue Crystal Orb. "Could I give it a try?"