Chương 56: Consulting With Teacher!
When spring arrived in Bangor Port, the city transformed almost overnight. The icy winds that had long dominated the coastal air gave way to a gentler warmth. Streets that were once filled with pedestrians bundled in heavy coats now saw people strolling in lighter, more colorful attire. The once-muted city began to hum with life.
As the days grew brighter, the port itself grew busier. The imminent arrival of the wizard fleet had drawn nobles from across the kingdom to Bangor Port. These were no ordinary travelers; their entourages, lavish spending, and sheer presence injected new vitality into the local economy. Shops bustled, inns overflowed, and whispers of the wizarding journey filled every corner of the city.
For Leonard, however, the excitement outside barely registered. 'One more day,' he thought, staring at himself in the mirror. His Earth Ring Meditation was at '99%', and soon, he would reach a new milestone. But as he stood there, his reflection staring back at him, his thoughts wandered.
"This suit looks perfect on you," said Angelina from behind him, her voice soft but filled with pride.
Leonard turned slightly, glancing at her through the mirror. Angelina had been sewing him new clothes tirelessly these past few weeks, each one slightly larger than his current size. "You'll grow into them," she would say with a quiet smile, as though preparing him for a future where he might not return.
Leonard nodded, murmuring a quiet thanks. He didn't bring up his departure again, not after seeing the subdued atmosphere it had created in his family. The sadness lingered in every gesture, every word unspoken, but Leonard didn't want to add to it. Instead, he let his focus settle on the tasks ahead.
---
Leonard's mind briefly flicked to his progress.
"Level 20," he muttered under his breath. Each level before 20 had required only 100 experience points, but now the jump to the next stage required '1,000 points' a tenfold increase. It had slowed him significantly, but reaching level 20 had brought immense improvements to his abilities.
His physical fitness, mental strength, and meditation aptitude had all seen dramatic boosts. But it wasn't just his body and mind that had grown, his 'knowledge of mutation studies' had advanced rapidly as well.
"Level 2 mutation studies," Leonard thought with a faint smile. The jump between levels wasn't just quantitative, it was qualitative. If level 1 was like being an elementary school student, level 2 felt like stepping into graduate studies. Problems that had once seemed insurmountable were now easily unraveled.
---
As Leonard reviewed his progress, the details of his abilities scrolled through his mind:
---
'Leonard'
- 'Level:' 20 (0/1000)
- 'Physical fitness:' 6.97
- 'Mental strength:' 17.7
'Mastery:'
- Earth Ring Meditation Method (99%)
'Life Occupations:'
- Level 2 Mutation Studies (7.5%)
- Level 1 Hematology (18%)
- Level 1 Alchemy (43%)
- Level 1 Necromancy (55%)
'General Experience:' 1970
---
Leonard had also mastered several of the 'zero-ring spells' from Roger's inheritance, including 'Dark Energy Ray', 'Organ Preservation', 'Dark Light', 'Light Spell', 'Repair', 'Switch', and 'Communication'. Though many of these spells were low-damage or utility-focused, their usefulness was undeniable.
Over the past few months, Leonard had devoured every book in his alchemy laboratory and extracted every scrap of knowledge from the soul bead Roger had left behind. By now, he felt confident that he was on par with many second-level wizard apprentices in terms of knowledge.
---
That night, Leonard sat cross-legged in the quiet of his room, his eyes closed in meditation. Slowly, he let his focus drift inward, toward the ninety-nine earth rings that glowed faintly in his mind's eye. They shimmered like celestial bodies in a vast galaxy of thought and energy.
And then, suddenly, something shifted.
Outside the glowing rings, a new ring began to form. Golden light coalesced in his sea of consciousness, and runes; delicate, intricate, and ancient, began to carve themselves into existence. The glowing runes swirled together, aligning into a 'chain-like structure', each node gleaming like a tiny star.
Leonard felt a surge of energy as the spell framework completed itself. The knowledge of the spell flowed into him, and a name surfaced in his mind:
'First-Level Spell - Earth Ring.'
The spell's description unfolded clearly in his thoughts:
'Effect:' Generates a magical earth ring that imprisons a target unit. The ring applies gravitational force to restrict movement while simultaneously sealing the target's magical abilities.
Leonard opened his eyes, the golden light of the spell still fading from his mind. He raised a hand, and a faint golden glow danced at his fingertips. His expression was calm, but a flicker of pride lit his eyes.
"My first first-level spell," he murmured, flexing his fingers as the light faded. "Not bad."
The 'spell framework' glided smoothly at Leonard's fingertips, golden and intricate, like a living chain of light. Despite its movement, Leonard barely felt the drain on his mental power. He had deliberately limited the infusion of energy, using only a fraction of his available strength.
"If one unit of standard mental power produces a spell at full power," Leonard mused, "then I've only used about one-tenth of that; barely a whisper of energy. And the result? A spell with just one-tenth of its potential strength."
He paused, watching the spell weave and pulse before dissipating. "So, the power of a spell is entirely proportional to the mental energy consumed..."
It wasn't the first time Leonard had considered this, but now he was sure. His mastery over this spell felt different; natural, effortless. It was as if the framework itself had become an extension of his mind.
"Could it be because I built it step by step during meditation?" Leonard wondered aloud, his brow furrowing. "Because I created it from scratch, it feels… fully integrated. Like it's mine in a way other spells aren't."
The thought lingered, and Leonard realized he might have stumbled onto something fundamental. Perhaps this was the very essence of meditation: not just strengthening mental power, but fully internalizing a spell's framework until it became second nature.
He stood, reaching for his gray wizard cloak. The material slid over his shoulders, smooth and comforting. Its constant defensive spell wrapped him in an invisible shield of security, making him feel at ease even as he walked the unpredictable streets of Bangor Port.
"I should ask the teacher," Leonard decided. "he might have answers."
---
Before heading out, Leonard took a moment to test his spell further. With a focused gesture, he unleashed the 'Earth Ring Technique' at full power. The runes in his mind blazed to life, and the ground beneath David, his towering assistant, shifted and solidified into a glowing, earthen ring.
David grunted, struggling against the spell's effects. The earth ring encased him like a vice, its gravitational pull rooting him in place. Every movement he attempted was sluggish, as though an invisible force was resisting him.
"Alright, alright! I can't move! Let me out!" David complained, his voice tinged with frustration.
Leonard chuckled lightly, releasing the spell. David stumbled forward, glaring half-heartedly.
"Seems effective enough," Leonard muttered, a faint smile on his lips. "At full power, it consumes ten units of mental power. If I had a magic staff, I could cut that in half, only five units for the same effect."
With the test complete, Leonard set out for Alfonso's residence.
The gate to Alfonso's courtyard stood open, creaking slightly in the cool evening breeze. Leonard stepped inside, noting the warm glow of light spilling from the windows. The old wizard had clearly been expecting him.
Pushing open the door, Leonard was greeted by the comforting crackle of a wood fire burning in the hearth. Alfonso sat on a plush sofa, his posture elegant yet relaxed, a thick leather-bound book resting in his lap.
"Teacher," Leonard said, bowing respectfully.
Alfonso glanced up, his piercing gaze meeting his. "So, you've completed the Earth Ring Meditation?"
"Yes," Leonard replied.
Alfonso's lips curled into a faint smile. "A bit slower than I expected, but acceptable nonetheless."
Leonard hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Teacher, I have some questions."
Alfonso closed his book with a soft thud, setting it aside. "Ask."
"I successfully meditated on the Earth Ring Method and constructed the spell framework," Leonard began, his tone thoughtful. "But I noticed something… different about it. This spell feels more… intuitive. More seamless than others I've learned. Why is that?"
Alfonso tilted his head slightly, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Noticing the difference already? Impressive. You're ahead of most apprentices."
He leaned back, his expression turning reflective. "To understand the difference, you must first know the history of wizard meditation methods."
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