"In that case, Master! If a wizard can only store spells on the first day and use them the next, doesn't he have to decide what spells he can cast on the very first day? And once his spell slots are used up…"
Leilin raised his hand and asked.
"Yes! Every wizard must prepare the spells he intends to use the day before, and how to arrange them is also a major science… As for the issue of running out of spell slots…"
"I'll remember!"
Leilin sat back down, feeling somewhat exasperated.
"According to what was explained, wizards are essentially using their own spiritual power as currency to purchase casting privileges from the
"All in all, the wizard profession is nothing more than a stripped-down, castrated version of the Warlock!" Leilin's expression was rather embarrassed.
"While the Weave has given many people with insufficient natural talent the ability to use magic, this rigid-to-the-extreme system will undoubtedly stifle true Warlock geniuses!"
Leilin's eyes brightened. "Perhaps… this is the purpose of those gods! To prevent the emergence of overly powerful wizards! Could it be the lingering impact of the last War of Warlock Extinction? If so, perhaps I should look into the history of the Weave Goddess's appearance… If my guess is correct, she must be a new god who ignited her divine fire only after the ancient War of Extinction!"
Having realized this, Leilin certainly wasn't going to rush out and challenge anything.
He had always intended to grow quietly. Picking a fight with the gods' bottom line was absolutely not something he would do.
Before he possessed enough power to break the rules, he could only follow the wizard's path and feel his way forward.
"Next… I'll teach you a meditation method, and then you can begin attempting to contact the Weave…"
On the podium, Ernest's instruction continued, never suspecting that the seemingly diligent apprentice below was already brimming with new ideas.
"The wizard's meditation isn't much different from the Warlock's, or perhaps even slightly inferior in effect. Of course, it's more compliant with the rules of the gods' world, so there's much to draw from… As for the Weave…"
Leilin's consciousness spread outward slightly.
Following the method Ernest had just demonstrated, his spirit seemed to touch upon a magnificent existence.
It was an invisible energy network resembling a spider's web, yet it seemed to envelop the entire world of the gods, carrying terrifying energy.
Even just the outermost layer—with its dense web of energy circuits and nodes—gave Leilin a scalp-tingling sensation.
"Those node-like things… are they spell slots? I didn't expect that even the surface layer of the Weave would leave me feeling so dazzled…"
Leilin gazed at the Weave, wonder in his eyes, yet all the more certain of his hypothesis.
"This powerful Weave… could only have been constructed by the combined efforts of the gods. And the goddess
Leilin knew very little about the gods—only that beneath their strongest, the World
And this Mystra was clearly a Greater Divine Power being. Even if Leilin's true body came in person, he would certainly not fare well against her.
"I've taught you the meditation method. Next comes the process of continuously practicing and using your spiritual power to contact the Weave. For other apprentices this might take one to three months, but you could possibly complete it within a month!"
Ernest was speaking eloquently when suddenly, a strange fluctuation rippled outward, making his expression extraordinarily animated.
"The Weave! You've contacted the Weave!"
Ernest rushed over, grabbing Leilin's slender arm, his eyes slightly reddened. "Leilin! Is this truly your first time encountering spells?"
"Of course it is, Master! Since the day I was born, I've barely left the estate more than a handful of times!"
Leilin widened his watery eyes and said with perfect innocence.
"Then tell me—are you the Weave Goddess's illegitimate son?"
Ernest asked with an extraordinarily solemn expression.
…
After the autumn harvest, the estate was filled with scenes of abundance. Granaries brimming with grain and flour brought smiles to many tenants' faces.
Such a harvest meant that after paying their lord's tribute, they would still have enough food to last through winter and seeds for next spring's planting.
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but pray once more, praising the gods' blessings and their lord's benevolence and generosity.
The Fayolan family, thanks to the port's income and the need to migrate residents from the mainland to the island, had set tax rates remarkably low—a rare act of benevolence.
On the estate's training ground, haystacks were stacked high around the perimeter like irregularly shaped fortresses, while two figures darted across the field.
"Watch your center of gravity! I'm coming in!"
With the warning, a golden-haired young man in white training clothes thrust his iron sword forward like a serpent, tracing an eerie arc through the air to swing around his opponent's side and strike from an unexpected angle.
Facing Leilin was a weathered middle-aged man, his hands covered in thick calluses, wearing an expression of extreme wariness.
"Hah! Over here!" he called in a low voice, sweeping his heavy sword horizontally to block.
Clang! The two swords met with a deep ring, followed by a tremendous surge of force.
"Not good!" The middle-aged man's face changed drastically. His foot slipped, and losing his balance caused his entire body to pitch sideways.
Bang! A tremendous force struck him, but at his chest it softened into something gentle, sending him floating lightly backward.
When the middle-aged man opened his eyes again, the golden-haired youth's iron sword was already pointed at his chest. "You lost, Jacob!"
"Yes, Young Master Leilin! I lost!" Jacob smiled ruefully.
"Your blocking motion was still too rigid—you were especially lacking in intuition!" The one before him was, naturally, Leilin—yet here he was giving detailed instruction as though he were the teacher, and Jacob actually listened obediently, his face full of admiration.
After sending Jacob on his way, Leilin casually picked up a white towel and wiped the sweat from his face, then walked into the bathroom.
White steam rose continuously, shrouding the room in a hazy veil.
Before a precious mercury mirror, Leilin casually examined his appearance—golden curly hair, blue eyes, a handsome face that inherited the best features of both parents. Though fine fuzz along his lips betrayed his true age, it couldn't diminish the mature charm of his features.
"It's been eight years since I started learning wizardry…"
Leilin sighed, then issued a command. "Chip, pull up my current data!"
[Leilin Fayolan | Age: 13 | Race: Human | Rank 5
Next, Leilin shifted his gaze to the specific descriptions of his talents.
[Talent – Robust: The subject, through persistent warrior training, has developed a robust physique. (Strength +0.5, Constitution +0.3)] [Talent – Erudite: Rich experiences and vast knowledge have broadened and strengthened the subject's willpower and spiritual capacity. (Spirit +1)] "The data shown by the Chip is after talent bonuses have been applied…"
Leilin's expression grew somewhat heavy. "In other words, aside from naturally strong spiritual power, my physical stats are still practically the same as an ordinary adult's?"
After so many years, Leilin had discovered that due to the world's rules, it seemed far more difficult for humans here to improve their strength.
In particular, increases in various stats seemed to hit a ceiling. Once all his physical attributes had reached an average of 1, improvement had essentially stalled. Only the spiritual stat tied to the wizard profession could still marginally increase, but even that appeared to have hit a bottleneck.
"If we're talking pure physical stats, Jacob actually far surpasses me. My previous victories over him relied entirely on technique… Is it because of the warrior class bonuses?"
Leilin stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Though his current progress was already astonishing compared to others his age, it couldn't satisfy Leilin.
"Perhaps I should find an opportunity to go out and explore!"
Leilin soaked in the warm water, quietly making a decision.
He certainly had ideas about improving his strength, but he clearly couldn't reveal them at home. Setting out to travel would be a fine option.