“Come here.
Take a close look.”
Vries spread a sheet of paper across the table and used the Crystal Ball to hold down one corner.
Alvin stood beside the table and lowered his head to look.
There were six rows of combinations on the paper.
Each combination contained four kinds of symbols: circles, squares, stars, and flowers.
The four symbols were mixed together, and the number of each one was different.
With [Dual Soul] supporting him, Alvin only needed one glance to realize it was a logic puzzle.
Before Vries could even ask, Alvin had already spoken.
“Starting from the seventh row, it should be three stars, six circles, four flowers, and five squares.”
Admiration flashed through Vries’s eyes.
Then she immediately turned the paper over.
This time, five trees were drawn on it, each spaced at unequal distances.
“Very good.
Now look at this one.
Can you tell where the sixth tree should be drawn?”
Alvin thought for only a moment before pointing between the third and fourth trees.
“Here.”
“Two seconds.
Wonderful.”
“Alvin, compared with before, how do these logic diagrams feel to you now?
I mean in terms of how you think.”
At Vries’s question, Alvin suddenly understood.
“These diagrams aren’t very difficult, but if it were before, I probably wouldn’t have found the answer this quickly.
I would have needed to think for quite a while.”
Vries clapped her hands.
“That is the effect of improved mental power.
The stronger your mental power, the faster your brain processes things.
Reaching the required level of mental power is also a prerequisite for casting magic.”
“That is precisely why magic is an ability that can only be mastered through diligent study and practice, and only by those with talent.
The latter matters even more than the former.”
“And to my delight, Alvin, you belong to the latter.
The gate of magic has already opened fully to you.”
“One final question.
What do you think magic is?”
Vries folded her hands and looked at him expectantly.
“There’s no need to rush.
Sit down first, think it over carefully, then answer me properly.”
Alvin sat in the chair prepared beside her and lowered his head in thought for a long while.
“Lady Vries, I think that in some people’s eyes, magic is a sign of danger.
Like Lake Mokva, which you told me about before.
One wooden barrel filled with Alchemy potions would be enough to destroy the ecosystem there.”
“But if used properly, it can also become a step toward the world’s progress.
Like the magical crystal chandelier above us.
It can give off light without relying on oil, and that is also a product of magic.”
“Mm…
it’s like a double-edged sword.
Whether it can be used correctly still depends on the caster.”
Vries’s eyes flickered.
“You said that very well.”
“Magic can be a curse, and it can also be a blessing.
It is Chaos itself, and also the source of creation.”
“It is an art.
Whether it becomes destruction depends entirely on us.”
“Your mental power has already reached the threshold for casting magic.
More importantly, you have a clear understanding of magic.”
“That is truly rare.”
“Come.
Today, I’ll teach you a basic spell.”
Vries’s voice was bright.
Clearly, she was very satisfied with Alvin’s answer.
Hearing this, Alvin’s heartbeat quickened instinctively.
Magic.
This day had finally come.
Vries said, “Vesemir should have taught you the hand gestures related to Signs.”
“Yes.”
“Then watch me.”
Vries extended her right hand, pressing her thumb against her palm while twisting her index and middle fingers across to touch her little finger.
Alvin copied her movements, but he could not get it right at first.
Vries stood and moved closer, bringing with her a faint scent of chamomile.
She bent down and gently adjusted Alvin’s fingers with both hands.
“Relax.
Don’t keep your hand so stiff.
If you’re too stiff, girls won’t like it in the future.”
Alvin turned his gaze away from Vries’s body, doing his best not to let his thoughts stray.
With her help, he quickly completed the correct Sign.
Alvin realized that Vries had not spoken aloud, but a whisper sounded in his mind.
It was Telepathy, the same as when he had been underwater last time.
“Wan’ter va.
This is Elder Speech.
It roughly means, water of healing, I summon you!”
“Wan’ter va…”
Alvin repeated the obscure phrase.
“The opening tone is too high.
Lower it a little.”
“Wan’ter va.
Like this?”
“Mm, a little lower still.”
“Wan’ter va!”
“That’s it.
Exactly.”
“Now concentrate.
Sense the water element the way [Basic Meditation] describes it, then speak the incantation.”
Alvin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
With [Lesser Water Element Affinity], he quickly sensed the fluctuations of the water element.
From the teacup on Vries’s desk, from the Alchemy liquids on the shelves, and even from the water molecules flowing through the air.
“Wan’ter va!”
The instant Alvin finished the incantation, he clearly felt his mind blank for a moment.
Immediately afterward, the surrounding water element began gathering toward his palm.
He opened his eyes abruptly.
The pale blue specks had turned pale green, clinging to his fingertips like fireflies.
Alvin pressed his dry lips together.
His cat-like eyes stared excitedly at the pale green light.
With just a thought, the light would fly wherever he wanted it to go.
Vries smiled.
“See?
It isn’t that hard.”
“What magic is this?”
“The most basic first-tier magic, [Healing Spell].
Any element can be converted to achieve it.
It’s a required lesson for Magic Apprentices.”
A system notification sounded.
[First-tier magic Healing Spell detected.
Unlocking.]
[Healing Spell Experience +5!]
[Healing Spell Lv1: 5/100]
Alvin lowered his head and guided the healing light toward his left ankle, where the Drowned Dead had clawed him.
The light passed through his boot and settled against the wound.
A tingling itch spread through him, and the faint pain was immediately eased.
“It’s incredible.”
Vries sat back down, lifted her teacup, took a sip, and casually raised her hand.
Alvin sensed a fluctuation of magic.
The teapot on the shelf flew into the air, poured a cup of hot tea into the cup on the silver tray by itself, then flew over to Alvin.
“We’ve talked for so long.
You must be thirsty.
Drink.”
Alvin accepted it solemnly.
“Thank you.”
He drank the liquid in the cup in one gulp.
It was ordinary hot water with a little honey added, but even that was already something most common people could not afford to enjoy.
“[Healing Spell] is first-tier magic, but it has a wide range of uses.
Especially for you.
When facing powerful monsters, whether to help yourself or save others, it will be very useful.
You must practice it properly from now on.”
“I understand.”
Vries set down her teacup.
“Mm.
I thought today was going to be a terrible day, but here at the end, your intelligence has brought me some pleasure.”
“All right, that will be all for today’s lesson.
Go join your activity.
They should be waiting for you.”
“Activity?”
Alvin sounded surprised.
Vries smiled.
“Two poor lizards have been sent into the arena by all of you.”
Alvin understood at once.
He had never expected Paul and the others to actually be waiting for him.
“Go on.
I have been traveling all day, and I need a hot bath.
Magic does require a great deal of time.”
“But fortunately, your life, and mine, will both be very long because of magic and mutation.”
“Now go back and enjoy your time with your companions.”
Alvin stood, carefully considered those words, then gave an Apprentice’s bow.
“Yes, Lady Vries.
I hope you have a pleasant evening.”
“Mm.”