Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 22 (Part 1)

Alternating day by day, rune language classes and math classes continued. After the fourth math class, Instructor Kruper declared that Rodin had nothing more to learn.

“Then, what about the classes?”

“You don’t need to attend them. Whether you gather magic power in the training room or study in the library you like so much, do as you please.”

“Instructor, did I do something wrong?”

“It’s not because you made a mistake. It’s because there’s truly nothing more to teach you.”

Instructor Kruper had also struggled with this decision. He took great pride in his math skills, so saying “there’s nothing more to learn” was not easy for him.

But no matter how much he thought about it, there was nothing he could teach student number 108.

If it were academic mathematics, maybe, but the mathematics needed for magic was something 108 knew better than he did.

“Still, Instructor.”

“I’m not just saying this. The formulas needed for the calculations to cast magic are not that many. You already know all those formulas. What’s left is to practice and become familiar with them. This is something you can do faster by solving problems alone in a place like the library rather than taking my classes. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Instructor.”

Instructor Kruper’s declaration shocked the senior trainees from the first and second groups who were taking the class with him. They also felt quite bad.

The feeling that a much younger third-generation trainee was far ahead of them was really unpleasant. If this place hadn’t claimed to be a military-like setting, they might have called him out separately and resorted to violence.

And so, the math classes ended. Forever.

On the ninth day, there was a magic imagery class. The instructor was Instructor Serion, who taught rune language.

“Magic imagery or visualizing magic, it doesn’t actually affect your ability to use magic.”

“Really? Then does that mean it’s unnecessary?”

“You still don’t have a circle, right? If you work hard to gather magic power, you might become a first-circle mage in a few months.”

“Yes, probably.”

Rodin hadn’t been to the magic training room since the day his magic talent was measured. His speed of memorizing rune language was slower than expected, so he still hadn’t started gathering magic power.

“Magic imagery is… hmm, Light.”

A bright ball of light appeared between the desk and the podium. It was the Light magic cast by Instructor Serion.

“I told you about the three elements of casting magic, right? How was my magic just now?”

“It seemed like the rune chant and formula calculations were missing.”

“Oh, you have a keen eye. That’s right. I cast the magic just now without the chant and calculations. I used only magic imagery. That’s the value of magic imagery.”

Instructor Serion waved his hand and dispelled the Light magic, creating a white arrow in its place. It was the first-circle Magic Arrow spell.

Instructor Serion waved his hand around, and the Magic Arrow floated in the air, following his gestures.

“So, it allows you to skip the rune chant and magic formula calculations.”

“That’s right. Magic imagery is the act of visualizing the miracle your magic will bring about in your mind. If you keep practicing this, at some point, you won’t need the chant or calculations anymore. It’s like a form of magic memory.”

“But you said earlier that it doesn’t affect anything?”

“I didn’t say it was unnecessary. I said it doesn’t affect your ability to use magic right away. To use magic with just imagery, you need to be at a high circle. A third-circle mage can use first-circle magic with just imagery. For someone like me, a fourth-circle mage, I can use second-circle magic like that.”

High-circle mages can cast spells without chants or calculations, simply by uttering the initiation words rapidly, thanks to the ability to skip the rune chant and magic formula calculations.

“So, to become a high-circle mage, I need to practice magic imagery clearly and precisely. If the image changes every time I create the same spell, it’s meaningless.”

“Exactly. If you want to use the Light spell comfortably in the future, you should keep visualizing it in your mind while casting it as a first-circle mage. Once the image is perfectly ingrained in your mind, you’ll be rewarded when you become a high-circle mage.”

“If someone never becomes a third-circle mage, it’s meaningless, then.”

“Correct. That’s why the third circle is considered the standard for an official mage. You can comfortably cast first-circle magic without chanting or calculations. That’s where the true grace begins.”

Actually, chanting the runes and calculating the formulas to use magic takes too much time.

Even Serion, who comes from the combat mage lineage, needs over a minute to cast a fourth-circle spell.

If it takes this long to cast a spell, it’s hard to use in combat. If a knight charges while casting, you have no choice but to cancel the cast and run away.

“If you dream of becoming a high-circle mage, you need to practice magic imagery clearly and precisely. Changing the image every time you create the same spell is meaningless.”

“I understand.”

“For now, since you haven’t formed even one circle, practice is meaningless. I’ll simply tell you what kind of images I use to cast magic. First, for the Light spell…”

Rodin listened to Instructor Serion’s explanation of magic imagery but had no intention of following it exactly.

The images one visualizes are greatly influenced by their experiences. It was better for Rodin to create images that matched his own experiences.

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Hyung_Otaku2

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