Chapter 199 - 198: Academic Shut-in
As Mage Hedley wolfed down her food, Zelir finally had a good chance to study her.
Probably because she didn’t get out much, her skin was unnaturally pale. A pair of glasses rested on her pert nose.
But unlike Manlin or Marvin, Mage Hedley didn’t give off an impression of wisdom at all.
On the contrary, her expression held a crystal-clear simplicity.
’She’s a total academic shut-in, isn’t she?’ Zelir thought.
After demolishing all the food before her like a whirlwind, Hedley let out a long, satisfied sigh and leaned back against the chair’s wide backrest.
"Thank you for helping me buy food."
"It’s nothing, you’re welcome..."
"Mage Hedley, this is the Zelir I told you about before."
Bev took the initiative to introduce him. "The youngest Junior Mage in Black Stone Town, and he also helped me test my Fireworks Magic."
"Zelir... Oh! I remember now, it’s you!"
Having eaten her fill, Mage Hedley seemed much more spirited. Her eyes lit up. "You’re the one who helped Bev test her Fireworks Magic?"
Surprisingly, Mage Hedley cared more about the latter title than the former.
"Yes," Zelir admitted.
"Wonderful! Bev said you’re incredibly fast at memorizing Spell Structures, that you have a near-photographic memory. I’ve wanted to meet you for a while now," Mage Hedley said excitedly.
"It’s nothing special... but I am a bit better than others in that regard," Zelir said.
After all, he had Technique Celestial Calculation.
Magic Circuits that were incredibly complex for others only required a single glance from him before Technique Celestial Calculation would automatically analyze their entire contents.
It was harder to forget them than to remember.
"Oh, right."
Mage Hedley seemed to have suddenly remembered something. "The magic you cast just now, that was Empowerment Magic, wasn’t it?"
"Don’t tell me you’re like Manlin, a Mage who specializes in Empowerment Magic?"
"I wouldn’t say I specialize in it..."
Zelir chose his words carefully. "I can also use magic from other schools."
"You mean to say, you can use magic not just from the Empowerment Magic System, but also the Arcane Magic System, the Elemental Magic System, and other schools?"
"Yes..."
Hearing Zelir admit it himself, Hedley’s gaze stuck to him, almost unable to look away.
"A Mage who has mastered Full Magic... You’re the real talent for the research path!"
"Those who master the Arcane Magic System can only invent Arcane Magic. Those who master the Elemental Magic System can only invent Elemental Magic."
"But you’re not bound by that restriction at all. You can conduct deep research into any school!"
"Ahaha... Thank you for the compliment. I actually came here today to learn from you..."
"Oh! It seems I’m about to welcome my most outstanding student." Hedley’s eyes shone.
"You’ve probably misunderstood, Mage Hedley. I’m not here to learn how to create magic."
Zelir gestured. "But rather, to learn how to engrave Spell Structures and create Magic Scrolls."
"You’re not going to learn how to create magic?" Mage Hedley was taken aback.
"For the time being, I don’t have any interest in that..." Zelir said tactfully.
’I just don’t have the energy to spend researching those complicated circuit structures.’
’I’ll leave the business of creating magic to others. After all, once they make something, I’ll know how to do it with just a single look.’
"Fine. But if you become interested in the future, you can come find me anytime," Mage Hedley said, shaking her head regretfully.
"Definitely, definitely..."
Zelir asked, "So, to learn how to make Magic Scrolls from you... how many Gold Coins will it cost?"
’After all, she surely wouldn’t spend her own time teaching a student for free.’
’And I’m too embarrassed to trouble Manlin or Instructor Marvin with this. It’s better to just solve it with money.’
"Let’s forget about the money."
Mage Hedley waved her hand dismissively.
"I can teach you what you want to know, but in exchange, you have to do me a favor... What’s the highest Level of magic you can cast right now?"
"Level Five."
"Hmm... That’s enough. It’s quite good for a Junior Mage."
Mage Hedley nodded.
"I’ve recently created some new spells, but I haven’t had anyone to test their effects."
"You help me test them, and we’ll call it an exchange for me teaching you how to make Scrolls. How about it?"
Hearing this, Zelir recalled the scene of helping Bev test her magic and asked cautiously.
"In terms of safety... is it guaranteed?"
’Bev had only been working on a simple Fireworks Magic spell back then, and it had nearly blinded me. The magic Hedley researches must be far more lethal, right?’
"Of course it’s safe. Why would you ask that?"
Mage Hedley looked at Bev. "Did something go wrong when you were helping Bev test her magic?"
Bev’s face flushed slightly.
"Not really."
Zelir stepped in to smooth things over. "Then it’s settled, Mage Hedley. You teach me how to make Scrolls, and I’ll help you test your magic."
"It’s a deal!" Hedley agreed readily.
"Then I won’t disturb you anymore... Good luck with your studies, Zelir."
Bev immediately slipped away, afraid that Mage Hedley might suddenly decide to check on her homework progress.
Bev still hadn’t quite figured out the several Rune Circuits that Mage Hedley had told her to familiarize herself with last time.
"Alright, let’s get started then."
With that, Mage Hedley began rummaging through a cabinet.
Zelir peeked over for a look.
’The contents were a real mess. All sorts of blueprints were mixed together, seemingly without any clear organization.’
After quite a while, Mage Hedley finally pulled out a brand-new roll of parchment.
"How much do you know about engraving Spell Structures?" Mage Hedley asked casually.
"I’ve read the description in the book *Basic Magic Configuration Analysis* and know the basic process," Zelir said.
"Good, then I won’t go over the basic theory again."
"We’ll start by learning to engrave relatively Low Level magic to build a solid foundation, and then we’ll gradually move up in Level."
Hedley swept all the books on the table to one side, clearing an area, and then unrolled the parchment.
"Come, first perform a Shallow Meditation."
Following Mage Hedley’s instructions, Zelir closed his eyes and focused his mind, concentrating his energy and relaxing his body.
After a simple Shallow Meditation, his spiritual focus had improved significantly, and the flow of his Magic Power became much smoother.
"Then, try to intersect your Spirit and Magic Power..."
Mage Hedley thought for a moment.
"How should I put it... It’s like making two tributaries converge. Let your Spirit and Magic Power merge together. It’s a feeling like that."
She held up the index fingers of her left and right hands, first separated, then brought them together.
"This is a very important step. If engraving a Scroll is like painting a picture, then this fused Power is the paintbrush."