Chapter 200 - 199: The First Scroll
’Fuse Magic Power and Spiritual Power...’
Zelir mulled over Mage Hedley’s words.
He then closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and began his first attempt within the vast sea of his consciousness.
He drew out his Magic Power, then pulled forth a wisp of Spiritual Power.
Next, Zelir carefully controlled the two forces, guiding them to slowly approach each other.
But the two powers were incompatible. They repelled each other, clashing like fire and water, and even caused waves of a faint, stinging pain.
’This isn’t working... I can’t force it.’
Zelir frowned.
’Mage Hedley said to fuse them...’
’So maybe I should try a gentler approach?’
This time, Zelir changed his way of thinking.
He no longer saw the two forces as opposing entities, but imagined them as two tributaries of a great river.
They had different sources and different properties, but they would ultimately flow into the same ocean.
When Zelir gave up on absolute control and instead sought a state of resonance, his Spiritual Power and Magic Power began to resist each other less violently.
They slowly intertwined, finally converging as one.
It was a truly wondrous feeling.
"Were you successful?" asked Mage Hedley, who had been observing from the side.
"I think so..." Zelir opened his eyes.
"Very good. Remember this feeling. It can not only be used as a ’brush’ for making Magic Scrolls, but in the future, fusing the two powers during battle can also provide a certain amplification."
Hedley took the opportunity to explain.
"Magic Power and Spiritual Power are two different types of power. The former is a necessary tool for casting Magic, while the latter is more of an embodiment of your inner will."
"Magic Power can be gradually strengthened through cultivation, but Spiritual Power is difficult to cultivate. It tends to deepen on its own with the passage of time."
"I understand..." Zelir said, lost in thought.
"Before we start the next step, you first need to visualize the Spell Structure you want to engrave in your mind..."
Mage Hedley steered the conversation back on track. "Since you’re a beginner, let’s start with a relatively simple Magic."
"How about the Fireball Skill?" Zelir suggested after a moment of thought.
It was the first Magic he had mastered, and the one he was most proficient with.
"Yes, that’s perfect for practice."
Mage Hedley nodded. "Alright, then. Start now. Visualize the entire process of the Fireball Skill in detail within your sea of consciousness."
"Remember, use the most primitive version, not the version with the circuits you’ve personally optimized. Otherwise, the Magic Scroll you create will be nothing but a worthless piece of paper."
Mage Hedley added with a serious tone.
"Everyone’s aptitude for Magic Manipulation is different, so their optimized circuits will also differ."
"If another Mage were to look at a Spell Structure that you’ve optimized according to your own habits, they probably wouldn’t even know what kind of Magic it is, let alone be able to learn from it."
"Oh..."
Zelir nodded in understanding.
His Intelligence Attribute had nearly doubled, from an initial 66 to its current 130.
Zelir had long since automatically optimized the original Spell Structure for the Fireball Skill, making it extremely concise and clear.
Even without the bonus from the Night Peace Magic Wand, Zelir could conjure a Fireball in under a second.
Within his sea of consciousness, the traces of the circuits that had been discarded after optimization had faded significantly.
However, Zelir could still recall them with ease, re-embedding them into the Spell Structure to restore its original form.
The Spring Seed trembled lightly, and Magic Power flowed out.
Zelir began to earnestly guide his Magic Power to trace the most primitive and complete Spell Structure of the Fireball Skill.
Once the tracing was complete, the entire network of Rune Circuits shone clearly in his sea of consciousness, like a constellation being lit up.
"Have you visualized it?" Mage Hedley’s voice sounded by his ear.
"I have..."
"Good. Now repeat it once more to strengthen that memory."
"You must remember, only when you recall every detail with perfect clarity in your mind will the Spell Structure you engrave become just as clear."
So, Zelir had his Magic Power trace the Spell Structure once more, and the Rune Circuits in his sea of consciousness grew even clearer.
"And now... it’s time for the Engraving Technique."
Mage Hedley extended a long, slender finger and tapped the parchment.
"Although we call it ’engraving the Spell Structure,’ in practice, it’s more like letting it flow out."
"As long as your visualization is clear enough and your Spirit is stable enough, it’s a process that will happen naturally."
"Now, continuously visualize the complete Spell Structure for the Fireball Skill you just practiced in your mind."
"Then, slowly infuse the Magic Power, mixed with your Spiritual Power, from your fingertip into the Scroll."
"Don’t be nervous," Mage Hedley encouraged. "Let it happen naturally. It will take shape on the parchment on its own."
With his eyes closed, Zelir began to do as Mage Hedley had instructed.
The Magic Power mixed with Spiritual Power slowly infused into the parchment, then took shape naturally according to the image in Zelir’s mind.
Inside the Scroll, a great change was taking place.
The Spirit Mark was continuously channeled in, gradually taking form.
From the Magic Power input interface, to the energy-channeling circuits, to the final shaping runes... all the parts fused together, ultimately becoming the Fireball Skill.
The entire process was extremely mentally taxing. Zelir had to immerse himself completely, not daring to allow the slightest stray thought.
After a good while, when the final circuit was engraved, the difficult process was finally over.
Zelir opened his eyes, breathing heavily.
He hadn’t expected that just engraving the Spell Structure for a single Fireball Skill could consume so much of his Magic Power.
He picked up the piece of parchment.
Although it still appeared blank, if one concentrated and probed it slightly, they could feel the Spirit Mark left behind.
"Not bad. You actually succeeded on your first try. Most Mages can’t even get through the whole process on their first attempt."
Mage Hedley picked it up, looked at it, and examined it with her senses.
A moment later, she shook her head regretfully.
"The quality is just very average. A lot of the Spell Structure wasn’t recorded completely; it’s a bit fragmented."
"If someone were to actually buy this Scroll of yours, they probably wouldn’t be able to learn from it unless they had exceptionally high comprehension."
Mage Hedley’s tone shifted. "But it’s fine. You’ve already done great."
Zelir took the Scroll, weighed it in his hand, and perceived it again.
’The quality really is mediocre. It’s just like that damaged Scroll I bought from the Minstrel.’
"In any case, you’ve mastered the method. From now on, it’s all about diligent practice. There are no shortcuts," Mage Hedley said.
"So engraving a Magic Scroll is this draining on Magic Power?"
Zelir put the Scroll away, tucking it into his clothes to treasure it carefully.
After all, it was the first Magic Scroll he had ever engraved himself.