The Cornflower Witch

Half an hour later, after receiving instructions and encouragement, Sylutia left, and the office fell quiet once more.

After escorting the girl out of the tower, Da Vinci returned to the office. The Dean still stared silently out the window, but his gaze did not seem to be admiring the view; he was thinking about something else.

"Mentor." Da Vinci stood not far behind him.

"Speak. I know you must have questions right now." The Dean had expected this behavior from his student. He turned, then picked up the teacup on the desk.

"Hedra has only been enrolled for three years, plus that one year she studied in the Asra District. She's only twenty years old, and she spent most of her time at school."

"And?" The old man set the cup down.

"Isn't this too heavy a responsibility for someone so young? Besides, those budgets touch the interests of many schools and groups within the Alliance. Behind this isn't just one institution or department, it's the welfare of a whole crowd of people."

"It is difficult, but so what?" He shook his head.

"She isn't as fragile as you think. Harlson's letter of recommendation detailed her deeds in the Western Mountain Range—slaying monsters, defending castles and rescuing tribes, field surveys and visits, mediation, developing medicines. None of those are things a delicate, helpless person could accomplish. She only appears serene on the surface. If she takes action, she won't easily give up or shrink back."

"Moreover, she has risen to Fourth Tier within three years, and Fifth Tier within seven years is highly probable. If that happens, His Excellency Abellid will surely summon her. If she becomes His Excellency's heir, then her later rise to lead the Mage Alliance would be almost inevitable."

"Become His Excellency's heir and then lead the Mage Alliance? Isn't that a bit rash?" Da Vinci had heard the rumor before, but still found it hard to believe.

"That is because you do not understand many things." The Dean shook his head.

"Our time is running out." The Dean fell silent.

.....

After leaving the tower where the Dean sat, Sylutia kept thinking about the duties she was about to undertake for her internship.

She hadn't expected to be doing so much before graduation, and according to the old man’s words, even more important matters awaited her. Getting early exposure to the core of the Mage Alliance was a good thing, but the pace was staggering. It felt like she had been sitting in class yesterday, and today she would be leading people to resolve state-level crises. The leap was enormous.

Back at Black Rose Palace, she reviewed what she had learned, then checked her Fate Plate. Numerous pieces of information surfaced.

Name: Sylutia Meizhalansi

Race: Human (***)

Status: Healthy (no abnormalities)

Talent: Star [Unknown Tier], Cornflower's Affection [Perfect]

Fate Card: [The Scholar Girl of the Mountains] (Fourth Tier · Secret Word)

"Scholar who traverses the ranges, seeking traces of the past, uncovering sealed histories

- Effect [Discernment Eyes Lv.6]: Originating from a special talent and constitution, you can distinguish five layers of color imperceptible to ordinary people, and perceive the intrinsic nature of things. (When you advance the Fate Card's rank, this ability will likewise improve)

- Effect [Inspiration Lv.5]: You can subconsciously sort the massive information stored in your mind to aid problem solving. (You can readily access knowledge from memory, avoiding forgetfulness or omissions)

- Effect [Runic Mastery Lv.7]: Familiarity with runes grants improved spell construction results and faster reaction times. (Spell effect +4, reaction speed +3)

- Effect [Eyes of Countless Hearts and Words]: Her gaze reflects inner hearts; the countless past lives gather into resplendent colors as if speaking volumes without words, immersing those who meet it. (Her eyes possess an uncanny charm)

- Effect [Bloodline Regression]: Upon reaching Seventh Tier, all abilities gain comprehensive enhancement, allowing exemption from certain high-tier effects.

- Progression Path [Clockmaker Lv.3]: An exclusive progression path of the Mithril Clock school, enhances memory, trains the mind, and enables special clock-disk spells. (Mnemonic Method · Meditation Method)

Core Card: [Astronomical Clock Page] [Secret Word]

You carefully selected twelve runes, inscribed them into pages, and constructed a Mithril Astronomical Clock, validating your studies and achievements.

- Impact [Spellcasting Ability]: You may freely invoke the runes inscribed on the page for casting without occupying ability card slots. (Clock · Pointer · Quicksilver · Acceleration · Deceleration · Star Attraction · Levitation · Thread · Synesthesia · Bird · Hardening · Charging)

- Impact [Mithril Astronomical Clock]: You may, through the clock's power, perceive true time and gain accelerated cognition.

Ability Cards: [Star Prayer Meditation Method Lv.7] [Breathing Technique Lv.7] [Clockwork Engraving Lv.3] [Empty Slot]

Compared to before, she had not added extra abilities. That did not mean she hadn't improved; a mage's strength often lies in knowledge and skill mastery—hidden strengths. Now she had mastered many runic models and constructions of the school. The empty card slot could be filled at any time to form a new spell. This is the power of mages: breadth and adaptability. But such breadth has weaknesses.

Spells can achieve many desired effects, but it is difficult to strengthen the caster personally. Also, the constructed spell models are often much weaker than specialized abilities. Therefore in combat, mages pick a handful of spells they excel at; unfamiliar spells struggle to be effective in high-intensity fights of the same tier.

For this reason, many schools have dedicated traditions that specialize in a series of spells. For example, the Steel Shadow Magic Hand series she previously studied follows this pattern, and now she was learning the Clockwork Engraving series as well.

In two years she had not only built a solid foundation, she had also mastered the Mithril Clock school's exclusive progression path, Clockmaker. This path can summon clock disks and cast powerful spells. The Secret Word, Alien Star, and Gold Steam aspects can all transfer into this path, allowing the caster to choose one to master as a moment.

The First Dial, Anari's Impact, is accessible to all aspects. The remaining dials require different aspects and tier prerequisites.

Gold Steam — Second Dial: Fire Shale Gear

Secret Word — Third Dial: Shuriel's Eye

Alien Star — Fourth Dial: Niaz Comet

Later dials require composite aspects to deploy. To fully master all twelve clock-disk engraving spells would likely require Seventh Tier, and even then it is only possible; true geniuses capable of mastering all twelve had not been heard of in the school. After all, Seventh Tier is mysterious even within the Mage Alliance.

Though Third to Fourth Tier Clockmakers can at most master two clock-disk engravings, that does not denote weakness, because each clock-disk engraving far surpasses other spells in power and can be a Mithril Clock school member’s trump card.

After organizing her status, Sylutia pondered. If she wanted to advance further, besides specializing in Secret Word, she would need to gradually cultivate the Gold Steam aspect and integrate it into herself. This is the hardest barrier blocking many Fourth Tier transcendents, causing many to squander a lifetime.

Composite aspects are not simple additions. They are like chemical reactions, producing entirely new concepts and abilities, a rebirth and metamorphosis. Even with accumulated experience and many methods and secrets in the Mage Alliance, out of ten Fourth Tier mages only one or two might cross this threshold.

But for Sylutia now, advancement remained distant. She would still need several years to consolidate.

After finishing her review, she felt somewhat sleepy. She lay down on the bed in a sideways stretch; her skirt twisted with the curve of her waist, hair spilling across the pillow. She closed her eyes and drifted into a short nap, her breathing even and calm, barefoot feet crossed like a sleeping butterfly curled up.

A gentle afternoon breeze stirred. In the small bedroom, the curtain fluttered now and then, revealing a beam of sunlight that lit the girl's skirt.