After Edwin finally managed to compose himself, the lesson could at last commence.
“Oh, Leya,” Edwin began, his voice still tinged with an almost desperate hope, “does your family truly possess no lightning-element magic books? Not even one? Even a single tome of this caliber would suffice! Your teacher is willing to offer ten—no, a hundred, any magic books from the association’s collection in exchange. What do you say?”
“……..”
‘Of course not,’ she thought. Leya was no fool. The association’s affairs ran deep, and while it boasted the largest collection of magic tomes on the surface, how many of those readily displayed were genuinely significant?
Most were likely mere filler.
“If not lightning, then fire-element would work too,” Edwin pressed on, a nervous chuckle escaping him. “Your teacher specializes in lightning and minors in fire, you see. Heh, you wouldn’t believe it, Leya, but most of the magic books circulating these days are all cut from the same cloth. They typically only contain a dozen or so spells—maybe a few dozen if they’re considered classics. The bulk of their content is just personal insights and experiences on using magic.
They’re nowhere near as comprehensive as your book, which details everything: activation, usage, process, precautions, and even advanced extensions! And to think, a single volume holds a compilation of hundreds of spells, all of such exceptional quality… Hehe…”
“Alright, alright, Teacher,” Leya interjected, her patience wearing thin. “This book is already one of the most treasured in my family. As for lightning and fire-element magic books, I’ll inquire about them for you later.”
Leya truly couldn’t bear to listen any longer. What exactly was Edwin rambling about? If this continued, would she ever get to practice magic?
She had agreed to find a master, only to end up with what felt like a persistent burden, a situation that greatly vexed her.
Without hesitation, Leya invoked her fabricated, mysterious family, spinning a complete tale.
Edwin paused, initially taken aback, yet ultimately, he believed her. He shook his head, sighed, and refrained from further questions.
Evidently, he recalled his previous fruitless attempts to uncover Leya’s true identity, which only solidified his conviction that she must be a young lady from a prominent family out on an excursion. Otherwise, how could she possibly carry such an invaluable magic tome with her?
Inwardly, Edwin secretly rejoiced. He seemed to have acquired an exceptional student. Though their rapport was nascent, with time, her extraordinary talent would undoubtedly lead her to great prominence and boundless prospects.
As her teacher, wouldn’t his own standing naturally rise alongside hers?
‘Heh heh,’ he mused, ‘a master’s prestige is, after all, tied to their disciple.’ With this thought, Edwin dismissed his minor concerns.
“Then I shall leave it to you, Leya. Hmm… these notes are indeed your own, aren’t they…?”
Turning to the page where Leya had inscribed her notes, Edwin began to scrutinize them.
After a single glance, he gasped. ‘Good heavens!’
‘This is an utter desecration of a divine treasure! What on earth have you done to such an important magic book?!’
Even Edwin felt an almost uncontrollable surge of anger, a desperate urge to voice his exasperation.
Yet, despite his initial shock, a closer look revealed the handwriting to be remarkably exquisite. It was elegant and grand, flowing like a tranquil stream, executed in a single, pleasing sweep that did not detract from the book’s inherent preciousness.
It was only the content that remained a mystery…
“How is it, Master? Is anything amiss?”
Edwin was utterly speechless.
He found himself at a loss for words.
The more Edwin read, the more profound his shock grew, and the more he perceived a monstrous talent.
‘Could these really be the magical insights penned by my apprentice, who has only just begun to dabble in the arcane arts?’
Her understanding and concepts regarding ice magic far surpassed mere ‘good’; she had even made detailed annotations on three Lv1 Saint-tier spells.
Perhaps, at first glance, this seemed unremarkable. After all, it was merely an Lv1 Heaven-tier spell.
What was the big deal?
To illustrate, each stage of magic is divided into four main tiers: Low, Mid, High, and Saint-tier, progressing from the simplest to the most potent. Novice apprentices cannot even directly learn Low-tier magic; they must begin with what is termed ‘Beginner Magic.’
This entails little more than conjuring a small fireball to light a cigarette or generating minor static electricity for a quick jolt.
When, then, does one progress to Low-tier magic? Typically, a normal individual would begin after three months of mastering Beginner Magic, once their foundational skills were firmly established.
To attempt it sooner would leave one utterly clueless; at best, the spell would fizzle, and at worst, one could suffer a direct backlash, dying instantly.
And Leya, Edwin knew, was an anomaly.
She hadn’t even known her own magic level previously. Could such a person possibly understand magic? It seemed a jest, yet reality compelled him to believe.
Not only did she wield magic, but her magical attainment appeared remarkably profound, with her insights into ice magic seemingly reaching an Lv2 level!
“This… Leya, did you truly write this yourself?”
“Of course. Could it be faked?” Leya retorted, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. She spoke with a hint of displeasure.
Her face remained unblushing, her heart steady, and her eyes utterly clear and transparent. ‘Indeed,’ Edwin thought, ‘this must be the pinnacle of deception, so convincing she might even fool herself. Who else could achieve such a feat?’
“A genius, truly a genius! If this is genuinely your work, Leya, then you are without a doubt the most gifted young person your teacher has ever encountered!”
Edwin spoke with immense excitement, his words overflowing with praise.
Yet, his tone shifted, a note of regret entering his voice. “Alas, Leya, you excel in ice magic, while your master specializes in fire magic. Though I have dabbled a little in ice magic, it is not my forte.
To be honest, your notes on ice magic are already on par with my own understanding…”
Edwin’s face, at this confession, flushed slightly with embarrassment.
Still, an apprentice had been accepted, and a master acknowledged. He couldn’t allow such a minor discrepancy to impede his student’s brilliant future.
After a moment of deliberation, Edwin spoke with renewed gravity:
“Though this is the case, I imagine you still lack some practical experience in magic, Leya. Since you are so fond of ice magic, your teacher will make an exception. This mere Lv1 Saint-tier magic will certainly not stump me!”
Upon hearing this, Leya, whose face had momentarily shown disappointment, quickly expressed her gratitude. “Really?! Thank you, Teacher!”
However, there was one thought Leya kept to herself.
‘[Actually, this god doesn’t need you to teach at all, you know?]’
Indeed, what was the sole concern of Leya, who possessed an inexhaustible wellspring of magical power? A master? No, no, no. In terms of martial arts, Leya commanded the swordplay of Knight King Saber; for magic, she had Emilia’s [Lv2 Ice Magic Introduction]. Did she still lack a teacher? Absolutely not.
What she truly needed was simply a ‘guide’—someone to patiently show her how to forge a connection with magic and subsequently control it…