Chapter 41: I

The top floor of the Bell Tower.

“What should I learn next to master magic?”

Xia Mingyu did not feel excited by Elise’s praise; after all, even the greatest potential was merely potential—only the power held firmly in one’s hands was real.

“You have already sensed magic. Had you not already possessed a commoner-class profession, you would have received the Magician’s Apprentice vocation by now.”

Elise looked at the white “College Student” hovering above Xia Mingyu’s head and said with a hint of regret.

“Your Highness, what you must learn next are magic runes—the foundation of all magic, and the truth that describes all things in the world.”

Elise extended one finger; white light flowed like water along her fingertip, then her finger skillfully traced elegant arcs through the air.

Moments later, a complex pattern emitting a soft white glow gradually materialized and hung suspended in midair.

“Your Highness, this is the most basic magic rune—its meaning is wind.” Elise whispered.

Immediately after, she raised her fingertip again and continued drawing; soon, a pattern even more intricate than the previous one appeared in the air.

“This is cutting.”

Under Elise’s control, the two runes slowly merged together.

The next instant, the wind moved.

A transparent wind blade suddenly appeared, slicing through the air with a shrill whistle before striking the massive bronze bell.

Wooooom!

Instantly, the bronze bell erupted in a deafening roar, its sound waves crashing like tidal waves across the sky above Langbao Castle.

In an instant, countless people within the castle awoke from their sleep.

“Is this magic?”

Xia Mingyu stepped closer to the bell, staring at the clear crack carved into its surface by the wind blade, his expression stunned.

If it could cleave bronze and iron, it could surely tear through flesh and blood with ease.

“Your Highness, this cannot be called magic. True magic is far more powerful, and its incision requires dozens of times greater complexity and difficulty.” Elise shook her head.

“This is merely magic trickery.”

Elise said calmly, a faint, almost imperceptible hint of disappointment flickering in her heterochromatic eyes.

No wonder he’s a mage.

Even a magic trick is this powerful!

“Elise, is my next task to learn magic runes?” Xia Mingyu’s face lit up with excitement—he was already eager to cast magic like Elise.

“Yes, but it will be a long process. You must memorize the seven basic runes—Sun, Wind, Earth, and others—and hundreds of commonly used runes.”

“Beyond that, the greater challenge lies in mastering the flow and drawing of magic, and stacking runes. This process demands extreme finger dexterity and is the most difficult step in casting magic.”

“Most people require years of practice to learn even the first basic rune.”

Elise whispered.

Becoming a mage requires not only talent for meditation, but also memory, comprehension, and even finger dexterity—all crucial.

This is why mages are regarded as the hardest profession to advance in—and why I did not call you a magic prodigy.

“Wait, Elise—is learning magic runes like learning a language?” Xia Mingyu keenly noticed the key point.

Basic runes, common runes—it all looked exactly like a language.

“Yes, your insight is sharp. Grand Archmage Bayas once referred to magic runes as ‘Magical Tongue,’ and speculated that the highest gods might communicate with each other through runes.”

Elise marveled, deeply aware of how effortlessly it was to teach a clever “student.”

Hearing this, Xia Mingyu fell into thought.

If learning magic runes was like learning a language, then his ability “Fluent Speech” from being the “Fourteen-Empire Heir” should work here.

As for drawing runes—wasn’t there “Soul Wander Beyond the Physical”?

Let my fingers move on their own!

Fourteen billion + College Student = ?

At this thought, Xia Mingyu’s lips curled slightly upward.

“Elise, I need to clarify something with you,” Xia Mingyu said solemnly.

“Huh?” Seeing the black-haired youth’s serious expression, Elise’s heart immediately panicked.

She had never seen the Prince look so grave—had she said something wrong to offend him?

Under Elise’s tense gaze, Xia Mingyu slowly spoke:

“Not just in meditation—in the entire path of magic—I will be a peerless genius!”

Elise: “.”

Is this Prince perhaps a bit too arrogant?

At noon.

Bright sunlight spilled across the castle’s stone steps; Viscount Hughes stood at the gate with his pack on his back, beside him lay the massive Black Abyss Wolf.

“Danielle, I’m leaving. Remember to take good care of Prince Mingyu in the castle—fulfill any request he makes.”

“Also, about little Haiden’s infant honor ceremony—I’ll remember to notify your mother and brother, and ask my comrade Lu En to be Haiden’s godfather.”

Karon instructed his wife.

He was going at the Prince’s request to seek a magic potion from the High Priest of the Storm Church, and also to arrange his infant son’s honor ceremony along the way.

“Alright, darling, travel safely,” Danielle embraced Karon and kissed him deeply.

“You too—take care of yourself,” Karon whispered, stroking his wife’s long hair.

Then, without hesitation, he leapt onto the Black Abyss Wolf’s back and struck its head firmly.

“Let’s go, Blacktail.”

Awooo!

The Black Abyss Wolf raised its head and let out a piercing howl, then its four paws slammed against the ground, launching forward like an arrow released from a bow.

“Why did you have to choose Lu En as Haiden’s godfather...”

Watching her husband’s retreating figure, Danielle murmured to herself.

She had originally been perfectly satisfied with this choice—after all, the Storm and Hunting Church was now the largest church in the Sosia Kingdom.

And Lu En, as the High Priest of the Storm Church’s southern branch, held a position of immense power and prestige.

He was not only more than qualified to be her son’s godfather—he could even easily serve as godfather to the legitimate son of her own Ma family.

But now, there seemed to be a more suitable candidate.

Danielle turned her head toward the castle library, where a faint silhouette could just be seen leaning against the window, reading.

“Great gods, I beg you—let this noble being become my infant son’s godfather! Even if I must trade twenty years of my remaining life for it!”

For her child, the woman who had never believed in gods clasped her hands together and prayed with unprecedented devotion.

Two days later.

The Library.

Having finally completed the basic and hundreds of common magic runes, Xia Mingyu lazily stretched, while beside him, Elise sat utterly numb from shock.

“I’m a waste. I’m an idiot. My teacher has been lying to me,” the girl chanted blankly, over and over.

This sight made Xia Mingyu feel a pang of guilt.

He knew that from any perspective, Elise was unquestionably a magic prodigy—but... he was cheating.

Today I read the comments—some readers said the plot felt dull. My reply: Starting today, three chapters per day. I’ll speed up the pace and rush into the main storyline. Hope you all enjoy it. Thanks (ω)





(End of Chapter)