Chapter 33: Spell Practice (New book, please vote for recommendations!!!)

The Spell Laboratory is located on the Library Layer of the Mage Tower, similar to the Transcription Room; they are all distributed around the periphery of the twenty-plus Library Zones. If this were normal space, Xia Duo would think the Spell Laboratory and Transcription Room were set right against the tower walls, while the Library Zones were located in the center. However—

The space inside the Mage Tower is not normal space. Viewed from the outside, the Mage Tower is at most a dozen meters thick, but a single library sub-zone has a depth of over 20 meters, and there are more than twenty such zones, not to mention the ring of Transcription Rooms and Spell Laboratories on the periphery.

It is also because of this that Xia Duo firmly believes that in the future, he will definitely be able to obtain a spatial item to carry all his belongings with him.

……

After paying the Gold Coins in full to the administrator, Xia Duo followed Dien and found the Spell Laboratory Dien had rented next to an Elevator; they could stay here for 2 hours.

If the time is exceeded, one must either pay more money or be expelled by the Tower Spirit.

Besides this, one can also choose to conduct experiments outside the Mage Tower, but one must bear the risk of spell failure or loss of control oneself; during the practice stage, it is best to find a Spell Laboratory.

The interior of this laboratory is similar to many rooms in the Mage Tower that Xia Duo has seen; there is no excessive decoration, only a simple humanoid target standing in the corner, and no other equipment.

It seems it doesn't live up to the price of 5 Gold Coins per hour at all.

Dien, however, was not surprised at all; it was not his first time renting a Spell Laboratory. "Xia Duo, next I will briefly demonstrate how to perform Spellcasting for you, after which I will practice on my own."

"Okay."

Being able to have someone demonstrate in person, Xia Duo was already very satisfied. According to the normal curriculum, perhaps they would soon be taught how to perform Spellcasting, but there is still a difference between one-to-many demonstrations and one-on-one demonstrations.

Moreover, Xia Duo could be almost certain that the instructor would definitely not demonstrate many times; more would certainly cost extra money.

……

"Watch closely!" Dien stood next to the humanoid target and specifically gave a reminder before he began to demonstrate, explaining as he demonstrated—

"Do you see the wispy structure of the Magic Net around me?"

"Yes." In a state of focus, Xia Duo could perceive part of the structure of the Magic Net with a kind of magical Perception; it was wispy and very calm, as clear as if seen with his eyes, yet it would not obstruct his vision.

"Watch here!" Dien extended his finger and pointed at a spot of void in front of him, and immediately a small white ball of light appeared there.

It is 【Light】!

Xia Duo reacted immediately, because of that spell-payment incident, his impression of 【Light】 was particularly deep; it cost 5 Gold Coins!

At this moment, he noticed that when Dien cast this Spell, the originally very calm Magic Net structure around him began to shift, and some of the wispy structures that composed it looked very familiar to Xia Duo.

Isn't that exactly the spell structure Kelin talked about in class!

Some structures were familiar to Xia Duo, but others were completely baffling, which meant that when Kelin taught 【Read Magic】 and Spell Identification, the provided spell structures did not include these.

Xia Duo simply did not know all the details of 【Light】.

"Xia Duo, did you see it?"

"I saw it!"

"When we are in a state of focus, manipulating those wisps that make up the Magic Net to form a specific structure can produce a specific Magic Effect; this process is Spellcasting."

Xia Duo nodded; this was the intuitive embodiment of the Three Elements of Spellcasting: Knowledge, Magic Net, and focus—none can be dispensed with.

"Alright, next I'm going to practice on my own. Are you going back or—"

Dien did not think that Xia Duo had already mastered Magic at this moment; he knew that Xia Duo had only just started learning to read after joining the Mage Tower, so how could he have come into contact with Magic!

"I'll practice a bit too; I'll practice 【Prestidigitation】."

Hearing Xia Duo say 【Prestidigitation】, Dien couldn't help but chuckle, but he didn't say anything else. He fixed the ball of light created by 【Light】 in place, then turned his head and began his own practice facing the humanoid target.

Xia Duo naturally didn't know what Dien was thinking, but seeing that he didn't object, he found a spot furthest from Dien to start practicing. He had already discovered that the Spell Laboratory at 5 Gold Coins per hour was quite worth it.

Outside the laboratory, although there is a Mage Tower ban and one cannot cast Spells at will, attempting to make contact with the Magic Net is still possible. Outside, the Magic Net is always in an active state, just like a river that never stops.

Although it also looks very calm, that is just an illusion; in reality, there are undercurrents surging within it.

Only in this laboratory did Xia Duo see a Magic Net that remained almost stationary; it was truly calm, but this calmness did not seem to be a solidified state under heavy pressure, but rather a stillness similar to excluding all interference.

For a beginner, it is very friendly!

Since coming into contact with the Magic Net, Xia Duo had only cast 【Prestidigitation】 twice; the first time was naturally the time he made a hair glow, and the second time was after experiencing Mu Yan's Ancestor Blessing Ritual, when he accidentally discovered that his Magic power had become stronger.

After entering the Mage Tower, he had no chance to cast it again, and today he finally had the opportunity to do it once more.

To this day, Xia Duo would never again regard people in Savile Town who could cast 【Prestidigitation】 as Mages, because the essence of 【Prestidigitation】 only draws upon a very small amount of the Magic Net structure.

The effect produced is also extremely weak.

From the perspective of Spell Identification, 【Prestidigitation】 does not even contain any spell structure; of course, this also gives it its flexible and varied characteristics, and almost any effect one can imagine can be realized.

In the background of the game Xia Duo played before he transmigrated, there was a description like this—every Archmage is a master of using 【Prestidigitation】; this spell, which is spurned by Apprentices, undergoes a change that turns decay into magic in their hands.

Now, this is the only thing Xia Duo can practice; he doesn't expect to reach the level of an Archmage, but at least he must make himself familiar with it.

The self-forgetful practice made time pass very quickly. Xia Duo soon discovered that he could no longer enter the state of focus for Spellcasting; as soon as he wanted to contact the Magic Net, it felt like an awl was drilling into his brain, which made him extremely annoyed!

Because he was just preparing to try a new trick for 【Prestidigitation】!

However, Xia Duo ultimately remembered Mu Yan's warning—any Spellcaster needs to be cautious when dealing with Magic.

The annoyance subsided instantly. Xia Duo looked up at Dien; Dien was currently sitting on the ground, deep in thought, one hand clutching his hair and the other clutching his notes.

"Dien—"

No response.

Xia Duo was not prepared to disturb him and quietly went out the door, but he didn't expect to be bumped into by someone as soon as he came out, and this person was cursing with eyes like they were spitting fire—

"Damn Tower Spirit! You ****, can't you give me even one more second?! Do you know how important my research is?!"

Upon seeing Xia Duo, this person pushed Xia Duo and roared, "Move!"

Then he continued to curse.

Xia Duo rubbed his ears and did not leave immediately, preparing to see the fate of this fellow.