Chapter 67: Magic

"First, set aside the mistaken notion that 'magic is just waving your hands a bit and mumbling a few incantations.' Coming to study a new system of knowledge with the overconfidence and the transmigrator's arrogance — the accumulated wisdom of countless years in a world — you are destined to gain nothing."

Kuku's little claws scribbled and sketched in midair.

When Li En couldn't cast spells, as Li En's "familiar," he easily conjured a small illusory blackboard — and used Li En's own mana to do it.

"Put in terms you can understand: the magic of this world is, in essence, this world's scientific system — the natural laws summarized by predecessors and the methods of reshaping nature."

Once Kuku entered teaching mode, he seemed to switch directly to a different line of thought, and his grammar became complete as well.

These gentle, brisk words did indeed seem well-suited to lecturing.

The fragmented and error-prone information brought by his usual way of speaking was a little dangerous for a spellcaster.

Li En suspected that if this era had no language packs, then for the sake of teaching effectiveness, the pragmatic him would probably have switched to a gentle female teacher's voice.

But what he said left Li En a bit dumbfounded.

Magic equals science? This, perhaps, was something only a transmigrator could understand and say.

But very quickly, Kuku let Li En understand what was really going on.

This didn't mean magic and Earth's science were indistinguishable; it was just that the two shared certain similarities in their developmental history and in their effects on the world as a whole.

Science is humanity's way of understanding and reshaping nature — a gathering of countless categories of knowledge.

And in the process of understanding and reshaping nature, the intelligent races of this world naturally classified the knowledge they gained as magic.

In turn, they would use magical knowledge to reshape the world and solve problems — for instance, that magical steam-car, or the fact that the city's water supply system is actually powered by magical devices, or the regular lighting of the magical oil lamps along the city's main thoroughfares.

Many mages were quite renowned scholars, and many specialized kinds of knowledge could only be exchanged among mages.

A scholar was not necessarily a mage, and a mage was not necessarily a qualified scholar, but a great mage was always a great scholar!

"So, in my view, learning magic is actually learning knowledge, and the ways to apply that knowledge."

"Uh — we don't have to learn math too, do we?" Li En was more concerned about this; his math was pretty mediocre.

"Yes, you do — it's a common foundation. Most spellcasting requires a coordinate system; a complete spell requires the caster to provide all kinds of information, including coordinates."

Noticing that Li En was a bit dazed by the flood of information, Kuku gave an example.

"A standard Fireball: the elemental information should be 'Fireball model, standard mana expenditure, spatial coordinates based on me (the caster), position coordinates 61.68, elevation angle 37, fire in two seconds.'"

The basic prerequisites for casting were gestures, incantations, and the spell model; before casting, one naturally had to fix the coordinates and area, and use gestures and incantations to complete the calculations and information transfer.

Li En somewhat understood why sorcerers were so hated — toiling away at calculations, then raising a hand and landing a hit, unable to explain why they hit, and hitting more accurately than your calculated shot.

By this point, Li En also knew Kuku's initial warning had been right; his previous attitude toward learning had indeed been problematic.

Like in fairy tales, casually mumbling an incantation and casting magic just didn't fit reality.

Under Kuku's explanation, a mage's incantations and gestures all carried specific meanings — either commanding the elements to form the arrangement they needed, or executing a contract with the elements.

Some gestures helped complete the spell model, some guided the spell's attack coordinates, and some were simply involuntary twitches — reportedly, after certain traditions' mages grew accustomed to extremely complex high-speed casting, they'd twitch a couple of times even when they had nothing to do; commonly called "nervous chicken-claw hands."

"So it's like those programmers who tap the keyboard a couple of times for no reason?"

"It's heartbreaking, but that's about right."

It looked like the caster was twitching his hands and feet and dancing like an exorcist, but he might have already sent a telegraph to the elements, used an aid to aim and calculate, and even haggled with the elements for half a day over the mana price.

An ordinary first-circle spell required several months of study for a caster of average aptitude, along with supplementary coursework in several related disciplines.

The more advanced the starting point, the more extracurricular knowledge one had to make up; the early stage was the slowest, because most of the time was spent catching up on lessons. When you wanted to calculate a Petrification-to-Mud, you had to understand the structure of earth and stone, spend half a year playing with cement like a geotech brother — going mad was almost inevitable.

A slightly higher-end spell came with study materials thicker than a hefty tome; top-tier magic might just hand you an entire library's worth of material.

"... I only have half a month." Li En was numb; with so little time, what could he possibly learn?

"Then even I can only teach you one or two first-circle spells." When it came to teaching, Kuku was cold.

This stuff really couldn't be rushed; Li En's current temporary spell list was full of low-level spells, none of which he could use — for exactly this reason.

At this point, Li En understood why mages needed to be smart — without being a top student, it really seemed unworkable.

"... If we're only talking about modern conventional spells." Kuku had somehow produced a monocle, and pushed it up.

"Rather than using this little time for teaching, it's better used for enlightenment — to lead you through the door."

"Do you know what the source of magic is?"

How could Li En possibly know? He simply shook his head.

"It's the ancient dragons. The ancient Dragon Kings were the Lords of the Elements; the ancient dragons were the Children of the Elements. They could command the elements by nature, and their language itself became what is called Dragon Language magic — which is also why mages must painstakingly study Dragon Language."

Ancient beasts were the Children of the World, ancient dragons the Children of the Elements? These ancient beings really did have innate advantages.

"... Dragon-blooded are the children of dragons; they inherited and obtained the Dragon Speech magic suited to themselves. The elves stole and modified it from the Dragon-blooded, forming the ancestor of modern magic — ancient elven magic. Later, mages obtained it, and in this process, as its owners changed, it transformed through several more systems."

This lineage looked fairly clear.

"Magic has never been just one system. In fact, every race, every ethnic group, based on its own aptitude and history, has its own set of spell systems. Magic is the knowledge collection through which a race views nature, reshapes nature, and shapes the world it needs."

Li En somewhat understood why Kuku wanted to talk about ancient history with him.

"Every race has a magical system — or rather, a supernatural system — suited to itself. The existing professional system and the soul-heart system are suited to 'humanized species' who can learn and progress through heart-energy. But although you are a humanized species, you are also Dragon-blooded."

If the normal magical system couldn't be rushed, then try the magical systems of other races.

Dragon-blooded were originally crossbreeds of dragon-bloodlines and other races; calling Li En a beastman or a Dragon-blooded would both be correct.

But that Kuku could tailor his teaching to this extent was perhaps the origin of his Sage title.

"... For modern magic, you can go learn from your fiancée's teacher — that would take a lot of time. But if it's only a matter of awakening your bloodline and teaching you to learn true Dragon Speech magic, it doesn't take much time."

"After all, for dragons and Dragon-blooded, casting is merely instinct — they don't really have much culture."

"Dragon Speech magic isn't necessarily better than modern magic. To be precise, magic is always progressing, just like civilization. However, Dragon Speech magic and Dragon Language magic are generally extremely powerful and consume less — very suitable for combat."

Then what was there to hesitate about? Learn it.

"Can I learn it in two weeks?"

"Impossible. Every magical system is a race's way of viewing and reshaping the world; I can only help you open the qualification to learn, and get you through the door."

Learning was always one's own affair; even the finest mentor could only lead you through the door.

How far you could learn, whether you could produce results — that still depended mainly on yourself.

"The special thing about Dragon Speech Magic is that once you enter the path, you hardly need a teacher anymore. You can go learn and master it; it is the source of Dragon Vein Mages. The Dragon Tongue or Dragon Speech Magic of every single dragon is unique."

But in the end, Kuku restored his own tone.

"Heh, after all, Dragon-type spells rely more on qualification and bloodline than so-called knowledge. The arrogant ones naturally possess everything, possessing the privilege to command the elements! Big Bad Dragon! Cheating Bad Dragon!"

Li En fell silent; it seemed you are also a Dragon Speech Mage, a Dragonborn as well?

"Dragon-type magic is not learned; it is snatched! You will understand later! You will understand!"

Li En felt increasingly subtle; why did it feel that all these so-called Ancient Types were so outrageous? Was this world not balanced at all?

"Recently I also contacted the Beast. Are there not also Beast-type spells?" Li En subconsciously thought of that gravity field; wasn't that also similar to a magical effect?

"There are, but mortals, especially Beast-transformed humans, absolutely must not touch them! Absolutely!"

A night of teaching completely turned Li En's impetuous mindset around, letting him know much.

At least, it confirmed the future direction, rather than rashly viewing it as a kind of supernatural witchcraft.

What Kuku said was long no longer simple magic, but the world's civilization and the extraordinary system.

Having gained so much, Li En naturally felt a bit guilty; he pondered for a moment and opened his mouth to ask.

"You, is there anything you want?" Even though Kuku said he had no needs, Li En still felt he should express something.

And Kuku seemed to have been waiting for this moment all along.

"Gaga, take Kuku to your fiancée-teacher's library! Kuku wants to see new magic! New magic!" Kuku was already prepared to record new magic in the register.

"Steam! Alchemy, Kuku is also very interested." Actually, Kuku was interested in all new technologies.

"Alchemy potions, and new industrial products!" This was the pride of an Alchemy Master.

"Beast, the beast you fought! Kuku wants a specimen, wants to study it!" This, the difficulty was a bit high.

Alright, Li En was numb; one after another, they all seemed quite troublesome.

But for some reason, Li En himself also had some expectations for Kuku's research results.

And while Li En was working overtime late at night, in the wilderness of Radiance City, a slender figure was also rushing along overnight.

Judging by the identity of a traveler, the young woman's decorative robe was far too gorgeous.

That style of dress, an immaculate hollowed-out skirt decoration more ornamental than protective robe, with ribbons around her body exceeding the fabric of the body itself.

Black long boots angled outward; she sat sideways on a seat atop a great snake, looking at the towering city gate, and let out a sigh of relief.

"'Deer' has not woken up yet? Looks like we made it in time."

And coiled upon her ornate staff was a colorful great snake; this contracted beast said.

"Some scent, but not much. Eh, there is actually the scent of other 'Beasts'."

"The scent of other Beasts? Is it other Beast Cults or Magical Girls? Anyway, we must hurry up!"

(End of this chapter)