A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 6 Primal Spells and Tea Drinking

Rorschach's Magic Drive (Purple)

It was no longer just about "gathering" magic. Rorschach could sense that in addition to gathering magic, he could also dispel the gathered magic or guide the magic in the environment to perform other operations, although the casting range was very small. Perhaps highly skilled mages also possessed this technique of manipulating magic, but they would not consider this technique as an independent and complete spell.

Magic can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intelligent races all possess intrinsic magic, though most individuals have very little of it. If an individual's intrinsic magic is abundant enough to influence the magic in their environment, they possess the basic qualifications to become a spellcaster or priest.

Research indicates that endogenous and exogenous magic are equivalent. So, can the spell "Magic Drive" reverse the flow of mana, making it increase with usage?

The nose and mouth can inhale and exhale. But water and food have fixed directions and routes in the human digestive system, and blood circulation also has a fixed direction. So what about magic? After much deliberation, Rorschach temporarily abandoned the tempting attempt.

Separating the "Projectile (Purple)" item yields the "Flying Arrow Technique (Purple)".

An interesting basic spell that imbues objects with kinetic energy. Rorschach found a letter-opening and paper-cutting knife and, with the spell's enhancement, plunged it straight into the wall. The default name of this spell on the panel didn't have the "Rorschach's" prefix; it was an existing spell.

Constructing spells using single terms is feasible. As an engineering student with a background in chemistry, Rorschach calls these single-step reaction spells "primitive spells."

Just as I was thinking this, the panel created a folder called "Primary Spells", which contained three word spells.

……

"I've kept the letter of recommendation the chairman wrote for you." These were the first words Ms. Caroline said to Rorschach after calling him into her office, and her tone was rather unfriendly.

"what?"

A bald head and his confident smile flashed through Luo Xia's mind: "Trust the mechanism."

That's it?

"You accepted Sabins' offer. Why? Mages, especially young people like you, should cherish their innocence and freedom, rather than rashly joining his... intelligence agency."

Rorschach considered carefully before replying: "Madam, my parents are not free. They are bound to the land, toiling all day long, and the farthest they have ever been is the nearest town. They are old and need my support, while I need financial assistance to continue my studies. The discipline chief found me and can solve my problem."

In fact, the Bart family's merchant guild could have sponsored the solution, but Rorschach was unwilling to accept such help. Personal relationships are complicated, and this would shatter something—the fragile equality maintained between the son of a wealthy merchant and the son of a farmer on campus.

Studying abroad, as an informant for His Majesty the Emperor, or as a citizen of the Empire, isn't so bad. To Rorschach, who transmigrated to this other world, it's like accepting a long-term mission from the NPC Chief Sebins, gaining a hidden profession with a pretty good reward. Hmm, joining a secret organization, that's kind of cool.

That's it.

Working for you and getting paid by you is fine; it's much better than an unclear favor.

Hearing Rorschach's words, Caroline's expression softened, and she sighed. "Learning magic isn't easy for you either."

She took off her mage robe and hung it up. Rorschach noticed that Caroline was wearing a white shirt and a high-waisted green skirt today, and her brown braid was still hanging down her right chest.

Caroline looks beautiful even with her brows slightly furrowed.

"Excuse me, black tea?"

"Thanks."

Caroline sat down at her desk, and the Mage Hands of the Driven Sect poured Rorschach a cup of tea. She glanced at the letter of recommendation written by the Chairman, skimming through it before speaking:

"Stars, I came from the Tower of Stars."

Yes, brown hair, instead of the pale gold and orange-red common in the Empire, is a characteristic of people from the southern part of the Holy Kingdom.

"Let me write your letters of recommendation and introduction!"

"Teacher, since we already have it, we'll trouble you again..."

"You came from the Imperial Academy, recommended by the chairman of the board, and you're all branded with those labels. People aren't stupid; you'll probably be wary and ostracized when you get there." Caroline rolled her eyes; it was a small gesture unbecoming of her status.

"I'll write to my former teacher, Archmage Kano. He can protect you if you go there; at least you'll have someone to look after you. But please don't report everything to the head of the secret service, okay?"

Rorschach was surprised that Caroline was willing to help him like this. "Thank you so much, I'll be careful."

"It's good that you can think about your parents. There are many precious things in this world, many spellcasters, and many apprentices I've taught... They are too obsessed with their own power and the status that magic brings. You are a sensitive and hardworking child, and you can go far. I just hope you don't become a servant of power, please remember that."

"I will remember that. Thank you so much." Rorschach had never intended to work for a feudal lord.

"There's one more thing. You didn't use water-generating magic during the assessment, right?"

Seeing Rorschach's surprised expression, Caroline said with a hint of smugness, "The Water Creation spell is actually a summoning spell, which causes slight spatial fluctuations. Casters who are proficient in spacetime and stellar magic can sense these fluctuations when they are nearby. However, I didn't sense any fluctuations when I was proctoring you."

As expected of someone from the Tower of Stars, a teacher of "Space, Time, and Astrology," she noticed even that. Before Rorschach could speak, Caroline asked, "You didn't cheat using any magical items, did you?"

"There are checks in the exam room, teacher! Besides, where would I get the money to buy magic items!"

"I thought so too, which is why I didn't make things difficult for you on the spot." Caroline said, suddenly standing up, her eyes widening. A possibility suddenly occurred to her—"Could it be that your good-for-nothing friend Bart borrowed your magical artifact?"

"Ms. Caroline, please stop guessing and let me demonstrate for you."

Rorschach then used his true water-making technique to condense a small water droplet into the teacup.

"You know I'm very good at fireball spells, but not so good at water spells, so I can't guarantee I'll pass the exam. So, based on the principles of fireball spells, I changed the method of condensing magic power to convert it into water elements instead of fire."

"You mentioned an idea that has already been tried by others, but it consumes too much magic and is not as efficient as the current water-making technique."

"Yes, but its principle is similar to the fireball spell I'm good at, so I can guarantee a high success rate."

Based on Rorschach's knowledge, both are transformations of magic into elements. A fireball is actually a plasma cluster formed by air at high temperatures, meaning that magic is transformed into energy in the material world. Transforming magic into water, on the other hand, transforms magic into stable matter, resulting in a much higher energy barrier and much lower efficiency.

The conversion of magic into energy is easier and more efficient than its conversion into matter—an axiom that spellcasters can perceive. However, the erroneous hypothesis of phlogiston-fire element has misled most people.

Caroline just wanted to facepalm. If she couldn't learn a basic spell, she would create one herself. How come she never noticed before that her student had such an unusual talent and a bizarre mind?

"You're like a knight riding a wild boar in a horse race. You shouldn't be going to the Tower of Stars; you should be going to the Tower of Arcane Arts and joining a group of other geniuses like yourself."

"What kind of analogy is this?" Rorschach reminded him. "I've already made an agreement with Mr. Sabins that we won't get any reward from the Tower of Arcane Arts."

(End of this chapter)