Fanatics of the Magic Academy

Soon, Rose and Mason arrived at the forest that Mason had mentioned earlier.

Together they dug a hole and buried Kenneth.

Mason clapped his hands and said:

"Hey, you little rascal, you're pretty strong, that's not something you should have at your age."

A rather thick and long wooden stick was placed in front of Kenneth's grave, and a stone was taken, on which words were carved in a crooked manner:

The Tomb of Kenneth Carter

Because the language of this world is based on words, Rose engraved all the letters on it from top to bottom.

Rose laid out the fruit he had bought for Kenneth one by one.

Mason's eyes lit up when he saw the fruit, and he reached out to take it, but Rose slapped his hand away.

After thinking for a moment, I took two out of the bag and handed them to him.

Then the remaining fruit was placed on top.

Mason took the fruit, wiped it with his clothes, and took a bite.

Rose stood before Kenneth's grave, looking at it with a heavy heart. She fell silent, lost in thought.

Mason glanced at Rose, patted Rose on the back, and said:

"Kid, what are you thinking about?"

Seeing that Rosen ignored him, he pursed his lips and said:

"I heard from Kenneth that you have a lot of magical talent, the most talented person he's ever seen. Show me what kind of magic you know."

Rose was somewhat surprised that Kenneth had even told him this. He nodded and said:

"Well, I've only learned a little. I don't know much. I only studied with Kenneth for two weeks before he died."

Then, Rose asked with some confusion:

"Didn't you say you were Kenneth's friend? You've never even seen magic?"

Mason shrugged and said:

"You've seen Kenneth's situation before; he'd go through a life-or-death ordeal just trying to cast a spell to scratch a wall."

Although I have indeed seen quite a few magicians like Kenneth living on the streets during my 30 years as a homeless person here,

But their situation was similar to Kenneth's; the former magicians had become homeless.

The immense psychological gap had caused his rationality to plummet below the minimum acceptable level for casting magic.

Rose thought about it and realized that it made sense. It was incredibly difficult for rationality to rise in this world, but once it started to collapse, it would collapse in an instant.

Rose felt that the power system of this world was more like the cultivation system that had been passed down in the country where he lived in his previous life.

In the country where he lived in his previous life, the ancient practitioners emphasized "cultivating both body and mind."

One must cultivate not only the body and vital energy, but also the spirit; only by doing both can one advance and stabilize one's realm.

Although this world is based on a magical system, it shares similarities with the cultivation methods described in ancient texts passed down from my previous life.

It's not enough for a magician to have enough energy reserves; casting spells also requires a certain level of cognitive ability and mental state.

When one's mental state falls to a certain level, even if the body has energy, it cannot exert it.

This state of mind, this cognitive ability, is called rationality in this world.

Rose nodded, acknowledging Mason's words, then asked in confusion:

"Are you interested in magic? How did you become friends with Kenneth?"

Mason nodded and said:

"Let me correct something first. I'm not interested in magic; I'm interested in all knowledge and stories about the world."

Rose felt a bit absurd; he was struggling to keep his composure, that these words were coming from the mouth of a homeless man.

He looked Mason up and down, and said:

"Were you perhaps a magician or scholar before, and then...?"

Mason interrupted:

"Why can't you understand human language, you little brat? I've been a homeless person since I was 18, and it's been 30 years now."

Seeing the suspicious look in Rose's eyes, Mason continued:

"In this world, it's easy to go crazy being a homeless person."

A friend you made just yesterday might die today.

Then you or someone else pounce on his corpse like hyenas, exhausting his last remaining value.

Coupled with a harsh environment and a low social status, people are prone to mental breakdowns.

Rose agrees with this.

Mason continued:

"Therefore, many people in the slums have their own unique ways of regaining their sanity."

Most people use enhancers to gain temporary psychological comfort.

However, some people, even those who are homeless, do not want to use enhancement drugs.

After all, you should know this stuff; absorbing it renders you useless, even if you're a magician.

Rose agreed, but then asked with a hint of doubt:

"What does this have to do with the question I asked you?"

Mason continued:

"Kid, listen to me. There are ways for people who don't use enhancement drugs to regain their sanity without them."

For example, look at that homeless man who abused cats; he gained a sense of control by torturing and killing small animals.

Then, Mason winked at Luo Sai and boasted:

Did you know that humans actually evolved from animals?

He tried to detect shock in Rose's expression, but Rose just looked at him calmly. He pursed his lips in disappointment and said:

"Humans, like animals, possess the basic instinct to hunt and prey. By abusing animals..."

It provides a sense of satisfaction and control, a feeling of being at the top of the food chain, which helps restore rationality.

He continued:

"Some people regain their senses by raping other homeless people, regardless of gender."

But I'm a little different. Kenneth and some other magicians I knew before said that people like me are naturally more rational.

Although not at the level of a magician, their abilities are higher than normal, possessing strong learning and cognitive abilities.

My way of regaining my sanity is through learning, reading, and constantly reading and learning.

To understand the world is to gain psychological comfort and positive feedback.

Rose thought for a moment, then nodded, indicating her agreement with Mason's statement.

Rose suddenly remembered Kenneth's little notebook and pen.

If it were Kenneth himself, he definitely wouldn't be interested in participating in any activities that focus on the psychology of the homeless.

This is less effective than a booster; Mason probably dragged Kenneth to get it.

Seeing Rose nod, Mason continued:

"That's why I became friends with Kenneth; he was the most powerful magician I ever encountered."

I learned a lot from him that I didn't know before, and in exchange, I sometimes provided him with enhancers and food.

Rose then realized why Kenneth had tried to get Rose to exchange magic for an enhancement agent the moment he saw that she had magical talent.

Given Kenneth's usual dazed, listless, and cerebellar atrophy-prone state...

Even if they saw that Rose had magical talent, they wouldn't immediately think of using the Knowledge Exchange Enhancer.

So it turns out he has a history of Mason.