bookbashuk Chapter 139 The Long-Awaited Lecture
Chapter 139 The Long-Awaited Lecture
Chapter 139 The Long-Awaited Lecture
The alchemy workshop was filled with the metallic scent of cooled mithril, mingled with the faint stench of dragon's blood. Karen wiped the sweat from his brow and carefully placed a fingernail-sized alloy ingot, gleaming with a warm, silvery-purple luster, into a specially made lead box. This was the third "mithril-dragon's blood" fusion sample he had completed under Nico's guidance. Although the internal energy flow still didn't reach the level of the sample Nico had demonstrated, its stability was much stronger than the initial one.
"The key to coordinated energy conversion lies in guidance, not coercion," Nico's voice rang out from the side. He was using instruments to observe the magic crystal patterns on the cross-section of a sample from Karen. "It's like guiding a river to change course; you have to follow its natural flow, not build dams to block it. Your guidance this time was much better than last time, but the intensity was still a bit too abrupt at the third point, causing local energy stagnation. Take a break and let your mind completely settle down; that's very important."
Karen put down his tools as instructed. Waves of dizziness from the depletion of his mental energy washed over him, and his vision blurred. He felt the stifling air in the workshop aggravate this discomfort. "I'm going to the garden for some fresh air, Nico," he said wearily, pushing open the heavy oak side door of the workshop and stepping into the adjacent small garden, bathed in the warm afternoon sun.
In the garden, sunlight generously streamed in, dispelling the chill and metallic atmosphere of the workshop. The air, carrying the fresh scent of grass and earth, filled his lungs, and Karen took several deep breaths. He found a stone chair, sat down, closed his eyes, and let the warm sunlight caress his face and shoulders. The exhaustion from the intense concentration and magical micromanagement in the workshop now truly manifested, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He sat quietly, feeling his depleted mental energy, like a dried-up riverbed, slowly absorbing the tranquility of the surrounding environment.
Gradually regaining its vitality.
After an unknown amount of time, a familiar voice rang out from not far away, breaking the silence: "It seems that practicing alchemy has drained your energy."
Karen opened his eyes, his pupils adjusting to the light, and saw Professor Castor standing beside a cluster of blooming flowers. The professor seemed to have been in the garden all along, and his gaze was now fixed on Karen's face, as if assessing his recovery status.
"It's alright, Professor," Karen answered truthfully, feeling much more relaxed, but the deep sense of exhaustion remained. "Nicole said the stability has improved, but the node guidance is still clumsy and very taxing." He rubbed his temples, which were still a little swollen.
Castor nodded slightly, took a few steps closer, and said in a deep, clear voice, "The harmony of alchemy is the foundation for understanding the nature of power; it trains how you perceive magic and alter matter. But your talent, 'The Eye of Truth,' is worth far more than that." His grey eyes locked onto Karen. "Truly powerful spellcasters know how to transform 'seeing' into 'control.' How to do it in a shorter amount of time..."
The key is to unleash stronger, more precise spells with less magic.
Karen's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes lit up. He sat up straight, realizing that the professor's next words were about to touch on something deeper.
"It seems your spirit has recovered faster than expected," Castor observed the change in Karen's eyes. "It's been a while since I taught you. Today I'll teach you a new technique," he paused, emphasizing, "This technique directly affects your own magic, enhancing its instantaneous explosiveness and control precision. It determines whether your spells are weak sparks or sharp arrows that pierce through barriers. This technique can not only be applied to spells but also play a significant role in alchemy."
Karen felt a surge of energy, and the warm sunlight in the garden seemed to shine even brighter. He took a deep breath, feeling that the rest had given him enough strength to face the challenge ahead. "I'm ready, Professor."
“Very good,” Castor turned and gestured for Karen to follow. “Back to the workshop. Let you experience it firsthand; it’s more valuable than just talking about it in the garden.”
The two returned to the workshop. Nico was still at his workbench. When he saw them come in, his gaze lingered on Karen's face, which had regained some of its vitality, and he nodded slightly.
Before the workbench, Castor didn't use any alchemical materials; he simply extended his wand. A pure thread of magic slowly seeped from the tip of the wand, hovering in the air.
"Look closely," Castor's voice carried an absolute sense of control, "This is an unguided form of basic magic, loose,
Disorder and inefficiency. Most of the power is wasted in meaningless dissipation and conflict before it can even be released.
"Compress it," Castor's gaze suddenly sharpened, like an invisible hammer falling, "not a brutal squeeze! But a direct sculpting and reconstruction of the source of magic by will!"
Karen clearly saw that, under the precise guidance of Castor's powerful will, the light spots that originally flowed naturally within the magic threads were not being brute-forced together, but rather attracted and regulated by a higher level of "order"! Countless tiny energy nodes were precisely captured and activated, resonating and rotating at specific, highly efficient frequencies! The invisible gaps between them were forcibly smoothed out, and the chaotic trajectories were straightened into dense, nested energy circuits! Magic particles were forcibly constrained and arranged, forming an unprecedentedly stable and efficient structure!
Buzz!
A deep yet penetrating ringing sound! The originally loose, faintly glowing thread of magic instantly condensed and solidified! Its volume was reduced to one-tenth of its original size, and it felt much more solid and sharp.
"Do you see that?" Castor's voice was calm and even, yet it contained the essence of power. "The essence of compression is the 'forging' and 'optimization' of the microscopic structure of magic by will. Use your spirit to guide the magic particles to find the most efficient resonance frequency and arrangement."
To store and instantly release even greater energy within a smaller space requires immense control, a profound understanding of the nature of magic, and an unwavering will.
He released his control, and the bright silver magic needle instantly expanded and dissipated, returning to its original loose state, as if the condensation just now was an illusion.
"Now, try compressing your own magic," Castor turned to Karen, his gaze piercing. "Goal: Compress a wisp of basic magic to a third of its original volume and maintain it stably for three seconds. Remember, don't try to 'squeeze' it with brute force; that's futile and dangerous. Guide it, resonate with it, and use your will to create a more efficient 'magical circuit' for it. Observe the flow points of your own magic, find their inherent resonance points, and use your mind to trigger and guide this resonance. Begin."
Karen took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and excitement in his heart, and concentrated all his energy. He extended his wand, focused his mind into his body, and carefully guided a wisp of his own magic. Under his complete concentration, the microscopic world within the flow of magic became clearly visible, almost identical to the state of his teacher Castor's magic. If Karen hadn't just witnessed that state of condensation, he probably wouldn't have felt that there was anything wrong with his own magic state. Then, relying on his amazing perception, Karen began to try to capture the faint, fleeting connections and potential resonant frequencies between those points of light.
His first attempt involved casting his mind like a fine net across the flow of magic, trying to guide multiple nodes simultaneously. The flow of magic fluctuated violently, like a disturbed swarm of bees, instantly dissipating in large quantities.
"The scope is too broad! We need to be precise! Find the key 'resonance anchor point'!" Castor quickly pointed out Karen's problem.
Karen immediately understood and relinquished full control. On his second attempt, he focused his will, his Eye of Truth locking onto three relatively stable, tiny points of light within the flow of magic, their distances and energy properties seemingly in perfect harmony. He no longer tried to "push" them.
Instead, it transforms the mind into the most subtle "tuner," carefully touching, simulating, and stimulating the faint gravitational frequency that already exists between the three points of light!
Metaphor—!
A faint, almost imperceptible resonance resounded! In the vision of the Eye of Truth, the three previously trembling points of light, as if connected by an invisible string, instantly moved closer together in an extremely small but crucial step! A tiny, fragile yet undeniably stable triangular structure instantly formed! This structure acted like a natural magic amplifier, causing the surrounding energy particles to spontaneously...
Move toward it in an orderly fashion!
It's now!
Karen sensed the time was right and guided the energy within the tiny triangular structure, mimicking what she had seen Teacher Castor do before, circulating it instantly through a more intricate and efficient circuit!
The originally loose stream of magic power, centered on the three resonant light points, suddenly contracted inward! Its volume instantly decreased by nearly a third. Although it was not as condensed as Teacher Castor's before, there was no doubt that Karen had mastered the technique.
Then disperse and re-condense, once, twice, three times.
Karen practiced intently and repeatedly, and in less than ten repetitions, she was already able to skillfully condense loose magic power.
Then Karen swayed, put down her wand, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
The workshop was silent except for Karen's heavy breathing.
Nico, who witnessed the whole process, showed undisguised surprise and deep satisfaction. He hadn't expected Karen to grasp the concepts so quickly.
Castor stared at Karen quietly for a few seconds, seemingly waiting for her to rest.
"-The resonance anchor point was well-chosen. The approach of building a stable triangular structure as the initial core is correct. Remember the feeling of triggering resonance and the moment of establishing the energy loop. This is the basic framework for constructing an efficient spell; you can rest now. From now on, dedicate some time each day to practicing this technique."
"Yes, Professor!" Karen was greatly encouraged. Receiving praise from the professor was indeed invigorating, and even her voice became louder.
Nico handed over the prepared herbal tea, which exuded a calming aroma, and sincerely praised, "Amazing talent and comprehension, Karen! It took Castor a long time to master this step—" He paused deliberately, glanced at Castor who had turned away expressionlessly toward the bookshelf in the corner of the workshop, and smiled without saying anything more.
Karen drank the warm herbal tea, feeling his tense nerves relax a bit. He remembered that the gifts he had carefully selected for his roommates at the Paris Magic Market were still in his room. He planned to take advantage of this afternoon's rest and adjustment time to mail them out.
Back in her room, Karen took out the three wrapped gifts.
He spread out the letter paper, dipped the quill pen in ink:
To Wesley:
Wesley,
I hope your summer vacation isn't all about watching or playing football, though I think that's quite possible. Guess what I found at the Paris Magic Fair? A "Quidditch Dynamic Tactical Simulation Model"! It's from a French Quidditch club, too bad there aren't any in England, but the little figures actually simulate tactical movements based on your commands, although it feels a bit less intelligent than Wizarding Chess. But I think this thing is much more practical than those dirty tricks of the Slytherin team! We'll be relying on it for Quidditch tactical analysis at the Eagle's Nest next semester, so you'd better study it carefully! The alchemical stuff here in France is dazzling; Professor Nico's workshop is like another dimension. I look forward to studying this model with you when school starts! Give my regards to your family.
Your roommate,
Karen to Fabian:
Fabian,
It's like seeing you in person after reading this. The magical botanical garden in Paris was an eye-opener, especially the varieties that only bloom in specific environments. I brought you some seeds of "moonlight water lilies." The vendor said these lilies glow faintly in moonlight, which might be related to our moon moss. Also, there's a body of water near the area where we found the moon moss before, so maybe we could plant some there. I think it's worth a try! It's a pity you're not here; otherwise, I think you could discover even more in this area. Studying here is very demanding, but incredibly rewarding. I hope your holiday is peaceful and enjoyable. Please give my regards to your parents.
Looking forward to sharing my plant experiences when school starts.
Karen to Ernesto:
Ernesto,
I hope Griffith's observatory hasn't fallen into disrepair since you left. Seeing this "star trail memory crystal" at the market felt like it was tailor-made for astronomy enthusiasts. It not only records the actual night sky you see during observation but also projects the theoretical trajectories you input from star charts for comparison and calibration. Perhaps we can use it next time we're on a night patrol in the Forbidden Forest or stargazing from the Eagle's Nest rooftop. In France, the observatory on the top floor of Professor Nico's workshop offers a fantastic view. Learning alchemy is complex, but also very interesting. Please give my regards to your family.
See you when school starts!
After finishing his letter, Karen carefully folded each one, placed them together with their corresponding gifts, wrapped them up, and tied them securely with ribbon. He walked to the window and softly called out, "Noé?"
A soft "snap" sounded in the air, and a house-elf dressed in a neat tea towel appeared on the windowsill, its large eyes looking respectfully at Karen: "Master Karen, do you need Noé's service?"
"Noe, could you please send these three packages to these three addresses in the safest way possible?" Karen handed the packages and slips of paper with the addresses to the elf.
"Of course, Master Karen! Noé guarantees safe delivery!" Noé bowed deeply, carefully accepting the package and note.
Another soft sound, then disappeared into the air.
Looking out at the tranquil garden, Karen seemed to see the surprised expressions on his roommates' faces when they received their gifts, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips. After a brief moment of warmth, his thoughts returned to the workshop. The "Magic Compression" technique taught by Professor Castor, whose core lay in the exquisite reconstruction of the microscopic structure of energy, involuntarily reminded him of the "Touch of Hermes" crystal suspended in the lead box, and the protective badge he was currently researching.
When he returned to the workshop, Nico was alone at his workbench, gently fiddling with a piece of mithril-dragonblood alloy that Karen had made earlier, which still had a somewhat uneven structure.
"Professor Nico," Karen walked over and picked up the alloy ingot she considered a failure, "I was wondering if Professor Castor's 'compression' technique could also be applied to the study of the outer structure of the 'Hermes' Touch'? For example, understanding how it achieves efficient energy absorption and stable storage with that precise rune matrix? And my protective badge—"
He picked up a prototype of a basic protective badge, the absorption runes inscribed on it appearing rather inefficient under the Eye of Truth: "If I could incorporate compression techniques into it, could I increase the density of magic stored in the badge's core? Would the instantaneous release of energy be more concentrated, powerful, and last longer when the shield is triggered? Instead of the current situation where the energy output is rather loose and the shield's strength is limited?"
Nico put down his tools, his eyes shining with approval. "Excellent association, Karen! This is precisely the kind of thinking an alchemist should have—drawing parallels between similar things. The core of 'Hermes' Touch,' its rune matrix itself contains the highest level of 'compression' and 'sealing.' Your ability to connect this newly learned technique to this and attempt to simplify and reduce its application to basic protective items is absolutely correct."
He took the prototype badge from Karen's hand: "However, we must take things one step at a time. Castor's technique works on the completely controllable flow of magic that you release yourself. The core energy source of the badge, on the other hand, is the absorbed and stored environmental magic, which is relatively mixed and inert. How to 'solidify' the concept of 'compression and reconstruction' onto an object through alchemical runes so that it can operate automatically is a more complex problem."
You can start by understanding the relatively stable rune units on the surface of "Hermes' Touch" that are responsible for absorption and buffering. Observe their structural changes when absorbing magic, and think about how they initially "organize" and "constrain" the incoming free energy. This might inspire you to design new absorption runes with "initial compression and organization" functions.
Karen nodded, feeling his thoughts become much clearer. He walked to the shelf where the lead box containing the "Touch of Hermes" was stored and carefully opened the lid. This time, his gaze no longer lingered merely on the surface, but he tried to find the "nodes" responsible for the initial reception and buffering of energy, observing how they "tamed" the wild, free-flowing magic power that was absorbed, initially organizing it into a relatively ordered state before sending it into the deeper storage structure. Wasn't this a kind of "solidified," fundamental process of "compression" and "organization"?
He was so engrossed in these exquisite observations that he forgot the passage of time and temporarily forgot his mental exhaustion. Each new lesson he learned opened a door to a wider world of magic.