Upon hearing that Isaac was going to teach him the technique of elemental transformation, Yun Wei's eyes lit up. He quickly caught up with Isaac, looking up at him expectantly.
Their eyes met.
Perhaps Yun Wei's gaze was too eager, because Isaac couldn't help but laugh first, "Claude, don't stare at me like that, it'll make me nervous."
"Huh?" Yun Wei was startled when he heard the first half of the sentence, but then he realized that the other party was probably embarrassed.
Perhaps it was because Isaac's laughter was so hearty and pure, like the warm sunshine that was shining on him at that moment, that Yun Wei was also infected by this almost childlike innocence. He smiled slightly and walked to the side and stood properly.
"Watch closely, I'm going to transform fire element into lightning element." Isaac stretched out his hand, and a small flame formed at his fingertips.
Yun Wei stared intently at the cluster of red flames swaying in the summer breeze, carefully observing its elemental composition.
The crimson flames contained extremely pure fire elements, continuously emerging from within. The inner flame, with the highest concentration, remained motionless even in a gentle breeze, instead slowly rotating like a vortex.
Yun Wei stared intently and saw that its inner flame began to slowly collapse inward until it was annihilated into specks of light, which were then almost replaced by dark purple lightning elements the instant the light appeared.
Then, like a thunderbolt, the flame was flipped inside out. Almost instantly, faster than the blink of an eye, the original cluster of crimson flame had transformed into a dangerous ball of lightning.
Isaac turned his head and raised an eyebrow at him. "So, do you understand now?"
As he spoke, the lightning transformed into a swirling blue whirlwind, which then condensed into pure white sleet, and finally turned into a wisp of dust that slowly seeped from his fingertips to the ground.
Yun Wei: "...I don't really understand."
To be honest, he was completely baffled. In his eyes, it was as if the fire and lightning elements had been swapped in an instant.
Although saying this sounds like blaming a crooked mirror for being ugly—
But he did think that Isaac's statement that he was not a good teacher was just humility, but he didn't expect that what the other party said was true.
Isaac reassured him earnestly, "It's alright, take your time. This is indeed one of the most profound spellcasting techniques. In short, it's about transforming an element from its original form into the element you want."
Isaac was actually lying.
In his time, elemental manipulation was one of the most basic compulsory courses for mages. Keep in mind that back then, even the most exploited magic apprentices had to master at least a few basic elemental spells.
He had never heard of a mage who only knew one type of magic.
If his teacher heard this, he would be so angry he'd pluck out his beard! This is practically blasphemy against magic!
Therefore, this statement was not very clever, and when it reached Yun Wei's ears, it took on a different meaning.
“…” Yun Wei pursed his lips.
He finally understood what it meant to hear a wise man's words as if they were a profound truth.
Despite his inner grumbling, he took a deep breath and rolled up the sleeves of his robe. He dismissed the superfluous thoughts and tried to gather the power of the undead at his fingertips.
Yun Wei wanted to convert the gathered necromantic power into water element.
This is because, apart from "Shape Mimicry," the only two shaping spells in necromancy, "Poisonous Miasma" and "Hidden Mist," are at least in terms of form, the closest to the water-based "Cloud Mist."
He was intently observing the necromantic power at his fingertips. In the microscopic world explored by his spiritual power, the grayish-white necromantic elements floated together deathly, emitting an ominous glow as they intertwined.
He still didn't know how to transform it into the water element, which possessed a gentle and purifying power.
Time passed second by second, and as one-third of the Time Branch within the spiritual sea dimmed due to exhaustion from maintaining its magical power, the necromantic orb at the fingertip suddenly dissipated.
Yun Wei's vision went black.
He quickly lowered his head, closed his eyes, and calmed down for a while.
"Are you alright, Claude?" Isaac quickly helped Yun Wei up, looking at his master with concern. The other party had been in a state of high concentration the whole time, and he didn't dare to disturb him rashly.
Yun Wei waved his hand, avoiding Isaac's help, "It's okay, I just haven't been able to output magic power like this for too long."
Seeing that the other party was about to start another round of attempts, Isaac anxiously advised, "Take a break first. You really can't rush this. It took me about a week to master it."
Perhaps the knight was really in a hurry, because his broad hand unconsciously rested on Yun Wei's shoulder.
At that moment, both of them were stunned.
Yun Wei felt that the other person's palm was both tough and elastic. Even through the thin fabric of the robe, he could feel the calluses on the base of the other person's palm.
But he didn't feel disgusted by it. On the contrary, the broad palms firmly stabilized his body, giving him an exceptionally precious sense of security. It was an illusion, as if he could be caught steadily if he were to fall backward with all his might.
Only now did Isaac truly feel Yun Wei's fragility. The thin shoulder blades brought him an almost frightening sense of unease, as if the other person was really like the drifting clouds in the sky, which would evaporate and disappear as soon as the sun came out.
Isaac opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he tried to hide his emotions and calmly suggested, "How about we rest for a while? It's almost lunchtime, maybe you can try again after lunch."
Yun Wei declined his offer, saying, "I'll practice a little longer, and then I'll eat."
He subtly took two steps forward, avoiding Isaac's affectionate gesture.
Seeing the knight, whose figure stood tall and straight, hesitate to speak, Yun Wei clenched his fist and assured him, "It'll only be a moment, don't worry, Isaac, I know what I'm doing."
Isaac shrugged helplessly, walked to the shade of a tree, and continued to silently guard his lord.
...
Wishes are always beautiful.
After Yun Wei used up all the magic power of the second branch, he was still completely unable to find the way in.
In fact, even after he used up all the magic on the last branch, he still hadn't learned it. Although Isaac was very patient along the way, demonstrating it to him again and again without getting tired of it.
By this time, the sun was almost setting.
Amidst the cacophony of birds returning to their nests, Yun Wei sat down beside Isaac, somewhat disheartened. He shielded his sweat-dampened forehead with his hand, gazing wearily at the vast, setting sun in the distance.
“Hey, Isaac,” Yun Wei said lazily, “I’m saying, “You’re so talented in magic, how come you didn’t become a magician?”
Isaac glanced quietly at the Eastern boy leaning against the rock. The boy's exquisite, almost bewitching face was covered in sweat. His delicate nose and parted lips, under the golden glow of the setting sun, resembled a noble oil painting.
Her excessively slender wrists obscured the soft slanting sunlight, blocking his gaze. But he could imagine those slightly closed eyes, like the porcelain treasured in his teacher's study, perfectly radiating boundless charm.
The heartbeat in his chest, which had been extremely faint, suddenly throbbed.
Isaac snapped out of his reverie and honestly spoke before the other person could question him, “They all thought so too… Oh, I mean my parents. They originally thought I could become a great magician. To be honest, that’s what I thought at first too.”
"And then what happened?" Yun Wei asked curiously.
"Later, when I was about ten years old," Isaac said with a nostalgic expression, which made his already upright and handsome face even more gentle, "I met a swordsman who came from the City of Azure. He was carrying a greatsword that was taller than me, this tall..."
Isaac gestured in the air, then suddenly realized that Yun Wei was blindfolded and couldn't see, so he stopped awkwardly.
Unexpectedly, Yun Wei chuckled as if he had seen through everything, "And then, you decided to become a knight?"
With pearly white teeth and red lips, his smile was radiant. It seemed Isaac had never seen Yun Wei smile so happily, so...
reality.
“Yes.” Isaac murmured, his voice low, and he looked away somewhat hastily.
"That's wonderful," Yun Wei exclaimed.
It's so great to be able to do whatever I want.
"I also think I'm very lucky, but actually, at first I just thought the greatsword was cool, but later... I realized that compared to controlling the elements, I really prefer the feeling of wielding the greatsword and fighting to my heart's content."
Isaac paused, then looked at Yun Wei again and asked, "And what about you? Is magic really that interesting to you?"
"Me?" Yun Wei was taken aback; he had never thought about this question before.
For him, magic was the only power he could control after being transported to another world, and his only means of survival.
From the moment he was forced to engage with "The Dead Man's Tale," he never considered learning about magic out of interest.
But upon closer reflection, he still preferred the magician who wielded mysterious powers to the strict and rigid priests who adhered to the precepts and the brave and strong warriors who practiced martial arts tirelessly.
Magic was the most romantic word he could think of on the continent of Zhuyuan at that moment.
"It was quite interesting, wasn't it? At least..." Yun Wei hesitated for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes. Under the cover of shadow, he glanced down at the knight beside him, "At least I feel like I had a very fulfilling day." So fulfilling that he found a long-lost sense of reality.
The so-called sense of reality is the recognition of one's own existence. This is something he has been striving to find since the end of the world, but has been ignoring all along.
“Hey, Claude, I’ve suddenly had a brilliant idea.” Seeing his master’s keen interest in magic, Isaac suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"What?" Yun Wei lowered his arm and turned his head in confusion.
"Come with me!"
The eager knight grabbed his arm and lifted him off the ground.
The precise and steady force was just right, causing him no pain whatsoever; the steps were also exceptionally considerate, allowing him to keep up at a leisurely pace.
But Yun Wei was still taken aback. His fingers, which were gripping the other's arm tightly, were pale and trembling but forceful.
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