Chapter 40

Chapter 4: Eyelid (13)

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[There are as many insights as there are wizards in the world, and just as many spells.]

"Oh, this is intense right from the preface?"

Indeed, compared to the boring theories that came before, the corners of the pages were worn out, and there were lines drawn here and there, indicating that it had been read many times.

The professor was walking down the road while reading the book. He wanted to sit by the river and read it carefully, but the content was not something that could be finished in a page or two, and he was pressed for time, so he decided to read while moving toward the next city.

[There are two major types of magic. There is the Origin Spell, which materializes inner images based on one's own insight, and the Tracing Spell, which borrows the insight of another to use. The Origin Spell projects the insight embedded in one's mind into the world. Since it is an image that is already fully understood, it requires no incantation or hand seals. All that is needed is a strong image and the mana to serve as the material.

I know that many wizards struggle with the 'image' part. Even I, the great Dorman Baldanis, was once a 1st Tier wizard struggling to understand the seven forms of water.

A strong image is not just a memory stored as information, but a single concept woven from dozens of different memories within you.

Think of the word 'Dorman Baldanis.' The great 7th Tier wizard, with a beautiful and lush beard, a teacher who raised the masters of the five water towers, and a middle-aged man with a bright future at 125 years old. There are many other characteristics that a wizard would not know.

This is just a memory stored in your mind, not an image.

Now, think of the word 'mother.'

Thump!

[What comes to mind? A name? A specialty? An appearance? No, I bet your heart reacted before your head. This is what we call a 'strong image.' A single concept etched into the soul, intertwined with emotions, experiences, and countless memories. A wizard imprints the object they wish to handle into their soul to this extent and then forces that image into reality to manifest magic. Don't worry about etching the image into your soul. If you have gained insight, the corresponding image will already be in your mind. Can't explain it in words? Even better. It means a vast image beyond your linguistic level has taken root.]

"...Projecting an image etched into the soul into the world..."

[Of course, this is a novel sensation for someone just entering the world of magic. Therefore, most magic towers teach 1st Tier wizards who have gained insight to master Tracing Spells, and after they get used to using incantations, they create Origin Spells.]

...It's difficult. The content of the book was easy to understand, but accepting it as a sensation was a different matter. How do you use magic, anyway?

[Enough of the boring talk, let's get into practice. Understanding Tracing Spells is faster when you use them. In my, Dorman Baldanis's, magical system, incantations serve as a catalyst to plant the image of the target in the caster's mind, and hand seals are the foundation divided into larger units.

This is about the most basic water magic, 'Dorman Baldanis's Water Sphere.'

Imagery: The substance of water

Incantation: O water that brushes against my fingertips, I understand you, and you are no different from me.

Image: A calm lake. The caster is the lake, and the water is merely contained within it.

Hand seal: None. If you must use a gesture, fold the first joint of the ring finger of your left hand, representing 'calmness.']

"...This game is messed up."

Isn't this too much! I tried to study and hold back, but!

After enduring that insane process of acquiring mana, shouldn't just casting a spell be as simple as saying 'Fireball!'?

I understand the principle. That 'Water Sphere' spell is probably an Origin Spell for the old man Dorman. And Dorman condensed his insight as much as possible to create the incantation, so that the reader can recall the image within themselves. It's literally borrowing insight through the incantation.

- Jokass: Information: There's a reason people tell you not to do something.

- takealook: Why not raise a warrior with that excellent body?

- SoySauceGaybar: Haha, do you think wizards are just 's' for nothing? You can't do anything without intense study.

- Holy: Still, it's cool! When you cast an incantation, water appears in the air, and lightning strikes!

- Speed Wagon: 'When you cast an incantation.'

- DeerDrug: Hey, professor! Try that! [O one darker than twilight, O one redder than the flow of blood. By the great name buried in time, I swear to darkness here.] Haha, isn't the image clear? It can even be displayed as a video! Watch and do it!

- SoySauceGaybar: Dragons... slayers...

- Jokass: Can't stand wizards at all.

- Speed Wagon: Even the shameless ones went crazy and died.

"Ah, embarrassing..."

This was the problem. Since the incantation expresses the inner self without any embellishment, it can be quite burdensome to say it out loud. A typical example is the enchantment spell. Something like, 'With my charm, I will captivate you and keep you by my side forever.' If you hear a hairy ally wizard casting this spell on the battlefield, twisting his hands seductively, you might feel dizzy without realizing it. Blood might even come out of your ears, and your eyes might rot.

The problem is that I have to do this now, in front of dozens, or now hundreds, of viewers.

"Um... O water that brushes against my fingertips..."

- SoySauceGaybar: Haha

- DeerDrug: Hey! He's really doing it!

- HighWayNachoman: You bastard! Put some strength into it! Louder and more desperately! If you do it with a voice as small as an ant's, the image will disappear!

- Holy: It's cool.

"Ah, really! Stop interfering! Don't you want to see a wizard in action?"

- Speed Wagon: That's true. Wizards are rare players.

- Jokass: After crushing a whole battalion with bare hands and making mummies, he's playing with water and calling himself a wizard. Haha

- SoySauceGaybar: Hmm? Ah, this is 'Gravity Magic.' When I throw you, your neck will break in a mysterious way.

'You're feeling good about catching another one, aren't you?'

Amidst the viewers' mockery, the parasite's voice sneaked in.

[Embarrassed? It's hard to understand why you feel embarrassed. It's not a bad thing, nor does it harm anyone, so why do you feel repulsed?]

'That's just how it is.'

The professor tried to ignore it, but then changed his mind.

It's impossible to practice magic while taking a direct hit from those jerks.

It's possible, but psychologically impossible. It's like dancing in the middle of Gwanghwamun. I'm not trained to be relaxed in such situations.

'Hey, parasite.'

[What?]

'Keep talking to me.'

Even though I don't like the guy, if I have to live with him, I might as well use him well.

The conversation with the parasite, whom I conveniently call 'parasite,' takes place in my inner self. When the parasite speaks, time slows down slightly, and the surroundings become quiet, creating a perfect environment for concentration.

[Hehe... You're quick to forget grudges?]

'I have no choice. If I dwell on every unpleasant thing in the wasteland, I'll die soon.'

Hmm. It's quiet now. This is useful.

The professor took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried to recall the image contained in the words as he recited the incantation.

"O water that brushes against my fingertips, I understand you, and you are no different from me."

I felt something stirring, like when I moved the water by the river. I am water. I am a lake. Just as water is contained in a lake, it is natural for water to be contained in my body...

[Oh, not bad.]

While repeating the image like a monk chanting, the parasite's voice interrupted. When I opened my eyes slightly, there was really a small water sphere, about the size of a child's fist, floating near my wrist!

Ding!

[Skill Acquired - Water Sphere: A basic magic spell created based on the insight of the great wizard Dorman Baldanis. Creates or throws water. / Attack Power 0~5 / Mana Cost 0~5]

It's registered as a skill. I did it. I really cast the Water Sphere spell!

"Got it, got it! Water appeared!"

- Speed Wagon: It's not exactly a Water Sphere incantation. When other wizards use it, the water floats perfectly in a spherical shape above their hands, but this one is attached to the body and the amount of water is small.

- SoySauceGaybar: Damn! To achieve this in such a harsh environment! He's not ordinary!

- DeerDrug: 'Professor The Shameless One'

- NamBathri: It's amazing.

Amazing? It's more than that. The feeling of something being manifested in the world according to my will