"The smaller version is much easier to use, so maybe it'll help if I use them as a comparison." This time, Luca performed a similar spell, one that required no chanting and had a short 2-second charge time. The orb that formed in the boy's palm was only the size of a golf ball this time, while the hemispherical depression that formed on the ground after it was dropped was only the size of a yoga ball. "This is what I was intending to make. This way, I can cut holes into walls if I need to. As for dodging flames... I'll work on that."
Elizabeth was much less worried after seeing this demonstration, "A much more modest spell by comparison. It certainly would be able to do what you described, and it's much less dangerous. I'd say it'd be a Lv. 3 or 4 spell. What about you, Samlin?" The input of the researcher was always highly regarded when it came to grading spells.
"Oh, yes, I'd agree. I'm leaning more towards Lv. 4 though, as it appears to require more control and a greater mana base than Lv. 3 spells." He tapped his finger against his chin, arms folded, as he pondered, "I fear to ask this question, but do you have any other ridiculous ideas in that mind of yours, Luca?"
Blushing a little, having been seen through almost immediately by the research specialist, the young Dragonborn nodded, "I'm... planning to experiment with Space-type magic for three particular goals: to create a spell that can be engraved on all Mages Guild cards that, in the case of a life-threatening event, can forcibly teleport its holder and those in contact with them back to the nearest Mages Guild branch, to create a more advanced form of teleportation magic that can allow for the transportation of more targets than teleportation can handle, and to discover how to enchant weapons with Space-type magic." Having an emergency teleportation system would reduce the number of lost lives while potentially making the transfer of critically important information faster by comparison. As for the transportation magic Luca had intended to aim for, he was basing it off the idea of warp gates or portals, a subject that, somehow, Andor had yet to discover. The weapon enchanting was just an idea he came up with while he was bored.
Samlin snorted whimsically, "You've already got some fine ideas there, but don't go shooting for the moon just yet. You've only just started on this road, after all." Looking at his robes and dusting himself off, as he noticed that some particles of dust had clung to them after the enormous orb of destruction earlier. "We'll leave those two spells you just performed for another time. You've already passed the first half of this exam perfectly, and I'm sure Elizabeth would agree. Now, time for the main event: Mirror Magic." The middle-aged mage was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet at the prospect of new magic.
The young Dragonborn was partly giggling at the ecstatic mage and at Arcturus' bamboozled expression as he stared at Samlin's behaviour. "Alright, alright, I'll get right to it. I have to add, though, that Mirror Magic cannot actively attack, so it requires magic to be launched at it, so I will need some help." Elizabeth, as the one with the highest control of magic in the Mages Guild Headquarters at present, casually agreed to be the attacker, having absolute certainty in her ability to control the strength of her flames.
Standing across from the three witnesses, Luca held up one of his hands, after which a translucent square barrier formed in front of him, having identical lengths of 2m on all sides. If not for the oddly pinkish hue to the translucent barrier, one might mistake it for actual glass. "This is the most basic application of Mirror Magic: a barrier. With just a single barrier, it is only capable of reflecting and absorbing. I'd need to layer it to achieve the full effect of it. Try hitting it with a fireball or something." As the Head Guildmaster coolly launched a palm-sized ball of flames at the barrier, the Mirror Magic barrier shimmered upon its impact as ripples of light radiated from the source of impact to the edges of the barrier and then back, forcing the small fireball, which had lost a good portion of its power, to reverse its course back to its caster, who simply batted it aside with her sleeve.
Samlin's eyes were sparkling wildly as he mentally recorded everything he witnessed, "Extraordinary! Reflective barriers are extremely difficult to create, making them a rarity for observation. Just this short demonstration alone already gives me wonderful theories on how to create them!"
The Head Guildmaster lightly tapped the ecstatic researcher on the head with her wand, "Calm down, before you go diving through a window again." The incident she referred to was his one attempt to witness a duel between mages with magic he was deeply interested in down the training grounds outside the Headquarters so desperately that he threw himself out of a 4th-floor window just to get there faster. If not for the timely reaction of nearby Wind-type mages, the research specialist might have been hospitalized for a long time at the least, dead at the worst. Returning her gaze to the young lad, Elizabeth said, "While I do agree, and would like to see more as well, there are more important things to take care of at the moment. Since you have performed outstandingly with your first spell, to a horrifying degree, you have passed this exam. Due to your familiar's status of being a juvenile, I will assume he has not awakened his own Unique magic and leave it at that. Your third exam will be in about ten minutes, so take your time getting there. I won't be required to be present for the third, fourth or fifth exams, so I'll be seeing you for the mock duel later on." As she made her way to the door, while Samlin deactivated the array, she turned to smile lightly at the young Dragonborn, "And... don't do anything too crazy, please. We still need the building in one piece."