Dual Casting is good, but my mana will be reduced at twice the rate that a normal tier 1 mage would use their mana, I guess I will be caring a lot of magic crystals to replenish my mana.
In this world the use of magic crystals as a way to replenish depleted mana is something that has always happened, it is cheaper than using mana potions, especially for Grey who has never made an income ever coming to this world. The military will start paying him a salary after he starts his service.
'The use of this magic ring will bring forward attention to myself, the Dual Casting Activation can be said to be casting talent, but people will start noticing the difference when I start using my magic.'
'I have to make the situation look normal by disguising the fact that the Strengthen Activation is strengthening all of my Light element magic.'
'I will have to release a magic ring design that does something similar to my ring, a ring that can strengthen around two spells at tier 1 should make people believe I have the same ring only better.'
'Such a new ring design should bring me a lot of merits which could help me buy information and rise in the military ranks, with a high rank I should be able to protect myself.'
'Hmm, a ring that can strengthen two spells at tier 1 would not be too bad to make the Master Magic Ring designers to study for a while. I should design it using the languages of this world, only highly optimised. At least they won't think I am a freak, just talented enough to be able to optimise the old languages.'
'Such a ring would not get me killed by our enemies or imprisoned by the military of Arin.'
'A ring that strengthens the tier 1 spell [Water Shield] and the tier 1 spell [Water Lance] should be fine. I will call the magic ring [Shield and Lance Strengthening].'
'Speaking about naming magic rings, I don't know what to call my personal magic ring. I will think about it later.'
Grey immediately started to work on the two magic rings, given his ability, the actual magic rings should not take a long time. Grey started with tier 1 magic ring [Shield and Lance Strengthening], the ring was simple for him, he could finish the ring in the same afternoon, then submit it.
'Given the time the military will get to the magic ring, a lot of time would have passed, the military is busy with war, the ring will be review later.'
The military was a big organisation with many mages who send their own research hoping to get merits, the number of people who are be able to test and verify the claims of thousands of mages are not that many. With the war going on, some of those people might have been deployed to the front line.
Grey finished the [Shield and Lance Strengthening] magic ring later in the afternoon, Grey was feeling tired afterwards, but he had to go for dinner. Thus Grey took a shower to refresh himself, he wore his uniform looking very sharp.
Grey left his room caring the package that detailed the research and implementation of [Shield and Lance Strengthening]. Grey glanced at the neighbouring room which used to belong to Noah, however Noah had reached 15 years of age and had already being serving in the military.
Grey wondered if a person like Noah would survive the war with his personality, maybe he would adapt fast enough, after all he was a mage.
Grey went to dinner with his classic slightly indifferent face full of maturity, however if you looked more carefully you would observe a light in his eyes.
"Grey how is the research, it's been a year since the time you said it would be done?"
Miranda was the one who asked whilst they were eating, Grey had promised 4 months, however he still took more time.
"It is finished, you can come to my room to after we finish dinner."
"Really Grey?"
Scarlet was the person who asked, she had waited for the research that would give her better magic ring for a long time.
"Yes, I will discuss it when we reach my room."
There was a slightly smile in Scarlet's freckled face when Grey said he was done with his research, Scarlet was one of the people who wanted to get merits the most. The fact that Grey had finished what was missing in her plan, was very good news.
There was a light in Miranda's eyes, it was the light of ambition. Miranda was an ambitious person, she might not show it with her high maturity acting as her cloak, only people who had good observation would realise it.
The three continued their dinner whilst discussing the war, afterward they left the dining hall.
"Before I explain my research results, I need you to sign these documents."
When they got to Grey's room, he gave them what were basically NDAs, these NDAs were enforceable by the military.
The girls spent some times reading the documents, then they signed their names. The two girls understood that such things were required in such situations.
"Now that is over let me explain, as you two know that current tier 1 magic rings only allow a single spell to be strengthened, what my research tried to was to change that and I have succeeded."
"What?! That is amazing Grey, you are really talented as they said Grey. But I can imagine what a storm this will create when it comes out."
The first one to comment was Miranda, she had a thoughtful look on her face.
"The information will not be coming out anytime, I have submitted some of my results to the military, and that will take some time before the results come out."
"Approximately 3 years due to the war."
Scarlet was the one who commented on the duration.
"Then how many spells can be added to the tier 1 magic ring?"
Miranda was the one who asked the question.
"For your magic rings, it will be four spells, you can choose the spells yourself."
There was a momentary silence in the room, because the girls could not believe what they just heard, they thought Grey's method would allow for two spells to be put on the tier 1 ring.
The girls just nodded because they could not give a proper response.
"The terms of the compensation are in these documents, just choose the method of payment you want."
The first compensation method was either by paying using military merits or other resources, the second method was being Grey's official subordinate for a number of years.
"I will take the subordinate contract as we agreed those years ago."
As much as Scarlet considered herself as Grey's subordinate, it was never an official thing, but it looks like it was finally happening.
"I will take the compensation by merit/money contract."
Miranda still had her ambitions, she would not tie herself to Grey.
The two girls read the contracts for a while and then signed, they did not try and bargain with Grey, the contracts were fair enough.
"Now tell me the spells you have chosen so I can make the magic ring designs."
The first one to speak was Miranda.
"I choose tier 1 spells, [Fireball], [Lighting ball], [Water shield] and [Fire shield]."
"It looks like you have thought about it, those spells give two tier 1 combination spells, [Giant Plasma Ball] and [High Pressure Boiling Water Barrier]. Good combination of attack and defence."
Scarlet then stated her choices afterwards.
"I choose tier 1 spells, [Light Sword], [Lighting Lance], [Lighting shield] and [Wind shield]."
"Those give out tier 1 combination spells, [Multiple Weapon Barrage] and [Storm Barrier]."
Both Scarlet and Miranda did not choose complicated spells, it is best to have an attack method and defensive method so as to survive the war, fancy magic rings can be designed later when they survive the war.
The war must be really scary if everyone is only thinking about it.