"Colin Leonard
When you arrived, it seemed you were either not there or didn't hear my knock, perhaps busy in the Meditation Room... Regardless, do you still remember what I asked you for last night?
If, and I mean if, one day you get to meet my parents, please could you deliver this letter to them?
Thank you."
There were some smeared marks on the white paper here, as if hesitating... followed by the last sentence—
"Lastly, I wish you success in advancing and becoming a great Official Wizard!
Erica Saint Flame"
After reading the white paper, Colin silently took another brown letter in front of him, inspecting the beautifully splendid red and blue interwoven fiery seal.
…It was the royal emblem of the Holy Flame Kingdom.
He safely stored the brown letter, and folded the other piece of white paper to the side.
Colin then continued to pick up the broom to clean up the aftermath.
After cleaning up, he quickly shoved down a loaf of coarse bread with the cold water from the kitchen tank and immediately rushed to the Meditation Room.
The letter from Erica slightly relaxed yet tensed him up again.
He was far from the point where he could relax.
The "Golden Finger" was still unclear... What was the Limit Breaking Point?... Could it help him successfully advance within the last three months? If not, what would he do at external gathering spots to save his life, avoid exploitation, or even secure closer resources...
Hiss.
He ignited the oil lamp and incense in the Meditation Room using the Ignition Technique.
In the flickering light, Colin sat cross-legged, turned over the glass hourglass next to him, slowly closed his eyes, and started to test the effects of meditation.
The Meditation Room had no windows, daylight forcibly isolated outside, the room illuminated only by a weak light from a single oil lamp, next to which a thin incense stick burned emitting a calming scent.
Reflecting the firelight, the fine yellow sand in the glass hourglass flowed evenly under gravity, falling to the bottom, gradually forming a sharp mound.
The sun slowly swept across the sky, its warm glow brushed across the land and sea, finally sinking at the horizon, leaving only the last fragments of shimmering light scattering golden powder on the undulating sea.
In the evening, amidst the cries of seabirds returning to their nests, Colin suddenly opened his eyes.
A total of seven hours had passed in the glass hourglass on his right, the last stream of yellow sand slipping through.
With a thought, Colin summoned the Golden Paper.
In the faint golden light visible only to him, Colin smiled.
In the meditation section, the progress of Circulation Meditation method quietly changed from 78/100 to 85/100. In the Rank section, behind Basic Level Wizard Apprentice, a ↑ symbol appeared, extremely faint and fleeting.
'1 hour can enhance the meditation method by 1 point...'
He closed the Golden Paper, stood up, and stretched his body.
Depending on the proficiency of the meditation method and one's own aptitude, different wizards have limited time for each meditation session; thereafter, one must sleep to recover before continuing.
Today's meditation time had reached its limit.
He bent down to extinguish the incense, and immediately began to ponder.
'The original owner's aptitude was not strong; after nearly ten years of training, he was just over half past Basic Level Wizard Apprentice at 53/100... To successfully advance in the next three months... it seems he has to put more effort into meditation!'
Colin glanced at the hourglass, then carefully felt his body, 'From this meditation, advancing the meditation method by 7 points, without any change in aptitude, slightly shortened the training duration, and the enhancement of magic power inside the body also seemed slightly increased from before.'
'In this case, if the meditation method could break through the limit for a significant improvement, then advancing within three months seems not entirely like a fantasy.'
Pale golden particles converged; Colin looked at the bottom row, frowning to himself.
'Limit Breaking Point... what exactly is it?'
'Could it be...' he thought of something and quickly walked out of the Meditation Room.
......
Minutes later, Colin held a Magic Stone left by the original owner, summoning the Golden Paper with a hint of anticipation.
As soon as the Golden Paper appeared, his gaze did not pause, heading straight for the last line, focusing on it.
Soon, a refreshing sensation gradually emanated from the Magic Stone in his hand.
Golden Paper's last row of Limit Breaking Points followed by the black "0" character also began to pulsate slowly.
Colin felt a surge of joy inside and continued to stabilize his mood, focusing his spirit.
Soon, the Magic Stone gradually transformed into gravel, and the black character after the Limit Breaking Point turned into a "1."
Excited, Colin took out the last Magic Stone left by the original owner, intending to continue transforming the Limit Breaking Point.
But the next moment, he hesitated and stopped, pondering silently.
'There's no rush, I still need to keep some Magic Stones on hand. Although accommodation at the School is free and food is provided at the beginning of each month, anything else requires Magic Stones.'
The School only issues one Magic Stone per year to Basic Level Apprentices.
One Magic Stone isn't much, but the original owner and other apprentices didn't have to worry about daily living and could concentrate solely on their studies.
The situation was similar to students from his past life who had no jobs and focused solely on their studies.
One Magic Stone a year was akin to a regular student's pocket money after living expenses from his past life.
So it wasn't a lot.
Having been here for many years, the original owner had only managed to save up two Magic Stones.
'I should keep them for now... After all, Magic Stones can be turned into Limit Breaking Points at any time, but the reverse is not true... and my Meditation Method hasn't been cultivated to the limit yet, I don't need Limit Breaking Points.' He pondered silently.
Time flew swiftly.
Every evening after dinner, as the sun set, Colin would enter the Meditation Room to meditate until midnight, practicing until his limit and then going to bed to rest.
During other times, he wasn't idle either, practicing various witchcraft spells, occasionally pushing open the window facing the sea when he felt tired, leaning against the window ledge, quietly enjoying the sea breeze and gazing at the distant, majestic blue sea.
Seagulls relaxed, the shimmer of waves flickered, whether it was morning, noon, evening, or midnight, it was a breathtaking sight, a rare scene for him who lived in the Mainland in his past life.
When letting his mind wander, he would sometimes humorously think that owning such a hillside house with a breathtaking sea view would require how many years of overwork in his past life... maybe a lifetime wouldn't be enough?
Of course, life here wasn't all that beautiful, cooking was done on a wood stove, no need to think about lavish meals. Due to its proximity to the sea, some fish and seafood were distributed monthly, but by the time it was their turn, only the leftovers picked over by Intermediate and above Wizard Apprentices were available—mostly just salted fish and other dried goods, with staple foods being various grains, coarse wheat bread and the like.
However, fortunately, there was the Ignition Technique for starting fires and the Condensing Water Skill for drinking water, which avoided some troubles.
On the rare occasions when his mind wandered, he would glance through the side window at the neighboring stone house, but... Erica still hadn't returned.
On the third evening, inside the Meditation Room.
Yellow sand granules flowed swiftly through the gap of the hourglass, and Colin slowly opened his eyes after about six-sevenths of it had passed.
His meditation time had reached its limit.
Golden Paper appeared as his mind wished.
On its indiscernible material surface, rows of text were neatly arranged.
[Name: Colin Leonard]
[Rank: Basic Level Wizard Apprentice (53/100)]
[Meditation Method: Apprentice Period Circulation Meditation (100/100) ↑]
[Witchcraft: Ignition Technique (100/100) ↑; Condensing Water Skill (73/100); Light Brightness Skill (61/100)]
[Limit Breaking Point: 1]
In these three days, he had not only cultivated his Meditation Method to its limit but also the Ignition Technique.
The Condensing Water Skill had only progressed by 5 points due to its inconvenience, but the Light Brightness Skill had increased by a substantial 20 points and was now ready for instant casting.
Usually, when studying any witchcraft initially, one must recite awkward spells and perform corresponding gestures.
But as proficiency increased and understanding of the witchcraft deepened,
The time required for spells and gestures would decrease, eventually forming a clear Magic Model in the mind, enabling instant casting.
Instant casting on the panel corresponds to progressing to 60/100.
Colin shook his head, suppressing his bustling thoughts, exhaling deeply.
He then focused his spirit and firmly pressed on the upward arrow symbol following the Apprentice Period Circulation Meditation.
Bang.
The black upward arrow symbol trembled slightly, blurred, but then returned to its original form.
Colin felt a sinking feeling in his heart.