Three methods...
Bairon mentally organized the spells he already possessed.
Ice Blast and Flame Fist had evolved into Intermediate spells, while Meditation and Flesh remained basic.
Lightness had upgraded into the new spell "Levitation", and Wind Blade was a newly awakened spell, the only added one.
Wait!
Bairon was certain that his favorite, most proficient, and frequently used spell was Cryomancy's "Ice Blast".
Unless...
"Does the spell I used in the illusion count?" Bairon loudly inquired.
Within the illusion, Charlotte, even with her reduced level, was still formidable.
To evade her attacks, Bairon had frequently used Lightness.
And since it didn't consume Mindergy, he was liberal in its use.
The frequency with which he'd employed Lightness in those two and a half days surpassed the combined usage of all his spells previously.
"The Dark Tower is never stingy," Old John chuckled.
"Sometimes being overly generous isn't a virtue," Bairon lamented upon realization.
He then queried, "Now that I've learned Wind Blade, how can I make it return on its path?"
Old John responded with a playful tone, "That's simple. Prepare a Level 4 mana core."
"Maybe next time," Bairon dismissed Old John's suggestion, turning to the other figure, "Madam, your thoughts?"
"Summon your Ice Blast," Charlotte instructed.
Bairon couldn't fathom the connection between making Wind Blade return and Ice Blast, but he complied nonetheless.
Raising his hand, he invoked, "Ice Blast."
A wall embedded with icy spikes materialized in front of him.
"Observe closely," Charlotte instructed.
"Observe what?" Bairon asked reflexively.
Suddenly, the world in his eyes began to fade, as if he were witnessing a rapidly withering forest, until everything was painted in grayscale.
Bairon glanced around and, to his astonishment, noticed peculiar elements amidst the monochrome.
Statues, the Golden Knight, ethereal figures suspended in the sky, and even himself had transformed into forms composed of countless luminous dots.
Apart from these, the Dark Tower behind him had turned into an absolute, impenetrable black.
His gaze involuntarily lingered on it for a moment.
Soon after, a sinking feeling overwhelmed him, as though the Dark Tower sought to consume him whole.
"Don't look at the Dark Tower," Charlotte's voice echoed like a thunderclap in his mind, "It has been parched for far too long and will try to devour any Mindergy it sees."
Bairon snapped back to consciousness immediately.
"Madam, what is this...?" Bairon inquired.
"It's a spell realm created by an advanced Soul spell. Within its boundaries, one can perceive the fluctuations of Mindergy and mana," Charlotte explained.
A spell realm that could encompass the entire world of the Dark Tower?
Bairon's estimation of Charlotte's prowess escalated further.
"For you," Charlotte continued, "you might consider learning its lesser variant called 'Eye of Magus'."
Bairon chuckled softly, "I hope I get the chance."
Soul spells touched upon numerous taboos.
Besides Dark Magi, magus from other professions rarely sought to learn them, making the legal Legacy Scrolls associated with them exceptionally rare.
"Now, observe the ice wall you've conjured," Charlotte instructed.
Following her direction, Bairon gazed upon it.
Inside the icy construct, numerous white lines had emerged.
They radiated from the center of the wall, reaching every corner and even extending to the tips of the icy spikes.
They resembled the pillars supporting a structure, holding together the diamond-shaped ice wall.
"Is this... the Magic Circuit?" Bairon ventured.
"Indeed. This is the Magic Circuit you employed to create this ice wall. It resides not just in your mind but also projects onto the magical constructs you craft," Charlotte elucidated.
Staring at the white lines that formed the Magic Circuit, Bairon felt an indescribable sensation, as if a door to the underlying laws of the magus world was slowly unveiling itself to him.
"Perfect-grade Magic Circuits can be slightly modified, right?" Bairon asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Charlotte's Wind Blade was distinct from Bairon's and different from those used by the other magi of the Sailport Magus Tower.
Hers carried a certain curvature, the principle that allowed the Wind Blade to return.
After awakening the Wind Blade spell, Bairon had made several attempts, but he couldn't produce that specific curvature.
Now, he had a hunch about where the problem might lie...
"Of course," Old John chimed in.
"How do I modify it?" Bairon inquired.
"Master more intricate control over your Mindergy," Charlotte responded.
"Can Mindergy actually be controlled?" Bairon asked in surprise.
"Of course," Old John replied. "The ability to manipulate Mindergy in carving Magic Patterns is a crucial determinant of a Crafting Magus's skill and the quality of their creations."
So this was the principle behind crafting spell equipment... Bairon felt as if another door had been unlocked for him.
"But I can't afford a mana core," Bairon remarked.
The mana core was the most vital material for crafting spell equipment.
Thus, impoverished magi weren't deemed fit to be Crafting Magi.
"Not even a single Level 4 mana core?" Old John inquired.
Bairon blinked, "Just one?"
"The first room on the left of the first floor in the Dark Tower leads to the Crafting Illusion Realm. You only need one Level 4 mana core to unlock it. Once inside, you can endlessly practice using various materials to hone your skills in crafting spell equipment," Charlotte explained.
"I suggest you give it a try. Your level has advanced rapidly, and you need to refine your Mindergy for stability."
"That was the surprise I had planned for you. Please always remember Old John's goodwill," Old John said with a smile.
So, all this talk about needing a Level 4 mana core was for this reason...
Bairon spread his hands out and candidly admitted, "Still, I don't have one."
A hush fell upon the world.
Even the usually talkative Old John remained silent.
"Can you afford walnuts and eggs?" Old John ventured, breaking the stillness.
"Of course," Bairon nodded.
For the coastal town of Sailport, walnuts and eggs were pricier than seafood.
However, in the eyes of a Battle Magus, such costs were hardly considered extravagant.
"Buy some walnuts and eggs, and a carving knife. Then try to etch Magic Patterns onto them," Old John suggested, and quickly added, "While walnuts and eggs can't be compared to a mana core, carving them still consumes Mindergy. The earliest Crafting Magus, legend has it, was a carver by profession."
"What did he carve?" Bairon asked, intrigued.
"Stone statues, particularly those of nude females," Old John replied.
Bairon's mouth opened slightly, deciding that perhaps the walnuts and eggs were indeed a better option.
"Thank you for the advice, Old John."
With a nod of acknowledgment, Bairon vanished from the realm of the Dark Tower.
"My lady, we need to discuss the education of an Intermediate Magus," Old John's voice echoed in the world of the Dark Tower.
Meanwhile, the shadowy figures high in the sky swelled slightly.
"You've shown him the underlying laws of the world when he is still as vulnerable as an ant on the other side?" Old John questioned.
The statue sitting on the steps remained silent.
...
In the days that followed, Bairon found himself increasingly occupied.
By day, he'd be at home, etching the Magic Pattern for "Ice Blast" on walnuts and eggs.
If his Mindergy ran out, he'd either meditate or take Evelyn out shopping.
By night, he would enter the world of the Dark Tower to test the fruits of his daytime labor.
If there was no progress, he'd spar with Charlotte in the battle illusion realm a few times.
Five days sped by.
On the dawn of the fifth day, in the realm of the Dark Tower, Bairon announced, "Lady Charlotte, Old John, I shall take my leave now."
As he vanished, a multitude of ice shards intertwined, transforming the space he left into a frozen tundra.
"It's a good thing we kept his Bloodline awakening at red; otherwise, we'd be inviting some minor nuisances," Old John remarked with relief.
...
"Brother, I'll wait for your return!" Evelyn watched as Bairon walked towards the Magus Tower, her eyes brimming with tears.
Sensing their presence, she quickly wiped them away. Bairon had once told her, "Stay strong!"
Magus Tower.
The usually quiet dueling arena was now bustling with a crowd.
Beyond the regular townsfolk who came to watch, the prominent figures of Sailport were present, including wealthy merchants, magi, and members of the citizens' council. They all gathered.
Priest Matthew and William were no exceptions.
As honored guests, they were given seats next to Chief Steward Rueel.
Noticing Rueel's seat was still vacant, Matthew whispered in complaint, "Has he summoned the entire town?"
"Many have been invited. Even the managers from my shipyard are here," William responded.
"Rueel sees today's duel as an excellent opportunity to boost Lawrence's reputation."