"Psychic Force: 29.7
Mana: 28.1
Physical Constitution: 8.8
Elemental Affinity: Fire, Light, Darkness..."
Delicate hues of color shimmered on the surface of the crystal orb. As they did, a concise message manifested within Elandril's mind.
Having used the academy's public crystal orb before, Elandril knew exactly where to focus.
"Psychic Force has increased by 3.7, Mana by 2.6, and even my physical constitution has gone up by 1.2?" Elandril mused internally.
Just over two weeks ago, before venturing into the territory of the Brackish Behemoth, Elandril had come to the library to test his Psychic Force and Mana levels. Back then, the readings were Psychic Force at 26, Mana at 25.5, and physical constitution at 7.6.
For a Junior Apprentice like Elandril, these were already impressive figures. No wonder he had dared to risk confronting the Brackish Behemoth.
The academy's minimum threshold for an Intermediate Apprentice is a Psychic Force of 30. Now, with Elandril's Psychic Force teetering at 29.7, he stands just a hair's breadth away from advancing to the Intermediate Apprentice rank.In the world of arcane arts, the attribute known as "Mana" is typically intertwined with the measure of a mage's "Psychic Force". It represents a fundamental energy reservoir housed within a magician's essence.
For instance, when Elandril casts a spell, he employs his Psychic Force to harness the Mana from within, thereby releasing the magic in its entirety.
Through years of studies and observations at the prestigious Dark Realms Academy of Black Magic, Elandril noted a curious tendency. The illustrious Dark Sorcerers, seated high atop their pedestals of power, seem somewhat dismissive of Mana's significance. Instead, they appear to place a greater emphasis on Psychic Force. Indeed, the advancement of magic apprentices across various tiers often hinges directly upon their Psychic Force values.
This, however, is not to downplay the importance of Mana.
From Elandril's current depth of knowledge and perspective, he regards both Mana and Psychic Force as being of equal significance. For instance, when Elandril casts a basic Lesser Fireball Spell, it consumes both 10 units of his Psychic Force and 10 units of Mana. Yet, if he wishes to unleash an enhanced version of the Lesser Fireball Spell – the very one he used to vanquish the Brackish Behemoth – it demands 10 units of Psychic Force and a heftier 15 units of Mana. This augmented Mana expenditure indicates a more potent culmination of the spell's force.
Of course, even within the domain of Lesser Fireball Spells, nuances exist.The former refers to the standard knowledge that Elandril acquired from the public library, redeemed using his academy points. The latter, on the other hand, is the culmination of Elandril's exploration into the knowledge of fire elements, combined with insights he gained while assisting Lina in her experiments. After a touch of his own research and refinement, he birthed this iteration.
The study of magic is no fleeting endeavor; it's not achieved overnight. Elandril's "Lesser Fireball Spell" can hardly be touted as a groundbreaking piece of sorcery. Should other established mages catch wind of it, they'd likely discern that Elandril's contribution was merely a subtle tweak in the spell's structural model. This adjustment enabled the Lesser Fireball Spell to harness a greater reservoir of Mana, amplifying its potency. Such a creation might be dismissed by some as a trivial plaything.
Yet, this 'trivial plaything' demanded nearly three years of Elandril's dedication, earning him a prominent spot among the elite Junior Apprentices.
As for the last attribute in the crystal ball test results — constitution — it's something most would overlook. According to mages who lecture on elemental basics in public classes, a constitution score of 5 to 7 is average for a mature human male. Elandril, at the tender age of 16 and still not of age, boasts a constitution of 8.8. This surpasses the average, possibly attributed to a rudimentary breathing technique he mastered from a young age.
A constitution of 10 serves as a critical threshold distinguishing regular humans. The astonishingly robust Minotaurs of Mosobra City typically exceed this score, rivaling even lower-tier magical beasts in physical prowess.The scar-faced Joke, who had been taken down by Elandril, was indeed a hulking figure, highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
Elandril surmised that his physical prowess might very well exceed 15 points, possibly even reaching beyond 20.
Coupled with his mastery over fire enchantments, it's no wonder he regarded Lina as a subtle rival.
Unfortunately, brute strength is no match for the arcane.
With a flick of Elandril's Acidic Wand, Joke's robust muscles were effortlessly dissolved into a sludgy pool of blood and gore.
The same principle applies to the Minotaur warriors tasked with the defense of Mosobra city's outskirts.
While these Minotaur soldiers generally boasted impressive stature and strength, didn't they still quiver under the radiance of magic?
Even the Minotaur captain Elandril observed, whose might was comparable to elite magical beasts, probably couldn't withstand the corrosive acid of the Acidic Wand.
In the end, brute force is a minor path; true wisdom reigns supreme.
"Sister Phyra once mentioned that danger and dire situations indeed stimulate the growth of Psychic Force. And as Psychic Force grows, Mana naturally ascends," Elandril recalled.
"It took me nearly a decade to gradually elevate my Psychic Force from 11 points to 26."
"In less than a month this time, my Psychic Force has already risen by 3 points. Aside from the teachings of my mentor and Sister Phyra, those few battles played a pivotal role," Elandril mused.No wonder the apprentices of the Dark Magic Academy, who have made names for themselves beyond its walls, all boast impressive and extraordinary records of combat. Elandril's notorious reputation was built upon the corpses of Yilke and Scar-faced Joke. Such feats might be intimidating to the average intermediate and junior apprentices. However, for those who stand at the pinnacle of the Academy, the elite Senior Apprentices, such accomplishments are almost trivial.
Among these outstanding Senior Apprentices, there are those who take pride in having personally slain high-level magical beasts. Once one ascends to the realm of Senior Apprentice, they truly separate themselves from the lesser ranks of the academy. Not only are they rarely seen in general classrooms, but even in daily life, they maintain an almost mythical and elusive presence.
One could only wonder about the whereabouts of Lina, Sister Phyra, and Elder Brother Zorro. Elandril surmised that these Senior Apprentices are either engrossed in experimental research or perhaps embarking on perilous academy trials beyond the school's boundaries.
The knowledge imparted in the public classrooms of the Dark Magic Academy is mostly fundamental and rudimentary. Naturally, it wouldn't captivate the attention of these advanced students. Especially since almost every Senior Apprentice has their dedicated magical mentor behind them. Should they wish to delve deeper into any topic, they can directly approach their mentors. There's no need for them to degrade their status by attending common classes.At present, the dominant groups attending public classes in the Dark Magic Academy are the Novice Apprentices and Junior Apprentices. The Intermediate Apprentices? They make up only about 20% of the population.
This disparity arises for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there inherently are fewer Intermediate Apprentices than their Novice and Junior counterparts. But more importantly, the vast majority of Intermediate Apprentices no longer find the need to attend these public classes. Simply put, they've already mastered the foundational knowledge offered there.
For most Intermediate Apprentices, their daily endeavors consist of rapidly enhancing their Psychic Force, earning academy points to unlock new spell models, or undertaking tasks set forth by official wizards in hopes of being taken under their wings as protegés. Had Elandril not been taken in by Master Mosido, it's quite likely this would have been his daily reality as well.