In the ten days following the aftermath of the battle, life in the castle resumed its usual tranquility. Apart from the fishing and logging teams continuing their daily tasks, the conscripted soldiers also carried on with their routine training. Gwynnis hoped to enhance their combat capability as much as possible before the potential return of the Hafdans.
The castle's blacksmiths, along with refugees experienced in smithing from Windermere, were busy as well. They reforged the Hafdans' axes, collected from the battlefield, into various weapons like spears and longswords for the castle's defenders. As for the depleted arrows, Gwynnis had them replenished as much as possible. The scarcity of feathers limited immediate restocking, so they had to recycle arrows by collecting and reprocessing those shot during the battle.
While everyone was busy with their work, Gwynnis found himself constantly badgered by Rosalyn, who eagerly sought information about the magic he used that night. In a world where magic was scarcely understood, with no magical academies or beginner textbooks, anyone interested in studying magic had to rely on innate talent or the luck of finding a willing teacher.
Rosalyn herself, from a wealthy urban family, had defied her family's objections to pursue this undervalued path. So far, she had only learned two spells: "Healing Words" from the temple and "Candlelight Magic," which she discovered by accident. These modest spells were enough to make her one of the most prominent magicians in the entire Annon River Valley Countship.
The Patir Kingdom's stance on magic had always been ambivalent, unsure whether to legalize it entirely or condemn it as forbidden arts. Many priests in churches and temples used healing magic bestowed by the goddess, which was deemed reasonable and legal. However, folk magic was often seen as dark arts practiced by devil worshippers or primitive magic of remote mountain dwellers, unworthy of recognition or even outright denied.
Despite this, magic was never completely banned in the kingdom, though it struggled to gain widespread acceptance. The magic Gwynnis used on the night of the Hafdan invasion had caught many people's attention, especially Rosalyn, who had witnessed it herself. After recovering from her exhaustion, she persistently pursued Gwynnis, offering any price for his insights into that magic.
Looking at Rosalyn's eager face, Gwynnis thought for a moment and then agreed to her request.
In the following ten days, after the chaos of the battle subsided, life in the castle returned to its usual state of calm. While the fishing and logging teams continued their daily tasks, the conscripted soldiers underwent routine training. Gwynnis hoped to boost their combat effectiveness as much as possible before the Hafdans' potential return.
The castle's blacksmiths, along with the skilled refugees from Windermere, were busy reworking the Hafdans' axes into various weapons, including spears and swords, for the castle's defenders. Gwynnis also ensured the replenishment of depleted arrows. Due to the scarcity of feathers, they had to recycle and reprocess arrows fired during the battle.
Amidst everyone's bustle, Gwynnis was constantly pestered by Rosalyn, who was eager to learn about the magic he had used that night. In a world with minimal systematic study of magic, she had no doubt about Gwynnis's claim of suddenly conceiving a new spell in the heat of battle. "It's entirely plausible, especially for someone with a high natural affinity for magic," she said.
Rosalyn had herself inadvertently created "Candlelight Magic" in her dreams. However, she noticed that Gwynnis's spell on that night had been unstable, drawing in all the 'aether' from around the castle but failing to maintain focus.
In response to Rosalyn's observations, Gwynnis agreed to accept her magic lessons. The primary focus was on utilizing mental energy and binding the aether that leaves the body. Aether, a material scarcely present in space, becomes volatile and difficult to control once attracted by a human body. This was why many spells required close physical contact.
Gwynnis, being a novice, easily overused his mental energy when casting spells, leading to extreme fatigue after battle. Under Rosalyn's guidance, Gwynnis practiced in his study, repeatedly sending out red light beams that quickly dissipated into the vast sky.
After continuous practice, Gwynnis mastered a technique to stabilize the range of his "Crimson Thunder" spell to about five meters, where it retained considerable destructive power. The closer the distance, the stronger the force of the spell. When discharged point-blank, the red beam resembled a laser rather than an electric current, easily penetrating even walls.
Furthermore, Gwynnis significantly reduced the time needed to cast the spell, taking only a second or two to release it from his fingertips. Although "Crimson Thunder" still consumed a lot of mental energy, Gwynnis determined that using it no more than twice in battle would leave him with enough energy for a short fight.
Gwynnis smiled at the tactical advantage this spell could provide in close combat. However, Rosalyn warned him not to be overly optimistic, mentioning the existence of 'Anti-Magic Stones,' rare but capable of nullifying all magic. She recalled an incident where a mercenary carrying a fragment of such a stone was immune to her healing magic, wasting her mental energy and frustrating her immensely.
With eager eyes, Rosalyn turned to Gwynnis, reminding him of his promise to teach her his newfound spell. "Now it's your turn to keep your word," she said with anticipation. "Teach me how to use this spell."