Teresa and Ryan walked toward the Dawn Wizard Tower. The sorceress thought for a moment before explaining, "First, you must already know the difference between a sorcerer and a wizard. My casting relies on my bloodline power, while Veronica constructs spell models."
"Yes." Ryan nodded repeatedly, already clear on this point.
"So, both Veronica and I have faced certain challenges in our progress. As you know, I'm the daughter of Elder Aurora. My family isn't short on money or magic books, but I'm a sorceress. My casting depends on my bloodline, and my advancement can only be achieved through deep exploration and attempts to master those difficult spells that match my bloodline." Teresa glanced at Ryan before continuing, "That's why I sought adventure."
"Veronica is the opposite. She has the talent and can master many spells, but she lacks money." Ryan immediately understood and remarked, "You have enough money and resources, but due to your sorceress bloodline, you can only master a small portion of spells that match your bloodline. Wouldn't it be better if you two switched places?"
"Don't even think about it! I would never trade places with that woman, never!" Teresa curled her lips, the beauty mark at the corner of her eye twinkling like a star. "I hate her. Don't you think she's like a hedgehog, always trying to prick anyone who gets close? Even back in Marienburg, we hardly interacted, and she told me to get lost. If it weren't for the time and place, I would have fought her."
"She's always been like that." Ryan remembered Veronica's usual demeanor and couldn't help but laugh. "Hasn't she been much better lately?"
"She has the wizard tower, a man, a status, and now the Light Magic Chariot. Of course, she feels great. Let's not talk about her anymore." Teresa pulled out a pair of pistols from her bosom and fired two shots, bringing down two sparrows eavesdropping on their conversation from a tree. She struck a pose and winked at Ryan. "Of course, the physical boost from a sorceress's bloodline means I won't be at a disadvantage in close combat like she is."
"Such a clumsy topic change, dear Teresa." Ryan looked at the sorceress sideways. "But good marksmanship. You must have spent a lot of time practicing."
"It has been somewhat effective." Teresa blushed. After being stabbed by a Skaven assassin in Helmgart, she took the opportunity to rigorously practice her pistol shooting skills. With her natural talent and some foundation, she quickly developed decent shooting skills. After earning the dwarf instructor's approval, she eagerly demonstrated them to Ryan. "Within eighty meters, I can easily hit nine rings."
"My courtier should have this level of skill. Very good, I like it." Ryan winked back, wrapping his arm around the sorceress's waist. "Tonight, I'll show you my marksmanship."
"You...I wasn't talking about that!" Teresa pouted, turning her head away in a mix of pride and joy. "Where were we?"
"We got sidetracked. You still haven't told me about mana reserves and spell chanting." Ryan thought the young lady had finally gotten back on track.
"Mana reserves represent the magical power stored in a caster's body, determining the strength and number of spells that can be cast in a battle." Teresa realized she had digressed and quickly resumed the topic. "But mana reserves aren't everything. For example, casting an ice spell in this weather requires about five times the normal mana. Veronica, on the other hand, can save a lot of mana when casting fire or light spells in this season. When winter comes, I can save a lot of mana, while Veronica will need to spend several times more."
Ryan stroked his chin and quickly inferred, "It's related to the environment. Light wizards prefer bright places, sky wizards need to see the sky, death wizards like to live near graveyards away from people, amber wizards prefer wandering the wilderness with beasts, and shadow wizards enjoy blending into slums because it aids their casting and training."
"Exactly. Therefore, spell chanting is also affected by the environment. This is why the Ice Queen Katarin of Kislev never leaves her perpetually snow-covered land. There, she can create an ice fortress with a single spell." Teresa continued, "However, the Garland Council and the Imperial College of Wizards are different. They bind one of the Eight Winds of Magic to a wizard's body, a fast-track training method. This allows an apprentice to quickly become a full-fledged wizard but confines them to practicing one type of magic for life, with their body and temperament influenced by the magical element."
The Garland Council's approach to magic was gentler and more cautious. Ryan understood this, noting that the method left by Teclis to the Empire for learning magic was a fast-track approach, knowing the 'how' without knowing the 'why'.
"Even with ample mana and environmental aid, magic isn't safe. The Winds of Magic, blown from the Realm of Chaos, are unpredictable, sometimes surging, sometimes barely perceptible. Even my mother, a great archmage, can fail when casting high-circle spells." Teresa explained, "The changes in the Winds of Magic are considered unpredictable. There have been instances where a wizard in a mana-scarce environment suddenly receives a surge of magical wind, replenishing their mana instantly. Conversely, powerful wizards have had their spells disrupted by erratic magical winds, leading to self-destruction or being transformed into Chaos creatures."
"The fluctuations in the Winds of Magic significantly affect casting. That's why we need wizard towers, places that stabilize magic training. This is why the Light Magic Chariot is so precious; with it, Veronica can greatly reduce her chances of spell failure." Teresa concluded, "So a wizard's power isn't stable, influenced by mana reserves, the casting environment, and the intensity of the Winds of Magic."
"I see." Ryan finally understood the issue completely.
The psychic casting of the Primarch of the Grey Knights directly used Warp energy, differing from spellcasting. Psychic casting was just an auxiliary, not something Ryan could rely on extensively. He mainly relied on melee combat.
"Ryan, the rune you engraved on me also helps my casting." Teresa blushed as she whispered, "It helps purify my mana, making my spell chanting more stable and safe. Veronica has had that for many years, hasn't she?"
"Yes."
The two chatted for a long time. With Ryan's company and feeling the pure psychic wind around him, Teresa, who had been uncomfortable in the high heat, looked much better.
They arrived at their destination.
In front of the Dawn Wizard Tower, several of Ryan's kingdom knights and Belgar Ironhammer, King of the Angrund Clan, were present. Seeing Ryan approach, Belgar chattered incessantly, "Humans are such dawdlers, always ready to mate. Well, at least you breed more than we do. By Valaya, it's been three years since a girl was born in our clan. Marrying is not easy. Duggan, staying here, recently took a fancy to our clan's Angelina. I'll make sure he offers enough gold and ores..."
After a pause, Belgar took out his water bottle, drank deeply of Bugman's XXXXXX, wiped his mouth, and continued, "Such hot weather! The last time I was in this heat was over thirty years ago, planning the third assault on Eight Peaks, gathering supplies in the Black Mountains..."
Belgar's chatter made the kingdom knights present feel overwhelmed. Olivier, in his thirties, dressed in a white shirt and red dress pants, shook his head helplessly and said to Hex, standing beside him, "People say dwarfs are verbose. Today I've seen it. We've been waiting here for fifteen minutes, and King Belgar has been talking for fifteen minutes."
"Be content, Olivier. Dwarfs only chatter to those they consider friends. It means he sees us as one of his own." Hex, although slightly irritated, maintained patience. "We need these dwarfs for the Blackstone Stronghold. Mountain warfare isn't a knight's forte, and we can't get our trebuchets in front of the stronghold."
"Indeed." Olivier, from Marienburg, had seen the power of cannons firsthand. This kingdom knight always had many complaints about Bretonnia's giant trebuchets.
In the Empire, who still uses such things?
It's not that Bretonnia's heavy trebuchets lack power—they are more destructive than Imperial cannons. But aside from power, heavy trebuchets are difficult to transport, require extensive assembly time on site, and have unstable firing rates and accuracy.
Hex had been training the serf infantry regiment to adapt to coordination with dwarfs. The knights' training was handed over to Armand, ensuring they could maximize their strength by aligning with the dwarfs' attacks.
"I'm here, let's begin." Ryan, bringing Teresa along, arrived at the scene. The assembled Light Magic Chariot was positioned in front of the Dawn Wizard Tower. Four Bretonnian mixed-blood warhorses pulled the chariot inscribed with magical runes and formations. The power of the Wind of Light swirled around the chariot's body, with several witch apprentices bustling around.
Today, they were here to witness the power of the Light Magic Chariot.
The chariot was a magnificent and incredulous weapon. The intricate vehicle was adorned with relic-like jeweled inlays, covered in Gothic decorations and skull motifs over astrological symbols, with ever-burning candles. Atop the chariot, a giant optical instrument with ornate symbols stood. The original twin-tailed comet insignia had been replaced with a blooming red garland flower.
Eight brass mirrors were arranged from smallest to largest, leading to Veronica at the chariot's top. The Garland Witch wore a classic red pe
ony patterned archmage robe. The robe's collar stood high, and the skirt split on both sides, reaching her knees. Her beautiful legs, wrapped in flesh-colored stockings, were exposed. Veronica wore ivory high heels, and her dark brown hair fluttered in the air. The Garland Witch called out to her apprentices, "Ryan has arrived. Are you ready?"
"Ready, Mentor," responded Katherine, Veronica's chief apprentice and a formal wizard. "All instruments have been calibrated!"
"Then let's start the experiment!"
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