The young heir of the Roland family had become the talk of the town after driving away his erudite teacher, much to the amusement of many bored individuals in Yanjing. After all, who could blame them for finding joy in the misfortune of the Earl Raymond, whose current status and influence made him an easy target for gossip? The incident with his son had turned into a fresh piece of news, a topic of conversation for people both big and small. It had even become a cautionary tale for expecting parents in Yanjing; a common saying had emerged among them: "It doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl, as long as they're healthy... Just don't end up like the unfortunate Roland family, giving birth to a little imbecile."
On this particular day, the young Duwei once again received a visit from his father. Accompanying the Earl this time was a man whom Duwei couldn't stand. Clad in a grey robe with a pointed hat to match, the man exuded an unsettling aura, with his thin fingers and murky gaze.
"Master Clark, this is my son," spoke the Earl, the Vice President of the Imperial Command, with utmost politeness towards the man beside him. "Please, see if there's even a glimmer of potential for him on the sacred path of magic."
It seemed the Earl had run out of options, hence he had sought the guidance of the renowned Master Clark of Yanjing.
If being a "mage" could indeed be considered a profession, then it was undoubtedly one of the most esteemed occupations. Though the respect accorded to mages was often tinged with fear, they held a lofty status across all realms. They could converse on equal footing with nobility and received the most generous treatment. A powerful mage's influence in warfare could rival that of a small army, making them highly sought after by leaders of nations. And yet, the majority of mages dedicated their lives to the study of magic or the accumulation of magical energy through meditation. Almost none harbored worldly desires, for even the lowliest alchemist could transmute base stones into gems or gold with their magic. Precious gems were mere magical tools in their eyes.
And wizards have no desire for power; their lives are devoted to unraveling the mysteries of magic, with worldly ambitions holding little appeal for them. This quality makes them particularly appealing to those in positions of power!
It can be said that in the entire realm of Roland, wizards occupy the most esteemed profession, sought after by all in authority, and enjoying the finest treatment!
However... the Earl does not wish for his son to become a wizard! Even if there were any other options available!
Because almost all wizards are feared... they are perceived as monsters! They are aloof, solitary, eccentric individuals who shun social interaction, preferring to immerse themselves in the study of magic. Not a single noble maiden would fancy romance with someone who hides away in a study all day. No noble gathering would extend an invitation to a cold and distant wizard to enliven the atmosphere. No emperor would grant a wizard a title or appoint them to a high position in the empire!
And yet, Duwei is still his son! He is the heir of the Roland family! He will need to engage in romance, marry, have children, continue the family line, and participate in various social occasions within noble circles...
But, who could blame his son for being a "fool" who cannot excel in martial arts or academics? It seems that becoming a wizard is his last remaining option to achieve any semblance of success!
If the illustrious Roland family could produce an exceptional wizard in its history... though it may seem somewhat unconventional, it might just be acceptable!
With hopeful eyes, the Earl watched as the wizard Clark led his son into a prepared enclosed room.
"Alright, kid," Clark said as they entered the room. He immediately took out a small bottle, poured some golden powder onto his fingertips, swiftly drew a large circle in the room, then turned to face Duwei. "I've cast a silence spell. Now, no one outside can hear our conversation."
Then, this stern and chilling wizard approached Duwei, looking down at the young boy. "Now, tell me, kid, what is magic?"
What is magic?
This question made Duwei hesitate. Deep down, he was indeed quite interested in the concept of "magic" in this world. After all, he knew many wondrous tales about magic. But what exactly was magic... In Duwei's impression, when magicians used magic, they usually chanted something like "Oh spirit of the wind, heed my call..." And then there would be sandstorms and thunderous cries and whatnot.
Seeing the child before him remaining silent, it seemed that this question was too profound for the young boy. Clark chuckled and then spoke with a deep and slow voice, "Magic is the mystical power bestowed upon humanity by omnipotent deities, unlocking the mysteries of divine revelations! It is the path for humanity to pursue the ultimate power in this world! It is the source for understanding oneself, understanding the world, and unlocking the greatest gift bestowed upon humanity by the divine!"
Clark's voice carried a hint of sacredness. Unfortunately, these words didn't resonate with Duwei. To him, this seemingly lofty rhetoric sounded rather pretentious.
Young Duwei's face remained expressionless, and his silence made the proud wizard mistakenly believe it was due to fear of him. He was quite satisfied with the heir of the Earl's reaction. Subsequently, the wizard pulled out a fist-sized crystal sphere from his voluminous gray robe.
"Spiritual power is one of the standards to measure whether a person has magical talent... Although not the only criterion, it is the most important one. Now, let me test your magical aptitude..."
Duwei finally spoke up, voicing his inner question, "Spiritual power? Magic? But isn't magical ability exclusive to magicians?"
Clark widened his eyes in disbelief, "Who told you such absurd nonsense? By the spirits, does the Earl's mansion have people who lack even this common sense?"
The wizard was infuriated by this misconception: "Spiritual power is the term used by ordinary people; for magicians, spiritual power is magic! Magicians can use meditation techniques to continuously strengthen and increase their spiritual power, then use this heightened spiritual power to sense the world, the mysteries of nature, and various forces within it. Only those with strong spiritual power can achieve this! By continuously accumulating spiritual power, magicians can better perceive the magical elements of the world... And magic, so-called, is just a set of tricks that allow magicians to command or borrow some of the forces of nature— that is magic."
Duwei sighed, "I understand... Spiritual power is magic. And magic is essentially a lever. Magicians use this lever to tap into the power of nature."
A hint of surprise flickered in Clark's murky eyes, "It's hard to believe... Oh, a child of barely five... Oh, you're very clever, yet why do others call you a fool?"
To this question, Duwei remained silent, only gazing silently at the wizard. The proud Clark was not one to waste time on such trivial matters, and he merely expressed slight surprise before moving on, dismissing the issue.
"In this world, in this natural world, there are too many magical elements contained within. Every bit, every drop is a source of power. Rain, thunder, lightning, blizzards, gales, even the changing of the sun, moon, and stars, the blooming and withering of flowers and plants... All of these are sources of power in nature. And an excellent magician can fully sense the subtle movements in the world. Your analogy of a 'lever' is quite interesting. Simply put, the more powerful lever you have, the more powerful natural forces you can mobilize. But if the lever is too weak, the natural forces you can control will be limited."
Duwei sighed, "So that's how it is. I thought the power of a magician all came from their own 'magic.'"
Clark frowned again, "I have to wonder, who told you such nonsensical things? The things I just said are common sense even for the lowest-level magic apprentice! 'Power comes from one's own magic'? My goodness... I have to correct you. Remember this firmly: human power is limited, even the strongest person has limitations! A magician can do things that ordinary people cannot, like a powerful magician can wave their hand to level a small mountain, or summon a storm... But that is not the power of the magician themselves. It is through magic, leveraging the natural forces in the world! And this world, it was created by the gods, so fundamentally, when a magician uses magic, they are leveraging the power of the gods! Remember, humans were created by the gods, and humans cannot possess the power of the gods! That is taboo! The power of a magician comes from nature, from the gods who created this 'nature'!"
He lowered his voice, furrowing his brow, "I'm puzzled how the Roland family could have a child like you, who is so full of misconceptions. If, when you grow up, you still speak such words outside, like the power of a magician comes from themselves... I cannot guarantee you won't be burned at the stake in front of the temple! Because fundamentally, your words are questioning the gods!"
Duwei closed his mouth, his eyes returning to blankness, then he lowered his small head, aptly concealing his expression.