Lance arrived at the Moon Tower, and as he had predicted, Amman had just wrapped up his morning experiment. The wizard greeted his disciple with a look of genuine interest and ushered Lance to the fourth floor, a place of significant learning and magic within the structure.
Each level of the six-story Moonlight Tower was designated for specific magical functions. The first floor housed the puppets and alchemical supplies, while the top was reserved for stargazing, an essential aspect for wizards requiring celestial observations for their prophetic spells. The fifth floor was where Amman conducted his experiments, Reinforced with the sturdiest materials and an anti-magic field to mitigate certain magical forces.
Their destination, the fourth floor, was Amman's personal sanctuary of knowledge. Here, a vast library was split into two sections. While Lance was familiar with the larger section that contained hundreds of books in the common tongue, the smaller, exclusive library remained unexplored territory until now. This section held Amman's invaluable collection, gathered over years, twenty volumes encapsulating the essence of Amman's vast knowledge
Walking into the smaller library, Amman began, "Lance, your ability to inscribe that rune last night impressed me. In our world, results trump processes. Since you've managed to do that yourself, you've proven you possess the potential of a wizard."
"The Lesser Meditation Rune is pivotal," Amman continued. "With proper guidance, you could become a wizard apprentice in three months."
Lance, absorbing the weight of his mentor's words, nodded earnestly, "I'll follow your instructions closely, teacher."
Amman then handed Lance a delicate booklet, cautioning, "Handle this with care. It's one of the treasures from my time at the Rainbow Island Academy. This book will teach you to channel your thoughts into your brain—a foundational skill for manipulating mental power to form runes. But remember, initial ventures into your own consciousness must be approached with caution. Otherwise, it will have unpredictable consequences."
Lance nodded and accepted the book, curiosity piqued. "Teacher, how long does it typically take for someone to achieve this internalization of thought?"
Amman smiled, a glint of reminiscence in his eyes, "It varies. For some, it's a moment's effort; for others, it can take months. But once you manage it for the first time, it'll become significantly easier."
With the booklet in hand, Lance retreated to a designated quiet room, embarking on what could be the most transformative study session of his life, guided by the wisdom encapsulated within those pages.
…
Lance examined the cover of the thin booklet handed to him by Amman. "Nuts and the Brain," it read, with 'Clenfield' listed as the author. A quick review of the information provided on Clenfield made it clear that this wizard had conducted extensive research on the brain and mental powers.
"Ah, a Necromancy School wizard, then?" Lance mused, a smirk forming on his lips. "No wonder there's such in-depth knowledge about the brain here." He considered the stark and often morbid curiosity characteristic of necromancers. For Clenfield to compile such a comprehensive guide, Lance suspected the wizard might have undertaken numerous dissections of human brains—a thought both unsettling and fascinating.
The text of "Nuts and the Brain" was penned in the Gulun language, which Amman had mentioned was prevalent in contemporary wizarding circles. The language's hallmark was its concise yet precise lexicon, an ideal fit for the complex subject matter at hand. As Lance delved into the pages, he requested, "Fox, please record everything from this book."
[Fox] responded affirmatively: {Recording initiated. All data from 'Nuts and the Brain' is being documented for your review.}
Armed with Clenfield's insights and [Fox]'s recording capabilities, Lance began his deep dive into the mechanics of the brain as outlined from a wizard's perspective.
In "Nuts and the Brain," Necromancer Clenfield analogized the human brain's surface to the hard shell of a nut, positing that to access one's own mental faculties directly, an individual must bypass this protective barrier. This comparison, though odd, aimed to simplify the complex process of mental introspection and control required for magical practices.
Hours melded into each other as Lance immersed himself in the dense, enlightening text. The booklet, though merely a dozen pages long, was packed with intricate concepts and theories that demanded careful contemplation. It wasn't until Lance finally closed the booklet that he noticed the sky had turned to velvet darkness outside, the day having slipped silently away.
The Moonlight Tower, ever illuminated by the soft glow of fluorite, ensured that the encroaching night did not hinder Lance's ability to read. However, the usually bustling tower seemed unusually quiet. Lance called out, seeking Amman or any presence, but his voice echoed unanswered through the empty chambers.
Reflecting on Clenfield's teachings, Lance mulled over the idea: the human consciousness, akin to finding a way through the hard shell of a nut to access the fruit within. "The mysterious brain is not so distant after all," he pondered, considering the metaphor. This conceptualization of breaking through the brain's 'outer shell' to reach the core of one's mental power was a novel approach to the wizarding studies he had undertaken thus far.
Placing the booklet back on the table, Lance mentally revisited its contents. Whether due to his otherworldly journey or some intrinsic vigor, he felt unusually alert and full of energy, despite having spent the entire afternoon engrossed in reading. Far from fatigue, he felt an itching curiosity to apply what he had learned.
"The teacher mentioned it's feasible to direct thoughts into the brain, so why not give it a shot," he reasoned, a whisper of excitement in his internal monologue.
With eyes closed and focus sharpened as instructed by the text, Lance whispered to himself, "Stukara…"
Initially, he was met with the familiar embrace of darkness, an empty void without a hint of change. Slightly baffled but not deterred, he tried once more, this time channeling his concentration towards a barely perceptible glimmer in the all-encompassing black.
A wave of mild vertigo swept through him, but Lance, with determined resolve, pushed aside any emerging distractions and continued his silent incantation, "Stukara…"
Suddenly, the experience shifted dramatically. His consciousness, akin to a solitary fish exploring the vastness of the ocean, transformed the once flat darkness into a vast, navigable three-dimensional space. This was a revelation; he realized he was traversing the very landscape of his own mind.
"This is my consciousness, my own thoughts," Lance realized as his mental presence glided further into this uncharted territory. Comfort enveloped him in this dark expanse – a space devoid of light yet inexplicably welcoming and familiar.
…
"It should be here," Lance murmured, observing the immense, metaphorical 'shell' Clenfield described, representing the protective barrier of his mind. Circling it, he spotted a minuscule fissure—an entry point into the deeper realms of his consciousness.
Slipping through the crack, Lance was engulfed by a sudden cascade of light, a stark contrast to the shadowy confines he had navigated earlier. He found himself within a vast, golden expanse, finite yet expansive, illuminated by soft, radiant light.
As he looked around, he noticed countless golden dots fluttering like fireflies throughout this space. He estimated there were about two hundred of these luminescent points, each representing a fragment of his mental energy.
"Is this my mental power?" Lance pondered, observing how the dots responded to his intentions, moving in harmony with his silent commands.
Curious about the limitations of his technological companion, Lance inquired internally, "Fox, can you detect what I see so far?"
{No, Master, your consciousness is currently deep within the brain. This area remains beyond the reach of our technology, and [Fox] does not have the authorization to access this space.} The chip's response confirmed the personal and private nature of this mental exploration.
Lance acknowledged this with a mental nod. The brain, after all, was a person's most mysterious and crucial organ. It made sense that even an advanced tool like [Fox] had its boundaries, unable to traverse into the sanctity of human consciousness.
Understanding the task at hand, Lance focused intently on the golden dots floating freely within his mind's vast expanse. These luminous points represented his mental energy, the raw materials required to craft the magic that lay ahead.
Now inside his brain, Lance's next step was clear: he needed to organize these dots into a specific pattern, shaping them into the form of a rune. This was not merely a matter of physical placement; it required deep concentration and a precise understanding of magical structure.
The spell he aimed to master first was the Lesser Meditation, a foundational rune crucial for any wizard's development. Mastering this spell would mark a significant step forward in his journey into wizardry. By repeatedly focusing on this pattern, reinforcing and fixing it daily within his mind, the rune would eventually become an integral part of his mental landscape.
This solidification process was crucial; only when the rune was completely ingrained in his consciousness could Lance truly claim mastery over the spell. Understanding the importance of this moment, he prepared himself for the meticulous and disciplined work ahead. This was the beginning of his transformation from student to spellcaster, a pivotal point in his magical education.