Reeves, startled by Horn's bandage-wrapped face, failed to notice Horn murmuring incantations under his breath. In an instant, Horn completed the spell for Touch of Lightning. His body might have been restrained, preventing him from using the walnut wand for third-tier spells, but casting a first-tier spell, even while bound, was still possible.
The Touch of Lightning could be released from any part of the body, not just the palms. Pale blue electricity sparked from Horn's shoulder, catching Reeves off guard and temporarily paralyzing him, halting his wind suppression.
As a third-tier divine magic user, Reeves had some resistance to foreign energies, so a mere first-tier spell like Touch of Lightning couldn't knock him out like the knights. But Horn didn't need to incapacitate him completely; being able to move was enough.
Retreating a few steps, Horn drew the wand Douglas had given him and uttered a few strange syllables. A fireball the size of a human head shot from the wand's tip, and with Reeves's reaction speed, it was too late to dodge.
The fireball was fully formed and unavoidable.
Seeing no way to evade, Reeves didn't bother trying. He vigorously mustered his divine power, and invisible winds in front of him materialized into a tangible, emerald green Wind Shield.
This was Reeves's strongest defense, the third-tier divine spell, Shield of the North Wind.
The fireball, carrying furious heat, exploded upon impact with the green wind shield, igniting the surrounding houses.
Caught in the blast's center, Reeves lay on the ground, heated but weakly surrounded by a faint wind, providing him his last protection. His hastily cast third-tier divine spell couldn't withstand Horn's Great Fireball.
Severely injured, Reeves lay there, while Horn, close by, remained unscathed.
Firstly, as the caster, Horn had a certain degree of control over his spells.
Secondly, the robe Douglas had given him significantly insulated him from the fireball's intense heat.
In the scattered flames, Horn's robe, embroidered with gold and silver patterns, fluttered wildly in the remaining winds from Reeves, and his terrifyingly wrapped face made the onlookers from the North Wind Cult hesitate.
Watching Horn's dramatic appearance, Enoch, who was out of magic power and watching from a distance, felt his admiration deepen.
Horn, with a killing intent, knew that threats must be eliminated. He began chanting another spell, and another Great Fireball formed at his wand's tip.
Reeves was defenseless, and one more fireball would send him to meet his North Wind God. However, the shocked members of the North Wind Cult reacted and charged at Horn.
Instead of eliminating Reeves, Horn launched the Great Fireball at the approaching crowd. While their strength was low, being surrounded by many could be troublesome. Plus, delaying even a moment could mean backup from equally powerful High Executors.
The North Wind Cult had more than one High Executor, and four others of equal strength in Ceylan City.
The fireball exploded among them, the scattered flames sending them tumbling, no longer able to pursue Horn and Enoch.
The power of a third-tier spell was too much for these first-tier executors.
In the ensuing chaos, Enoch and Horn quietly slipped away.
Returning to Douglas's carpentry shop through the back, Horn settled Enoch in his room.
Upon entering, Horn hurriedly began undressing as if his clothes were toxic.
"Are you hurt?" Enoch asked, concerned. He didn't want Horn to have suffered severe injuries in his rescue. Horn's role for all wild witches was far more significant than Enoch's.
"No, it's just too hot!"
Horn quickly removed the bandages from his head. Although Douglas's robe had heat-insulating properties, the hood had been lifted by Reeves, leaving Horn's head unprotected.
Fortunately, Horn had wrapped his face in bandages before leaving, which blocked some of the heat. Although his face still felt a bit scorched, he wasn't seriously harmed.
Without the bandages, Horn's face could have been severely burned, possibly disfigured, as he could control the flames not to touch himself but not the heat explosion from the fireball.
This battle made Horn realize that magic combat should ideally end at a distance. Close-range spellcasting, especially with spells like Great Fireball, was too risky.
"How did you create that thick fog? I remember your talents are controlling lightning and fire."
Enoch asked, intrigued. He hadn't seen Horn use water magic before.
"I just learned it a couple of days ago," Horn replied while unwinding the bandages. "I've told you about the essence of magic, right?"
"Each wild witch grasps one or two innate spells upon awakening. Magic is based on these innate spells, modified for use. That's what you told me," Enoch recalled Horn's words.
"Right. During awakening, a pattern forms deep within the Sea of Consciousness, and the witch instinctively learns the incantation to activate this pattern. Did you know that?" Horn began to explain further.
Enoch shook his head.
"I call that pattern a magic circle!" Horn said, his face lighting up with fervor whenever he taught anything about magic.
"I know about incantations, but what's a magic circle? There's one in my Sea of Consciousness?"
Enoch was full of questions, having thought the Sea of Consciousness was merely a container for mental power.
Horn slapped his forehead, "I thought you'd discover it on your own after I taught you meditation. Seems I overestimated."
"Yes, I'm too slow," Enoch laughed, not minding Horn's teasing.
"Simply put, magic is about using an incantation to activate the magic circle within the Sea of Consciousness. Then, the magic circle gathers the mage's magic power to release the spell."
Horn continued explaining, looking at Enoch to see if he understood.
"Right, continue," Enoch nodded eagerly, sincerely interested in learning new knowledge.
"As long as you form the corresponding magic circle in the Sea of Consciousness, know the incantation to activate it, and have enough magic power, you can naturally cast the spell."
After explaining, Horn looked at Enoch to gauge his understanding.
Enoch's mouth hung open in amazement before closing it, "So, by continuously learning others' spells, one could become invincible!"