Realizing that Joan Michelle wasn't there to cause trouble, Dean Bruce felt an immediate sense of relief.
Already had some insights?
Could she have mixed up her previous magical knowledge with what I told her today?
It didn't really matter!
As long as Joan Michelle could learn magic and he could get the rewards, it didn't matter if she was making things up. He just needed to follow her train of thought and add a few comments to keep her going.
The highest level of bluffing is to let the other person fill in the gaps themselves!
When you lie, you're bound to slip up at some point. But if the other person is the one making the assumptions, any mistakes will lead them to doubt themselves, not you.
With this in mind, Dean Bruce stepped aside to let Joan Michelle into his room, then closed the door and sat down at the table with a smile. "Tell me about your insights."
"Yes, yes!" Joan Michelle took a deep breath and began, "When you said, 'Love is patient, love is kind,' doesn't that mean that when enduring an attack, one should patiently endure the pain while using elemental power to transform oneself? The 'kindness' part should refer to the effects of healing or blessing magic!"
"Not envying, not boasting, not easily angered—doesn't that imply stability? It means the caster must maintain absolute mental equilibrium, without any emotional fluctuations, no matter what kind of attack they face. This way, they can continuously draw upon the elements or special powers of the world to defend against attacks!"
As Joan Michelle continued, her excitement grew. Her thoughts began to branch out, and she exclaimed, "And since you said 'love never fails' and it has healing abilities, doesn't that mean this magic must connect with water elements, borrowing their power?"
Listening to her rapid-fire analysis, Dean Bruce was genuinely taken aback. He looked at Joan Michelle with a newfound sense of amazement.
She came up with all that from just one sentence, in barely two hours?
Her ability to analyze and extrapolate is off the charts!
Seeing Joan Michelle's hopeful gaze fixed on him, Dean Bruce quickly masked his surprise and responded calmly, "Hmm, not bad. While you haven't fully grasped everything I meant, to have figured out this much is already quite impressive."
"Your ideas aren't wrong, but they're too narrow! Why focus only on water elements? Do you think the other elements don't offer gifts to humanity?" Dean Bruce, having studied rhetoric in his previous life, knew it was important not to just praise someone. You need to use both the carrot and the stick. He continued, "Think more deeply. Besides water, what kind of gifts might the other elements offer?"
As expected, Joan Michelle's smile faded, and she fell into deep thought.
Dean Bruce didn't disturb her, continuing to pack his belongings.
The assessment would last at least two to three days, so he needed to prepare sturdy, easy-to-clean clothing, some preserved meat, and flatbread.
After all, Joan Michelle had already paid her "tuition," so letting her ponder in his room wasn't a loss for him.
And if she stayed late, even better—she wouldn't have to leave, and he could take care of some personal needs.
After a long while, Joan Michelle suddenly exclaimed, "I understand now! You mean that we shouldn't be fixated on a single element. We should adapt the elemental medium based on our environment. If there's a lot of water, use water elements to protect and heal yourself. If you're in a place with abundant fire elements, then use fire to strengthen your body or envelop yourself, burning away any attacks!"
Dean Bruce kept a calm exterior, but inside, he was giving Joan Michelle a mental thumbs-up. [This woman's imagination is impressive. All I did was question the reliance on water elements, and she came up with all this! This works out well—if she keeps thinking like this, I'll have fewer problems to deal with. Hopefully, she really does grasp the magic, so I can get the reward without being found out. It's a win-win!]
"Am I right?" Joan Michelle asked nervously, her voice trembling as she looked at Dean Bruce with wide eyes.
Sensing her anxiety, Dean Bruce smiled and said, "Did you forget? I told you before, magic has no right or wrong! The same spell, when cast by different people, will never produce exactly the same effect."
He gently stroked Joan Michelle's hair, his voice softening, "Trust in your own understanding. As long as your insights are based on the incantation I gave you, you have a chance to master it."
Joan Michelle nodded emphatically, her heart swelling with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes.
None of the teachers she'd encountered before had ever been this gentle.
For a moment, Joan Michelle felt grateful she had made this choice. She became even more determined to master high-tier magic and become a full-fledged instructor.
If she missed this opportunity, she might be stuck in this small town for the rest of her life.
Clenching her fists, Joan Michelle suddenly looked up and asked, "Does this spell have a name?"
Hearing this, Dean Bruce's hand paused mid-stroke, his mind racing. After a brief moment, he softly replied, "All magic has a name, and this spell is no exception. Its name is... The Compassion of Heaven and Earth."
Joan Michelle blinked and repeated the name, then said with surprise, "What a strange name. Most other spells are something like Fireball or Frost Dragon or Explosion. As expected of a spell that touches on super-tier magic, even the name is unique."
Seeing that the name passed without issue, Dean Bruce let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Joan Michelle stood up and said, "Thank you for your guidance. I'll go back and continue to ponder and try to grasp The Compassion of Heaven and Earth as soon as possible. Um... about tonight..."
As she spoke, she hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. In a soft voice, she asked, "Do you need me tonight?"
"No need, you should head back," Dean Bruce replied calmly. "I also hope you can master this magic soon."
What a joke! Sure, it would be enjoyable to have her stay the night, but afterward, what would he do when she started asking more questions about magic?
It was better to wait until he had a deeper understanding of magic and had crafted a more concrete system before dealing with such matters.
"Okay!"
Joan Michelle nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. Then she suddenly asked, "Is this magic very difficult? How long does it usually take to master?"
Dean Bruce shook his head. "It's not too difficult. For most people, it takes about a month to grasp. That's why I gave you a two-month timeframe. If you can't learn it within two months, it's best to give up."
"I see!" Joan Michelle exclaimed in realization. Then she asked, "How long did it take you to master this magic?"
A slight smile curled at the corners of Dean Bruce's lips as he replied, "My teacher only recited the incantation once, didn't even demonstrate the magic, and I grasped it immediately."
Upon hearing this, Joan Michelle's expression changed drastically, and she gasped, "My goodness! That quickly?"
For a moment, her eyes were filled with admiration as she gazed at Dean Bruce.
Initially, she had thought of asking him to demonstrate the magic, but after hearing his response, she quickly dismissed the idea.
If Dean Bruce could master magic without a demonstration, wouldn't asking for one make her seem less capable and possibly disappoint him?
Having finally found a powerful mentor, Joan Michelle was determined not to squander this opportunity.
Her resolve deepening, Joan Michelle said firmly, "Rest assured, I will do my best to understand it. I'll head back now so you can rest. If you need anything, in any regard, don't hesitate to call me!"
With that, Joan Michelle bowed deeply to Dean Bruce before turning to leave.
"Finally, she's gone," Dean Bruce muttered to himself as he watched her depart. "Now that it's still early, I should head out and buy some books on magic and history. I need to craft a believable magical system that won't raise suspicion!" Taking out the membership card for the Angelic Magic Shop, he continued to mumble, "And I should buy some magic talismans and scrolls as well, just in case something unexpected happens during the assessment. No matter how strong the others are, I can't rely on them to protect me completely. In the end, you have to look out for yourself!"