A vast amount of information surged into Lucian's mind, and soon, the new knowledge crystallized into a structured, upgraded meditation technique. It felt like he was recalling something he'd once learned, effortlessly picking up the insights the system had transmitted directly to him.
The technique was essentially an enhanced version of the Greybone Meditation Technique, adding layers of refinement and detail. To use an analogy, if the original Greybone Meditation Technique was a simple line drawing, then this enhanced version filled in those lines with shading and intricate detail. Although slightly more challenging to master, it promised significantly better results.
This new technique notably allowed the solidification of up to 180 runic imprints—two-thirds more than the original- a clear testament to its superiority. Moreover, transitioning from the original technique to this enhanced one was relatively straightforward since the two were closely related.
But then Lucian was struck by an idea. If the system rewarded him with advanced knowledge each time he taught his students, what would happen if he then taught them this advanced knowledge? Would it yield yet another upgrade?
Greybone Meditation Technique—Enhanced v2? Lucian couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.
At that moment, Carrie opened her eyes, completing her first meditation. However, a shadow of disappointment flickered across her face. As she looked down, Lucian could sense the weight of her discouragement.
Indeed, as a first-tier talent, her innate spiritual sensitivity was weak, making the simplest task of sensing magic particles in the air exceptionally challenging. For higher-aptitude students, the ambient magic might be as clear as patterns on the palm of their hand; for Carrie, it was more like groping through darkness, hoping to stumble upon the rare "lucky find."
Caught in a cloud of self-doubt, Carrie didn't dare look at Lucian. She felt she didn't belong in this world of wizards and should perhaps go back to the dank, musty dormitory she'd once shared with other servants on the Earl's estate.
"Carrie, finished meditating?" Lucian's voice jolted her from her thoughts, and she nervously raised her head.
"Y-yes, Mentor Lucian."
"How did it go? Some people feel a bit off after their first meditation," Lucian said casually, just trying to gauge her state. If she wasn't doing well, he'd postpone the rest of the lesson.
"I… I…" Carrie started to speak but couldn't hold back her tears, which suddenly spilled over.
Lucian: ??
"I'm sorry, Mentor Lucian… I'm… I'm just too slow…" Carrie stammered, struggling to find words between sobs. Lucian tried to cut in a few times but couldn't find an opening, eventually settling on handing her a towel to let her cry it out.
Listening to her apologies, Lucian quickly realized the issue. Carrie's wizarding aptitude was likely among the weakest even within the first tier. What others found easy, she found difficult—a fact she couldn't control, limited as she was by her innate abilities.
Most mentors would consider such a student a waste of time. The only options would be to ignore her or find some way to extract value from her. But for Lucian, her aptitude wasn't a big concern. As long as her comprehension was sufficient, he could teach her without any real issue.
However, Carrie's next words caught Lucian off guard.
"Mentor Lucian… maybe you should find a different student. I… I don't want to hold you back…" Carrie said hesitantly, completely lost in her sense of failure.
Lucian frowned. I just bound you as a student, and you're already thinking of bailing?
He took a deep breath, calming himself as he looked at Carrie's tear-streaked face. He understood that Carrie was already at an emotional breaking point. She didn't need criticism; she needed encouragement.
With that in mind, Lucian adjusted his expression to a serious yet calm demeanour.
"Carrie, do you remember what I told you earlier? What did I say about the essence of a wizard?"
Carrie blinked and looked at him, her eyes still red, but she managed to repeat softly, "A wizard is… a scholar who uses knowledge as a lever to manipulate reality in pursuit of power."
"Very good." Lucian's tone softened a bit. "Now, tell me, is 'aptitude' knowledge?"
Carrie hesitated, glanced at him, and slowly shook her head.
"Have you learned the basics of meditation?"
Carrie nodded reluctantly.
"Since you've managed to comprehend, learn, and begin applying knowledge, you've already become a qualified apprentice wizard," Lucian said with an encouraging smile, and Carrie's tension began to ease.
"Here's the truth: talent is fleeting. Once you reach the level of an official wizard, innate aptitude becomes meaningless. But knowledge—that will always be yours." Lucian's tone grew serious, carrying a weight that struck a chord with Carrie.
"As your mentor, I should be critiquing you, but not because of your talent. I'm disappointed that after explaining the essence of a wizard to you, you still haven't grasped its core."
Lucian then patted her shoulder with a reassuring smile. "Besides, this initial meditation technique was just for practice. Now that you've got the basics down, we'll ramp up the difficulty."
Carrie blinked, her mouth slightly open in surprise. "Basic? Ramp up… the difficulty?"