"I think I've got it down, Mentor Lucian. I just need some time to absorb it all." Carrie's voice was shaky, a clear sign that the day's intense study had nearly pushed her to her limit. With that, she closed her eyes and entered a meditative state.
[Your student Carrie has mastered Greybone Meditation Method II. Congratulations, you've acquired the Bond: Greybone Meditation.]
"Bond?" Lucian blinked, then opened his system panel to investigate.
Soon, he understood what this bond entailed. Essentially, a bond was a reward granted when knowledge was maxed out. As long as he and Carrie remained within a certain range, both of them would receive a 10% boost in the effectiveness of the Greybone Meditation II method.
"It looks like once a piece of knowledge reaches its final form, it unlocks a bond," Lucian mused, satisfied with the outcome.
Meanwhile, Carrie, deep in her meditation, was overwhelmed by an unexpected sense of joy. If Greybone Meditation I had been like stepping from darkness into light, this enhanced version was akin to putting on glasses, transforming her blurred view into stunning clarity.
As Carrie observed the ambient magical particles, she found that they were "playfully" drifting around her. A slight tug from her mental force, and they'd obediently cluster together, easier than ever to hold onto.
But just as she thought she'd reached the pinnacle of joy, a mysterious force seemed to draw the particles toward her. Some even drifted right into her mental space, as if eager to merge with her and fuel her growing spiritual power.
"I…" Carrie's mind went blank, nearly slipping out of her meditative state from the shock. She could scarcely believe how fast her progress might be now—reaching the first milestone, the solidification of a mental rune could be within her grasp!
And if she fully exerted herself to gather even more particles?
Her heart raced with excitement, breaking her focus. She opened her eyes, startled.
Lucian was watching her, a slight smile on his face.
Carrie blinked, still dazed.
Lucian mimicked her blinking, a bit goofy.
"Mentor Lucian…" Carrie's eyes grew misty, a testament to how grateful she felt.
[Your student Carrie feels admiration for you. +15 Reverence Points]
Silently, Lucian handed her a towel.
"Alright, tomorrow we'll start with one of the core subjects: anatomy," he said once Carrie had settled down. Picking up a thick tome from a nearby shelf, he handed it to her. "Here's a guide for you. Tonight, go over the first three pages."
"Yes, Mentor!" Carrie took the book carefully, arms straining slightly under its weight. Though it was hefty, she hugged it close, cherishing the gift.
"Also, now that you've learned the meditation method, you can gradually use it in place of sleep. Try to solidify your first rune soon. Once you do, we can start learning spells."
Carrie's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Lucian shook his head slightly at her eager expression. So young and spirited!
But as Carrie made to leave, a thought crossed Lucian's mind. If she left to meditate elsewhere, the bond effect would stop working, slowing their progress.
Frowning slightly, he called out to her.
"Yes, Mentor Lucian?" Carrie turned back, puzzled, still clutching her new book.
"You'll meditate here for the time being," he said firmly. "Saves you from running into trouble, and you can ask me questions if anything comes up while you're reviewing."
Carrie's cheeks turned pink, and she lowered her head a bit. She remembered hearing the older maids whispering about "special" situations where the head servants found reasons to… keep certain girls close.
But if it were Mentor Lucian…
Carrie's cheeks flushed deeper as she tried to lower her gaze even more.
[Your student Carrie feels affection for you. +1 Reverence Point]
Lucian: ???
He wondered if this reaction was the system's doing or something else entirely. The constant flow of Reverence Points was becoming… rather generous.
Without further thought, Lucian set up a spot for Carrie to sleep and sat down nearby to meditate himself. So long as they were within proximity, the bond effect would remain active, regardless of whether Carrie was meditating at the same time.
Lucian settled in, but Carrie, perched on the bed, was still a bit at a loss.
She would glance toward him now and then, replaying those rumours in her mind, only to see Lucian quietly absorbed in meditation.
"Maybe Mentor Lucian is just worried I'd get into trouble again if I left," she murmured to herself, feeling both embarrassed and guilty.
To distract herself, she looked over to the thick book Lucian had given her.
…
While Carrie began her studies, Lucian entered a deeper meditation, focused on a critical task—transitioning his own meditation method.
After all, he and Carrie were both in the early stages of wizardry. Lucian had solidified 97 runes, while Carrie was only just starting this process.
Originally, he'd practised the Greybone Academy's standard method, which allowed for a maximum of 108 runes. And the further one progressed, the harder each additional rune became.
Even with his respectable fourth-level talent, solidifying the remaining 11 runes to meet the threshold for becoming a full-fledged wizard would have taken him at least five years.
But now, with the system-upgraded meditation method, his timeline would change dramatically.
In the meditative state, Lucian's awareness entered his mental sea—a mysterious, ethereal space where his spirit drifted like stardust. Here, 97 runes floated in a stable configuration, gently vibrating as they compressed and refined his spiritual energy.
Yet, as he began to channel the improved method, he sensed that this once-familiar process had grown significantly more potent. This technique was going to open doors he hadn't thought possible.