Norian's setup was indeed clever, and ruthlessly calculated.
"But unfortunately for him," Lucian murmured, "his opponent isn't just any third-level apprentice wizard—it's me." He exhaled softly. "Norian would never expect my growth to outpace his wildest calculations."
Yet Lucian knew he had only one shot at this. If Norian sensed he was at a disadvantage or that he couldn't eliminate Lucian, he would retreat into the academy's safety, where Lucian would lose his chance. No—this plan had to be flawless.
Tap, tap, tap. Lucian's fingers drummed on the desk as he mapped out his strategy. His eyes gleamed as an idea solidified.
"It's all about the spells," he whispered, already picturing his approach.
"Professor Lucian?" When Carrie entered the lab and saw Lucian alongside a tall stack of tomes, her face immediately paled.
"Carrie, since you've decided to join me on this mission, I need to make sure you're well-prepared," Lucian noted her apprehensive look and decided to use a bit of reverse psychology to bolster her resolve. "With only Scorching Fire as a spell, your battle style is too predictable. During the mission, you mustn't be an easy target."
"I'll be putting you through some intense training," Lucian declared. "I want you to master additional spells so you can adapt to a variety of combat situations."
Carrie's initial resistance faded as Lucian's words sank in. For the first time, he had directly acknowledged needing her strength—a realization that stirred something deep within her.
"I'll do my best, Professor Lucian!" she said, her voice filled with determination.
[Your student Carrie admires you. +10 Reverence Points.]
Lucian felt a twinge of guilt but quickly brushed it aside. The training, after all, had a purpose beyond just preparing Carrie—he needed the upgraded spells to handle Norian.
"First, we'll focus on a spell suited for stealth and escape—Shadow Stealth. It's highly versatile for evading enemies, scouting, and silently approaching targets." As Lucian spoke, he produced a small, flapping bat from a mesh bag.
The creature, a Kudra blood bat, had an innate mastery of Shadow Stealth. In the wild, it would use its stealth ability to sneak up on larger beasts or humans and siphon their blood undetected.
Unlike with Scorching Fire, however, analyzing Shadow Stealth required a live dissection of the Kudra. Lucian injected a natural toxin to sedate the bat, its struggles subsiding as he secured it on the examination table.
"Watch closely, Carrie," Lucian said, moving through the preliminary steps of the dissection with precision. "If you're unsure of your control, try using a guidance spell to steady your hand."
Carrie watched intently, taking in each detail as he worked.
"See here," he said, exposing part of the bat's anatomy, "Kudra blood bats can cast both Shadow Stealth and a basic Wind Blade. You'll notice how the natural spell pattern overlaps, creating unique energy pathways."
They continued at a rapid pace, Lucian pushing Carrie's comprehension to its limit.
"Come on, Carrie," he thought to himself, "show me what you're capable of."
Fifteen days later, Lucian adjusted his wizard robe and sighed. He looked a bit worn like he could use a break. Meanwhile, Carrie had collapsed on the desk, asleep almost before her head hit the surface, a tiny droplet of drool forming at the corner of her mouth.
Aside from two short breaks for field practice, they had spent the entire fortnight in the lab. Whenever they got tired, they meditated to recover, or, when that wasn't enough, Lucian had administered stimulating potions. Nonetheless, the long hours had taken a toll on both of them.
"But the results were worth it." Quietly, Lucian left Carrie to rest and opened her progress panel.
[Student: Carrie Meyer]
[Mental Training: Greybone Meditation Method, Advanced II (15/360)]
[Health Status: 98.7% (Moderate Fatigue)]
[Dependence Level: 84.9%]
Teaching Progress:
Greybone Meditation Method, Advanced II: 100% (Bond Activated)
Scorching Fire (Arrow): 100% (Bond Activated)
Shadow Stealth, Advanced III: 6.39%
Lightning Bolt (Arrow): 4.07%
Insect Command, Advanced III: 1.13%
Ice Shield, Advanced II: 48.27%
After fifteen days, Lucian had taught Carrie four additional tier-zero spells. Most had been upgraded three times by the system, except for Ice Shield, which had received two upgrades due to time constraints.
"Pity her mental strength is still too low. Otherwise, I could've taught her more advanced spells." He closed the panel, though his mind was already buzzing with thoughts of the skills Carrie now possessed.
Shadow Stealth, Lightning Bolt, Insect Command, and Ice Shield—Carrie was equipped with abilities for stealth, ranged offence, scouting, and defence, respectively. Her arsenal was now well-rounded enough to handle a variety of combat scenarios.
After a moment's consideration, Lucian activated the newly upgraded spell Shadow Stealth, Advanced III.
Whoosh. His body morphed into a pool of dark liquid, melting seamlessly into the shadows as he moved forward without a sound. For about two minutes, Lucian remained in his shadow form, slipping between dark patches with enhanced speed.
Once the spell ended, he found himself expelled back into the open, blinking in the bright daylight.
"In this form, I can move twice as fast, with almost perfect silence and concealment. But it comes at a price—my defence drops by half, and the illusion's shadow gives me away in daylight. Plus, the mana drain is significant."
Still, he grinned, casting a glance toward the northern horizon, where the Bone Mound lay.
"But in a place like the Bone Mound, shrouded in darkness, the weaknesses of Shadow Stealth would disappear entirely. My mobility and stealth would be even more formidable there. If Norian wants a fight, he'll find that the shadows favour me."