"Oh? Why don't you show me then?" Lucian feigned curiosity as he watched Carrie's excitement bubble over.
"Yes, sir! I can now directly invoke these spells through my bloodline powers, though I don't understand the specific models behind them. If you're interested, you could… maybe study my blood?" Carrie said earnestly, puffing out her small chest as she scanned the room for a target.
"Try it on that chair," Lucian suggested, pressing his lips together to suppress a grin, pointing toward a wooden chair across the room.
"Got it!" Carrie was practically glowing as she raised her hand. A soft silver light coalesced, forming a crescent moon that spun swiftly in the air, carving an elegant arc before precisely slicing through the designated chair.
"Detonate!" With a flicker of thought, Carrie directed the crescent moon outside the room, triggering an explosion in the empty courtyard. The blast scattered silvery light like a burst of fireworks.
"Lucian, sir!" Carrie turned back toward Lucian, her eyes sparkling as she eagerly awaited his feedback.
Lucian, however, raised his hand to cut her off, feigning deep thought.
Carrie paused, confused and uncertain, watching Lucian intently.
To her shock, she saw countless threads of Lucian's mental energy unravel and weave together, forming intricate nodes. These threads built upon one another, eventually shaping a large, intricate spell model in the air.
"Wait… could it be…" Carrie's eyes widened as realization dawned. Her jaw dropped, but she clamped her hands over her mouth to avoid disturbing Lucian's focus.
"This… this is my bloodline spell! Is Lucian, sir, actually…?"
The mere idea left her in turmoil. It wasn't possible, was it? Even for someone as extraordinary as Lucian?
Carrie tugged at her silvery hair in frustration, her thoughts a whirlwind.
Then it happened. The completed model came to life, and a crescent moon identical to hers emerged, spinning through the air. Under Lucian's precise control, it mirrored her attack, carving through the same chair and detonating outside with even greater force.
Carrie's brain froze.
The enhanced power was expected—Lucian's capabilities far surpassed her own—but the sheer speed and precision with which he replicated her technique were incomprehensible.
"An excellent spell," Lucian said calmly, as if nothing extraordinary had occurred. "The delayed detonation is particularly clever. If the opponent isn't careful, it could be a nasty surprise."
Carrie blinked in disbelief. Refusing to back down, she invoked Moon Veil and Enlivened Flora, hoping they might stump him.
Lucian casually replicated both spells.
Now thoroughly defeated, Carrie stood in stunned silence. If she hadn't seen him construct the spell models with her own eyes, she might have suspected Lucian had secretly undergone a bloodline transfusion himself.
"Lucian, sir… don't tell me you think these spells could still be improved?" Carrie asked hesitantly, her voice quivering. Her face was pale as if fearing his answer.
"For now, no," Lucian replied with a regretful shake of his head. "The structure of these bloodline spells is highly complex. It'll take me a while to work through them."
Carrie stared at him, her clear, silver eyes reflecting both awe and resignation.
"Oh, one more thing," Lucian added, patting her shoulder. "While your bloodline allows you to use these abilities instinctively, it's worth learning the models behind them when you have time. Understanding their mechanics will benefit you in the long run."
"Yes, sir," Carrie replied mechanically, nodding as if in a daze. When Lucian turned away, her gaze lingered, her expression resembling someone who had just witnessed a monster in human form.
[Your student Carrie is filled with reverence for you. Reverence Points +100]
Lucian smirked faintly at the notification. Yet when he glanced back and saw Carrie looking so dejected, he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Carrie, don't be discouraged. These bloodline abilities are incredibly powerful. Their intricate structures make them unsuitable for real-time casting in most situations. Your advantage lies in their immediacy—your bloodline's engravings allow you to activate them instantly. In battle, planning and leveraging this instant activation can give you a decisive edge."
As Lucian spoke, a thought struck him.
His greatest strength was the system's vast repository of complex knowledge, including an array of advanced spell models. Yet in combat, the time required to construct these spells often limited his effectiveness.
Take Moon Veil (Modified) for instance. It was a phenomenal defensive spell, rendering the caster nearly invincible for a few seconds. Used wisely, it was effectively a second life.
But unlike Carrie, Lucian couldn't invoke it instantly. He still needed to construct the spell model, even if he'd honed it to minimize casting time. And in battle, even a split-second delay could prove fatal.
Unless…
"What if I had a tool capable of storing and pre-loading spells?"
Lucian's eyes lit up at the idea.
A properly designed magic tool could store several key spells in advance. During combat, he could release these pre-prepared spells instantaneously, much like Carrie using her bloodline engravings.
The potential applications were thrilling. Such a tool could turn the tide of battle, allowing him to unleash devastating attacks or lifesaving defences at a moment's notice.
The excitement burned brightly in Lucian's eyes, but he quickly tempered it.
Crafting such a tool was no small task. From conception to design and eventual creation, it would require meticulous planning and resources. It wasn't something he could rush.
"I'll keep this idea on hold for now," Lucian mused, glancing at the failed Moonlight Praise extracts scattered across his lab. Turning to Carrie, he flashed her a kind, almost paternal smile.
"Carrie," he said warmly, "how do you feel about some more practice?"
Carrie blinked, her expression blank. (・◇・)?