After the tests were completed, Augustus surveyed the three students awaiting his instruction. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face—each had received a mainstream attribute. No one had drawn the unfortunate result of being without an attribute or burdened with an obscure one.
"These fourteen stone slabs represent fourteen distinct magical attributes," Augustus began. "They are Wood, Fire, Earth, Water, Metal, Wind, Lightning, Light, Darkness, Ice, Necromancy, Summoning, Arcane, and Illusion. These fourteen branches form the foundation of this magical system. All three of your attributes fall into the mainstream categories. In the early stages, you'll focus on developing magic aligned with your attribute, and later, you can learn to incorporate other branches."
"Fourteen branches? Even at an advanced stage, it doesn't seem possible to master them all," Malfoy remarked doubtfully.
"A person's energy is finite; mastering all of them to a profound level is naturally impossible," Augustus explained calmly. "However, learning the basics of each branch isn't overly time-consuming. A mage should strive for both breadth and depth—interconnected knowledge is fundamental."
"These branches, as the names suggest, seem to indicate their purposes. But why have I never heard of any wizards associated with them? Such a vast magical system couldn't have emerged overnight—it must have been built on a long history of accumulation. If such a system existed, our ancient families should have records of it," Loki questioned astutely.
"Exactly. I've never heard of these magical branches either. This challenges everything we know about magic. If word got out, we might end up as experimental subjects," Lilian added, shivering involuntarily.
"As for the origins of these magical branches… well, that's a secret," Augustus teased, cutting off their growing curiosity. Even Loki looked ready to explode in frustration at the abrupt change in tone.
"Alright, enough questions. It's time for the real lesson. The test earlier was merely a basic assessment of your attributes. Whether you can excel in your branch or master it to the pinnacle depends entirely on your talent and perseverance. As the saying goes, a teacher can open the door, but the journey is yours to walk. I'll teach you the fundamentals and how to master your branch's spells, but your growth depends entirely on yourselves."
He looked at the trio before him. These three were the first disciples of his new magical system in this lifetime. In his previous life, he had eight disciples, the weakest of whom had reached the level of Grand Archmage.
"What do we need to do to get started?" Loki asked, always eager to seek clarity.
"The first lesson I'll teach you is the foundation of any mage's abilities: meditation. Through meditation, you'll perceive the Weave and the magical elements in the air around you. By connecting with the elements aligned with your attribute, you'll form your own unique Magical String. Once you achieve this, you'll have taken your first step into the world of magic. The time it takes depends on your innate talent and elemental affinity," Augustus explained as he handed each of them detailed instructions on meditation and forming a Magical String.
"What's the purpose of a Magical String?" Malfoy asked straightforwardly.
"For a mage, the Magical String is like a bridge connecting you to the elements of the world. Through it, your mental strength can influence the elements, allowing you to cast spells. The length of your Magical String determines how much elemental power you can harness, and at the early stages, it can even dictate the strength of your spells," Augustus said, a faint smile on his lips. "The Magical String has always been a defining measure for mages—a blade of Damocles hovering over their heads."
The trio, being quick learners, immediately delved into the instructions on meditation and began their first attempts.
Augustus stood silently, watching them, awaiting the results of their initial efforts.
Time passed, and Loki was the first to open his eyes, followed by Lilian and then Malfoy.
"I saw it! The elements that permeate everything—it's incredible! But it's a pity I couldn't influence them without a Magical String. Those pure white elements must be ice—they feel so familiar," Loki exclaimed, his excitement evident. His first glimpse of the elemental world had left him awestruck.
"Yes, and the fiery red elements look like twinkling stars in the sky. They feel so warm and bright," Lilian added, nodding. This magical experience felt like observing the workings of an entire world from a detached vantage point.
"You both succeeded? Just my luck. Does this mean I really lack talent?" Malfoy grumbled, frustrated by his failed attempt at meditation.
"It's fine. Very few people succeed on their first try. Don't dwell on it. With your talent, you'll likely succeed next time. You might just need to grasp the key concepts better. Take another look at the crucial points I outlined, and you should be fine," Augustus reassured him with a smile.
"Next, we'll move on to forming your Magical Strings," Augustus said, his tone serious. "This step is critical, and there's no room for error." He handed Loki and Lilian notes on the next stage, while Malfoy focused on refining his meditation technique.
The room fell into silence again. Augustus watched them immerse themselves in study, feeling a wave of emotion. These three were the first students of his magical system in this world. In the future, they might become the pillars of this system's growth.
Today, a seed was planted—a collision between two magical civilizations. Would one assimilate or even consume the other? Only time would tell. Augustus couldn't help but wonder how his actions today would be viewed in the annals of history a thousand years from now. Would this butterfly's fluttering wings set off a storm that would reshape the world?
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