First-level scrolls sell for around 150 gold coins, second-level scrolls rise to 500 gold coins, and third-level scrolls reach 2,000 gold coins, with some rare third-level scrolls even fetching as much as 3,000 gold coins. Fourth and fifth-level scrolls are priced in the tens of thousands. A thick stack of parchment well-utilized could be worth over a million, which would perfectly alleviate Charlie's current cash shortage.
Knowledge is wealth, and the scroll maker perfectly embodies this saying.
Charlie didn't know what nerve he had touched in Master Nahr that resulted in him assigning a staggering 1,200 basic rune sketches. He didn't argue, but returned home and diligently sketched, one page after another. He didn't know how long it took, only that every muscle in his hand ached and swelled, and his fingers felt unresponsive, nearly unable to grasp the pen. After wasting three sheets, Charlie decided to stop.
Looking at the time, it was already past midnight, and the completed sketches had piled up like a small mountain before him.
"There are still 313 sketches left, which should take about an hour and a half," his chip in his mind informed him.
It seemed tonight was destined to be a sleepless night, and Charlie smiled wryly.
The effort was considerable, but the rewards were palpable. After intense training, his grasp of the twelve basic runes deepened significantly. During the drawing process, the chip's assistance became less and less, and Charlie wondered if this was part of Master Nahr's intent.
With his hand too fatigued to hold the pen, he decided to do some star meditation. He would continue with the unfinished sketches tomorrow.
In the early morning hours, Charlie slowly opened his eyes. His personal mana pool had surpassed 200. With the growing proficiency in his star meditation, the speed at which he accumulated mana increased; he could gain eight points of mana on average every four hours, a speed four times that of an ordinary apprentice.
After getting up and tidying himself, Charlie continued with his unfinished assignments.
Time flew by in the midst of his busy work...
Charlie was carrying a thick stack of sketches, totaling 600 sheets of parchment that were utilized on both sides, weighing several kilograms, drawing many curious gazes from other apprentices along the way.
Before classes began, Charlie spotted a familiar face. Today, he was dressed in a blue robe with golden trim, looking polished from head to toe.
It was David Gosta, the White Rose Knight of Hainai, who secretly had a crush on the little prince. If he could obtain a baron title, that would make him even more perfect.
Charlie chuckled, "David, that outfit looks nice! Who styled it? It has great taste."
David snapped out of his thoughts upon seeing Charlie and slightly blushed, "I heard from my brother that you're taking a sketching class, and that you're quite skilled at it. He even said you could teach me—is that true?"
His words attracted the attention of nearby apprentices, who had attended a couple of classes with Charlie and remembered him as an active student in Master Nahr's class.
A girl nearby said, "Charlie is really impressive. He understands what Master Nahr teaches right away and is the best performer in the sketching class. I heard he had a deep background in sketching before, so teaching you should be no problem, right? Mr. Charlie?"
"Maybe! I studied sketching for a few years before," Charlie replied with a smile, briefly greeting the girl and then pulling David to a corner of the classroom, speaking softly, "If you're just trying to impress girls, it's still better to forget it; you can't rush it, and it won't provide any real help. By the time you learn, your chance might have already passed."
David laughed, "It's fine, I'm not in a hurry. I want to take my time and enjoy the process of pursuing her. Isn't that a beautiful thing? I want to express my feelings to her. As long as it doesn't go against my conscience or principles, I'm willing to do anything for her."
Charlie pursed his lips, at a loss for words.
This guy had a romantic view of love; while somewhat naive, it was also touching. Who hasn't done silly things when they were young?
"Don't underestimate me! I've also studied sketching for a year or two. I have some foundational skills," David said as he glanced around, secretly flipping open his notebook to reveal a simple sketch.
Charlie focused on the sketch, which was a portrait done in muted colors.
It depicted a girl's profile, leaning against a railing, gazing vacantly into the distance. A few strokes captured her form, lacking intricate details, yet one could distinctly feel her confusion and helplessness, her subtle sadness and the underlying anxiety beneath her calm exterior.
From a technical perspective, the lines were somewhat unrefined, and there were slight distortions in the depiction of her curves. However, no brushstroke error could conceal the spirit of the piece. Charlie seemed to see a girl silently grieving in the wind, fragile like a small white flower, hiding alone in a deserted corner, evoking a slight ache in his heart.
Perhaps painting truly doesn't require technique; it only needs to be filled with love.
"This was the first time I saw her, and I was moved by her," David said shyly, smiling. "I secretly vowed that if I could win her over, I would soothe all her sorrows and accompany her until old age."
"She seems really unhappy; have you found out more about her?"
David sighed, "I asked, but she didn't say."
Charlie sighed inwardly, "Then I wish you success! If you need any help, just let me know."
"Yeah! Teaching me sketching is one thing, but you also need to promise me something."
"What?" Charlie asked, confused.
David said earnestly, "If I bring her to meet you, you must not flirt with her."
"Ah?!" Charlie was taken aback, countless high-necked sheep racing around in his mind. He retorted, "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
David smiled sheepishly, perhaps a bit flustered from excitement, his face reddened. He said, "I just wanted to make a pact with you because I have zero confidence competing with you. I'll be honest; I used to have a crush on Qianxue."
Oh! My heavens!
Charlie covered his forehead, finally understanding the meaning behind "the little prince with a secret crush." It turned out that it wasn't just baseless gossip.
"Brother, you can rest assured; I absolutely won't even glance at her! I, Charlie, am…" Charlie raised his hand, then couldn't help but think of his reputation in Hainai, and this brother happened to hail from Hainai City as well. "Alright! I guarantee it! Even if you don't believe me, you should trust Qianxue and Qingtong; they won't let me off the hook!"
"Okay, I believe you."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of knocking sounds came from the back.
"It's time for class, everyone! Charlie, why are you raising your hand so high? What about your assignments? Let me see them."
Laughter erupted in the classroom, the speaker being Master Nahr, and fortunately, Charlie had done his homework.
He handed over the thick stack of sketches.
"So many?!" Nahr muttered softly, then began flipping through the sheets. After a few pages, he picked up a stack and quickly thumbed through them, "How many drawings are here?"
"1,200!" Charlie replied, slightly puzzled; wasn't this the assignment he gave? He had almost forgotten.
Nahr blinked in surprise, then broke into a smile, shaking his head while laughing, "Did I ask you to finish it all in one night?"
Charlie was also astonished, "You said not to slack off and that you would check it tomorrow."
"Yes, I did say that!" Nahr made a mock-serious face and asked, "Looks like you didn't get much sleep last night?"
Charlie nodded.
"Good job! This was originally a week's worth of practice, and you've inadvertently exposed your limits!"
Charlie felt a headache coming on.
One daring apprentice poked a stack of sketches as tall as three fists, clicking his tongue in amazement.
"I can't believe one person could complete this much homework in one night!"
"Did you get someone to help you?"
"Who knows? This is hard to believe!"
The handwriting could prove everything, but Nahr didn't dwell on this matter too much—it was Charlie's secret.
"Alright, everyone return to your seats; today's class is about to begin." Nahr ushered the students back, then glanced at the materials in his hand. "Today, we have a new student joining us. May I ask who it is? Please raise your hand."
In the last row of the classroom, at Charlie's desk, David raised his right hand.
"You've already missed three basic classes. My suggestion is that you should give up and wait for the next round of classes; otherwise, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep up."
David replied, "Teacher, it's fine; I have some foundational skills in sketching, and Charlie will help me catch up."
Perhaps due to Charlie's trustworthiness, Nahr nodded slightly. "Alright! Then you need to work hard to make up for the previous courses
After finishing, Nahr began discussing the day's content, which was still about new magical array diagrams.
Master Nahr's sketching lessons were specifically designed to serve rune engraving. He focused on lines and techniques, emphasizing the precision of lines and the importance of constructing a three-dimensional effect through simple shapes, with a relatively shallow depth of knowledge. In terms of art on Earth, it would belong to a small portion of sketching.
While listening to the class, Charlie also provided guidance to David.
"This part is a bit crooked; every object has its own position and center of gravity. The center of gravity of symmetrical objects is along the vertical line through their center. If your lines are not straight, it will make the object feel off-balance and distorted."
"No, this composition is incorrect. Don't dive into details right away; the overall composition is crucial at the start. You need to accurately find the combined shape of the entire object. You already have a great sense of space; don't waste that talent."
"Your shading is too dull; the light and dark contrasts are off. Take a closer look." Charlie took David's drawing board, swiftly made a few strokes to deepen the boundary between light and dark, and made some simple adjustments to refine the lines. The brightness of the entire drawing immediately improved, creating a strong contrast.
By the end of the class, they hadn't finished the magical array diagram, but Charlie pointed out many issues, leaving David momentarily at a loss for how to proceed.
Feeling a bit discouraged, David said, "Man, your skills are really something else. Compared to my family's painter, you're on a whole different level! Definitely a master!
It's just that there are too many new rules; I feel like everything I learned before was wrong. After your pointers, I don't even know how to start drawing now."
Charlie patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "You said you weren't in a hurry? Take your time. I'll start from the basics and guarantee you'll be ready to charm the ladies in two months."
"Alright! I'm counting on you!"
Just as they were laughing and having a good time, Nahr finished organizing the lesson materials and called out from the podium, "Charlie, come here."
The call made the entire classroom fall silent.