Wizards: Starting with Fairy Crests

074: Keep going, kid!

The Grey Tower, the private residence of the wizard Hossman.

Lin Qi stood quietly about two steps away from the desk, his posture upright, his eyes lowered, maintaining the respectful demeanor befitting an apprentice.

Wizard Hossman sat in a high-backed wicker chair behind his desk, intently flipping through the experimental notes that Lynch had presented to him.

The notes detailed the specific steps, parameters, failures, and his own preliminary analysis of Lynch's experiment.

The room was silent except for the soft rustling of Hossman turning the pages and the subtle whisper of a magical plant vine rubbing against the wall in the corner.

a long time.

Hossman closed the notebook and gently placed it on the desk.

He raised his head, his pale amber eyes looking at Lin Qi. His gaze lacked its usual aloofness and scrutiny, and instead held a hint of... obvious approval.

"good!"

His voice remained as flat as tree bark rubbing, but his tone had taken on a rare gentleness.

"Lynch, to be able to independently complete the successful etching and mental binding of the core rune plate on your first encounter with alchemy, relying solely on a basic guide and a sample, and to make such detailed records and analyses of the failed cases... that's truly..."

"Excellent!"

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously brushing against a small patch of moss on the back of his hand, and continued:

"Alchemy is no less difficult than potion-making, and it demands even more precision in the manipulation of microscopic energy and the interference of material structures."

"Many apprentices get stuck on the first step for months or even years, let alone the second step of energy circulation infusion, which requires an almost instinctive coordination and perception of material activity, energy rheology, and mental micromanagement."

"You've managed to get to the basics in such a short time, and even solved most of the first steps on your own... This talent, patience, and dedication are truly remarkable."

Of all the apprentices Hossman mentored, Lynch was the most hardworking and made the most significant progress.

As his strength and knowledge increased, Hossman's attitude also changed visibly.

From initial aloofness and indifference, to gradually developing some interest, and now there is a clear increase in the care and concern shown by a teacher in their words.

He even specifically allowed Lin Qi to ask him questions if he didn't understand something in his cultivation.

Of the dozens of apprentices Hossmann trained, very few received such treatment.

Lin Qi felt a slight sense of relief, but his demeanor remained humble: "Thank you for your recognition, mentor. I was merely trying to follow the guidance of the knowledge, and there are still many shortcomings."

Hossmann nodded slightly, then got to the point, pointing to several key notes in his notebook:

"The bottleneck you've encountered lies here." He pointed to a spot: "After the activated clay is shaped, the humidity, element particle distribution, and the uniformity of additive integration in different areas are not entirely consistent."

"This leads to microscopic differences in curing speed. The 'constant output' wire embedding strategy you're using will naturally fail when faced with this inhomogeneity."

"The solution lies in 'dynamic perception and adaptive adjustment'." Hossman's explanation was clear and to the point. "When performing circuit infusion, your mental energy cannot be used only to pull the mithril threads and inject solidified energy."

"You must set aside a strand, like the most sensitive antenna, to constantly sense the real-time state of the small piece of clay you are embedding the thread into. Based on this real-time feedback, dynamically fine-tune the intensity of the solidification energy you inject, the speed and angle of the embedding pen, and even the tension of the mithril wire itself."

"Remember, alchemy is not about carving according to blueprints, but about 'dancing with the materials.' Every material is unique, and you need to learn to listen to them, guide them, rather than forcibly command them."

Although alchemy was not Hossman's specialty, at the level of a formal wizard, one has a basic understanding of various magical fields, so teaching Lynch, his apprentice, would be a piece of cake.

A few words, like the sun breaking through the clouds.

Lynch's previous frustration at not being able to find a clear direction for improvement instantly dissipated. The images of failure in his mind quickly corresponded with Hossman's guidance, and he suddenly understood.

"I understand!" Lin Qi's eyes revealed genuine admiration and gratitude. "Thank you for your guidance, mentor!"

He then took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, which contained one hundred standard magic stones, and presented it with both hands, placing it respectfully on a corner of the desk.

This is a rule within the Gray Tower, and also a basic expression of gratitude to mentors for the time and knowledge they have invested in guiding you.

One hundred magic stones is nothing to a formal wizard, but rules are rules.

Wizard Hossman nodded almost imperceptibly, seemingly unconcerned.

He changed the subject, looking at Lin Qi with a hint of inquiry: "Your foundation in potions is quite solid. I originally thought you would continue to delve deeper into this path. Why have you suddenly become interested in alchemy?"

Lin Qi had already prepared his explanation, his expression calm: "This student simply... has a deep interest in magical knowledge itself. Heraldry, potion-making, bloodline studies, alchemy..."

"Each path reveals a different facet of the laws of the world; understanding them is like seeing the threads of magic and the pieces of truth more clearly."

"Students are eager to learn more."

This answer is half true and half false, but the desire for knowledge itself is beyond reproach.

Upon hearing this, Hossman's eyes showed even greater appreciation, but also a hint of caution.

He said slowly, "The thirst for knowledge is indeed one of the most precious qualities of a wizard, the primal driving force that propels us to explore the endless unknown. Without it, the path of a wizard would be dull and lifeless."

He paused, then his tone became more serious: "However, as a wizard, one must understand the principles of 'knowing when to stop' and 'concentrating one's energy'."

"A wizard's time, energy, and even the concentration of his soul are limited and precious resources. The ocean of magical knowledge is boundless, and every path is as deep as an abyss."

"Don't bite off more than you can chew. Blindly dabbling in too many things may result in a lack of depth in everything, preventing you from going far on any path and from reaching the true core and the highest level."

Lin Qi immediately lowered his head, his attitude sincere: "This student will keep in mind my mentor's teachings."

Seeing Lynch's humble and receptive attitude, Horsman's serious expression softened, and he even revealed a faint, almost comforting smile.

"However, you don't need to worry too much."

"During your apprenticeship, it's not entirely a bad thing to be exposed to and learn about different fields of knowledge. This helps you broaden your horizons, gain a more comprehensive understanding of the wizarding power system, and recognize the connections and differences between different paths."

"This way, when you finally have the opportunity to advance to the level of a wizard and need to choose your own core path, you will be able to make a clearer and more suitable choice. This will make your future training twice as effective with half the effort."

He paused briefly, his voice carrying the expectations of an elder for an outstanding younger generation: "You may only understand the surface of these principles now. But you will naturally understand them when you truly reach that point."

Lin Qi immediately replied, "I will remember this."

Hossman nodded, his gaze falling on Lynch. In that gaze was a growing approval, and even on that face usually covered by moss and indifference, a rare touch of genuine warmth appeared.

Hossman's voice slowed down and became more earnest: "Soon, the 'opportunity' that I mentioned to all of you apprentices before will truly arrive."

"Lynch, I hope you can seize this opportunity. If you can truly grasp this chance and stand out... then you will not only have left the Gray Fog Jungle, but have truly stepped into 'this world' and become 'one of us'."

“By then,” a glint seemed to flash in Hossman’s eyes, “the treatment you will enjoy, the resources you will have access to, the level of knowledge you will be able to access… will all undergo earth-shattering changes.”

"Only when the true magnificence, cruelty, and infinite possibilities of the wizarding world are fully revealed to you."

He leaned forward slightly, gazing into Lin Qi's eyes, each word uttered with high hopes:

"Keep going, kid."

"Of all the apprentices I've ever seen... I most hope that you will make it through."