"Do you want to learn these spells?" asked the magus as she pointed at the magic scrolls on the table.
"Yes …" He nodded obediently.
"Hmph!
I'm not letting you learn them … "The magus wrinkled her nose and made a face at him. She was still angry at Claude for hugging her all of a sudden. Recalling the kiss and the tongue that entered her mouth, she felt her face heat up again.
"Alright, whatever you say." Claude nodded with a bitter smile.
The few spells that he really wanted to learn were all level 1 spells. Even if the young mage girl asked him to learn them, he wouldn't be able to use them. At most, he could only memorize the magic array structure of these level 1 spells. When he became a second circle rune mage, he would be able to engrave them in the hexagram in his spiritual space as his second circle basic spells.
Actually, of the nineteen magic scrolls Sheerah's mother left for the magus, the four tier-one spells that Claude really wanted were Energy Barrier, Eagle Eye, Stealth, and Light Flight.
As for Rock to Mud and Mud to Rock, he already had the two spells recorded in Landes' diary. There was no need for him to learn them from the magus.
Of the six tier-zero spells, Spirit Enchantment and Vine Entanglement, he had already learned them.
There was no need for him to learn Eagle Eye. He had the Appraisal Eye, which wasn't much weaker than Eagle Eye.
There was also no need for him to learn Hornet Circle, since he couldn't bring a hive of them with him during his military career.
He didn't really care about Herbalism, since he wouldn't be able to use it anyway. If he could learn it, he could use it together with Tree Rejuvenation.
There was also Fireball, the only offensive spell among the six tier-zero spells. It was the signature spell of magi in Claude's mind.
It was just like what the young mage had said. Back in the day, her mother had used a few small fireballs to blast a few big bad wolves that wanted to attack them down the mountain. Her posture was extremely cool.
But when he read the description of Fireball, he realized that the range of the spell wasn't that much further than his own Magic Missile.
Perhaps the power of the fireball depended on the mage's level. The girl's mother was a Nature Mage above the Fourth Circle at that time, so the fireball she cast was naturally powerful.
However, Claude was only a one-ring rune magus. He suspected that even if he learned fireball, it wouldn't be much stronger than Magic Missile.
The fireball spell's specialty was its explosion, just like a grenade, which would make a loud explosion.
Magic Missile, on the other hand, was like a pistol, stealthy and deadly.
In terms of mana consumption, if casting a Fireball cost 10 mana, then casting Magic Missile would only cost 3 mana.
In other words, the mana required to cast three Magic Missiles could only be used to cast one Fireball.
That was why he didn't really care about learning fireball. He wasn't interested in other tier-2, tier-3, or tier-4 spells.
Rock giant summoning was a grade-four spell that could only be learned after becoming a fifth-ring rune magus. That was still a long way off for Claude. He estimated that it would take him at least a decade or two before he could learn it.
As for the tier-3 spell, Spell Substitution, he definitely had to learn it.
However, just like Rock Giant summoning, it required time to master, so he decided to put it aside for now.
The treant guard was a grade-three spell. Just like the other three grade-two area-of-effect spells, Flaming Wall, Flying Stream, and Maze Forest, Claude wasn't too interested in them.
He felt that those spells were a little too ancient. Perhaps they could be said to be extremely powerful in the era before firearms were invented.
But now, a small squad of soldiers from the town was enough to chase two or three fifth-circle Mages into a mess.
The reason was simple. As long as the casting distance of a spell and its area of effect didn't reach the range of a flintlock, a magus's life would always be under the threat of a flintlock.
Take Claude's Magic Missile for example. As a one-ring rune magus, the optimal range for him to cast Magic Missile was within ten meters, with the furthest he could go was 15 meters.
Even if he became a fifth-ring rune magus in the future and greatly increased the power of Magic Missile, he wouldn't be able to go more than 50 meters.
Compared to the range of a flintlock that could aim accurately, he would still be in a passive position.
Of course, there were many advantages to it. At the very least, it was more convenient than reloading a flintlock. All he had to do was dodge the first round of fire and he would be invincible.
But the moment the musketeers pulled away, a fifth-ring magus would have to think about running away.
It would take decades for an apprentice magus to become a fifth-ring magus.
However, it would only take three months to train a musketeer.
There were only a handful of people who were talented enough to become a magus. That was why the people of the continent had raised their muskets and revolted against the cruel rule of the magi six hundred years ago. In the end, the magi were chased out of Freia.
The simplest way to explain it was through the exchange of casualties. Even if a hundred musketeers were sacrificed in exchange for the death of a single magus, the magi would still be doomed.
Claude's thoughts drifted from magic to musketeers and history and he fell into deep thought.
That made the magus beside him feel a little uneasy. She walked over and tugged on Claude's clothes. "What's wrong?
Are you angry? "
Claude snapped out of his daze. It'd be a waste if he didn't take the meat that was delivered to his doorstep. He hugged the magus and gave her another passionate kiss. "Why would I be angry with you?
I can't wait to like you.
Actually, all the spells I want to learn are grade-1. Even if you let me learn them now, I won't be able to learn them.
I don't know how long I'll have to wait to become a second-ring magus. Anyway, I'll come to you if I want to learn them then. "
"Okay, then you have to work hard and become a second-ring magus as soon as possible."
She leaned her head on Claude's shoulder and enjoyed his hug. "Then, don't you want to learn the fireball spell?"
Claude shook his head. "I have another offensive spell, Magic Missile. Have you heard of it?
Compared to fireball, Magic Missile suits me better.
Since I'm in the military now, if I need to use magic, the wound from Magic Missile will look more like a wound from a flintlock. It'll be easier to hide my identity as a magus.
Fireball, on the other hand, isn't so easy to hide. Everyone will hear it the moment it explodes. It'll make people suspicious. "
It was only then that the magus remembered that Claude was a soldier and couldn't help it.
After all, their situations were different. She had lived in seclusion with her mother since she was young, while Claude joined the army for his family.
Had it not been for the war that engulfed the entire eastern part of the continent, the two of them might never have met. She might have lost too much blood from the bear attack and died silently in Witch Forest.
The magus' mood plummeted and tears welled up in her eyes. "Then … how long can you stay here?"
Claude lowered his head and kissed her cheek. "It'll be fine. We'll have to wait and see if the higher-ups will issue an order for us to leave.
I think it'll take at least a few months. After the rainy season ends, Bluefeather and the two second-line corps will have to stop the anti-Auerian coalition from Rimodra from attacking the three southern prefectures. Everyone's attention will be on the frontlines and we won't be able to deploy any more troops from the rear.
Splitting up 1st Ranger Tribe to guard all the checkpoints in the three southern prefectures isn't something we can do. The three-way junction I'm in charge of is very important. The higher-ups won't be able to transfer me away so quickly. "
The magus didn't say anything and hugged him tightly. She pressed her face against his chest and started crying.
"Don't cry, baby. Even if we're separated for now, I'll definitely come find you when the war is over. I'll bring you home then, okay?" Claude asked gently as he stroked the magus' hair.
The magus' body stiffened, but she quickly shook her head. "No, I have to wait for my mother here. Before she left, she told me that if she didn't come back, I had to wait for her here for ten years. I have to become a four-ring nature magus at the very least before I can go find her.
Only by becoming a four-ring nature magus will I be able to protect myself and save her. "
What did she mean?
Could it be that the magus' mother knew she wouldn't be able to come back before she left?
If that was the case, why didn't she make arrangements for the magus' life for the rest of her life? That sounded too contradictory.
Seeing the confused look on Claude's face, the magus explained, "My mother went to excavate a magical ruin with her friends. If everything goes well, she'll be back in half a year or so.
But she was afraid that something unexpected might happen. The ruin might have remnants of forbidden spells or magic formations. If she's not careful, she'll be trapped inside and it'll take her some time to decipher them before she can come out.
She said that it wouldn't be hard for her to stay alive, but she'll need a long time to decipher the formations. So, she told me to wait for her here and not go out. "
Perhaps it was just an excuse her mother used to prevent the magus from going out to find her. But the magus wouldn't leave this place easily for the next ten years.
All he could do was hug the girl in his arms tightly, his heart filled with love for her.
"It's fine. If I get a holiday after the war ends, I'll definitely come back to accompany you and wait for your mother to come back."
The topic was too serious and the atmosphere wasn't suitable for flirting. Claude took out a linen handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away the tears on the magus' face. "Don't cry. You won't look pretty if you keep crying. If you don't, I won't like you anymore.
The magus gently hammered Claude's chest and smiled. "Don't you dare …"
"Alright, don't cry. I'll definitely come back to accompany you."
Claude decided to change the topic. "By the way, Sheila, you don't have to worry about not having enough spells to engrave, right? Tell me, how many basic spells have you engraved?"
"Yes, I originally had Beast Mimicry, Vine Entanglement, Poison Smoke Trap, Spirit Awakening, and Tree Rejuvenation. Then, I obtained six spells from you. I only engraved Hand of Magic, Precise Control, and Pearl of Light.
I didn't engrave Ignition, Gather Water, or Examine.
Because Ignition and Fireball are similar, I wanted to experiment with Fireball before engraving them.
I feel like I haven't used Gather Water and Examine yet, so I won't engrave them for now. "
The magus counted the spells she had engraved with her fingers. She was a two-ring nature magus and could engrave up to 14 basic spells.
"That means you can still engrave six basic spells?"
Claude furrowed his brow in thought. "I'll have to help you think about it. Don't waste those six slots.
Hmm, don't engrave Examine. I have a better Eye of Discernment for you. It's a detection spell used by us rune magi. It's similar to the Eagle Eye spell your mother left behind. "
Claude looked at the magic scrolls on the table. "Your mother left you six grade-1 spells. You have to learn Energy Barrier, Stealth, and Light Flight. With Eye of Discernment, you only have two slots left. I still have two combat spells here. One is Magic Missile, and the other is the grade-1 Lightning Chain. My herbalism teacher, Maria, left them for me.
"But I'm still a 1st Ring Rune Mage, so I can't use this spell. But I remember the rune array structure of this Lightning Shackles. I can draw a pattern for you. Which two battle spells are better?"
The magus pouted. "I don't like Stealth. It sounds like a thief's sneaky and sneaky. Why don't I get rid of this spell and change it to an offensive one? That way, I'll have three combat spells."
"No, this spell is very important. You have to engrave it as a basic spell."
Claude shook his head and rejected the magus' suggestion. "This Stealth spell isn't for you to become a thief. It's for you to save your life.
I'm worried that you'll run into trouble living here alone. If you meet an opponent you can't defeat, you can use this spell to sneak away. You don't have to fight to the death with your enemy.
How about this, you choose Fireball and my Lightning Shackles. These two spells will at least allow you to protect yourself.
I have a few other spells for you as well. Ice Congealing will allow you to make a cold drink in the hot summer. Underwater Breathing will allow you to stay underwater for ten minutes. Featherfall will allow you to fall from a great height in two minutes. There's also Cool Wind Summon. In summer, you can summon a cool breeze to cool you down. "
Claude sighed. "Actually, I also have a Freeze spell. It should be an advanced version of Ice Congealing. It's a pity that it's a grade-1 spell and I didn't memorize its magic matrix. I can give it to you in the future.
As for Magic Missile, I'll draw it for you as well.
If you have a blank magic scroll here, you can draw it on it and carry it with you. That way, you'll be able to reduce your mana consumption by half. "
The magus leaned against Claude's chest and muttered, "I don't need a blank magic scroll. My mother left me a blank tome made from the hide of a bloodback grey wolf.
She said it was a gift for me to become a one-ring nature magus. But she wasn't there that day and the cave was occupied by the black bear. I couldn't get in.
Only now can I get my mother's gift. Thank you, Claude. "