Leonard straightened, listening intently. "Please explain, Teacher."
Alfonso nodded. "Long ago, the ditation thods wizards used were far simpler than what we practice today. Their primary purpose was to strengthen ntal power; nothing more. They were straightforward but inefficient. Wizards had to spend countless hours outside of ditation manually constructing the fraworks of their spells. It was a tedious, ti-consuming process."
His voice grew sharper as he continued. "Eventually, wizards began to see this as a waste of ti. Building spell fraworks from scratch was a skill, yes, but one that slowed their progress significantly. They needed a better way; a thod that would integrate spell construction directly into their ditative practice."
Alfonso gestured toward Leonard. "The ditation thod I gave you is one of those improved techniques. It doesn’t just strengthen your ntal power; it constructs the spell frawork as you ditate. That’s why the Earth Ring Technique feels different to you. It’s not just a spell you learned, it’s a spell you ’built’ as part of yourself."
Leonard’s eyes widened slightly as the realization sank in. "So… it’s a more natural connection. A spell created through ditation becos an extension of the caster."
Alfonso nodded. "Precisely. That’s why mastering ditation thods is so vital to a wizard’s progress. Each spell frawork you construct through ditation strengthens that bond, making the spell more efficient and intuitive to use."
"At first," Alfonso began, his tone asured yet firm, "so wizards believed the new ditation thod was a waste of ti. Others argued that the spiritual power purified through it was unstable; fragile, even."
He leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze fixed on Leonard. "But as ti went on, the academies conducted experints. They found that wizard apprentices who used this new ditation thod mastered several more key spells in their early developnt compared to those stuck with the old thod. And," he added with a wry smile, "there was no negative impact on their ntal strength. Once the results were undeniable, this new ditation thod was adopted and widely promoted."
Leonard nodded slowly, absorbing his words. The logic seed sound; if anything, it explained why his mastery of spells felt so fluid.
Alfonso’s expression softened. "But there’s more to it than that. The spells conceived through ditation are not only more efficient; they’re far superior in terms of proficiency and control."
Leonard tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. "I’ve noticed they feel easier to cast, but… how much of a difference does it really make?"
Alfonso chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Do you think magic is truly mastered the mont you construct the spell frawork?"
Leonard hesitated. "Isn’t it? Constructing the frawork ans I can cast it, right?"
"No," Alfonso said firmly, his tone sharp enough to cut through Leonard’s assumption. "Constructing a spell frawork only ans you’ve learned ’how’ to cast it. That’s the bare minimum. Real mastery cos from what you do beyond that, your ability to shape the spell to your will."
he raised a single hand, his index finger glowing faintly.
Suddenly, a small ’ball of light’ appeared at his fingertips. The warm glow illuminated the dim room, its radiance gentle yet steady.
"Now watch carefully," Alfonso said.
The light began to shift, growing brighter and brighter until it was nearly blinding. Then, slowly, it dimd, shrinking back down to a faint glimr. The changes were fluid, seamless, controlled with an elegance that left Leonard montarily speechless.
"The ability to manipulate a spell’s power, to fine-tune it to your needs, is the mark of a skilled wizard," Alfonso explained. "Sotis, the power of a spell isn’t defined by the spell itself but by how much ntal energy you pour into it."
Leonard’s eyes widened as the realization hit him. He had always thought spells were rigid constructs, static tools with fixed effects. But this demonstration shattered that belief.
Alfonso gave him a small nod of approval. "Your ability to grasp this already places you above many apprentices. And from what I can tell, your ntal strength has reached the standard of a second-level wizard apprentice."
His words made Leonard blink in surprise.
"You’re not far behind the aristocratic apprentices who’ve been exposed to wizardry since childhood," he added. "Your talent is promising, even by the standards of the Wizard Continent."
Leonard felt a flicker of pride at the complint, but before he could speak, Alfonso continued.
"There is only half a month left before the fleet arrives at the port," he said. "Use that ti to prepare yourself. When the ti cos, board the ship and focus on surviving the journey."
Leonard frowned slightly, confused. "Half a month? But didn’t they say the fleet wouldn’t arrive for another month and a half? Why is it arriving early?"
Alfonso’s lips curled into a mysterious smile. "Let’s just say I have my sources. Trust , you don’t want to miss it."
Before Leonard could press further, Alfonso raised his hand, and the ring on his finger glead with a soft light. In an instant, a ’magic book’ materialized in the air, floating gently in his palm.
"Since you’ve completed the Earth Ring ditation, it’s ti you advanced further." Alfonso handed the book to him. "This is your next ditation thod."
Leonard accepted the book with both hands, his eyes drawn to its ornate cover. The title glimred faintly in golden script: "Hellfire ditation thod."
Alfonso leaned back on the sofa, waving his hand dismissively. "Now go. I have work to do, and you have studying ahead of you."
---
Back at ho, Leonard placed the book on his desk, staring at it with a mixture of excitent and apprehension. The words on the cover glead in the flickering light of his oil lamp, almost as if they were alive.
When he finally opened it, he was taken aback. The first page wasn’t words, it was a moving image.
Leonard’s breath caught as the image ca to life. A ’stone giant’ wreathed in erald-green flas lood over a fiery wasteland. Its massive body radiated raw power, the flas licking hungrily at the scorched earth around it.
As Leonard watched, the image began to shift and distort, the fiery giant dissolving into an intricate ’star map’. Thousands of stars glittered against a black void, their light forming complex, interwoven patterns.
Leonard’s head throbbed as he tried to take it all in. The sheer intricacy of the star map was overwhelming; each connection, each detail felt vast and incomprehensible.
"If this ditation thod represents a spell frawork," he muttered, rubbing his temples, "then what kind of spell is it? A first-level spell? Or sothing even more advanced?"
Curiosity compelled him to turn the page, but as he tried, the book refused to budge. It was as though the remaining pages were fused together, bound by an unseen force. Leonard frowned, tugging lightly, but no amount of effort could move them.
"I can’t see the rest until I start the ditation..." he realized.
Closing the book, Leonard leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. The image of the burning giant and the endless star map lingered in his thoughts, filling him with equal parts excitent and trepidation.
"Hellfire ditation," he murmured, staring at the closed book. "Let’s see what secrets you’re hiding."
Leonard sat cross-legged on the floor of his alchemy laboratory, the faint glow of candlelight flickering across his focused face. For half a month, he had poured himself into practicing the ’Hellfire ditation thod’, and the results had been... humbling.
The ’difficulty’ of this new ditation thod was on an entirely different level compared to the ’Earth Ring ditation thod’. Where Earth Ring ditation had felt like constructing a sturdy foundation, Hellfire ditation was akin to navigating a labyrinth while blindfolded. Each step demanded precision, willpower, and relentless focus.
But after weeks of struggle, Leonard finally began to unravel its mysteries. The frawork was becoming clearer, its rhythm natural. The once-insurmountable complexity was giving way to understanding.
One evening, Leonard turned to the back of the ’Hellfire ditation book’, eager to see what awaited him. As he read, his expression shifted from intrigue to bewildernt and then to a sharp, exasperated glare.
"Damn price!" he cursed, slamming the book shut. "Of course, Alfonso! Of course, you’d conveniently leave that part out!"
He now understood why his teacher, who was infamous for emphasizing the ’price of power’, had said nothing about the costs of this ditation thod. She had planned for him to discover it himself.
---
On one of the final pages of the book, Alfonso’s handwriting appeared, elegant yet mocking:
"My dear disciple, Leonard,
By the ti you’re reading this, I trust you’ve mastered the Hellfire ditation. Congratulations! And, if you haven’t realized it yet, I’ve already left Bangor Port. I sincerely hope we’ll et again one day, perhaps under more ’hellish’ circumstances."
Leonard’s jaw clenched as he read further:
"Let tell you a little secret about your new ditation thod. The ’Hellfire ditation’ is a core thod of the ’Abyss Wizard Academy’. Yes, the academy where I now work. Completing this ditation thod will grant you extra points during their admissions process."
Leonard’s brows furrowed, his curiosity piqued despite himself.
"The Abyss Wizard Academy was established in the ’Sixth Wizard Era’, and it remains one of the most prestigious institutions on the continent. Our motto? ’’Conquest, Invasion, and War.’’ Quite inspiring, isn’t it? The academy has extensive ties to the Abyss Plane, offering practical courses such as ’Joint Invasion Operations’ a unique experience, I assure you."
Leonard groaned audibly, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"You might wonder if you’re a good fit for such a prestigious academy. Let assure you: I see potential in you that even you don’t recognize. You have a soul built for conquest, Leonard, and the Abyss Wizard Academy thrives on nurturing such individuals."
The tone of the letter shifted slightly as Alfonso’s words grew more playful:
"Of course, there are… certain ’’risks’’ to practicing Hellfire ditation as an unaffiliated wizard. Many academies frown on non-students mastering their proprietary thods. Let’s just say it could get… unpleasant for you if you don’t enroll. But, of course, the choice is yours."
Leonard slamd the book shut again, his mind racing.
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