Cornflower Witch

Chapter 382 Differences and Iterations in Spells
On the other side, Hilti followed the staff to the Inheritance Room, which was actually located directly above the hall. It wasn't a completely enclosed room; instead, it had small round windows around the circular room. The room was furnished with comfortable tables, chairs, sofas, and recliners, making it a place that would feel perfect for a nap.

In reality, the use of heritage gems is mostly similar to 'dreaming,' where consciousness enters the dream and enters the scene etched in memory.

However, no gems were used here today. An old man sat on a wooden chair by the fireplace with his back to Hilti, his knees covered with a thin blanket, looking like an ordinary old man from next door.

"Professor Maredo, Miss Hedra has arrived." The staff member led Siltia in and gave a brief introduction.

"This is Professor Maredo, who improved and passed on the secret technique of 'Steel Shadow Magic Hand'. The 'Magic Hand Manipulation' that you are interested in is the foundation of 'Steel Shadow Magic Hand', while the 'Phantom Flying Sword' that you are about to learn is a simplified version of 'Magic Hand Manipulation'." After the introduction, he poured tea for the two of them, then closed the door and left.

After Hiltiya sat down with a slightly nervous expression, the old man opposite her turned around, nodded to her, and then spoke.

"Hello, child from afar." He seemed unskilled at entertaining guests, pausing for a few seconds after saying this before getting straight to the point.

"Today I will teach you the secret technique you are about to learn."

"Thank you, Professor Maredo." Hiltiya remembered the staff member's introduction.

The old man then recounted the origins of this secret technique and its development and changes.

"The earliest 'magic hand manipulation' was created by the mage Wistan more than four hundred years ago. He invented this composite spell simply to make his life easier, to do more things at the same time, and to improve efficiency."

"As he used it for longer and longer, he unconsciously continued to improve it, making the spell more and more convenient to use and more and more powerful. Then, in order to save spell slots and take into account both life and combat, he tried to add combat capabilities to the spell, eventually forming a series of secret knowledge."

"From the initial fourth-order spell 'Magic Hand Manipulation' to the fifth-order spell 'Steel Shadow Magic Hand', then to the sixth-order spell 'Heavenly Steel Magic Hand', and the seventh-order arcane art currently under research, this set of spells has a very mature system, as well as various minor branch applications. If you are interested, you can directly seek me out to study the later inheritance after you enter Rolik Academy."

"Thank you. If I get into Rolik Academy in the future, I will visit you." Although she might not necessarily apply to Rolik Academy.

Hearing this answer, the old man seemed to feel much better, and then began to explain the basic principles and framework.

"...After explaining all this, you should notice that manipulating the Demon Hand requires a high level of control, which in turn requires strong mental strength as a foundation, as well as high mental stability to complete precise operations. Therefore, it is difficult for ordinary third-tier mages to reach this standard, so they will first learn the simpler 'Phantom Flying Sword'. The flying sword only needs to be condensed into shape, unlike manipulating the Demon Hand, which requires complex finger movements and force, etc., thus reducing the difficulty significantly." He explained in detail.

Hiltiya listened attentively and nodded repeatedly. Then, the old man directly demonstrated the construction of the 'Magic Hand Manipulation' spell model in front of Hiltiya.

"...That will suffice."

After he finished speaking, a pair of blue fluorescent hands appeared in front of him, picked up the tea on the table, and put it into his mouth. Seeing that Hilti had wide eyes and was watching curiously and attentively, the old man couldn't help but have the idea of ​​showing off his skills. He then manipulated the magic hands to pick up the vase in the room.

The fragile porcelain vase did not shatter under the precise control of the magic hand. Instead, it was held in the hand and then swung in the air like a sword, making various movements and producing a whooshing sound, which made Hiltiya applaud and praise it.

"Amazing~" After that, Maredo manipulated his magic hand to put down the vase, then went to the fireplace, picked up firewood with his magic hand, added firewood to the fire, and stirred the charcoal. Then he picked up a small piece of charcoal and sketched on the white paper on the table. Even the rough charcoal was transformed into intricate patterns and words in his hands. The runes and model formulas required for constructing spells were also written out on the paper.

Seeing this, Hilti quickly activated her 'Secret Word' ability, her eyes flashing with purple light as she rapidly memorized the scene.

About an hour later, the old man stopped talking.

"This is the detailed principle of 'Magic Hand Manipulation'. I don't know how much you've learned. Of course, this spell is usually only learned by fourth-level mages. It's normal that you find it obscure now, so I'll continue to teach you a simplified version of 'Phantom Flying Sword'."

He was completely absorbed in his story, and only realized after he finished that even though the girl in front of him was very talented, she was only a second-level apprentice. What he had just told her was probably like listening to gibberish to her.

"Uh, um, okay." Hilti Ya actually wanted to say that she had understood most of what the professor said, and even if there were parts she didn't understand, she felt that she could figure them out slowly. However, such an answer would be too arrogant and not in line with her usual style, so she nodded in agreement with the professor's words.

“Alright, now I’ll demonstrate the process of ‘Phantom Sword’ to you.” He dispelled the solidified blue magic hand, and then started from the basic runes, slowly explaining the model of the ‘Phantom Sword’ spell to Hilti. Finally, he used magnetic sand to condense a half-meter-long black blade.

"With the help of magnetic sand, you can skip the parts in 'Phantom Hand' that increase structural strength and flexibility, making it much easier to operate." As he spoke, he directed the flying sword to shuttle back and forth in the room. Its speed was incredibly fast and its agility was exceptional, which inexplicably reminded Hilti of the fantasy stories she had read in her previous life.

Although this flying sword isn't as unpredictable as those in fantasy novels, its agility and speed make it easy to use. If she knew how to use it, she could have defeated many mages in the battle just now before they even had a chance to manipulate their golems or puppets.

Of course, the 'Phantom Flying Sword' is not without its weaknesses. Its strength is limited because it is not held in the hand, so its power is not as great as that of a second-tier warrior's powerful swing. At most, it can only reach the swing strength of a first-tier warrior. However, its agility and speed make up for some of its shortcomings, making it quite dangerous for second-tier warriors to deal with. If they are not careful, they will be injured.

At this moment, Hilti's thoughts drifted back to the three major magical systems that Maester Seroffie had explained to her when she was studying in the woods.

No wonder that scholar commented that, among those of the same rank, the spells used by mages are often less powerful than those of wizards of the same rank. Many of the third-rank spells and abilities she learned in the woods can easily defeat monsters and enemies of the same rank, but for a mage's third-rank spells to directly defeat enemies of the same rank is not so easy; it requires finding weaknesses, adjusting the form, and so on.

However, the spells of the mage system also have their advantages, namely, they can be changed very flexibly, and they can be continuously updated and iterated by generations of people, allowing them to continue to develop and obtain stronger forms.

Just like her 'Silk Bird', it can be manipulated directly as silk threads, or transformed into a bird. It can also adjust the runes and spell models as needed to produce entirely new effects.

Furthermore, the 'Phantom Flying Sword' and 'Magic Hand Manipulation' she is currently learning were originally only fourth-tier spells. After hundreds of years of research and development, the 'Magic Hand Manipulation' has now become a sixth-tier spell, 'Heavenly Steel Magic Hand'. Judging from the professor's introduction, it seems that a seventh-tier Magic Hand spell is also being explored and researched.

The abilities and spells of many factions within the woodland have remained unchanged for centuries. For example, the 'Sword of Amores' that she once learned was created by the hero 'Emmersonde', who has been dead for nearly a thousand years. Even though the moves and abilities have been improved, the changes are still minimal.

"Times are moving forward," the girl sighed softly, then raised her head to continue memorizing and learning what the old man was teaching her.

(End of this chapter)