Faerun: The arcane mage is still too imprisoned.

He quickly stood up, adjusting his collar in front of the full-length mirror on the wall as he spoke. His long silver hair was tied back with a simple black headband, revealing the profile of his face.

"Don't move around here," Lance turned around, "I'll reward you when I get back."

Cielsa arched her eyebrows, her voice suddenly becoming cold and respectful: "Yes, Master."

The word "master" made Lance pause in his steps. He turned around and looked at Cielsa—the girl stood in the light and shadow by the window, a faint smile on her lips, her long silver-gray hair swaying gently in the breeze.

"...I'm leaving."

Wearing the Silver Glow Badge, Lance arrived at the Silver Glow family mansion located in the eastern district of Rild City.

This is a sprawling manor-style building with a heavy and rustic style. The towering stone walls are covered with dark green vines, and the wrought iron gate is engraved with the family crest of stars and swords.

An elderly butler with gray hair and neat clothes was already waiting at the door.

"Mr. Lance, good day. I am the butler of the Silvershine family. You may call me Old Bert." The butler bowed respectfully, his manner impeccable. "Madam instructed me to greet you here. Please follow me."

After passing through the neatly manicured front garden and along the gravel path, old Bert led Lance to a detached two-story house on the west side of the main house.

"This is the family's training hall. The first floor is used for warrior training, and the second floor is a library and meditation room. The patriarch has prepared the room on the east side of the second floor as your classroom."

Old Bert pushed open the heavy wooden door, revealing an interior space that appeared more spacious than from the outside. The first floor was filled with various weapon racks, training dummies, and protective gear, with a faint scent of leather and steel in the air. Ascending the spiral staircase to the second floor, the light suddenly softened.

Arya was already waiting in the room. Today she had changed into a casual dark blue outfit that was easy to move in, and her long hair was neatly tied back. She looked less charming than yesterday and more capable.

"You're right on time, Mr. Lance." She stepped forward, then turned to the other side of the room. "Lillian, come here."

A petite figure slowly emerged from the shadows behind the bookshelf.

She was a girl wearing a light blue dress, with long, smooth, fiery red hair cascading over her shoulders.

Her face was as delicate as a doll's, her skin was fair, and her large eyes were amber in color, inherited from Arya. At this moment, she was secretly observing Lance with a mixture of curiosity and timidity.

"This is Mr. Lance. From today onwards, he will be your instructor in learning magic." Arya gently placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Lillian, greet your teacher."

The girl pursed her lips, stepped forward, lifted her skirt, and gave a proper curtsy: "Good day, Professor Lance. I am Lillian Silverlight, nice to meet you."

The voice was soft, but the words were clearly enunciated.

"Good day, Lillian." Lance bent slightly, bringing his gaze to the girl's level, and gave her a gentle smile. "Don't be nervous. Let's get to know each other first, okay?"

Lillian nodded, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

Seeing this, Arya gave Lance a pleading look and then said, "Then I won't disturb your class. Old Bert will be downstairs; just let him know if you need anything."

She patted her daughter on the back, turned and left, gently closing the door behind her.

Only Lance and Lillian remained in the room.

Only the two of them remained in the quiet room. Lance didn't begin the lesson immediately, but casually sat down in a chair and gestured to the seat opposite him:

"Sit down. Let's talk first. How much do you know about monks? Or rather, where do you think a monk's power comes from?"

Lillian thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "From the book... it's about learning? Memorizing spells and runes, understanding the rules of the world, casting spells through the magic network... something like that?"

"A very standard answer, in the textbook sense." Lance nodded, then changed the subject, "So, what do you think the Magic Network is?"

"A magic net?" Lillian said uncertainly. "It must be something created by the goddess of magic, Mystra, to help mortals cast spells, right?"

"Actually, that's not the case. The idea that the goddess of magic created the magic network is just a rumor." Lance shook his head.

"But... this claim was spread by the Goddess of Magic herself... isn't that wrong?" Lillian asked tentatively.

"Goddess of Magic? Nonsense! Ignore it."

"The Magic Network is a network that was born with the world and spreads throughout the entire multiverse. Every flower, every blade of grass, every tree, and every stone contains the power of the Magic Network."

"The only difference is more or less."

"It wasn't the goddess of magic who created the magic network; it was the magic network that created the goddess of magic."

He paused, observing the girl's reaction: "In Forgotten Realms, mages don't create energy out of thin air when casting spells. We weave spell effects from within a mental network of magic. The deeper the connection, the higher the layers of the magic network we can access, and the more powerful the spells we can cast."

"It's difficult in some ways, and easy in others," Lance smiled. "It requires talent. Many aspiring mages spend their entire lives without ever truly touching the outermost layer of the magic network; they can only linger on the outside."

Lillian nodded, seemingly understanding, "Then... how do I connect to the magic network?"

"Good question." Lance stood up and walked to the window. "First, you need to calm down and sense the existence of the magic network."

He turned to Lillian: "Close your eyes."

The girl did as instructed immediately.

Take three deep breaths. Slowly, feel the air enter your lungs, then exhale slowly.

The study fell silent, with only the steady breathing of the two people remaining.

"Now," Lance's voice softened, "imagine you are standing in a dark void, with nothing around you."

Lillian's eyelashes trembled slightly, but her eyes remained closed.

"Then, search for light in the darkness," Lance continued. "They are like fine threads, like flowing rivers..."

Then I placed a [Magic Trick] next to her to help her sense magic.

Lance knew very well that the Magic Network was always hypocritical.

People with high spellcasting attributes can naturally sense the existence of the magic network even without having undergone any spellcasting training.

A person with low spellcasting ability can spend their entire life trying to sense things, but the magic network will never even glance at them.

Those with high intelligence can easily penetrate the magic network. Those with high perception can easily touch the magic network.

A person with high charisma can make the magic network embrace them.

"Can you feel it?" Lance asked.

Lillian frowned, her small face tense. She tried to concentrate, attempting to grasp the scene Lance was describing.

But in darkness there is only darkness, in nothingness there is only nothingness.

A minute passed.

Two minutes.

Twenty minutes later, she opened her eyes in despair, her emerald green eyes misting over: "I...I can't feel anything."

"That's normal." Lance wasn't surprised at all. "Most people don't feel anything the first time they try. Some need a few days, some need a few weeks, or even a few months."