Chương 14: Single-Layer and Multi-Layer

A blazing Fireball materialized before Zelier. The next instant, it shot forward like a cannonball. Thanks to the modifications he'd instinctively made to the Spell Matrix, the casting time had improved noticeably compared to the battle in the Ashwood Forest. From roughly five seconds... To just over four. And the spell hadn't lost a bit of power. Boom! The Fireball slammed into the crystal pillar, bursting into a shower of sparks.

"Oh?" Marven raised an eyebrow. Now that's promising. Bev's three spells had each taken around six seconds to cast. Zelier had completed his Fireball in just over four. That difference of a little more than a second might not sound like much— —but for a mage, it could easily represent a year's worth of dedicated training. His mana control was clearly superior to Bev's.

"Very good." Marven gave an approving nod.

"Continue."

"... Uh..." Zelier scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Sorry, Instructor Marven."

"Fireball is... the only spell I know."

"The only one?" Marven frowned.

"Yes." There was nothing he could do about it. The original owner of this body had simply been too poor. He'd spent years doing odd jobs just to save enough money for that battered Fireball scroll. Learning another spell? That had been nothing more than a dream.

"Your Fireball is excellent."

"It fully meets the Apprentice Mage standard." Marven rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"However, under the Guild's certification rules, meeting the mana and spellcasting requirements isn't enough."

"To become a certified Apprentice Mage, you must also master three Tier-2 Single-Layer Spell Matrices." Magic on the Candia Continent was divided into two major categories according to the structure of its Spell Matrices. Single-Layer Spell Matrices. And... Multi-Layer Spell Matrices. A Single-Layer Spell Matrix could be thought of as a flat plane—a two-dimensional structure. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Every mana circuit was inscribed across that single surface. It was the most fundamental form of magic. For countless generations, every mage on the continent had relied exclusively on Single-Layer spells. Until... A handful of extraordinary geniuses changed everything. Through relentless research into Spell Matrices, they created an entirely new class of magic—one far more powerful and vastly more versatile. Multi-Layer Spell Matrices.

Instead of a single plane, they consisted of numerous interwoven layers, forming a true three-dimensional structure. More dimensions meant more room. More room meant exponentially greater complexity. And far greater difficulty to master. Both categories were further divided into Tier 1 through Tier 9, according to the complexity of their mana circuits. Fireball. Wind Blade. Water Orb. Illuminate. All four belonged to the category of Tier-2 Single-Layer spells. A trace of regret crossed Bev's face.

During the examination, she'd already realized that Zelier's spellcasting ability surpassed hers. The only reason he'd failed... Was because he knew only one spell. And she could easily guess why. Money. Learning a new spell wasn't difficult. You simply bought a spell scroll engraved with its Spell Matrix. The problem... Was the price. A high-quality Tier-2 Single-Layer spell scroll typically sold for around five Gold Coins. Nearly a year's income for an ordinary family.

The Fireball scroll Zelier had obtained from the wandering bard had only cost forty Silver because it had been so badly damaged. The lingering spiritual imprint inside it had been incredibly faint. That was why the original owner had needed months just to decipher the Spell Matrix.

"I understand."

"I'll learn two more spells and come back for another evaluation." Zelier wasn't disappointed. After all... He had already copied three new spells from Bev. Once Matrix Deduction finished analyzing them, becoming an Apprentice Mage would simply be a matter of time.

"Wait." Marven suddenly stopped him.

"I'd like to ask you a few questions."

"They're somewhat personal, so you're free not to answer."

"What kind of questions?"

"What does your family do?"

"Merchants?"

"Or...?"

"I come from a small village on the border of the Kingdom of Ser."

"My parents were farmers."

"They've both passed away." Zelier answered honestly.

"I'm an adventurer now."

"I make a living by taking commissions."

"I see..." Marven lowered his head in thought. After a long silence, he finally spoke again.

"In that case..."

"I'm willing to certify you as an Apprentice Mage today." Zelier froze.

"But..."

"You must promise me something."

"Within three months, you'll return here for another evaluation."

"And by then..."

"I expect you've mastered at least three spells."

"... Huh?" Zelier blinked. What was this supposed to mean?

"What are you standing there for?" Bev nudged him sharply with her elbow.

"Hurry up and thank Instructor Marven."

"He's making an exception for you."

"Once you're officially an Apprentice Mage, you'll qualify for the Guild stipend."

"One Gold Coin every month." There's a stipend? Only then did Zelier realize what Marven was offering him. He immediately bowed.

"Thank you very much, Instructor Marven."

"I won't disappoint you."

"The road of a mage is long."

"And cruel." Marven smiled faintly.

"I'd rather not see genuine talent buried by poverty."

"Remember our agreement."

"Come back within three months."

"Understood." A thought suddenly crossed Zelier's mind. The requirement for unlocking his second Talent was: Become a Lower-tier Mage. Since Marven was here... He might as well ask.

"Instructor Marven."

"May I ask what it takes to earn the Lower-tier Mage certification?" Marven chuckled.

"You've only just become an Apprentice Mage."

"And you're already thinking about the next rank?"

"You've got ambition." He adjusted his monocle.

"At minimum..."

"You must master ten Tier-2 Single-Layer spells."

"Your casting speed for each must be reduced to under three seconds."

"In addition..."

"You must also master one Tier-3 Single-Layer spell, with a casting time below five seconds."

"That's the standard for a Lower-tier Mage."

"As for learning new spells..."

"You'll have to collect spell scrolls yourself."

"No shortcuts there."

"But reducing casting time..."

"That comes only through years of practice." Marven pushed up his monocle.

"You should understand one thing."

"Spell Matrices aren't fixed forever."

"As your mana control improves, you'll naturally begin optimizing them."

"The more efficient the matrix becomes, the faster your spells can be cast."

"So..."

"It's like taking a road full of twists and turns..."

"And straightening it into a direct path?" Zelier recalled what he'd experienced while casting Fireball.

"An excellent analogy." Marven nodded approvingly.

"Natural Spell Matrices are often messy."

"Twisting."

"Winding."

"A tangled maze of unnecessary pathways."

"If you're not careful, you'll get lost inside your own spell."

"But as your mastery over mana deepens..."

"You'll keep refining those pathways."

"Simplifying them."

"Until one day..."

"You reach the pinnacle of a spell."" Instant Cast."

"I see..." Zelier nodded slowly. So that unexpected insight during his Fireball... Hadn't been an illusion at all.