28: Seeking advice from Cecilia

On the training grounds within Red River Fortress.

With a loud bang, a head-sized Fireball blasted a nearby target to pieces.

"That's impressive, Lord Renn. You've already learned the Fireball spell."

"Lord Renn, your aptitude for magic is indeed very high. I didn't expect you to learn the three elementary spells I taught you in just three days."

Cecilia looked on with some surprise as Renn skillfully used the three elementary spells: Stone to Mud, Mud to Stone, and Fireball.

Although they were all elementary spells—and Stone to Mud and Mud to Stone were essentially two sides of the same low-level spell, making them not particularly difficult to learn—it was no easy feat to master and use them so proficiently in just three days.

"It's thanks to your excellent teaching, Cecilia. Otherwise, I wouldn't have learned so quickly."

Renn had ultimately come to seek Cecilia's advice. His progress in learning magic by studying the Basic Meditation Method on his own was too slow; many things that seemed simple in theory became confusing during actual practice.

After struggling alone for two days without being able to complete his first elementary spell, he had once again come to Cecilia for help.

It proved that even with great talent, one still needs a master to lead them through the door. With an orthodox academy-trained mage like Cecilia imparting knowledge, Renn learned three elementary spells in three days.

"It's still your talent that's exceptional, Lord Renn. Even at the Holy White Academy, it's rare for a Black Iron Rank Mage to learn three elementary spells in three days, especially for a newcomer like you who has never been a Mage Apprentice and has almost no foundation in magic. It should have taken much longer."

Renn smiled at Cecilia's praise but said nothing more.

Renn now understood that the core of learning magic was the control over mana. Every mana node and the flow of every spell circuit tested the mage's own degree of control over their mana.

Because of his soul fusion, Renn's control over both mana and Combat Qi was extremely strong, far surpassing that of ordinary Professionals.

Therefore, as long as he understood the underlying principles, Renn could quickly get the hang of these spells.

Stone to Mud, Mud to Stone, and Fireball were the three elementary spells Renn had specifically chosen to learn.

He planned to apply the first two to the future construction of his territory, training the Red River Territory's own low-level mages to specialize in these two spells for building projects.

On the training grounds, Renn personally experienced the power and convenience of these two spells. They were incredibly useful, almost as if they were naturally designed for engineering and construction.

As for Fireball, it was one of the few elementary spells with decent destructive power, and it also had room for growth.

As Renn's mage level increased, the power of Fireball would further enhance. Later on, there were advanced spell options like Chain Fireball, Greater Fireball, and Exploding Fireball.

All this common knowledge about Fireball had been taught to Renn by Cecilia, making him even more fond of the spell.

"This really is an essential skill for killing and burning!"

Thinking about how a single Fireball could leave an enemy without even bones remaining, it even saved the trouble of cleaning up afterward.

"The only downside is that I can't loot the bodies."

"Loot what? Lord Renn?" Cecilia heard Renn muttering something under his breath.

"Nothing, I just think Fireball is really useful," Renn said, changing the subject.

"Of course. Basically, the vast majority of novice mages learn Fireball. I just don't know why you also like the Stone to Mud and Mud to Stone spells, Lord Renn."

Cecilia was somewhat curious.

"These two spells have almost no power, their usage is very limited, and their utility isn't strong. Very few mages learn them."

"Only mages who want to specialize in Earth Magic would learn these two as introductory spells. Do you intend to specialize in Earth Magic in the future, Lord Renn?"

Renn shook his head.

"Of course not. Cecilia, don't you think these two spells are perfect for building roads and houses?"

"Building houses? Building roads?"

Cecilia thought for a moment and said:

"It's true that some mages use spells to build temporary shelters in the wild, but it's not very practical. Low-level mages rarely travel alone in the wild, so they don't need it, while high-level mages prefer the Mansion Spell or Spatial-folding Equipment to solve their wilderness accommodation problems."

"Mansion Spell? Spatial-folding Equipment? What are those?" Renn asked curiously.

"They are special spells and equipment developed to provide mages with comfortable and safe temporary residences in the wild."

"However, those are only equipped by mages of Silver Rank and above, or wealthy Archmages. My grandfather has a spatial-folding residence. When opened, it forms a special small wooden cabin on the spot. It's quite handy."

"How amazing!" Renn also felt like he wanted a piece of Spatial-folding Equipment after hearing about it.

"How much would it cost to buy such Spatial-folding Equipment?"

"I don't know. My grandfather's was exchanged for magic potions with someone at the Holy White Academy. I'm not sure of the exact price, but he traded three bottles of high-grade potions for it, one of which was a special potion. Converted to a price, it probably wouldn't be cheap."

"Well, never mind then!" Renn clicked his tongue and gave up; he was desperately poor right now and had no money for such luxury items.

"But I wasn't talking about building temporary shelters in the wild. I meant building houses and paving roads in the town."

"In the town?"

Cecilia thought of the construction sites she had seen in the town over the past two days.

"There are indeed Earth Mages who choose to build structures for profit. I've heard that many high-level Earth Mages are top-tier magical architectural designers."

"But most of what those Earth Mages build are special magical defensive fortifications or unique magical buildings. I've never heard of any mage going to pave roads or build ordinary houses."

Cecilia was a bit confused.

"Lord Renn, the price to hire a mage is very expensive. It's completely not worth it for building ordinary roads and houses! Don't nobles usually prefer to have the commoners under them build these things for free?"

"Ordinary people build too slowly and can't meet my requirements. It doesn't matter if the price is high; I can just train some mages myself."

"Train them yourself? Lord Renn, you're joking. Training a mage isn't something that can be done just by saying so. It's very difficult."

Cecilia felt like Renn was teasing her. Training mages? Was that something a Barony could do?

Even if it were possible, training one or two low-level mages within one's own family would be the limit. Without a proper foundation, it was impossible to continuously produce mages, and one or two low-level mages wouldn't be able to solve much.

Renn looked at Cecilia with a determined gaze: "I believe the Red River Territory will be able to do it in the future!"

"Then I wish you success, Lord Renn!"

Seeing Renn's confident look, Cecilia didn't say anything more. She had been staying very comfortably in the Red River Territory these past few days and had a good impression of Renn, especially after he began seeking her advice on magic.

Previously, her grandfather had always taught her magic and she was the student. Now, suddenly turning into a teacher to instruct someone else, Cecilia found it very interesting.

Additionally, Renn's talent was exceptional; he understood things instantly and could quickly learn whatever she taught, giving Cecilia a great sense of achievement.

In her eyes, Renn was a very interesting and highly talented noble lord. He had a good temper, was pleasant to talk to, and even helped her take care of her grandfather. He was much better than the nobles she had encountered before.

In the past, those nobles would look at her with strange eyes that made Cecilia very uncomfortable. Her grandfather had also told her that those nobles all harbored ill intentions toward her.

A mage's mental strength is much stronger than that of an ordinary person. Faced with those malicious gazes, Cecilia could feel them clearly, which was why she hated those nobles so much.

But with Renn, Cecilia didn't feel that sense of aversion or see any malicious intent in his eyes.

"Then I won't disturb you further, Cecilia. I'll come to consult you again in the afternoon. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Lord Renn."

Renn went to attend to the territory's affairs, and Cecilia returned to her room.

Looking at her still-unconscious grandfather, Cecilia's mood became somber again.

A few days had passed, and Kapdo's complexion looked much better, but he still hadn't woken up.

"Grandpa, I don't know how long it will take for you to wake up this time. Luckily we met Lord Renn, otherwise I wouldn't have known what to do."

"When I get stronger in the future, I'll definitely find a way to break the curse. Then you won't have to risk your life every time to come into contact with those Evil God Beacons, Grandpa."

"Grandpa, you have to wake up soon. Little Cecilia misses you."

Cecilia leaned gently by the bedside and whispered softly. Smelling the faint fragrance of flowers, she thought of Renn again.

"Grandpa, you have no idea how good the talent of that noble lord you saw is. Not only is his Combat Qi talent excellent, but he also has a very high magic aptitude and is a Black Iron Rank Mage. You'd be very surprised if you knew."

In the room, Cecilia continued to whisper to Kapdo about everything she had seen and heard over the past few days.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Renn had already arrived at the construction site. He was somewhat impatient to try out the spells he had just learned.