Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 235 Achievements in Learning

The academy's training methods differed significantly from those in Tyranitar and with Old Man Terry. One was a private apprenticeship system, while the other was large-scale group teaching.

Both have their own characteristics and advantages and disadvantages. The scale of training in the academic school is obviously far beyond that of the master-apprentice system. With a garden full of students, the influence of the academy itself and the network of personal relationships extended from the teacher-student and fellow students will naturally form a cohesive aristocratic group.

Each magic academy is essentially the prototype and framework of a spellcaster organization.

On the other hand, the drawbacks of large-scale, mass training of talents are also very prominent. This is not due to the lack of so-called personalized teaching or teaching according to aptitude. Do you think those great masters have the mind to train their own disciples?

During Zhang Yuan's time studying under those two magic mentors, he mostly relied on self-study; they certainly didn't have the time or inclination to raise infants.

The key issue is the shortage of resources!
When describing the profession of a monk, one burning word always comes up—money-burning!
Not to mention the outrageous experimental costs of those high-level mages, even the expenses required for novice apprentices are beyond the reach of ordinary families.

Not to mention that such a large academy offers an astronomical sum just for the salaries of the faculty and staff mages. Moreover, learning arcane arts is not so simple. Without sufficient resources, one can only become a bookworm with theoretical knowledge.

Leaving aside those unfortunate students who apprenticed under low- or mid-level mages, apprentices of high-level or even archmages rarely had such troubles. The meager amount of food that leaked out from between their mentor's fingers was enough to fill an apprentice's stomach.

At least during his studies, Zhang Yuan never felt the exorbitant cost of magic experiments, nor did he ever worry about various resources.

On the other hand, following a high-level spellcaster can provide immeasurable help and benefits to an apprentice in broadening their horizons and understanding their own path.

However, this master-apprentice training model is not without its drawbacks.

The biggest drawback is that there are too few good mentors and too many apprentices, making it difficult to find suitable ones.

High-level mages are not commonplace, and even fewer are willing to mentor younger generations. Moreover, some so-called mentors take on apprentices not to cultivate future generations, and the fate of these unfortunate souls who become cheap laborers or even experimental subjects is predictable.

But simply getting to the basics isn't enough. If a student lacks talent or doesn't catch the mentor's eye, those poor apprentices without connections or backing are not only treated coldly, but it's also normal for them to be kicked out of the program altogether.

In short, apprentices who have connections to become disciples of famous teachers are generally not very interested in the academic training system.

Of course, there are exceptions, such as Silvermoon City Magic University and the Crimson Robe Academy of Sien, and even the Black Wand Academy of Waterdeep City, which are different matters. But these academies have an advantage that other academies can hardly match - their teaching staff.

Neither the strong support of the Goddess of Magic's chosen people nor the elaborate schemes of the mage organization, Thane, disguised as a nation, are things that the current Watchers Order cannot hope for.

However, this should not lead to underestimating the academy. Its comprehensive teaching system, well-rounded curriculum, abundant library resources, and numerous magic instructors who, while not top-tier, are still a backbone of the institution are all commendable aspects.

During his ten-plus days in Waterdeep, Zhang Yuan devoted himself to collecting and studying books and materials, and auditing elective courses. Although the limited time made it difficult to engage in truly systematic study, he benefited greatly from participating in targeted lectures and seminars. The academy's large library further enriched his intellectual repertoire, providing him with ample energy for his future advancement on the path of arcane arts.

The ten days passed in the blink of an eye, like a white horse galloping by. This long-awaited campus life was so short yet so busy.

Yes, during this period, the monks were constantly shuttling between the library, classrooms, and hostels, barely having time to appreciate the cultural and historical scenery of this glorious city.

But he thoroughly enjoyed this busyness, relishing the process of transforming vast amounts of knowledge, information, data, and experience into building blocks for his own arcane tower. On the solid foundation already laid, and guided by the mage's clear and insightful blueprint, the next stage of the arcane path was steadily but not slowly taking shape.

A 25-year-old level eight mage is nothing compared to those legendary geniuses, but compared to ordinary apprentices, 25 years old may not be enough for them to reach the fourth ring of the magic network.

In fact, most of the peers that Zhang Yuan met at the academy were still at the beginner stage of spellcasting. A spellcasting level of three or four was considered a qualified mage student.

As for young monks like Zhang Yuan who have reached level eight?

Calling him a genius wouldn't be an exaggeration, though of course he can't compare to the legendary geniuses of the Black Staff Academy who were close to the threshold of high-level mages before the age of thirty.

But then again, how many years have those "geniuses" been immersed in this field since childhood? And how long has Zhang Yuan, a newcomer who entered the field halfway through, been doing this?
If a curious bard were fortunate enough to witness Master Zhang's academic journey during his stay in Deepwater City, or to persuade the man himself to recount his learning and improvement through his persuasive tongue, he would surely be amazed by such astonishing efficiency and speed.

If this poet is particularly adept at writing ramblings, he might even be able to produce a legendary novel of 100,000 words in just ten days.

Of course, considering that excessive water content might lead to him being ganged up on and beaten by angry readers, the troubadour could only give up with tears in his eyes.

"Hey, Chanem, are you in such a hurry to leave the academy? You've only been here a short time, it's such a waste to give up like this."

The one who spoke was a young mage standing next to Zhang Yuan. His round, baby-faced appearance and somewhat plump figure complemented each other well, while the goatee on his chin added a touch of humor.

This is a classmate Zhang Yuan met on the second day of school at a seminar called "An Exploration of the Application of Enhancement Spells in Construct Combat". Although he is not good-looking, he has a solid foundation of knowledge and has already come into contact with the third ring of magic network. He also has some unique insights and opinions in the discussion.

“Mograim, I am just a passerby in Waterdeep. This glorious city is beautiful, but it is only a short stop on my journey. Unlike you, who have the Vlar family’s businesses here.”

Zhang Yuan didn't want to go into details, so he just mentioned it briefly, but instead talked about the other party's background.

(End of this chapter)