Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 88 Unveiling the Mystery

Time always slips away unnoticed, especially when people are focused on or even obsessed with something; the word "flying" is the most apt description of that.

The person making such a remark is none other than our classmate Zhang Yuan. Immersed in his books, he devoured "An Overview of the Magic Network," a book nearly as thick as a Xinhua Dictionary, in just four hours. Of course, the main reason was that Ferren's papermaking process was subpar, resulting in excessively thick paper.

I jotted down a few questions on a piece of paper for later reference, and then looked up at the magic sundial on the wall and realized that almost four hours had passed.

This was Zhang Yuan's first time seeing a magical sundial in this world.

This device, similar to an ancient sundial, also consists of a disc covered with markings and corresponding numbers and a pointer standing at the center. However, unlike the sundial, it is powered by magic and does not require sunlight.

The beam of light emitted from the tip of the pointer, permanently enchanted with the Light spell, shone on the markings on the edge of the disc, moving in an extremely slow but steady manner.
"This does look a bit like a clock on Earth, but why not just turn the hands upside down and make them rotate clockwise? That would save you the trouble of using a light spell," Zhang Yuan complained.

This is probably what is called mental inertia, or to put it more nicely, sentimentality.

Zhang Yuan had seen another kind of magical timing device before. In the headquarters hall of the Flame Fist Guild, there was a device that looked like an hourglass.

That magic hourglass, every hour when all the sand in it has flowed to the bottom, it will automatically turn over, and the sand inside will automatically change color. There are six colors: red, yellow, blue, green, gray, and purple, divided into two shades, for a total of twelve colors that change in rotation. It's quite interesting, and every time it changes on the hour, a group of people will gather around the hourglass.

Pulling himself back to reality, Zhang Yuan opened the next book. He needed to make the most of the time while he still had a teacher to consult, and try to build a solid foundation for himself. This would be beneficial whether he studied on his own as a self-taught mage or became an apprentice under another master.

The pages of the book rustled in his hands, revealing the mysterious and obscure arcane knowledge, which was then absorbed by a pair of inquisitive eyes and incorporated into the mind of that knowledge.

In the remaining three hours, Zhang Yuan successfully finished reading the book "Analysis of Spell Runes and Spell Construction". After he sorted out his questions, Old Banter's research was almost over.

Yes, Zhang Yuan was certain of that. It wasn't that he believed Bantley was particularly punctual or eager to teach him, a genius, but rather that the summoning time had to end.

No matter how many research methods and enthusiasm you have, what's the point of researching if you don't even have a research subject?

In fact, at that moment, Old Bentley was holding a wrench, intending to study the structure of the stone man's arm joints, and then...

Bantley, who was supporting his small body, almost fell flat on his face.

With a huff, Bantley stomped toward the cheap student, his footsteps so loud that Zhang Yuan could hear them clearly from a distance.

"Master, how is your research going?" Zhang Yuan asked, still pretending to be a well-behaved child.

"Screw your master act, stop pretending. How's your learning progress? Don't tell me you can't even ask a question, then it's none of my business." Old Bentley was in a bad mood.

Research on this strange summon was not going smoothly. It should be an elemental creature, but it also exhibited characteristics of a construct. This complex nature made it difficult for Bantley to draw a clear conclusion.

If it is an elemental creature, then the summoned elemental creature generally does not appear in its true form, but only as a projection. Moreover, elemental creatures themselves have independent thoughts, but are only bound by the oath of the summoning spell.

However, although the stone golem was small and indeed composed of elements, it existed in this plane in a substantial form. At least, Old Bentley's banishment spell, which was specifically designed for extradimensional creatures, had no effect on it.

Moreover, it lacks independent thought, making it no different from a puppet golem. But if it is a golem, it has no obvious driving or connecting mechanisms; even its torso is spontaneously connected by stones. Could this be a new type of golem? An elemental golem?
Old Bentley scratched his head, wishing he could completely cut open the stone golem in front of him and study it thoroughly to see what kind of magical core and spell circuit could drive such a golem.

But thinking about what the kid in front of him had said, he held back in the end. What if they couldn't find anything after dissecting him? Then they wouldn't even have a subject to study.

Zhang Yuan watched as Lao Ban Te Li's face changed repeatedly, and he almost thought that the other party was putting on a face-changing performance specifically for him.

"Cough cough~"

Bantley, who was jolted out of his thoughts after a while, glared at the kid in front of him again:
"Stop coughing, Old Man Terry is listening."

Zhang Yuan was also helpless to encounter such an old fogey. After a while, he reported his learning progress to the other party.

"You say you've already finished reading these two books? I want you to truly understand their content, not just flip through them casually like you're reading those legendary novels." Old Bentley was a little surprised. Even if someone is born with an awakened ability, it's about having a strong affinity for magic and exceptional mental strength, not necessarily intelligence.

“I’m quite certain that these are some of my notes and questions. Also,” Zhang Yuan said, pulling out the book list and his notebook, “I’ve already read these nine books before. This notebook contains some questions and viewpoints that I’ve accumulated.”

Surprised, Old Ban Te Li took the notes from Zhang Yuan, glanced at the eleven books on the reading list that had already been read and were specially marked, and said in a somewhat admonitory tone:

"Honesty is not an essential quality for a spellcaster, but respect and candor for knowledge and arcane magic are the most basic principles of a mage!"

"In the name of arcane magic, everything I say is true."

"You're not an arcanist, you haven't even scratched the surface of a mage, what are you talking about arcane magic for?" Bantley said, looking down at his notes, ignoring the other's disgruntled expression.

As he turned the pages of his notes, Old Bentley's expression changed from casual to serious, and then to solemn; he even put down the pipe that was dangling from his lips.

Suddenly, Old Ban closed his notebook, stared at Zhang Yuan, and asked:

"You sensed the magic network through meditation on your own without any guidance?"

"Yes, it doesn't seem too difficult, but I didn't dare to make any further contact with the Magic Network," Zhang Yuan said honestly.

"Hehe, if those guys who can't get started hear this, they'll be furious." Old Banter chuckled, then continued, "But you are indeed a born Awakener. Sensing and contacting the Magic Network is no challenge for you at all. Rather than saying you approach the Magic Network, it's more accurate to say that the Magic Network is naturally drawn to you."

“However, it would be extremely reckless to attempt to access the deep magic network. Without a leap in mental strength and sufficient knowledge of magic, such a rash act would only make things worse,” Bantley warned.

"What will be the consequences?" The curious child is on the verge of exclaiming.

Thank you to readers 20201212172845580 and 找个MM带回家 for their generous donations.



(End of this chapter)