I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 4 Spellcasting
He racked his brains trying to recall the mage lessons from his memory. After a long while, he took a deep breath, and his fingers began to move rhythmically. A few seconds later, the arcane energy that was previously invisible in the air emitted a pale blue color before his eyes, making him feel as if he were immersed in the universe, fully experiencing the power of the stars.

This is the true state of meditation.

Having resolved the prerequisite issues, DuPont began attempting to cast the spell.

Casting spells is neither particularly difficult nor easy. Complex magic requires a combination of incantations, gestures, magical artifacts, and casting materials, while simple spells only require one of these. However, once a mage has undergone long-term training and gained a sufficient understanding of spells, they can skip these steps and cast spells instantly, or increase the power and effect of spells.

This refers to the concept of "super magic" among mages.

This was somewhat beyond DuPont's capabilities. The spells he could cast now only required him to use gestures to manipulate arcane energy and arrange it into the correct spell models, and then use the correct incantations to assemble these models into spells. The artifacts were there to help assemble the spell models faster.

However, with the changing times, mages can use a more ingenious method: directly using incantations and gestures to obtain the spells they want from the magic network. They can even use this method to identify spells. As long as there is a corresponding spell slot, they can cast the magic they have learned. There is no longer the problem of memorized spells having to occupy a fixed spell slot.

Having learned this, DuPont had a vague understanding, but it did not change his situation: if he wanted to copy a usable magic scroll, he had to rely entirely on his own ability to control arcane magic to imprint the complete spell on the scroll, rather than using back channels to release the spell on the parchment.

With that in mind, DuPont wrote the incantation on the scroll, the elegant Elvish script flowing rapidly. After a few seconds, he read it over and over again, then placed the quill on the ink bottle cap.

It's about what he remembers, so it should be fine.

Conjuration spell, first level: Mage Armor
The DuPont Society doesn't have any offensive spells, but both Mage Armor and Grease are quite popular spells.

The former, in particular, is a fundamental defensive spell that all mages must master.

'No matter the situation or the enemy, mage armor will effectively increase the mage's survival rate, giving us ample reaction time. And as long as we survive, no matter how harsh the scenario or enemy, we have the chance to create a miracle.'

The First Lesson in Practical Application for Mage Cultivation

DuPont closed his eyes and opened his arms, using his consciousness to sense the omnipresent arcane energy in the air. As his fingers followed the changes in his memory, the pale blue light spots gathered above his fingers one by one, and a string of powerful, mysterious characters was chanted from his mouth.

"Lorica Magica!"

As the incantation neared its end, a pale white light gathered around DuPont's body. When the last letter was uttered, arcane energy coalesced in mid-air to form the characters, identical to those DuPont had just written.

A look of delight flashed in DuPont's eyes. The pale white light and characters had all disappeared, and his once ordinary robe was now as tough as scales, yet he felt no discomfort wearing it.

Become!

Dupont was excited by the great success of his first spellcasting. However, due to the special circumstances, he had no way to test whether the mage's armor was as tough as chainmail, but the white light flashing on the robe was basically the same as he remembered.

It should work?

However, when it came to copying the scroll, DuPont found it extremely difficult.

He can manipulate arcane energy with gestures, but how can he imprint that arcane energy onto a scroll?

He tried several times but couldn't get it right. After thinking for a moment, he realized he had fallen into a trap.

This parchment, capable of imprinting a first-circle spell, possesses a certain amount of magic. What he needs to do is not to imprint the arcane energy onto the scroll, but to manipulate the arcane energy within the parchment into the correct spell model. Then, he only needs to input the spell energy onto the scroll to succeed.

No wonder it's called the First-Circle Spell Parchment; the magic on this scroll can only store the energy needed to cast a First-Circle spell.

Having grasped the key point, DuPont began to write. His familiarity with Elvish script allowed him to quickly copy it even without looking at the scroll. His elegant and beautiful handwriting was comparable to that of the noblest Sun Elf royal family. The blood-stained ink completed the last character, and a two-dimensional map composed of Elvish script faintly appeared on the parchment before him, with some spells shimmering.

His manipulation had incorporated some of the arcane energy from the parchment into the incantation, but his ability/method could not command all the energy to enter it. He needed to use his mental power to restrain the remaining energy and fill the written incantation to the point where it could activate the spell.

This is the entire process of copying the scroll.

With his mind clear, DuPont put aside all distractions and focused intently on slowly moving his fingers, controlling the volatile energy within the parchment and guiding it to its correct position.

This operation requires great care; if a mistake is made, the energy inside will be lost rapidly, and the incantation may become ineffective.

If the parchment is not used, the energy inside can remain for several years. However, once you start copying it, even if you don't make any mistakes and it doesn't exceed one hour, the arcane energy inside will slowly dissipate until it becomes just a piece of toilet paper.

It might take a few minutes, or it might take half an hour. When the Elvish script on the scroll in front of him began to glow, DuPont breathed a sigh of relief and wiped away non-existent beads of sweat from his forehead.

The burden of using his mental energy was quite heavy, but this copying achieved his expectations.

He succeeded, and it only took him one try.

After the system confirmed that there was nothing wrong with his copying method, DuPont opened his eyes and broke out of his meditative state.

The luxurious training ground and the towering mage tower had vanished; all that remained for him was this dirty and cluttered little hut.

This was somewhat discouraging, as if what he had just seen was just a false illusion, but DuPont's eyes couldn't hide his excitement.

He succeeded in both casting the spell and copying the scroll on his first try. Looking at that 40% success rate, it was hard not to feel smug.

DuPont had studied for two and a half years, yet his skills, both in terms of hands and writing, were no match for this newcomer who had just arrived in this world. This could be described as a dimensional reduction attack.

Although the expensive linguistic training was of great help to him, he was still in a weakened state, and his spellcasting was starting from scratch.

Am I some kind of genius, one in a million? DuPont couldn't help but laugh as he touched his smooth chin.

Wiping away his sweat, DuPont picked up the milk and took a sip. The fragrant yet fishy taste made him frown.

"Never mind, I'll take a shower first." DuPont picked up the wooden tub from the bathroom and went to the communal washroom to get hot water.

There is a bathroom in the dormitory, but it is very small, only about three square meters. Basically, besides the toilet, there is only a place to wash your face.

However, according to his memory, the items in the washroom were not used much except for the toilet. Many apprentices would sometimes use magic to clean themselves when they didn't have time. They would only take hot water to wash themselves or soak their feet when they had free time.

DuPont still preferred hot water, and it would be even better if he could take a bath. Unfortunately, it seemed that only advanced apprentices nearing graduation or wealthy people had such a luxurious space in their dormitories, so it was unlikely to be available to him anytime soon.

There was a bathhouse in the academy that charged two silver coins per bath, but he couldn't afford to be extravagant at the moment, so he decided to save his money to avoid starving.

However, when he arrived at the restroom, he found several teenagers hiding inside smoking cigarettes. Upon seeing him, they immediately received several hostile glares.

DuPont frowned upon seeing this, recalling the conflict that had occurred in the canteen.

Are they lying in ambush on me here?
(End of this chapter)