Learning from an Old Master

Jinra was impressive. William watched him utilize Swiftfoot, the very skill he was struggling to learn.

But Jinra executed the ability with far greater speed and mastery. The runes appeared in the air in less than a second, then flew towards his body. William could sense the difference in Jinra.

"The runes attach to the body, providing the benefits of the magic in question," Jinra explained, pulling back his sleeve to reveal the runes inscribed on his skin.

They resembled tattoos.

"You make it look so easy," William said, staring at the ground. "I'm trying to learn, but I can barely keep the runes in the air."

"Let me see you do it," Jinra said.

William nodded, then mirrored the old mage's actions. He visualized the specific runes for the Swiftfoot spell, and attempted to form them.

To do this, he needed to manipulate his mana precisely, or the runes wouldn't appear at all. He was already good enough to form the runes without a problem, the difficulty lay in sustaining them with enough energy to stabilize the spell.

Jinra watched him form the runes—much slower than he himself could—and hold them in the air. But after about five seconds, they flickered and dissolved.

"Tell me," Jinra said, his gaze intent, "why didn't you complete the spell? Cast the runes onto your body."

The request caught William off guard. He hadn't expected that at all. His reasoning was simple: according to his studies, one needed to maintain the runes intact for a full minute. Only then would a mage be ready to cast the spell itself.

But Jinra clearly disagreed. Was this common knowledge among more ancient mages? Or was it unique to him?

"What do you mean? I thought I had to hold the runes for a full minute before I could cast the spell," William said, confusion evident in his voice.

Jinra chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "Where did you learn that, young one? That theory was refuted long ago by the elves. They are the most skilled magic users we know."

"What?" William exclaimed, shocked.

"Their studies showed that it's best to cast the spell directly. This allows you to master the skill much faster," Jinra explained.

William had been using his SSS-Class skill recently, and it was already paying dividends. Of course, he still needed to test Jinra's claims, but the prospect was exciting.

'There must be something to this,' William thought. 'Surely other mages must have tried casting the spell before mastering the runes...'

He couldn't fathom a world where no other mage had attempted this. In fact, if this method was superior according to elven research, why wasn't anyone in Aethel currently using it?

"But there's a secret, of course," Jinra continued, his voice drawing William back to the present. "You know how you're channeling mana into the runes to sustain them? You must stop channeling and then cast them onto your body. The feeling is similar to when you're absorbing mana."

William listened intently. "But is there any danger in using magic this way?" he asked. It seemed far superior to the method he was accustomed to, so William was wary. There had to be a catch.

Jinra nodded. "Yes. Forcing the runes onto your body before you have complete control, like holding them for a full minute as you mentioned, can damage your body. That's why the secret lies in physical training. Most mages neglect this completely, assuming it's only for warriors."

He was beginning to understand the key difference between ancient and modern mages. In present-day Aethel, mages rarely focused on physical conditioning. The only exceptions were battle mages like William.

Scholarship and research had become paramount, leading to a predominantly academic environment. This explained the widespread adherence to the method of sustaining runes for a full minute before attempting to cast a spell.

William theorized that because Aethel was a far more dangerous place in ancient times—with fewer safe havens and beasts lurking everywhere—people needed to master magic quickly, and their bodies were naturally more resilient due to the harsh conditions.

It seemed to him that mages of the past were inherently stronger. Everything he had read and heard supported this: the most powerful mages and warriors in human history all hailed from bygone eras.

"I understand," William said, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "Do you think my body is prepared to handle this skill?"

Jinra stepped closer, placing a hand on William's shoulder. He closed his eyes, concentrating. After a moment, he opened them and declared, "Yes, you are ready. In fact, your body is quite strong for someone who doesn't specifically train for it. Are you already at level 12?"

"Yes, exactly. How did you know?" William asked, surprised. He could sense the aura of his opponents to get a general idea of their power, but discerning their exact level was impossible.

"I can tell because I'm touching you and concentrating," Jinra explained. "It's usually difficult to determine someone's level during combat. And honestly, levels shouldn't be your primary focus. Attributes can be increased in other ways, and it's quite common for people with lower levels to be incredibly strong."

William was absorbing a wealth of new information. Eager to put it into practice, he decided to attempt the spell. Just as before, he formed the runes. Once they were stable, he stopped channeling mana and focused on absorbing them into his body.

It worked on the first try! The runes flowed into him, and he could feel the difference instantly.

"It worked! I feel so much faster," William exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face.

[+20 Agility points]

[+10% movement speed]

Jinra was impressed. "You learn quickly. Congratulations. Now your focus should be on using the skill and maximizing its potential. In the case of Swiftfoot, that means running and jumping around to take advantage of the extra speed."

He was subtly encouraging William to practice diligently, but this was already a fantastic start.

William, brimming with excitement, left Jinra's house and ventured outside. He began running and climbing trees, just as Jinra had suggested. Everything felt easier, more fluid. He couldn't wait to show Gorn his progress.

'He'll be shocked!' he thought, a surge of anticipation coursing through him.