Teaching Hints

"What are you staring for? Do I have words written on my face? Go wash up first." Lucian smirked at Carrie's dazed expression. His mood, sour after Norian's bullying earlier, had improved quite a bit.

"Oh! Oh, right…" Carrie snapped back to reality, standing up quickly. But she moved too hastily, knocking over her chair and tripping on it herself, creating a bit of a chaotic scene.

Still just a child, Lucian thought, watching her clumsy attempts to clean up. At twelve, she was only beginning to learn how harsh the world of wizards could be—an age that would be sheltered in his old world. He shook his head slightly, his resolve strengthening. All he could do was protect those he felt deserved it, so long as he could protect himself too.

Sighing inwardly, Lucian opened Carrie's profile on the system and began reviewing her stats.

[Student]: Carrie Meyer

[Strength]: First-Tier Wizard Apprentice

[Health Status]: 92.3% (Minor left-hand injury: 0.03%, old injury on right hip: 5.76%, scratch on the right arm: 1.91%)

[Spiritual Power]: 2.89 (average adult spiritual power is 1)

[Dependency]: 40.1%

[Potential Field Aptitudes]:

{Potion Making} Aptitude: 87.23% (click for details)

{Plant Cultivation} Aptitude: 83.95% (click for details)

[Teaching Progress]:

{Greybone Meditation Technique – Enhanced II}: 0.00%

Lucian raised an eyebrow at the detailed stats, then looked at his own sparse, bare-bones profile. He couldn't deny a hint of jealousy—why did the system lavish all the data on his student while his information remained pitifully minimal? The system is so biased!

He grumbled internally, but it was no use. Calming himself, Lucian noticed a small line in grey next to the progress bar.

[No teaching hints currently unlocked]

"Teaching hints?" Curious, he clicked, and an explanation window popped up.

"So, I can use Reverence Points to get hints that help the student grasp and understand the material more quickly. It speeds up their progress," he murmured, nodding. It seemed to be the first practical way he'd seen to spend Reverence Points, other than using them to upgrade the system. He decided he'd test it if needed during Carrie's lesson.

Soon enough, Carrie returned, looking refreshed and ready to continue.

"The next meditation technique I'm teaching you builds on what you learned earlier, but it has new elements you'll need to understand thoroughly," Lucian said, and he began explaining the Greybone Meditation Technique – Enhanced II.

"Wow, Mentor Lucian… that's amazing…" Carrie's eyes widened in awe as he revealed the advanced method, even though she'd somewhat expected it.

[Your student Carrie is awestruck by you. Reverence Points +3]

Lucian turned away, hiding a small smile. Pleased, he resumed the lesson.

Yet he soon noticed that Carrie was struggling. Compared to the smooth progress she'd made with the previous meditation techniques, her understanding this time was slow and uneven. Some parts of the enhanced technique conflicted with what she'd already learned, causing her to stumble, her thinking hindered by the earlier knowledge.

At this rate, it would take Carrie at least five or six days to fully master the technique.

"Let's take a break," Lucian finally said after an hour of teaching, feeling a twinge of exhaustion. He rubbed his temples, while Carrie clutched her head, looking a bit overwhelmed.

After a few gulps of water and some deep breaths, Lucian felt his frustration ease. Still, he was tempted to speed things along. Hesitating only briefly, he reopened Carrie's profile and examined the progress section.

[Teaching Progress]:

{Greybone Meditation Technique – Enhanced II}: 2.37% (Two teaching hints available. Click for details)

"So, there are hints available after all…" he thought, his interest piqued. Opening the hint menu, he was presented with two options.

[Hint 1]: (1 Reverence Point) This hint is likely to help Carrie understand how to construct a spiritual vortex using the Gilles Vortex – Enhanced II method…

[Hint 2]: (2 Reverence Points) This hint is likely to help Carrie understand the mental structure involved in the Moss Triangle…

Unlock both, he thought immediately, spending 3 Reverence Points. After all, he'd earned a total of 18 Reverence Points from Carrie today alone. Spending a few seemed well worth it to test this feature.

Let's see how valuable this "paid content" really is, he thought, watching as the hints loaded.

[Hint 1]: Ask Carrie to fetch you a glass of water.

[Hint 2]: Have Carrie analyze the focus of the Moss Triangle in the Enhanced version versus its use in the Greybone Meditation Technique.

Lucian: ??

The second hint seemed reasonable enough, but the first? What on earth kind of hint is "fetch me a glass of water"?

System, I want a refund! he thought indignantly, but of course, there was no response. Sighing, he closed the system window, resigned.

Just as he was about to take a drink to calm down, he noticed that his cup was already empty.

"Mentor Lucian, would you like me to get you more water?" Carrie asked, noticing his empty cup.

"Sure, that would be very helpful," he replied with a smile, handing her the cup.

"No… no problem," Carrie stammered, blushing as she took the cup.

[Your student Carrie feels gratitude toward you. Reverence Points +1]

Lucian froze, realizing that he'd gained a Reverence Point from the interaction. For a moment, he wondered if the system was using Carrie's gratitude as a way of reimbursing his spent points.