Mage's Profound Truths

Chapter 20: Spell Models

The notes were recorded in the form of diaries and transcripts, many of which contained Old Etta’s personal interpretations of spells. Although Merlin had mastered more than a thousand Morta words, he still found it somewhat difficult to read and comprehend the content of the notes.

However, this was mainly because the notes contained many technical terms related to spells and spellcasters, making them harder for Merlin to understand. As for the rest of the content, Merlin read through it quite smoothly.

Soon, Merlin found some descriptions about spells, including the part he was most concerned with—how to become a spellcaster.

“To become a spellcaster, the most fundamental requirement is spiritual power! Only those with strong spiritual power can use it to simulate spell models, imprinting them into their minds to serve as the source of spell power!”

Merlin repeatedly pondered over this sentence. Although he didn’t fully understand what a spell model was, he could generally grasp the meaning of the sentence.

Spiritual power is the foundation for becoming a spellcaster!

Perhaps Old Etta had noticed that Merlin possessed an extraordinary spiritual power, which was why he left him the ring containing the spell notes.

As for why Merlin’s spiritual power was so unusual, the explanation was simple—it was most likely because he had lived two lifetimes.

Now that he knew he met the requirements to become a spellcaster, Merlin felt quite delighted. He continued reading, trying to find out how to become one.

Soon, on the third page of the notes, Merlin found another statement from Old Etta: “Spiritual power is the foundation of becoming a spellcaster, but it is the construction of spell models that determines whether a spellcaster can become powerful.”

The phrase “spell model” appeared frequently throughout the notes, but even after flipping through them for a long time, Merlin still didn’t find any actual spell models.

By now, Merlin had a general understanding of the steps to become a spellcaster: first, one must possess extraordinary spiritual power; next, one must construct a spell model and use spiritual power to imprint it into the mind—essentially simulating a spell model with spiritual power inside the brain.

If all goes well, one can then become a spellcaster.

Old Etta’s spell notes consisted of several volumes. Merlin opened the first volume, which contained only Old Etta’s insights and experiences during spell practice, but not the crucial spell models required to become a spellcaster.

So Merlin took out the second volume. As soon as he opened it, he saw an extremely complex diagram, with Old Etta’s annotations written below it.

“Spell model for the Level-Zero Spell: Fireball. This spell model has been refined multiple times by me. Its key trait is stability. Although it may be slightly less powerful than some other fireball spells, its stability is superior. With this model, novice spellcasters won’t have to worry too much about the model collapsing in their minds after construction.”

This complex diagram was exactly the spell model Merlin had been looking for—the spell model for the Level-Zero Fireball.

Aside from this relatively stable spell model, there were also some models for more powerful fireball spells. However, Old Etta had marked beneath those models that if used, one must always be cautious of potential collapses.

Because those more powerful models were structurally unstable, forcibly using them might lead to the models collapsing in one’s mind later on, causing serious harm or even death to the spellcaster.

Therefore, for spellcasters, the most important thing is to construct a spell model that suits themselves very well.

Merlin didn’t linger long on the fireball spell model. He flipped further and discovered that aside from fireball, the notes also contained the spell model for the spell Whirlwind.

However, like Fireball, Whirlwind was also a Level-Zero Spell.

There were only two Level-Zero Spells in total—these were all the spells recorded in Old Etta’s notes, which left Merlin a bit disappointed. Just two Level-Zero Spells, and both were basic.

However, when Merlin delved deeper into the details of becoming a spellcaster, he no longer dared to underestimate these two Level-Zero Spells.

Take Fireball, for example—even though it was only a Level-Zero Spell, its model was so complex that Merlin could hardly imagine it. It resembled some of the complicated mathematical models from his past life.

Imprinting such a complex spell model into one’s mind using spiritual power, without a single error, was extremely difficult. It posed an immense burden on one’s spiritual power.

No wonder the most basic requirement to become a spellcaster is strong spiritual power—those with ordinary spiritual strength could never simulate such complex spell models in their minds.

And having a complex model was not the only issue—spellcasters also had to choose what kind of model to use: a stable one, or one with greater power.

Take Fireball again—Old Etta had constructed no fewer than ten different models for it. Each one was extremely complex. After just a brief look, Merlin already felt dizzy and mentally exhausted.

As for the other spell, Whirlwind Spell, it was the same—the spell model was also extremely complex.

The two spell models, along with their various derivative models, nearly filled more than thirty full pages; the entire second volume of the journal was almost entirely dedicated to recording the various spell models of these two spells.

Merlin sat in the chair, placed the spell journal on the writing desk, and gently rubbed his head.

He wasn’t relaxing, but quietly contemplating in his heart which of the two spells' models he should choose.

“Relatively speaking, Fireball Spell is slightly more powerful than Whirlwind Spell, and it was also Teacher Aeta’s most familiar spell. My first spell should be Fireball Spell!”

After weighing the pros and cons of Fireball Spell and Whirlwind Spell, Merlin finally chose the zero-level Fireball Spell.

Of course, zero-level spells have no restrictions; ordinary spellcasters typically possess at least three zero-level spells.

Because only with three zero-level spells can a relatively stable state be formed in the mind, reducing the chance of collapse, and later one can also enhance the level of the spell models to become a more powerful spellcaster.

Three spell models are the minimum, but some powerful spellcasters possess four, five, six, or even more zero-level spells.

But the prerequisite is having enough mental power to support them; otherwise, it's simply impossible to construct more spell models in the mind.

As a beginner-level spellcaster, Merlin’s mental power could, at most, only support a single spell model.

Having selected the spell, Merlin now had to face the dozen or so different types of Fireball Spell models created by Old Aeta—this was the most headache-inducing part.

Although Fireball Spell was merely a zero-level spell, Old Aeta, based on his years of understanding, constructed thirteen different types of spell models.

These included stable-type, explosive-type, and so on, each with its own characteristics.

After thoroughly reading Old Aeta’s spell journal, Merlin discovered that even the most basic spell models needed to be modified according to personal needs.

The general framework of the Fireball Spell model remained the same, but if a spellcaster wanted more destructive power and an exploding fireball, they only needed to make some adjustments.

Some spellcasters, however, preferred a more stable spell model that could support their advancement to higher levels, so the Fireball Spell model needed slight modifications to become extremely stable.

Faced with these spell models, Merlin felt troubled.

Although Old Aeta mentioned in the journal that only personally modified spell models that suited one’s actual condition were truly optimal,

Merlin was just a beginner—how could he have the ability to modify the models left behind by Old Aeta?

Don’t be fooled by the mere dozen models drawn in the journal—they involved countless deductions and calculations that probably took Old Aeta a very long time.

Merlin simply didn’t have that kind of time to slowly study them now.

“If only I had the Matrix.”

Merlin couldn’t help sighing. The “Matrix” was a quantum computer—an extremely powerful supercomputer.

It had reached the peak in basic matrix operations, function plotting, data algorithms, and more.

More importantly, its core was intelligent. It could construct the most perfect models—mathematical, physical, or otherwise—based on user requirements.

If he had the Matrix, even the most complex spell models would be effortless for Merlin to perfect.

“Activate the Matrix?”

Merlin was slightly stunned. He thought he had just heard an extremely faint voice—it was the activation prompt of the Matrix.

But after a while, there was no further change. Merlin could only shake his head helplessly and mutter to himself,

“These spell models really are complicated… they’re making me hallucinate. How could I possibly still have the Matrix?”

Merlin assumed the voice was just a hallucination caused by mental fatigue.

Just as Merlin continued thinking about which spell model to choose, suddenly, a clear voice echoed in his mind again:

“Activate the Matrix?”

This time the voice was very clear, reverberating continuously in his mind. Merlin froze, then became immensely overjoyed—almost unable to believe it.

“Could it be… the Matrix came here with me?”

Though filled with doubt, Merlin still responded solemnly, “Activate the Matrix!”

With the command given, Merlin waited with anticipation.