FALLEN ORACLE

**Chapter 7: Sudden Changes (2)**

This time, the two spells Chen Yi learned were both Strengthening magic. In the upper realm's terminology, one was called "Kanter's Multi-Cast Enchantment," and the other was "Intermediate Strength Enhancement."While no one was around, Chen Yi tested them and quickly figured out what they did.The first allowed the caster to target multiple recipients with Strengthening spells during its duration.The second was more straightforward: it enhanced the caster's own strength and physical durability. A large boulder in the corner of the academy grounds unfortunately became the test subject for this spell.Chen Yi thought that if he had learned this spell a month earlier, he could probably have punched that demonkin off the cliff in one blow.After mastering both spells, an idea struck him: why not try using the first spell to enhance the second?If that worked, he could simultaneously strengthen multiple targets. Facing a powerful enemy, he and his teammates would all be super soldiers—how great would that be?Going further, he could even enhance a small army.*No wonder the goddess Tiya taught me these two spells together,* Chen Yi thought happily. *They're meant to complement each other.*But as soon as he began experimenting, he realized he had made a foolish mistake.Both "Kanter's Multi-Cast Enchantment" and "Intermediate Strength Enhancement" were Strengthening spells. A mage could not cast two spells of the same school simultaneously.That was basic—*basic*. In his excitement, he had forgotten this fundamental principle.There was a difference between casting time and duration.Duration meant how long a spell's effect lasted after casting. For example, Mendes's shield spell, once cast, created a shield that persisted for a while. During that time, the mage could freely use other Healing spells.Casting time referred to the time required to *complete* the spell after finishing the mana guidance. Like duration, casting times varied from spell to spell.For instance, Thunderstrike had an extremely short casting time—once the mana guidance was complete, the lightning struck almost instantaneously at the designated location.Phil's Telekinetic Control, by contrast, had a longer casting time: he had to maintain the spell while controlling the target. Since that spell had no duration, stopping the cast would release the target.Kanter's Multi-Cast Enchantment similarly required a casting time but had no duration.For the same reason, no one could cast another Strengthening spell during Kanter's Multi-Cast Enchantment's casting time. Therefore, it could never enhance its own Intermediate Strength Enhancement.In this third Divine Communion, Tiya had taught him a Strengthening spell, and another spell meant to enhance Strengthening magic—but the second could not enhance the first.Two spells that seemed complementary but were actually contradictory.What did the goddess mean by this?Chen Yi was baffled.He was certain Tiya would not make such a basic mistake. She must have had a purpose.If you couldn't cast a Strengthening spell while casting a Strengthening spell, then by the same logic...This fleeting thought perfectly aligned with a question he had during his last Divine Communion:Why did the goddess resort to such extreme self-harm to convey information, when she could have used a Psionic spell like Telepathy to secretly tell him?Because—you can't cast a Psionic spell while casting a Psionic spell!That meant the goddess was already using some Psionic spell during their Divine Communion.But what could be more important than transmitting information in that situation, to the point that she had to prioritize that Psionic spell?After much thought, the only answer was: the Divine Communion itself.So Divine Communion was not a phenomenon, but a Psionic spell cast by a god and targeting a mortal!Tiya had gone in a big circle to tell him this!Chen Yi sat on the floor, his body trembling with excitement.Not just because of the startling discovery that "Divine Communion is a spell, not a phenomenon," but because he had vaguely managed to follow the goddess's reasoning.What kind of person was Tiya? Realizing this only deepened his curiosity.Under such harsh conditions, she had used two seemingly complementary spells to guide him to the truth about Divine Communion.First communion: he witnessed her immense power.Second communion: he witnessed her indomitable will.Third communion: he witnessed her extraordinary intelligence.And not only that—how could she be sure he would understand such an obscure hint?Either she was a mad gambler, or she possessed immense courage. Probably both.Chen Yi felt Tiya's trust, which only added to the weight on his shoulders.He quickly wrote down the following conclusion in his spellbook:*Divine Communion is a phenomenon triggered by a Psionic spell: the Divine Communion Spell.**The Divine Communion Spell is generally cast by a god targeting a mortal. Its effect is to summon the mortal's soul from their dreams to the god's presence and teach them magic.**If Divine Communion is a spell, then it can surely be learned. That means anyone who masters the Divine Communion Spell can teach others whatever spells they know.**This would completely overturn everyone's understanding of magic—people could teach or learn magic at will!**Furthermore, if Divine Communion is a spell, it must be accurately cast on the target.**Given Tiya's current situation in her cell, she could not have directly targeted Chen Yi.**Based on that and the fact that during the second communion she knew he was in the White Sand Rainforest, it is almost certain that she has placed a Psionic Lock on Chen Yi.*Chen Yi closed his spellbook and paused his brainstorming. His rationality faded, and emotion took over.Hard as it was to believe, the goddess's Psionic Lock might be like that kind of love everyone longs for—It could last a long time. It could reach across great distances.---That evening, Chen Yi and the others were walking back to the dormitory from the cafeteria.Phil suddenly said, "Carl seems to be back."They looked toward the academy gate and saw Carl riding a warhorse enchanted with Speed magic, rushing toward them in a hurry.Chen Yi noticed that Carl, always so well-dressed, had returned disheveled—he didn't look like he had just come from a matchmaking event."Whoa!" Carl stopped his horse and dismounted in a flash.His next move shocked Chen Yi, Phil, Mendes, and all the surrounding students.Carl suddenly dropped to his knees before Phil, grabbed the hem of his trousers, and cried out, "Please, I'm begging you!"Phil froze. Though the four of them were like brothers, seeing his good friend suddenly lose his composure in public and perform such a heavy gesture left him completely at a loss."Back to the dorm first," Chen Yi said, seeing how wrong Carl's condition was. Wanting to avoid a crowd and speculation, he quickly made the call.