The woman named Ella possessed terrifying strength—and she was a wandering mage, no less.
Typically, wandering mages weren't exceptionally powerful. Without access to resources or wealth, few could reach the eighth tier through sheer self-cultivation.
"Ella, your power…" Kael furrowed his brow.
With a faint smile, the slender woman unleashed a surge of overwhelming energy, its intensity startling even Kael.
Eighth-tier peak stage!
An archmage at the pinnacle of the eighth tier—surpassing Kael himself. Such prowess was rare even among wanderers, making Ella a true outlier.
No wonder she'd sought him out. At her level, breakthroughs demanded sparring and shared insights with peers.
Kael couldn't help but admire her. Without formal lineage, achieving this was extraordinary.
"I've reached the eighth-tier peak. Rumor names you among the continent's most gifted archmages. I'd be honored to learn from you." Her tone was detached, as if only magic could stir her interest.
Ella performed a formal duelist's salute, bowing slightly. This signaled a challenge—though strictly non-lethal.
Kael shrugged. "I'm no prodigy. As for dueling…"
"You refuse?" Ella's brows lifted. Few mages declined such exchanges; combat was the fastest path to growth.
"Not refusal—just practicality. This space is too confined, and my Arcane Tower isn't ready. Otherwise, we could've battled there." He shook his head ruefully. Eighth-tier clashes were no joke; clashing domains could flatten his manor in seconds.
"How about exchanging insights instead?" Kael wasn't about to waste this opportunity. Though sparring was off the table, a dialogue could prove equally valuable.
Their strengths were comparable. For both, this exchange was essential.
Until now, Kael had never exchanged insights with a mage of his own caliber. This was a rare opportunity.
Ella's furrowed brow relaxed. "My gratitude for your generosity, Lord Count." She was genuinely surprised—despite Kael's youth and evident elite training, he'd agreed to this dialogue.
Kael shrugged. "What aspect of magic would you like to discuss, Miss Ella?"
Her delicate eyebrows knitted briefly in thought before she answered: "Your perspective on Mana Oscillation, if you please."
Mana Oscillation!
Alongside Domain Mastery, it was one of the two essential techniques for any Archmage. Ella had cut straight to the core.
Oblivious to Kael's reaction, she continued, "Mana Oscillation is like water in a cup—subtle vibrations compress its density, amplifying spell potency..." As she spoke, she conjured a water spell effortlessly, her incantation seamless.
Clearly a hydromancer, Ella wielded water magic with flawless precision. The air itself trembled as her spell rippled outward, each wave a visible pulse of oscillating mana.
"Its benefits are undeniable," Kael agreed. "Oscillation grants unparalleled control, allowing spells to flow as naturally as breathing. It also minimizes backlash risks." Recognizing her sincerity, he engaged fully.
Debating with a peer was profoundly enlightening.
As the discussion deepened, Ella elaborated on oscillation methods and control techniques. Even Amelia, though a warrior, found herself drawn in. The principles of mana and battle-qi vibrationwere interconnected—and she listened intently.
Ella began frequently discussing Mana Oscillation, and indeed, she had her own unique insights. With her usual calm demeanor, she said, "Any Arcane Master who has been at the eighth rank for some time knows that Mana Oscillation has very detailed classifications."
Under Ella's explanation, Kael finally understood that Mana Oscillation was divided into five distinct levels.
First-level Mana Oscillation was merely the bare minimum of control—occasionally unstable and only at the introductory stage.
Second-level Oscillation meant mastery, allowing the user to wield Mana Oscillation with ease.
Third-level Oscillation represented near-perfect control, capable of altering the frequency of the oscillations—though only within a limited range.
Fourth-level Oscillation involved manipulating the Mana Channels within the body. The human body contained numerous pathways through which mana flowed, similar to the concept of meridians on Earth. At this level, one could control the oscillations within these Mana Channels.
As for Fifth-level Mana Oscillation, it granted the ability to regulate oscillations at different frequencies across every single Mana Channel in the body. Every minute detail could be precisely controlled—an immensely powerful feat.
After explaining this, Ella turned her gaze to Kael and said, "I've currently reached the third level of Mana Oscillation, but I've been stuck at the threshold of the fourth for quite some time. If I want to break through to the ninth rank, I'll likely need to make a breakthrough in Mana Oscillation first."
Her words left Amelia somewhat astonished. Out of only five levels, this woman had already reached the third—and seemed on the verge of breaking into the fourth.
"They say the Count is a genius in magic. I wonder what level of Mana Oscillation the Count has achieved?" Ella turned her gaze to Kael, a rare flicker of curiosity in her eyes as she asked.
This was the first time curiosity had ever appeared in Ella's expression.
"Fifth level."
"What?" Ella doubted her own ears, her eyes widening slightly as she scrutinized Kael, her usual composure shattered. "What level did you say your Mana Oscillation is?"
"Fifth level." Kael frowned slightly. Based on Ella's earlier classification, his Mana Oscillation had indeed reached the fifth tier.
Seeing Ella's stunned reaction, Kael allowed himself a faint smile. Perhaps it was due to the Arcane Notes of Orlando he had obtained in the Eternal Tower, or perhaps his innate magical talent was simply that formidable—but ever since mastering Mana Oscillation, he had found himself wielding it with effortless precision.
After breaking through to the eighth rank, he had discovered his Mana Oscillation had ascended to an entirely new level.
Of course, Kael hadn't been aware of the classification before. It was only Ella's explanation that made him realize he had, by sheer chance, reached the fifth level of Mana Oscillation.
Even Kael himself found it strange—he had somehow achieved fifth-level Mana Oscillationwithout even realizing it!
"You've reached the fifth level? Is that even possible?" Ella's body stiffened, her disbelief unmistakable in her gaze.
Kael shrugged. He knew Ella would struggle to believe it—if this had happened to someone else, even he wouldn't have believed it. But it was the truth.
Without another word, Kael stepped forward, extending his fingers slightly. A surge of overwhelming mana pulsed forth…