"The Dustless Shield is a relatively simple spell, its purpose being to attract and coalesce the surrounding natural energies, forming a protective barrier around the caster. This ability inadvertently draws nearby dust as well, which is why some sorcerers even use it as a cleaning spell, earning it the name 'Dustless Shield.'"
"It provides excellent defense against blunt weapons and blades, and can even serve to block poisonous gases, though it proves less effective against arrows."
"All in all, the Dustless Shield is an ideal spell for novice sorcerers, with solid practicality."
"The array imprinted in the spellbook before me is the spiritual structure of the Dustless Shield. By aligning your spiritual energy in the corresponding pattern and triggering a specific resonance with the natural forces, the spell will activate, much like drawing water from a well—you must first take a breath before the magic begins."
"Some spells, like the Dustless Shield, can be activated with just a mental tug, while others require more specific incantations. Certain advanced spells may even necessitate special materials to serve as catalysts for their effect."
"The structure itself isn't particularly complex, but your current spiritual energy may fall short." Adam observed the spell's structure within the book, silently absorbing its details.
He had already begun to solidify his Earth Meditation, which now demanded the bulk of his spiritual energy to maintain its expansion. The limited remaining energy could only just manage to influence the birds around him, and using it for casting spells was far beyond his current capabilities.
"Most professions advise against practical combat at the first phase of training, as it significantly slows down progress to the next stage."
Just as Adam was about to step out and fetch a bucket of water for his evening routine, preparing to head to the Reflection Tower for further study, he was taken aback by a visitor waiting outside his door.
It was a man Adam hadn't seen before. Upon noticing Adam, the man bowed politely and placed a gift box before him.
"My apologies for the unannounced visit, Master Adam," the man began. "My lord left in such a hurry yesterday that we didn't have time to prepare a gift. Please accept this as a small token of our respect."
The man looked aside, where a carriage was parked not far off, with a coachman standing by. As Adam's gaze shifted to the coachman, he immediately bowed.
"Master noticed that your travels yesterday were inconvenient, so he arranged for this carriage. Please, feel free to make use of it as you see fit."
Adam was slightly surprised. The insignia on the carriage matched that of the noble from the previous day, the one who had tried to meet with Alva.
"So, they've already looked into my identity," Adam thought, a flicker of suspicion rising within him.
The noble from yesterday had clearly been unwelcome at Alva's, seeking something from him. However, they likely didn't realize that his relationship with Alva was not as strong as they had assumed, now reduced to merely a nominal master-apprentice bond.
This gift was likely an attempt at either alliance or investment, and Adam knew he had two options for handling it.
One: Refuse. This would likely endear him to Alva, while the noble might be angered, but would hesitate to press further, out of respect for Alva's position.
Two: Accept. This would bring immediate benefits, and while the noble might be aware of the strained relationship with Alva, proving his capabilities as a sorcerer could turn the situation to his advantage, albeit at the cost of further alienating Alva.
With a polite smile, Adam accepted the gift, engaging in casual conversation with the man. After several unsuccessful attempts to keep the conversation going, he watched the man depart in another carriage.
"What's your name?" Adam asked, turning to the coachman, who appeared simple and reliable, his hands calloused and his appearance neat.
"McAllen End," the coachman replied promptly. "Is there anything you need, sir?"
"Could you fetch me a bucket of water from the well over there?" Adam asked with a smile, his expression radiating warmth. It was the kind of smile that seemed to leave a lingering impression, a smile that would remain in the memories of those who encountered it.
No one could refuse such a request.
"Of course, sir." McAllen immediately took the wooden bucket and hurried off in the direction Adam had indicated.
Adam's smile faded as he observed the coach and the coachman. His perception was finely attuned now, and the man who had delivered the gift seemed indifferent towards him. After their brief exchange, the man had regarded him as a polite, promising young man, unconsciously speaking well of him.
However, McAllen's reaction had been markedly different. Since the moment Adam had smiled at him, McAllen had turned his head slightly, clearly uncomfortable, and from their initial interaction, Adam sensed a subtle but unmistakable malice coming from him.
"Jealousy, or perhaps some family-related conflict?" Adam mused, weighing the gift box in his hands. Upon opening it, he found a card bearing the name "Doug Rom Alfred" and various delicacies, along with VIP vouchers from various shops, and lastly, a small pouch of coins.
He passed it all on to Maggie, who had been busy running errands. Adam didn't currently have any need for these items.
By the time the neighbors were up and about, Maggie had returned, energized, even bringing a bottle of wine from a shop along the street, though she had paid for it herself.
The news that the Kubo family's nephew had made something of himself had already spread through the neighborhood by early morning.
As Adam boarded the carriage to leave, he could feel the weight of more gazes on him. With a smile, he savored the attention. Who wouldn't relish the admiration and envy that came with success?
Yet, he knew the true foundations of it all, and he understood his ultimate goal.
"Master, shall I take you to the Latou house, or the South District Cathedral?" McAllen inquired, his voice subdued.
"No, take me to the central clock tower," Adam replied, noticing a flicker of surprise cross McAllen's face.
"So, this coachman clearly has some hidden intentions," Adam thought. Subtly adjusting his aura, he rested his hand on the spellbook within his coat, lowering the carriage curtain and tapping rhythmically on the seat.
McAllen, sitting in front, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. A pressure, not too strong but steadily present, settled heavily on his chest.
The status of a coachman depended on the person they served, such as Walker, Doug's most trusted servant. Ordinarily, even if a noble like Doug had investigated his identity, an external coachman wouldn't know much, let alone inquire about his destination with such probing curiosity.
"He wants to know my connection to the Latou family," Adam deduced, as he stared out the carriage window. His suspicions grew stronger, and he realized that visiting the Rom family might be worth considering.
Upon arriving at the central tower, Adam instructed McAllen to wait outside at four o'clock.
Looking up, he saw several birds perched on a nearby tree, pecking at the ground. Adam smiled and, pulling out the chain-bound gold coin, held the chain as the coin dangled from his hand. With a wave of his spiritual energy, he entered the clock tower.
This time, as the coin floated upwards, Adam could clearly see the chain as if abandoned, suspended in mid-air, just as though he himself were in an inverted state.
With the coin falling back down, Adam found himself inside the Reflection Tower once again.
Inside, he met with Syreen, who this time had her sky-blue hair cascading down, veiling most of her body.
"Master is still in deep sleep," Syreen explained. "You'll need to wait for a while. You may visit the tenth floor library, but avoid touching any books with magical fluctuations."
She opened the door, balancing a tray, and then slammed it shut behind her.
Adam sensed an unexplained hostility from Syreen, but he merely twirled the coin in his hand and obeyed, heading to the tenth floor library.
There, most books were either geographical guides or historical biographies. Walking along the shelves, Adam noticed a book with a bookmark halfway in, pulling it out.
"The Chronicle of the Holy Sound Nation," Adam mused, stroking the cover before flipping to the bookmarked page.
"Year 1396 of the Holy Sound Nation... forty years ago?"
"Count Ronnie of the Kingdom of Loken went missing at the border, and using this as an excuse, the Kingdom of Loken launched the First Northern Inquiry War. From that moment on, the relations between the two kingdoms became utterly hostile."