“Before I start, I have something to ask you,” Linda said, folding her arms across her chest. “What do you think magic is?”

Merlin was silent for a moment before answering, “Magic is the manifestation of a mage’s ability to control the energy—commonly called mana—within their body. It requires focus, a calm mind, and various other conditions to cast.”

This was what he had learned from the books in the library. Don’t think he had spent only twelve days on physical training—he had also used his free time to expand his knowledge.

Linda smiled, clearly satisfied with his answer. “You’re right. Magic is indeed the control of mana within the body. Not everyone can use it; only those truly gifted are capable. You happen to have that talent, which is why I suggested you become a mage rather than choosing another specialization.”

She then extended her right hand and said, “Watch closely. Consider this your first demonstration.”

Merlin nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on Linda.

Linda smiled faintly and whispered, “Fireball!”

Whoosh!

A magic circle appeared in an instant, and a basketball-sized fireball shot forward.

Boom!

It struck a wooden puppet that had been prepared earlier, instantly reducing it to ashes.

“Whoa!” Merlin exclaimed, eyes wide. “Is that magic? It’s incredible!”

It was his first time witnessing magic, and indeed, it was truly awe-inspiring.

Linda gave a smug smile, clearly pleased with his reaction. Withdrawing her right hand, she explained again, “That’s advanced fireball magic. Magic itself is divided into six levels: basic magic, advanced magic, high-level magic, holy magic, ancient magic, and forbidden magic.”

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’ll explain. Spirit Cores of the Ninth and Eighth levels can only learn basic magic, as their bodies aren’t yet capable of handling higher-level spells. The seventh and sixth levels can learn advanced magic. The Fifth and Fourth levels handle high-level magic, while the Third and Second levels can wield holy magic. The First Spirit Core is even capable of learning ancient magic. As for forbidden-level magic…”

Linda paused, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Forget it. That’s still beyond your understanding. If you become stronger one day, I’ll tell you more.”

Merlin was naturally curious about her last words, but he knew his limits. As the old saying goes, “Knowing too much isn’t always wise.”

So he simply nodded slowly and remained silent.

“Alright, that’s enough explanation,” Linda continued, stepping toward him. “Now, let’s start practicing. You can begin with basic magic. Even if you haven’t reached the Ninth Spirit Core level, it doesn’t matter—I’ll guide you if anything goes wrong.”

She handed him the formula. Magic wasn’t just about transforming mana into elemental manifestations; the formula was equally important.

A formula was like a recipe, giving magic its shape. Without it, the spell wouldn’t work. And even if it did, using the wrong formula could backfire, putting the spellcaster’s life in danger.

After listening to her explanation, Merlin understood instantly. Whether it was due to his A-level talent or Linda’s clear teaching, he grasped the concept with ease.

He took a deep breath, opened his right palm, and focused on the formula Linda had explained.

“Spark,” he muttered under his breath.

A red magic circle appeared above his hand. Linda’s eyes widened in surprise, but before she could say anything, the circle cracked and shattered into pieces.

“Failed?” Merlin was dumbfounded. “How… how can this be?”

He was certain he had followed the formula exactly as Linda had instructed. So why had it failed?

Linda chuckled softly and patted his head gently. “It’s natural to fail at first. Success in magic isn’t just about talent or memorizing the formula—it also depends on how deeply you understand the magic itself.”

Merlin froze. He didn’t fully grasp her meaning, but he got the general idea.

“Try again,” Linda said.

Merlin nodded and opened his right palm once more.

“Spark!” he shouted.

The red magic circle appeared again—but a moment later, it shattered into fragments like broken glass.

Gritting his teeth, Merlin tried again and again. Each attempt ended the same way: failure.

Despair crept in, mixed with frustration. Before he could attempt another spell, Linda tapped his shoulder sharply.

“Stop for now. Your mind is clouded with emotion, and that won’t help. Take a break and calm yourself.”

Merlin sighed softly and nodded. “Very well, Master. Forgive me.”

Linda smiled faintly and stepped back, giving him space to clear his head.

“Huh…” Merlin let out a long sigh as he slowly sat cross-legged on the grass. He rubbed his temples, wondering, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I do it?”

He had followed everything Linda had instructed, yet the result was the same. Could what she said be true—that he hadn’t truly grasped the essence of magic itself?

“[Ding! Master, do you need my help?]”

The system’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind. Merlin smiled wryly and shook his head.

“No need, system. This problem is minor. If I can’t solve it now, how can I stand on my own in the future?”

The system paused for a moment. It had to admit—its master’s mental development was now far beyond what it had first observed when he entered this novel world.

“[How about I give you a few tips, Master? I don’t know if they’ll help, but it’s worth a try,]” the system suggested.

“Of course, system. Go ahead,” Merlin replied, nodding slowly.

“[If I look deeper, the issue isn’t your talent—it’s your understanding of magic itself. Your imagination isn’t strong enough,]” the system explained. “[Magic is a manifestation of the energy within you. To make it work, you need not only the correct formula but also a vivid imagination to give it shape.]”

Merlin pondered deeply over those words.

“Imagination, huh?” he whispered, rubbing his chin.

He recalled that the process of magic wasn’t only about energy, elements, and formulas, but also the imagination of the practitioner.

It became clear to him now—Linda’s words earlier had actually been a hint leading him to this realization.

“Understanding and imagination, huh?”

The corners of Merlin’s mouth curved upward slightly.

At last, he had found the missing piece of the puzzle. It felt as though the fog clouding his mind was slowly being swept away by the wind.

“Thank you, system. Without you, I might’ve struggled for much longer,” he said sincerely.

“[Hehehe! You’re welcome, Master! I’m glad I could help you!]” The system replied, shy but slightly proud.

Merlin chuckled and teased, “How about becoming my mentor? You’ve already guided me twice with my training, and honestly, you’re better than Linda.”

“[Ahem! Unfortunately, that’s not possible, Master. My knowledge is limited. Besides, you’d need to pay about 12,000 system points for each of my explanations. Would you like to?]”The system replied with a playful tone.

Merlin: “…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep