Multiverse: Dimension Hopping Mage

Chapter 103: Simple and Easy-to-Understand Arcane Magic (Part 2)

"…Is this really your first time learning magic?"

Rex was glaring fiercely at Alex, like a starving wolf eyeing its prey, while Alex just nodded calmly.

"Of course, Mr. Rex."

Liar!

Looking at Alex in front of him, Rex almost wanted to slap him across the face. Although he didn't think this young man had much potential, as a teacher, it was his responsibility to give proper guidance. Even though the relationship between the White Tower and the Holy Temple wasn't great, Rex was still bound to do his duty. The book he gave Alex was the standard introductory text that every mage in the magical nation had to study.

But… most mages take at least a year to fully grasp the material!

And here you are, mastering it in two days and coming to me, asking what to do next?

Rex had seen plenty of brilliant mages before. The Holy Temple had Paladins and those blessed by the gods, and there were similar prodigies among the mages too, since both sides worshiped the Goddess of Order. But... someone who could grasp the entire foundation of magic in just two days? Rex had never seen that before!

Oh, and this kid didn't even chant! He used silent casting!

Compared to Rex, Alex remained quite composed. It wasn't an act, either. After being through the rigorous education system of the modern world, he found nothing particularly difficult about this material. Magic runes? Just memorize them like the periodic table of elements. Back in the day, didn't everyone survive the college entrance exams this way?

As for the incantations? There's no way these could be harder than learning C++, which can take you from "beginner" to "buried six feet under."

Actually, it was quite simple.

Sure, incantations might be hard for most people, but not for Alex. If coding didn't kill him, there was no way these spells—which were infinitely simpler—would. No recursive loops, no destructors, just a word puzzle. What's the challenge in that?

As for silent casting… well, Alex didn't really know how it worked either. But after reading the textbook thoroughly, he understood the concept. Chanting spells wasn't necessarily required—it was just a way to make it easier to recall and pronounce the magic symbols. It helped mages engrave the runes into their minds more clearly using their soul power.

However, with Alex's [Perfect Body], his memory, while not absolutely photographic, was close enough. So, he didn't need to chant at all. He could easily sketch the magic runes in his mind using soul power and cast spells directly.

Unfortunately, Alex originally hoped Ikaros could learn magic alongside him, but it turned out she couldn't cast spells at all. Oddly enough, she could hack into and control other people's spells, but she couldn't even cast a simple cantrip on her own. This wasn't due to her intelligence, of course. As an artificial angel, Ikaros had true photographic memory, learning anything in one go. But she simply couldn't release any magic herself, which made things awkward.

"..."

Rex looked at Alex with a complicated expression, at a loss for words. Like the Holy Temple, anyone wanting to enter the White Tower underwent thorough background checks. The White Tower had received Alex's file from the Temple, which indicated that this young man was from a fallen noble family with decent strength. However, there was no prior indication that he could use magic. Only some old geezer had mentioned certain "traits" about this young man…

Could someone really be this blessed by the Goddess?

If you translated Rex's thoughts into Alex's world, it would sound something like: "How can you cheat this hard? Are you leaving any room for the other players? Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you've got the GM on your side! We all need to get that chicken dinner, you know!"

After his initial shock subsided, Rex was filled with both anger and excitement.

The anger came from—how could such a promising magic prodigy have been wasted by those old fossils at the Holy Temple?

And the excitement? He might just witness the birth of a legend!

"Hehehe, I wonder how far this kid will go?"

As this thought crossed Rex's mind, he squinted his eyes, staying silent for a moment before standing up and looking at Alex.

"Very well, since you've passed the basic test, it's time for you to choose your specialization."

For Alex, this world's magic was initially a mystery. However, after some intense "cramming," he finally understood how magic worked here.

In this world, magic is divided into eight major schools:

Abjuration: As the name suggests, this school specializes in protective and shielding spells. In simple terms, abjuration is the most solid defense in magic, protecting the mage from harm and isolating enemies.

Conjuration: According to how Alex understood it, this is like summoning magic. Its essence lies in using mana to summon various beings and objects from other dimensions to fight. Basically, it's about ganging up on the enemy.

Divination: Compared to other schools, divination seems relatively "harmless." Although it doesn't allow one to completely control their fate, it can alert the caster to events or potential threats in advance. Sometimes, just a warning or an omen is enough to change the tide of battle.

Enchantment: In Alex's eyes, this school is quite sinister. Enchantment involves using arcane energy to influence and manipulate the minds and wills of others. It's a magic that targets the mind and soul.

Evocation: No need for much explanation here—famous for its destructive power, evocation is the reason behind the "Five Fireball Sect" and similar elemental-based powers of destruction. If abjuration is the mage's strongest shield, evocation is the sharpest spear. The most powerful evocation spells can summon tsunamis and tornadoes with ease, something no ordinary person could hope to resist.

Illusion: The most formidable enemy is often oneself. That's why illusion magic is one of the eight major schools. It creates fearsome scenarios drawn from the victim's own mind, warping their will. Although illusion and enchantment may seem similar, they are quite different. If enchantment is like "hypnosis," illusion is more like "conditioning." Hypnosis might be broken one day, but once a person's will has been reshaped by illusions, returning to normal is nearly impossible.

Necromancy: Necromancers deal with the dead and souls. What surprised Alex was that the White Tower didn't outright forbid necromancy. Though Stone had told him the Holy Temple would never tolerate manipulating and controlling the dead, Rex had a different perspective.

"Those grave-diggers are just making deals with souls. It's not nearly as evil as those idiots at the Holy Temple say!"

Alex quickly realized the vast difference in values between the White Tower and the Holy Temple.

Transmutation: The last of the eight schools, transmutation, focuses on the concept of change. Through arcane power, transmutation mages can alter the properties of any material. Whether it's turning wood into steel or a person into a chicken, it's all within their power. Advanced transmutation spells can even alter weather and terrain, making them far more reliable than any artificial rainmaking.

To be honest, Alex wanted to learn all eight schools, but unfortunately, Rex wasn't going to give him that chance.

"Stop dreaming, kid! According to White Tower regulations, a mage can specialize in only one school while being allowed to study up to three others. The rest must be restricted! You have to make your choice!"

Choose four out of the eight, and have the other four sealed off?

This was a nightmare for someone with decision paralysis!

🌟 Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! 🌟

Hello, beloved readers and supporters!

I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:

📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!

💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.

👏 Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!

Patreon.com/anish_44