Wizard Bloodline

Level 4 wizard apprentice.

Even if it was achieved through the use of potions, Ronan was now officially a mid-level wizard apprentice and a runesmith.

Reflecting on his dire situation when he first arrived felt like a fleeting dream.

"Can't stop with the potions," he thought.

Having experienced the instant boost from a potion, returning to the slow, methodical progress felt impossible.

After all, it's easy to get used to luxury, but hard to go back to simplicity.

The key was, Ronan felt he could continue using potions without issue.

"The biggest downside of mental enhancement potions is the impurities they introduce into the boosted mental strength."

"Typically, after a second Concentration Potion, the mental strength hits a 'plateau' period."

"During this phase, regular meditation loses its effectiveness, and mental strength may even regress after meditation."

"This is the process of the mental strength refining itself and expelling impurities."

This was explained by the salesgirl at the potion shop.

But...

"Why haven't I encountered this issue?"

Ronan couldn't understand.

Even after consuming two Concentration Potions, his mental strength continued to grow through meditation.

"Am I naturally gifted, or is it because my Basic Meditation Techniques reached expert level?"

Ronan suspected the latter.

Perhaps his [Ascetic Body Training] also contributed.

The training was intensely painful, and enduring it unknowingly tempered his mental resolve.

A reasonable explanation.

Thanks to his rapidly growing mental strength, Ronan quickly progressed in [Ascetic Body Training], nearing proficiency and starting the second set of movements.

"Though I don't have a plateau, resistance is still there."

"The second use was significantly less effective, not even half a level increase."

"The third, fourth... it gets progressively weaker."

"Many say after five uses, there's no effect."

"Well, whatever, I'll keep using them until they stop working, then switch to higher-grade potions."

Ronan was pragmatic. With his innate lack of talent, relying solely on natural development would never make him a full-fledged wizard.

Without some external aid, the gap between him and others would only widen.

[Energy Missile] proficiency had soared nearly 300 points over the past month.

This was expert-level proficiency, requiring two to three casts per point, and more over time.

To gain 300 proficiency points in a month, Ronan cast [Energy Missile] over thirty times daily!

Balancing this with rune engraving, body training, and meditation showed his dedication to mastering the spell.

"Another month or two of this, and [Energy Missile] proficiency will advance again."

Ronan looked forward to it eagerly.

Expert-level [Energy Missile] already broke dual-rune defenses; further advancement could rival zero-level high-grade spells.

"Being a jack of all trades is less effective than mastering one."

Ronan didn't plan to learn higher-grade attack spells. Better to max out [Energy Missile] first.

Before he knew it, he reached the forest entrance.

As Ronan was about to step into the shaded path, a gentle breeze blew past.

The trees rustled.

A yellowing oak leaf drifted before Ronan's eyes.

He watched it land, realizing...

Autumn had come to Hoddam.

Dwarf Market.

Ronan stepped out of a wizard robe shop in his new gray robe, his face still shining with novelty and joy.

He'd bought a new robe.

A genuine wizard's robe, costing fifteen low-grade magic stones, enchanted with [Cleanse] and [Temperature Control] runes, and came with a finely crafted pointed wizard hat.

Keeping a low profile, Ronan chose a robe similar in color and style to his old one. Most would assume he'd just bought a new ordinary robe.

"Finally, no more washing clothes myself."

"The [Temperature Control] will be handy for the coming winter."

Ronan thought, glancing up. He noticed the leaves on the sycamore trees lining the Dwarf Market's central street were starting to yellow.

The temperature wasn't as hot as before, a change particularly noticeable to Ronan due to his body training.

Adjusting his robe, Ronan headed out of the market.

This trip was like the others: selling rune stones, buying engraving materials and essentials.

On the way to the market entrance, Ronan noticed more well-dressed, distinguished wizards than usual, entering and exiting the shops.

"Seems like there are more academy wizards at the market than before."

He even saw several stern-looking high-level wizards, exuding an intimidating aura, striding quickly down the street.

Such individuals were likely near-formal wizards, ninth-level apprentices with nearly tangible mental power.

They were rare sights in the market.

Though curious, Ronan didn't dwell on it, guessing it might be due to some event at the Hoddam Wizard Academy.

He'd heard that academy wizards periodically held internal competitions to assess and hone their combat skills, preventing them from getting rusty.

After all, many academy wizards, with their ample resources, often became so engrossed in research that they forgot spells they had long mastered.

"Could the academy's big competition be happening soon?"

Ronan speculated idly.

It had nothing to do with him, a newly stable, lowly Level 4 wandering wizard apprentice; he was just curious.

Exiting the Dwarf Market, Ronan considered his next destination.

"Still early, maybe check out the wizard market, then find a place to eat? That inn's thin-crust pie and herb pudding were pretty good, could go again."

As he mused, Ronan noticed a crowd gathering at the town gate, with more people joining.

Everything had been normal that morning.

Intrigued, Ronan moved toward the crowd.

Overhearing snippets of conversation, words like "black robe," "conflict," "formal wizard," "academy prodigy" reached his ears.

Finally reaching the thick of the crowd, Ronan found everyone looking up in one direction.

Following their gaze, his pupils contracted sharply.

At the town entrance, a tall wooden stake had been erected.

On top, a horrifying, blood-soaked corpse in a black robe was pinned.

Someone in the crowd sighed heavily, murmuring in a grave tone.

"The dark wizards have initiated an invasion... Hoddam is about to descend into chaos!"