Chapter 97

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Chapter 097: Almost Misunderstood

This time, showing off really backfired.

Is this the first spell I learned? How did he figure it out?

Is there a safer spell I can use to avoid answering?

Fear… absolutely not possible.

Summoning an Imp… just joking around.

Summoning a demon – Strangulation Curse… Ha!

Life Tap… He hasn’t even memorized the spell yet.

Weakness Spell… Naga’s Shadow Magic?

No, no…

Malin’s question hinted that he noticed he had studied Shadow Magic before.

It’s impossible to tell Shadow Power just by appearance. Jesse went in and out of the Wizard’s Sanctum without any issue, even the guarding Battle Mage didn’t notice anything unusual. What are the chances Malin noticed something was wrong?

If he had noticed earlier, wouldn’t he have caught him and asked earlier?

After all, he learned Fear a month ago. If he could perceive it back then, he should have noticed it.

Therefore, Jesse concluded that Malin must have seen something amiss in the earlier Light Spell casting process.

Jesse thought that Malin might realize he had practiced spells before, which influenced how he cast the Light Spell this time and made him seem experienced for a first-timer.

So Malin didn’t know what spell Jesse had learned before… Maybe it was Arcane magic?

Thinking this, Jesse realized there was still hope, and he wouldn’t be thrown into Stormwind Prison immediately.

Find a reason… find a reason, Jesse, you are good at finding reasons, now is the time to test your skills!

How does past spellcasting experience affect current spells? Magic power? Focus?

Malin mentioned that magical power improves with consistent training. Jesse hasn’t been training intensely every day for a month. Will there be a visible difference?

Then it must be a difference in focus.

Jesse believed he must have had much better focus than beginners just starting to learn spells, making Malin suspicious that he had received special training.

Most young apprentices rarely leave the school once they start, let alone gain real combat experience.

And he has managed to come back from the edge of death several times, relying on only one Fear. The concentration needed to release magic is definitely not something beginners can compare with. Since this was determined as the reason, he must come up with a reason to explain to Malin… Apart from using dark magic, why was he more focused than others? After thinking for a while, Jesse suddenly realized a decent explanation.

Swordsmanship.

This is not nonsense. Jesse learned some sword techniques from Greed, and when facing enemies, calmly thinking about the key points of swordsmanship taught by Greed enabled him to stay calm in multiple battles, which was really helpful in improving his concentration.

That’s it.

Greed, even if you are not here, please help me once again!

"Yes, Master," Jesse blurted out, "I almost thought I had learned some magic before. After all, I grew up not too far from the mage school in Lordaeron, maybe I had some exposure as a child… But trying to recall, I couldn’t remember learning any other spells. I truly believe that what really helped me stay focused and try to conserve magic, as you mentioned, was the insights on sword usage taught to me by a dwarf warrior."

Malin stared at Jesse, with a complicated expression.

"Training in swordsmanship… can also help with magic?"

"From my own experience, yes," Jesse said. "When I was practicing the Light Spell, it was very difficult at first. I would lose control at the slightest distraction, or it would drain my energy quickly, making me feel tired. So, I didn’t dare to continue trying."

"Until I faced off against a wild boar in Westfall, I started to wonder, why not treat the Light Spell I summoned as an enemy? Just like the boar that was about to charge at me, I needed to take it seriously, watch its every move, feel its warmth, and understand its temperament…"

Jesse was starting to lose track of his own logic, but that was just because he was too nervous. Keeping calm, controlling his emotions, and coolly continuing to babble on would determine his success or failure.

"This is everything that dwarf brother taught me, master. He taught me to always aim the tip of my sword at the opponent, to maintain a sense of intimidation towards the enemy, and to be alert to their every move, without any relaxation or laziness… I believe it is these qualities that allow me to have a better mindset to sustain the Light Spell. When I decided to do this, the Light Spell indeed lasted longer. With my focus honed through swordsmanship training, I could almost feel the temperature and temperament of the arcane energy gathering… Though vague, it greatly helped me cast more effectively!"

Malin seemed a bit confused as he finally said after a while, "I have a feeling this could be a good research topic, Mr. Seso. For example, many Elf Mages are strong swordsmen, partly because their lifespans are so long, giving them time to train in combat. On the other hand, it might also be as you said, that elves understand that training in physical and mental reflexes enhances their spellcasting abilities. I’ve actually considered this before, but never really committed time to trying out martial skills, nor have I encountered many students like you who have genuinely experimented and shared their experiences. Speaking of which, perhaps the masters in Dalaran have already validated this."

Jesse said, "It’s just my guess, master, especially when you mentioned I had studied other Arcane spells… I was completely confused; I have not learned any others. The Light Spell is the first one, if I had, I wouldn’t have thought I couldn’t connect with the Ley Line."

"Indeed, I was overly concerned." Malin patted Jesse’s shoulder and said, "I’m just worried about you. Learning arcane magic in some shady places can be very dangerous. Some wild mages who understand spells like to modify them according to their preferences, then pass them on to their students, leading to uncontrollable disasters. That’s the main concern."

Jesse nodded heavily in understanding.

His entire back was covered in sweat. After dealing with Malin’s questions, he even had the illusion that solving this problem might lead his life down a completely different path.

In fact, that was indeed the case. What are the consequences of a high-ranking mage from a Wizard’s Sanctum pressing you about your knowledge of Shadow Magic?

Maybe he was going to be questioned and investigated, and in the end he would reveal the group of warlocks from The Slaughtered Lamb, Jesse wasn’t confident he could handle the harsh interrogations of the Middle Ages.

Perhaps his future fate would be an outlaw warlock expelled from Stormwind, wandering Elwynn Forest with an imp, killing himself to obtain a Grimoire: Summon Imp, and then learning the first warlock spell.

He would just be like an NPC with a job to be killed every day, like the gatekeeper of Northshire Abbey…

Just as his mind began to wander aimlessly, Malin’s words interrupted his thoughts.

"Follow me, Jesse. I will keep my promise. After you master the Light Spell, I will teach you a second spell, this time you get to choose."

After Malin finished speaking, he walked towards his study.

I get to choose?

He planned to learn a protective magic related to Arcane, one that could last, to make up for his biggest current weakness – total inability to defend against long-range magical attacks.

Jesse realized that although the spellcasters he encountered were very few, they always seemed to pose a deadly threat.

He is in good physical condition and has some battle experience. When facing some big and strong enemies, he can try to dodge and delay as much as possible. He can also use Fear to control enemies and buy time for himself.

But what about enemies who can cast spells?

On the beach, facing the Naga Siren’s Arcane Missile, Jesse seems to have only one way to deal with it – relying completely on luck.

He dodged the first missile with his outstanding reflexes. But for the second one, it was just pure luck.

If that one Arcane missile hit him from behind… Jesse didn’t know how it would feel to take such a hit. He was definitely doomed. The Naga woman would surely show no mercy.

Now he has only one bottle of Shadow Protection Potion left. Thinking about going to collect Grave Moss again… Jesse felt his scalp tingle.

At the same time, he witnessed a Shaman in Redridge using fire and nature magic, combining wind and lightning elements.

As for the Naga female sea witch, she mastered water, ice, arcane, and shadow magic. In other words, in the Kingdom of Stormwind alone, there were spellcasting enemies everywhere.

Not to mention, many mages could interrupt their own spellcasting. Fear was only moderately effective against them. Seizing an opportunity to frighten these skilled mages might be even harder than killing them directly.

Does he have to bring different potions every time he goes out to feel safe?

Or should he stop taking risks and only deal with wolves, wild bears, and other wild animals from now on?

Definitely not possible. So, Jesse only has one choice – Mage Armor.

In the game, Mage Armor is a powerful magic state that can increase spell resistance and provide mana regeneration.

But here… What kind of effect does it have?

Considering the performance of previous spells, Jesse suspects that even with differences, it won’t be too bad.

Is this magic hard to learn?

In the game, Mage Armor is an advanced spell that can only be learned later on.

If he asks to learn the spell for Mage Armor, will Malin make fun of him?

However, the more complicated the magic, the harder it is to control the spells, but the more powerful they become.

For example, the Summon Imp spell, since he rarely used it, he has not memorized it yet, he even forgot the beginning, but this spell brought him a loyal companion…

He was not as good at learning arcane magic as Shadow, so he needed to focus on learning fewer but more powerful spells with his limited time.

Lost in thought, he followed Malin into the study.