Chapter 164

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Chapter 164

In theory, even if a researcher doesn’t know any spells, as long as they understand the laws, they can engage in research work. Therefore, there is no recommendation for practical courses for researchers. However, any student who understands the mechanics in the tower will understand that if they can’t use magic properly, they will unknowingly face exclusion and discrimination from other mages.

Unlike the well-established large-scale teaching activities in school, being an apprentice in the tower is a completely different and older system. The apprentice is responsible for the teacher’s daily life, even in the modern era (students take turns in cleaning everything in the high tower). If they don’t know any spells (though it’s almost impossible in modern times), they can hardly command anything in the mage tower full of magical wonders, and they can’t even activate the flame cook to make a meal.

Besides, who would believe in research results from someone who can’t perform spells?

But the intensity of practical courses is high, with many and detailed requirements, and the exams are difficult. Usually, a student in the four-year period of advanced school completes only one elemental theory course plus a practical course each year. That’s why it usually takes them four years to graduate from advanced school.

The first few classes of the course involve precise elemental manipulation, where students learn to do delicate tasks, such as writing with a water-dipped pen, controlling fire, shaping water into any form of ice, and quickly arranging soil into a specific shape. It’s too simple for Sylas, so she simply skips class and does experiments in her witchcraft laboratory. Sometimes, Lady Slote would be sitting next to her, knitting and talking to Spider Shirley.

"Hmm… let’s try with five of them…" She quickly burned five wrapped in silk silver and Tower Rock powder, pale flames of magic engulfing the silver. Shirley, the target, was startled and ran out of the white circle created by the Dueling Law, finally leaving a mark on top of her head.

She cheered, and even Slote, who was beside her, put down her sweater and started clapping. Just as she had imagined, using so many strange powders wasn’t just one spell or one step, but it was a combination of several "words" and a collection of spell materials that required multiple small steps to be performed almost simultaneously.

After experimenting for about two weeks, with the help of that mysterious book, she finally figured out which step produced and controlled the "Shame Mark". However, it couldn’t appear on its own and couldn’t be separated from the "Dueling Law". It would only appear after a duel had failed.

"What should I use to color it? Like, yellow for example?"

"Oh, hehehe, cutie," Slote, who was knitting, said, "to dye something, of course, you use dye. How about ginger yellow? Like this?" She held up the ball of yarn in her hand.

"No… that’s too bright, it’s not very clear. What about a bright red?"

"Hmm… how about madder red? You can buy it at the store!" She patted the ball of yarn on her knee.

"That’s great! Will you take me to buy it?"

"Of course, we’ll go once you’re done. How does that sound?"

Sylas agreed and then lowered her head to write a few sentences. These were the patterns she figured out after analyzing the pronunciation of witchcraft. Witchcraft is a language different from Setis language, Snia language, and even dragon language (Sylas can understand it, but she can’t pronounce it, which Xerath taught her when she was bored). It is more like a "magical language" – like a sacred text – even more so than the ancient Saiti language.

Shirley ran around the house with the white mark of failure still on it. The Shame Mark would reappear the next time Dueling Law was cast upon it, and it would only fade away after a few days.

Witchcraft is like a complex and fresh song. Compared to spells, it has more and richer "tones". If elemental spells are a simple combination of "phrase (gesture)" – "element" – "phrase (gesture)" – "element" repeated indefinitely, then ordinary people using witchcraft are more like "some kind of prop" – "one of many powders" – "phrase" – "another one of many powders" – "another kind of prop" – "yet another powder" – "phrase". Being able to use witchcraft is quite impressive, and even the wrong wind direction could cause someone to choke on their own powder.

However, Sylas has already grasped the interaction between the powders inside the Dueling Law, which can’t be called complex but is not simple either. For example, controlling the size of the duel circle, controlling the shape of the Shame Mark. As long as she can change its color, then mission accomplished.

Lately, she has been acting alone because Luna is busy with her love life, Swis has officially joined the "Why is Star Song Castle so arrogant?" association as an underground member, and Caroline had one of her classes moved to the evening.

Sylas told Miss Slote that she had finished her record work for the day. The two of them left the school and turned from one alley to another at the school gate. The sky had already turned dark, and Miss Slote conjured a light ball. They walked a long distance, with ups and downs, to the point where Sylas was starting to feel a bit lost. Only by looking at the silhouette of Star Song Castle could she vaguely determine her whereabouts.

At this moment, she noticed that the previous silence was fading away, replaced by distant commotion, and even the clattering of metal hitting each other. The voices of bargaining were getting louder. Miss Slote clutched her handbag and said, "The market, what do you think? Have you ever seen it from the high vantage point of the castle?"

"That’s already far away from the castle…"

"That’s right, we’ve been walking for a long time!" She greeted the owner of the adjacent shop. It seemed to be a shop that sold yarn, and a little further ahead was a shop that sold fabrics. People were talking loudly, and if one didn’t listen carefully, it was hard to understand what they were saying.

This place is no longer the "territory of wizards". Wizards and ordinary people are different. In all the teaching systems, they use the standard common language to teach the courses. In the courses, students are required to learn how to speak the ancient Saiti language. If they enter the advanced school, they also have to learn the Gustavian language.

But the common language, which originated from the dialects of the ancient Saiti kingdom, is not the ruler of languages. Before the common language appeared, each region had its own local language. Interestingly, even though languages change, the pronunciation and intonation remain to a great extent. Star Song Castle has its own local language. The earlier people leave school to make a living, the more their accent is influenced by the local language. Just like in this market, everyone speaks with the Methylani accent, expressing their opinions loudly.

Sylas’s living environment is probably only these places near the school. It is almost the first time she has heard such a large-scale local language. The language analysis system in her brain is almost completely paralyzed. She is completely unable to use language to decipher anything she hears. When the street vendors enthusiastically pull her and ask questions, she can only smile stiffly.

Ms. Slote still walks ahead with a smile on her face, looking around as if she is looking for a shop selling dyes, but she doesn’t seem to have the intention to help her. She can only wave her hand and break free from the enthusiastic detainment, catching up with Ms. Slote in just a few steps.

Immersed in this unfamiliar language, she suddenly has a very familiar feeling. Ms. Slote climbs a few steps and stands in front of a shop, beckoning her to come over. She follows and the shop owner, with a mustache, greets her warmly and says a not-so-short sentence.

Sylas shudders, as if she understood, and yet, as if she didn’t.

Ms. Slote says, "She is a student from out of town. Could you please speak in the common language to her?"

The shop owner enthusiastically repeats, "What dye are you looking for? We have all the colors here. You can find any color on the market!"

Sylas suddenly widens her eyes and says loudly, "Yes! It’s a question! It’s a question! I got it!"

The sudden and confusing words scared the other two people. Sylas realized something was wrong and awkwardly laughed, saying, "Red, please. I want red."

The boss with a small beard looked at her suspiciously and silently went behind the counter to get some madder root for her. Just as he was about to explain, Sylas stopped him and said, "I need it ground into powder, not for dyeing fabric. Just weigh it for me. I want a quarter pound."

The boss with a small beard swallowed his enthusiastic advertisements and hesitantly wrapped it up for her, muttering, "Half a gold coin."

Sylas took out the money, didn’t wait for the change, and said to Miss Slote, "I’m going back first. I just remembered something!"

Holding the bag of madder powder, she summoned her water servant and eagerly jumped onto its flat back, saying, "Quick, quick, take a shortcut back to the activity room!"

"…But it’s almost curfew time, you should go back to your dormitory."

"No, I’m going to the activity room. If I can’t go back, then I’ll stay in the activity room tonight."

"…But you won’t be unable to go back. I can turn into a fountain and spray you up to the second floor, or I can turn into an ice crystal staircase. Which one do you prefer? I suggest the second one, it’s dreamy and exquisite, perfect for your fairy-like style."

I don’t have a fairy-like style. Star Song Castle is located on a mountain, and the terrain is extremely complex. If it wasn’t for the water lord’s ability to float and fly over many obstacles and barriers (requiring additional magic energy), Sylas would have to exert a lot of effort to take a longer route. Everyone rushing to learn magic isn’t without reason. At least with the water lord, the quality of life will greatly improve.

Sylas ran into the activity room in the opposite direction of the students returning to the dormitory. Inside, there was only Shirley lying under the moonlight, casting a large and terrifying shadow of a spider. If it was someone’s first time entering the activity room at this time, they would probably have been frightened to death, but the shame mark on its head was just too ridiculous.

Sylas really laughed out loud, and Shirley made a "hic…giggle giggle…" sound, probably protesting. So when Sylas walked towards it, it shook its head and stepped back.