Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Russell understood for the first time what talent truly meant.

The archmage, who was possibly Archmage Johnston, tried his best to hide his surprise, but every time he corrected Russell’s erroneous understanding of a rune, there was a subtle implication in his expression.

In fact, Russell’s mistakes weren’t significant.

Runes are quite self-contained, and most mages believe that as long as they can form a rune chain smoothly in their mental sea, it is considered quite standard.

After all, only standard runes can resonate with other runes.

But the archmage before him couldn’t understand why Russell’s runes were always slightly askew.

Yes, they weren’t even distorted.

Just a little tilted.

Russell didn’t feel anything, but the archmage frowned after looking twice and then directly produced a sheet of runes and a transparent paper... he asked Russell to trace them repeatedly.

Each time a rune would only appear one at a time, and would only vanish and be replaced by another when Russell could write it on the paper meeting the requirements without referencing the rune below.

Russell initially thought this would be easy, but reality taught him that crooked is crooked, and not being able to see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Although the education he had before never demanded such meticulousness in rune quality, Russell knew clearly that he had never truly encountered an archmage... when others have reached a certain height, respecting a bit of authority would never go wrong.

Knowledge is endless, and it only becomes yours once you’ve learned it. As for freedom and innovation... can one build a magic tower without even laying the foundation?

When Russell arduously endured another three days, he finally sorted through a few hundred basic runes once.

Then he experienced what it meant to be reborn.

Just a simple explanation by ’Johnston’ about the focal points of the rune chain made Russell quickly grasp detection magic.

Although the archmage said it was because he was very familiar with the spell for enhancing resistance that he learned so quickly, Russell understood the enormous disparity.

Then he swiftly thought of something and softly asked the archmage absorbed in pondering over something, ”Sir, may I use this rune correction method on others?”

”Although it seems simple, at least one needs to master most 3-ring spells to complete it.” Hill controlled his blinking habit with difficulty and said calmly.

”No, it’s not that complicated.” Russell felt a bit embarrassed... how did this archmage learn things before?

He pursed his lips, ”I’ll just write the standard runes and let her trace them slowly with a thin veil. How much she can learn depends on her dedication.”

”There’s no need to ask me,” Hill shook his head lightly, ”it’s no secret, many archmages teach their apprentices this way.”

”The Tower of Dark Enigma certainly, at least, doesn’t have this for ordinary apprentices,” Russell said earnestly, ”apprentices just copy from the handwritten magic books themselves.”

Hill patted his shoulder, ”There’s no secret about it here with me, you can freely use it.”

Russell suddenly realized... although he was unwilling to admit it, there’s a ninety percent chance this is Archmage Johnston!

Why would he keep secrets from his own family?

He couldn’t help but smile, ”When I leave, I’ll teach it to Carpenter, ah... she’s my sister, a very cute little girl.”

Hill nodded indifferently, ”Once you’ve learned Detect Poison, you can rest for a while.

Take a rest and then come find me.”

Even though learning three more 0-ring spells might give Russell hope to become a high-level apprentice, his spiritual power was near its limit.

Although he appeared energetic, it was mostly sustained by excitement and willpower, otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so much emotion, and his true thoughts wouldn’t have slipped out as much.

It seems he genuinely thought Carpenter was a cute sister... such a normal brother made Hill feel a bit confused.

This world is much harsher than Aesces.

Russell’s situation is even more difficult.

Although Ditte, the brother in Aesces, was somewhat normal, he was clearly an exception, while Ellie and Lind’s sibling bond was normal.

Hmm... could it be that experiencing hardships together cultivates true feelings more easily than sharing prosperity?

Hill couldn’t make sense of it, but he was too tired to think... though it wasn’t long, this teaching method really did tire him out a bit.

After all, he had to think through a lot to explain the magic so the kid could understand.

This was completely different from when he taught Boen back then.

After all, Teraxil’s environment and the outside worlds differ, and Boen’s elemental sensitivity wasn’t strong, but his foundation in runes, which he learned from following Hill, was very solid.

He understood with just a hint, although it required a lot of his own time to communicate with the elements.

But this kid genuinely needed everything explained very clearly.

Hill was honestly tired.

Completely unaware of what the Archmage beside him was contemplating, Russell felt great after learning the ”Detect Poison” spell and happily bid farewell to Hill... He really felt he had made a qualitative leap.

-----------------

Leaving the Meditation Chamber, Russell glanced around, touched his own stomach, furrowed his brow, and swiped his finger in the air... Although he could sense the odd passage of time from the hunger, the fact that only two days had passed in reality surprised him a bit.

The door next to his opened shortly after, and Carpenter stuck her head out with a dissatisfied look: ”Russell, why did you just come out!

Aren’t you hungry?

Didn’t you even sleep at all?”

Though complaining, her big eyes were filled with concern: even though they were long accustomed to not eating during meditation, two days of meditation was hard for an apprentice to get enough nutrition from just the magical elements in the air.

”I thought of a pretty good method and learned two new spells.” Russell smiled at her, ”Let’s go eat first, then come to my Meditation Chamber, and I’ll teach you before you sleep.”

”I took your meals for the past two days.” Carpenter said leisurely, ”Thanks for the treat.”

Russell gave her a broad smile: even though it sounded like Carpenter ate them herself, she must have set aside only a small portion of what only an apprentice could eat, packed up the rest, and sent it to his family.

After all, he had several younger siblings at home!

Their food wasn’t something anyone could eat, not even kids with Mage Aptitude.

Before learning the first Level 0 spell, apart from the nutritional potion provided by their own family, the family only provided three special meals a month.

Only apprentices could get daily meals, and they were provided with special food purchased from the Magic Tower according to their aptitude.

Upon returning to the Meditation Chamber, Russell leaned over the table and began to draw Runes.

Carpenter was about to ask a question but pressed his shoulder instead and observed carefully in surprise.

For some reason, the Runes that Russell just wrote had a peculiar allure: exquisite and perfect, as if each Rune was beckoning to her.

Russell indulged himself for once, not only using paper specifically for the Magic Book but also writing only 10 Runes per sheet.

Carpenter quietly picked up the first sheet and studied it seriously.

When Russell finished writing the Runes, he stood up and saw Carpenter already entranced by the beauty of the Runes.

”What’s up? Carpenter, did you see anything?” he asked with a smile.

”Your Runes are more perfect than those in the Magic Book.” Carpenter put down the paper, her fingers that had been tracing them relaxed slightly, ”My brother seems quite amazing, huh!”

Her big eyes darted around, sending a secret signal to Russell with her gaze: Is this the secret you found in the library?

Russell smiled at her, blinked, and then smiled again.

Carpenter understood instantly; this was just one part, not everything, but not a word could be said.

The benefits Russell gained would always be shared with her.

Moreover, Carpenter quickly thought of a benefit... If Russell had the ability to protect her in the Tower of Dark Enigma, then she wouldn’t need to worry so much!

She quickly lifted her head: ”You learned two spells?

So... is there hope for you to become a High-level Apprentice before 16?”

Russell pressed his lips together, slightly uneasy: ”Right now, I’ve only learned those two from the prophecy system.

You know, only by learning spells from other systems do I have the possibility of advancing.”

”But there’s hope, right?” Carpenter knew Russell well; he never spoke in absolutes, so a statement like that meant he felt more than halfway hopeful!

Russell nodded: ”Yes, there’s hope.”

”If you can enter normally... then even if I’m buying my way in, I won’t be bullied, right?” Carpenter asked quickly.

”But there’s a prerequisite.” This time, Russell didn’t firmly reject like the past two days, ”You must relearn the Runes before then.

I remember you have a transparent scarf, right?

Use it to trace, trace until you can mentally form the correct trajectory, then write it yourself.

Write until you’re sick of it, but try to write the Runes perfectly, okay?”

Carpenter clearly understood that these Runes were indeed the key to Russell feeling he could advance, and she wasn’t a fool.

Though she was reluctant to part with her only luxury item, she never thought it could be more important than her future.

She seriously nodded: ”I will.”

Russell patted her head: ”Then I’ll go sleep. When I wake, I’ll return to the Meditation Chamber; we don’t have much time left!”