Free Web NovelChapter 12: Comprehending Increase Defense and Questions
Luke watched as students funneled out of the classroom, but his focus was elsewhere.
’If I apply what Valeria said in her lecture, could I make Defense Increase more durable?’
He thought about the way it formed a thin coating over the chosen material when casting. What if he folded the mana over itself, creating a smaller surface, but increasing the durability by double.
"Defense Increase."
The mana traveled up his chest and out through his hand, as it covered his shirt he attempted to redirect the spell so that the part of the spell meant to cover the back would layer over the front.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t manipulate the mana fast enough and the spell dissipated, due to its structurally unsupported construct.
The failed attempt didn’t affect Luke’s curiosity, as he found a better way to fold the mana during the casting process.
"Defense Increase."
Mana swelled from his core, as it traveled to his hand. Luke used every piece of brain power he had to bend the spell as it appeared. This time the attempt improved significantly, with Luke being able to get a small fold to layer over the front; but the mana wavered as its intended structure wasn’t formable.
Once again, the mana dissipated quietly into the near empty lecture hall. By the second attempt Valeria had stopped packing her things and watched as Luke attempted to comprehend the spell.
Luke stopped casting for a moment, noticing that his mana reserves were draining quickly.
’Why does the spell even require a medium when casting? Maybe it is only so the thin mana has a simple shape to wrap around. I only have a few more attempts left before I run out of mana, so I should try forcing the spell to hold a structure that isn’t my shirt.’
Attempting a different strategy, his mana drained from the core and again trickled out from his hand. This time he focused on stopping the spell from wrapping around the back of his shirt, keeping it in a wide rectangle instead.
This time he was successful and the mana hovered only in front of him, but when he attempted to fold the mana over itself the whole construct shattered.
Luke scratched his head, running countless simulations in his head. None presented a full solution, leaving him with just a brute force strategy.
As he cast Defense Increase, he felt his entire mana core drain. It would be his last attempt and it needed to count.
Delicately, Luke formed the rectangular shape again, but instead of just trying to bend the mana in the middle he only folded the edges inward. The mana continued to float In front him, so his experiment continued until he folded the edges enough that the spell became the size of his hand.
Valeria silently watched from the stage, but she was inwardly excited watching an unfamiliar comprehension form in front of her eyes. It hadn’t even been ten minutes after the lecture ended as she watched Luke attempt after attempt, until a solid brick of mana hovered in front of him.
Shortly after, she observed Luke punch the mana construct; his hand bounced right off, with the mana having no signs of damage.
He blinked, before a smile washed over him.
’So instead of trying to reduce mana costs or increase the defensive properties of the original spell, he used folding to increase its strength in a smaller area.’
Valeria, with satisfied curiosity, wheeled herself off the stage and out of the lecture, leaving only Luke sitting in the back of class.
[Spell Comprehension: 20%]
Luke’s concentration broke as the system screen suddenly appeared before him. The spell dissipated, but he hardly cared. The information it displayed was more than enough to satisfy him. Although he couldn’t compare the percentage to someone else’s comprehension, he felt that if he were to cast Defense Increase again, he would easily be able to make the folds again.
A heavy headache flushed over his brain; a small price to pay for draining his mana core. He spent the next few minutes just staring at the ceiling, soaking in his accomplishment. He thought back to Valeria’s words about people spending decades of their life dedicated to a singular spell just to never comprehend it, yet he was able to make a large improvement to the spell in less than fifteen minutes.
Luke sat up, reaching down to grab his backpack before slowly walking down the stairs. He was about to attend his next class, before remembering that it was cancelled for the rift practical the next day.
He dragged his hand across his face thinking about it.
After all of his classes tomorrow, he would have to enter a rift for the first time.
The thought made him shiver, but also excited.
That was all for tomorrow, for now he needed to head to the building where Valeria’s office is. The walk across campus was peaceful, there were only a few students still walking around.
It didn’t take long to reach the office building, Luke looked around and found a bench outside the door where he decided to sit.
Around 45 minutes passed before Valeria and her interpreter exited the building.
The two signed back and forth, before the student bowed slightly and walked away.
Hello
Luke signed to Valeria, who reciprocated the motion. They started the walk towards the train station. Luke looked at Valeria, finding her to be lost in thought. Not sure if there was a reason, he gestured next to her?
Help?
The sign was ambiguous, but he was trying to ask what was on her mind. Valeria seemed to notice this and stopped pushing the chair, taking the pen and paper out of her leather bag.
I saw you practicing in the lecture hall.
He wasn’t sure why she brought it up or even how she knew, since he had assumed everyone had already left when he started experimenting. Then he read the second part of the note.
Did the lecture create an idea for the Defense Increase spell or did you already have the idea? Your version of the spell is significantly stronger than F-Rank, rivaling even some D-Rank spells, what was the theory behind it.
For a second, he had thought he did something to make her made, but her eyes told him that she was curious about his comprehension of the spell.
The lecture was just a catalyst, I guess. It got me thinking about why the spell required itself to be applied to a piece of armor or clothing. Then I figured out the spell needed structure, so I tried to stop it from conforming to my shirt. Once I had gotten the hang of controlling its shape, I worked on folding it like a piece of paper. A normal sheet can easily be pierced by a pencil, but when folded multiple times it is able to resist the same pencil.
For the first time since meeting Valeria he had seen her eyes light up in curiosity. She quickly scribbled on another piece of paper, holding it towards Luke.
I never thought of that.
Luke smiled before the realization fully sank in.
A former SSS-Rank explorer who had comprehended dozens of spells had just admitted that she learned something from him.
