paranoianovel Chapter 5 First Encounter with Magic
Chapter 5 First Encounter with Magic
At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the air, soft light draped gently over the Leo Empire's palace like a veil. Lin Tian, as usual, finished his warrior training in the arena. Sweat soaked his training clothes, clinging to his increasingly strong body. He then headed to the magical medicinal bath area for a bath, completing his daily morning warrior training.
After breakfast, we arrived at the palace gates, where a troop of imperial guards stood silently. They wore gleaming black armor, the red tassels on their helmets fluttering in the wind, and the spears in their hands gleamed coldly in the morning light. Beside them stood a magnificently decorated carriage, its body crafted from black steel and inlaid with gold patterns. Red silk curtains hung from the windows, embroidered with the royal emblem, showcasing the majesty and luxury of the imperial family.
Surrounded by the Imperial Guards, Lin Tian boarded the carriage. The carriage slowly started moving, its wheels making a steady, resonant sound. The Imperial Guards, mounted on tall horses, tightly guarded the carriage as the large entourage drove out of the palace. The people lining the streets stopped to watch, casting awe and curiosity at this magnificent spectacle.
Lin Tian looked out the carriage window at the bustling scene on the street. This was the first time he had seen the outside world since coming to this world. Last time he went to see Teacher Lao En, his grandfather took him there by flying directly, so he couldn't see any of this.
The entire street was paved with smooth red stones, showcasing the fire attribute of the Leo Empire. The road was even wider than the main roads of major cities in my previous life. However, instead of cars, horse-drawn carriages and warriors and mages riding tall magical beasts were on the road. Hotels, clothing stores, bars and other shops lined both sides of the road, as well as weapon shops and auction houses unique to the extraordinary world. People came and went, presenting a prosperous scene.
The carriage sped along and soon stopped in front of the manor where the Holy Mage Lauen resided. Lin Tian stepped out of the carriage and walked alone into the manor. He walked through a cobblestone path and came to an ancient building. An elderly man with white hair but vigorous spirit was already waiting there. He was none other than the fire-elemental Holy Mage Lauen.
Upon seeing Lin Tian arrive, the old man's face broke into a kind smile.
He said, "From this day forward, you will learn fire magic from me. Come inside with me."
The two entered the house, which was simply furnished. A huge stone table was placed in the center of the room. Lao En gestured for Lin Tian to sit down, and then sat down opposite him.
"Lin Tian, before you begin learning fire magic, let me first give you a brief overview of it." Raun looked at Lin Tian, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Did you know that our Leo Empire's ancestor, Leo I, was a powerful fire deity? He once became the strongest being on the Mayan continent thanks to his exceptional fire magic. Therefore, fire magic is definitely the most powerful of all magic systems."
Upon hearing this, Lin Tian couldn't help but recall Lin Lei's grandfather, Delin, telling Lin Lei that the Earth element was the most powerful. He thought to himself, "These Saint Magisters are really confident in their cultivation. They all think that the law they cultivate is the strongest." However, he didn't reveal his thoughts and simply listened quietly as Laun continued his explanation.
Laun continued, "Do you know what's most important for a magician to cast a spell?"
Lin Tian thought for a moment and replied, "It's a magic spell. Without a magic spell, you can't cast a spell."
"No, magical power and mental strength are the most crucial factors, while spells are secondary. If a mage's mental strength is strong enough, they can cast spells instantly without chanting. In this case, spells only play a supporting role. You see."
As he spoke, Lauen gently raised his hand, and a ball of red flame appeared out of thin air in his palm. The flame flickered and danced, yet emitted no heat. Lauen smiled at Lin Tian: "Like this, I didn't chant any incantations; I cast this small fireball spell solely through the manipulation of my mental and magical power."
Lin Tian stared in astonishment at the flame in Lauen's palm, his eyes filled with admiration and curiosity. Lauen continued, "To cast a spell, you first need sufficient magical power within your body as a foundation. Then, you control that magical power through your mental strength, attracting external elements of heaven and earth to amplify the spell's power. Both are indispensable; as long as they work together properly, they can produce an effect greater than the sum of their parts."
After listening, Lin Tian nodded thoughtfully, thinking to himself, "Magic power is like gasoline, while mental power is like an engine. As long as the two work together, the car can run at extremely high speeds."
To help Lin Tian better understand the power of fire magic, Lauen continued, "Next, I will introduce you to two forbidden fire spells. The first one is called 'Heavenly Fire Spreads Across the Plains.'" Lauen stood up, walked to the center of the room, his eyes gleaming with excitement, as if recalling the power of this potent spell.
"'Heavenly Fire Spreads Across the Plains' is a terrifying magic that summons endless heavenly fire. Once cast, a massive vortex will appear in the sky, and endless heavenly fire will fall like meteors, burning everything on a vast scale. Imagine a prosperous city instantly reduced to scorched earth under this sky full of heavenly fire, leaving a desolate wasteland for thousands of miles around." As he spoke, Lauen gestured with his hands in the air, as if describing the shocking scene.
Lin Tian listened intently, a picture of a city engulfed in heavenly fire appearing in his mind. He couldn't help but marvel at the power of fire magic, and at the same time, he couldn't help but think, "I wonder which is more powerful, this or the atomic bomb, both of them fall from the sky."
Laun continued, "There is also a forbidden magic that is universally applicable to fire magic, called 'Earthfire Burns the City.' When this magic is cast, the earth will tremble violently, and endless lava and pillars of fire will erupt from the ground. These lava and pillars of fire will sweep through the entire city like a raging torrent, turning everything, whether it be sturdy buildings or living creatures, into ashes."
Lin Tian's eyes widened as he recalled the volcanic eruptions he had seen on television in his previous life, especially the one involving a private volcano. He couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, which is more powerful, this or a volcanic eruption?"
After thinking for a moment, Laun said, "It depends on the amount of magical power invested when casting it. The more you invest, the greater the power. However, forbidden magic is called forbidden magic because it requires not only extremely strong magical and mental power to cast, but also a deep understanding and comprehension of fire magic. Moreover, casting such magic is extremely taxing on the caster, and it is generally not used lightly unless it is a life-or-death situation."
Afterwards, Lauen led Lin Tian to the backyard of the manor. The backyard was an open space, the ground covered with various magic circles. Lauen said, "Next, we'll start learning basic fire magic. First, you need to learn meditation."