Chapter 5：The Path of Magic

The fact that the little idiot young master of the Rollin family had driven away his learned teacher had almost become the most famous joke in the imperial capital in recent days. Many bored people talked about this matter with a feeling of schadenfreude. Who asked Count Raymond of the Rollin family to be so glorious and prosperous now? Seeing such a powerful figure have bad luck actually suited the dark psychology of some bored people. Moreover, Count Raymond had also made a mistake.

His generous reward at the beginning, searching for someone to make his child speak, had already become a novelty, a not-too-big and not-too-small piece of news. And because of that matter, the idiot young master of the Rollin family had suddenly become famous! He had become the focus that people were happy to talk about. Even in the imperial capital in the past two years, when many families had children, they would habitually say: "Oh, it doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl, as long as the child is healthy... Just don't give birth to a little idiot like the unlucky Rollin family did."

On this day, Young Master Dwayne once again welcomed his father. The person who came with the count this time made Dwayne very dislike him. Because this person was wearing a gray robe and a gray pointed hat. He also had skinny fingers and cloudy eyes. This guy exuded a trace of an uncomfortable, decayed and old smell all over his body. Moreover, the eerie aura on him made Dwayne sneeze violently.

"Master Clark, this is my son." Count Raymond, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial High Command and the second-in-command of the imperial military, spoke very politely to the guy beside him: "Please take a look. Does he have even the tiniest bit of future on the sacred path of magic?"

It seemed that Count Raymond had no other choice. This time, the person he invited to teach his son was the famous Master Clark in the imperial capital. If "magician" could be regarded as a profession, then this profession was undoubtedly one of the most respected ones. Although, in this so-called "respect", there was more of a trace of fear.

Anywhere, magicians were symbols of noble status. They could stand on an equal footing with any noble and receive the most generous treatment. A powerful magician could play a role in a war comparable to that of a small army! And all magicians were the objects that the leaders of any country tried their best to recruit! Not only because magicians had superhuman abilities, but also because these people would not pose a threat to the leader's power! Most of a magician's life energy would be spent on studying magic or meditating to accumulate magic power.

Almost all magicians had no worldly desires. They were not greedy for money... Because a qualified alchemy magician could use magic to turn stubborn stones into gems or gold! Precious gems were just some magic auxiliary props in their eyes. And magicians had no desire for power. Their lives took the pursuit of the mysteries of magic as their greatest goal, and worldly power desires were not taken seriously by them. This was even more pleasing to those in power!

It could be said that in the entire Roland World, magicians were the most noble profession. They were desperately recruited by all powerful figures and could enjoy the best treatment!

However... Count Raymond did not hope that his son would become a magician! Even if there was still any other choice! Because almost all magicians were feared by people... Monsters! They were unfeeling, withdrawn by nature, strange, and didn't like to deal with people. They liked to close themselves off and indulge in magic research.

No noble girl would like to fall in love with a monster who stayed in the research room all day long. No noble banquet would invite a cold magician to spoil the atmosphere. No emperor would confer a title on a magician or let a magician serve as an important minister of the empire!

And Dwayne, after all, was his own son! The heir of the Rollin family! He needed to fall in love in the future, get married and have children, continue the family, and participate in various social and communication occasions in the noble circle... But, who asked his son to be an "idiot" who couldn't learn martial arts and couldn't learn literature either? It seemed that to achieve something, being a magician was his last remaining choice! If a superb magician could emerge in the history of the great Rollin family... Although it was a bit out of place, it could still be considered acceptable!

With hopeful eyes, the count watched as Master Clark led his son into a prepared enclosed small room.

"Alright, kid." After entering the room, Master Clark immediately took out a small bottle, poured out a little golden powder onto his fingertips, quickly drew a large circle in the room, and then turned around and looked at Dwayne: "I have cast a silence spell. Now, no one outside can hear our conversation here."

Then, this magician with an eerie and cold expression walked up to Dwayne and looked at the little guy in front of him: "Now, tell me, kid, what is magic in your heart?"

What was magic? This question made Dwayne hesitate for a moment. From his true inner thoughts, he was actually quite interested in the "magic" of this world. After all, he also knew many magnificent legends about magic. But what exactly was magic... In Dwayne's impression, when the so-called magicians used magic, they generally chanted loudly something like "God of the Wind, please heed my call..." and the like. Then, there would be things like flying sand and rocks, and ghosts howling and gods wailing.

Seeing that the child in front of him didn't speak, it was assumed that for this young child, this question was too profound. Clark smiled, and then said in a low and slow voice: "Magic is the mystery that the almighty gods bestow upon humans to unlock the gods' revelations! It is the way for humans to pursue the ultimate power in this world! It is the source for understanding oneself, understanding the world, and unlocking the greatest gift that the gods have given to humans!"

Clark, wearing a gray robe, had a trace of a sacred tone in his voice. Unfortunately, for Dwayne, he wasn't interested in these words. Because these seemingly lofty words seemed a bit pretentious to Dwayne.

The young Dwayne didn't show anything on his face, and the child's silence also made the arrogant magician mistakenly think that it was fear of himself. He was very satisfied with the reaction of the count's heir.

Subsequently, the magician took out a crystal sphere the size of a fist from his wide gray robe.

"Spiritual power is one of the criteria for measuring whether a person has magical talent... Although it is not the only criterion, it is the most important part. Now, let me test your magical talent..."

Dwayne finally spoke up and raised the question in his heart: "Spiritual power? Magic power? But, isn't it only magicians who have magic power?"

Clark widened his eyes: "Who told you this wrong and ridiculous statement? Damn it, is there really someone in Count Rollin's mansion who doesn't even have this common sense?"

The magician was irritated by this common-sense mistake: "Spiritual power is a term used by ordinary people. For magicians, spiritual power is magic power! Magicians can make their spiritual power continuously grow and increase through the method of meditation, and then use their spiritual power that exceeds that of ordinary people to sense this world, the mysteries in nature, and various forces in this natural world.

Only those with strong spiritual power can do this! The continuously increasing and accumulated spiritual power can enable magicians to more clearly sense various magical elements in the world... And the so-called magic is to use some tricks to enable magicians to command with their own spiritual power, or borrow a little of the power in the natural world for magicians to use - this is magic."

Dwayne sighed: "I understand... Spiritual power is magic power. And the so-called magic power is actually a kind of lever. Magicians use this lever to borrow the power of nature."

A trace of surprise appeared in Clark's cloudy eyes: "It's hard to believe. Oh, a child over five years old... Oh, you are very smart. But why do others call you an idiot?"

For this question, Dwayne didn't speak and just silently looked at the magician. The arrogant Master Clark wouldn't waste time on such a small issue. He was just slightly surprised and then ignored this question.

"This world, this natural world contains too many magical elements. Every bit and every drop of them is a source of power. Rain, thunder and lightning, blizzards, strong winds, and even the alternation of the sun, moon, and stars, the blooming and withering of flowers and plants... All of these are sources of power in nature.

And an excellent magician can fully sense all kinds of subtle and clear changes in the world. The 'lever' you mentioned just now is a very interesting metaphor. Simply put, the more powerful the lever you have, the more powerful natural power you can mobilize. And if the lever is too weak, the natural power you can mobilize will be very limited."

Dwayne sighed: "So that's how it is. I thought the power of magicians all came from their own'magic power'."

Clark frowned again: "I have to doubt who on earth told you such words without common sense? What I just said is common sense that even the most low-level magic apprentice knows! 'Power comes from one's own magic power'? My goodness... I have to correct you. You must remember firmly: Human power is limited. Even the strongest person is limited! Magicians can do things that ordinary people can't do. For example, a powerful magician can level a small hill with a wave of his hand or summon a storm...

But that is definitely not the power of the magician himself. It is through magic that they borrow the power of nature in the world! And this world was created for us by the gods. So, fundamentally speaking, when magicians use magic, they are borrowing the power of the gods! Remember, humans were created by the gods, and humans can never possess the power of the gods! That is a taboo! The power of magicians comes from nature, from the gods who created this 'nature'!"

He lowered his voice and frowned: "I'm very curious. How could the Rollin family have a child like you who has so many mistakes about common sense? If after you come of age, you still say something like the power of magicians comes from themselves outside... I can't guarantee that you won't be burned to death on the stake in front of the temple! Because your words, fundamentally speaking, are doubting the gods!"

Dwayne closed his mouth. His eyes returned to a blank look, and then he lowered his little head, properly hiding his expression.