Lucas looked at each one of the spells, starting from his left, which appeared to be the easiest to memorize, the [Float] spell.
He examined every single normal rune carefully, no matter how small, making sure he didn't miss any. Then he studied the shapes, which didn't look too complicated, and finally the single rune of origin.
One down.
He finished memorizing the first one, but just to be safe, he looked at it one more time to make sure he hadn't missed anything.
He moved on to the one in the middle, the [Gravitational Pull] spell.
He used the same method, carefully memorizing each rune, but this time he didn't double-check. He simply moved forward to the last one which was the [Weight Control] spell.
Hmm, this one seems a bit complicated. Lucas thought.
The normal runes inside the circle were so small that he had to squint to see them clearly. On top of that, some of the runes overlapped others, which was something new to him since none of the spells he had encountered before had layered runes like that.
Still, it wasn't impossible to memorize. It would just take a little longer.
He proceeded to go through each rune one by one, reciting their order and shape in his mind.
And before he knew it, he was done. In under a minute, he had memorized all three spells.
By longer, he had meant under a minute.
"I'm done," Lucas said.
Mordredt simply nodded and dismissed the spells.
Without needing to be told what to do, Lucas moved to cast them.
But this time was going to be different. He was going to try something he had been training for, something he had been wanting to do for a while now.
He closed his eyes and concentrated.
He thought about each spell, recalled every rune and shape, and once he felt ready, he began casting.
Three magic circles started forming around him. One to his left, one above his head, and one to his right.
"No way…" Mordredt lost his breath, muttering as he realized what Lucas was attempting.
As you've already guessed, he was trying to triple cast.
Yes. Triple cast.
Something that was considered impossible for someone of his rank.
When it came to casting magic, normal mages could only cast spells one after another. A skilled mage could manage dual casting, but it demanded tremendous mental strength and sharpness of mind.
A great mage, on the other hand, was one capable of triple casting and beyond, something only those with extraordinary minds could achieve. Triple casting required intense focus, patience, and deep understanding of magic, since it meant weaving three entirely different spells with different runes, shapes, and incantations all at once. If a mage could pull it off mid-battle, under constant pressure, it would make them terrifyingly dangerous and nearly unpredictable.
Casting three spells simultaneously meant the enemy had to defend against all three at once, something the majority simply couldn't do. And that wasn't even the worst of it. The sheer unpredictability alone made triple casting lethal.
Now imagine if someone triple cast a fifth magic circle spell, wouldn't they be a force to be reckoned with?
That was just how deadly those who could cast more than two spells at once truly were.
Mordredt watched Lucas with anticipation, silently praying the boy would pull it off and prove him right.
C'mon, brat. He thought.
Then suddenly, Mordredt noticed something behind Lucas. Another source of energy, causing him to frown at first, but then he froze entirely.
"T-this… this… ahhhh…" Mordredt's voice trembled as he realized what was forming behind Lucas.
It was another spell.
A fourth fucking spell.
He was going for a quadra cast.
Just moments earlier, Lucas had only planned to attempt a triple cast, but then a thought crept in. What if I tried four instead of three? Would it even be possible? Am I actually capable of that?
At first he doubted himself and nearly dropped the idea, but he decided to go for it anyway. He was too excited not to. He wanted to push his mind to its absolute limit.
And now, here he was doing it.
Mordredt watched in complete silence. The only thing he could hear was his own heartbeat.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
Slowly and steadily, the four magic circles formed around Lucas and locked into shape.
Only a minute had passed, and all four spells were complete.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
Mordredt's heart pounded even louder.
Lucas opened his eyes, his silver irises seeming to glow faintly in the dim light of the room.
Then he opened his mouth and spoke.
"Float." His voice echoed through the quiet room.
He felt his mana being pulled.
At his command, the magic circle blazed to life and he felt his body grow impossibly light. His feet lifted off the ground and he began to rise, up and up, until he hovered at ten meters in height.
Mordredt watched in stunned silence.
"Gravitational Pull."
Lucas stretched his arm downward toward his sword resting on the floor. As though seized by an invisible force, the blade lifted off the ground and drifted steadily upward until it found his grasp.
He activated the third spell.
"Weight Control."
He pushed his will into it, increasing his weight just enough to counter the gravity holding him aloft.
His body dropped. He landed on his feet with a soft tap of his shoes against the floor.
But he wasn't done. There was still the fourth and final spell.
He raised his hand toward Mordredt and cast it.
"Gravitational Field."
A sudden, suffocating pressure expanded outward, wrapping around both of them and filling the room.
And all four spells remained active, the magic circles still glowing as proof.
"I did it." Lucas broke into a wide smile. "I can quadra cast."
He had done it. He had just pulled off a feat considered impossible for someone of his rank, with the sole exception of Virgil, the God of Destruction.
I now have a great advantage over other youths. I doubt anyone my age can quadra cast, though it's never truly impossible, the world is far too vast for that. He nodded to himself. I can't wait to do this with higher ranked spells.
Mordredt, who had been watching Lucas in silence, found only one word crossing his mind.
Monster.
Not a genius, a monster. Not even the Crown Prince, said to be the second coming of The Sun Empress herself, could quadra cast at fifteen. This brat's talent is something else entirely. He has too much potential. Whatever he becomes, I already pity whoever faces him on a battlefield. Mordredt praised the boy silently. The Empress really found herself a diamond. I don't know where she found him, but may the gods bless her.
With that, Mordredt had made up his mind.
"Be my disciple." A voice pulled Lucas out of his thoughts.
"Huh? What?"
"I said, be my disciple." Mordredt repeated, walking toward him.
Lucas felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the man.
Why?
Because the serious ki— man was smiling at him.
Did my performance really make him smile? Lucas thought, eyebrows furrowed.
The ki— man before him seemed like the type who never smiled. And yet, here he was.
Lucas shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I already have a master."
He had Arthur, after all.
He expected disappointment, maybe even a flash of anger, but Mordredt showed neither. Only a slight frown.
"You already have someone teaching you?"
"Yes. Arthur is my master."
"Ah, it's not like that. I meant as your master of gravity, not your sword master. And I'll be honest, I'm surprised Arthur took you on. That man has never taught anyone, as far as I know."
"Oh, you meant it that way." Lucas paused. "Is it possible to have more than one master?"
"Yes," Mordredt nodded. "Especially in cases like yours, someone following the dual path and wielding different elements."
"I see."
Honestly, it was a good offer. Being trained by another powerful mage, there was no real reason to refuse.
"Alright, I accept." Lucas nodded. "I'll be your disciple."
"Good." A slow smile crept across Mordredt's lips, one that sent a fresh chill down Lucas's spine. "Very good. I promise to make you the greatest gravity mage there is."
Mordredt raised his right arm out in front of him, palm flat and upright, almost like a certain famous painter.
Lucas stared at him, confused.
"Uh?"
"Get down here, brat. Don't play with me." Mordredt said flatly, the smile already gone.
Lucas lowered himself slightly and felt Mordredt's hand pat him firmly on the shoulder.
"I look forward to working with you, kid."
Ah. He wanted to pat my shoulder but couldn't reach because he's short.
Lucas almost burst out laughing but held it back, wisely, since he valued his life.