“No, no, that’s not right...”
“Learning spatial magic isn’t supposed to be like this...”
“First, you should have a one-in-a-million rare affinity for space elements.”
“Then, you spend a long time studying all sorts of foundational magic theory.”
“After that, you find an incredibly rare spatial mage to be your mentor.”
“And only after a long period of instruction do you learn your first spatial spell...”
Elune held her head in her hands, muttering to herself in Elvish.
Watching Elune speak her mind in Elvish, Jiang Lin felt she was likely suffering from a temporary mental breakdown due to the shock.
However, he figured she would eventually get used to it after spending more time with him.
Elune remained crouched in the corner of the sofa, clutching her head.
She continued to drone on in Elvish, saying things like “space affinity can’t just appear out of thin air,” “this defies all logic,” and “that’s not what the textbooks say.”
Jiang Lin didn't disturb her, letting her have a moment of peace to digest the facts.
He stood in the center of the living room and raised his right hand, once again conjuring that extremely faint ring of Spatial Ripple at his fingertip.
The ripple spread silently, touching the coffee table, the walls, and the ceiling before bouncing back and converging into a tiny speck of silver light in his palm.
He could clearly feel that his control over space elements was still clumsy, but the connection was undeniably real.
As long as he kept practicing and deepening this connection, he would eventually master higher-tier spatial magic.
“Let’s go,” he said to Elune, who was still in her corner in a state of self-imposed isolation.
“We’re going to find Mentor Zoe.”
Elune looked up, a lingering daze still present in her pale purple eyes.
“Now? You’ve had that booklet for less than a day...”
“It’s enough.”
Jiang Lin put the thin booklet back into his spatial ring.
“Didn't she say to come find her if I could perceive space elements within three days?”
The two left the small villa, walked along the cobblestone paths of the Moonlight District, and arrived once more at the towering Moonlight Tower.
The interior of the tower was still quiet, with only the occasional student in a silver-white uniform passing through the corridors.
When they saw Elune, their eyes couldn't help but drift toward the golden-haired, golden-eyed human youth walking beside her.
The research lab door remained tightly shut, the nameplate reading “Zoe Starmark · Spatial Magic Mentor” glinting with a faint silver light under the lamps.
Jiang Lin raised his hand and knocked.
“Come in.”
A cool female voice drifted from inside.
Pushing the door open, they saw Zoe still sitting behind her workbench, which was piled high with blueprints. She held a quill, sketching something onto a complex magic array design.
She didn't look up.
“Carlos, what is it this time?”
“I’m not Carlos.”
The quill in Zoe’s hand paused.
She looked up, her pale silver eyes landing on Jiang Lin. A flicker of surprise crossed her gaze.
“It’s you? The human from yesterday who had no space affinity?”
“It’s me.”
Zoe set down her quill and leaned back in her chair, her gaze becoming scrutinizing.
“How much of that spatial magic foundational theory did you read?”
“I finished it.”
Zoe’s eyebrows arched slightly.
She stood up and walked over to Jiang Lin, her pale silver eyes swirling with tiny specks of starlight.
She was sensing—sensing if there were any fluctuations of space elements around Jiang Lin.
A moment later, her expression underwent a subtle change, shifting from scrutiny to astonishment.
“You... you perceived space elements?”
Her voice carried a shock she couldn't quite hide.
Jiang Lin didn't answer; he simply raised his right hand.
At his fingertip, a faint silver ripple bloomed silently, spreading outward in circles like a stone cast into a lake.
Zoe’s pupils constricted slightly.
She reached out, her slender fingers dipping into the ripple.
A faint spatial vibration met her touch, like a tiny electric current spreading from her fingertip to her wrist.
This was genuine spatial magic—the most basic Spatial Ripple formula.
Furthermore, the casting speed and stability far exceeded what any beginner should be capable of.
“Have you studied spatial magic before?” she asked, withdrawing her hand and re-evaluating Jiang Lin.
“I started yesterday.”
The research lab fell into a dead silence for a full fifteen minutes.
Zoe first walked to the window to pretend she was looking at the scenery, then sat back down behind her workbench.
Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, producing a steady “tap, tap” sound.
She stared at Jiang Lin for a long time—so long that Elune began to shift uncomfortably in her chair.
Finally, Zoe spoke. Her tone remained that of a calm and detached scholar, but it held a newfound layer of seriousness.
“Logically, it is impossible to go from zero space affinity to releasing a Spatial Ripple within a single day.”
“Space affinity is an innate talent; it is almost impossible to change later in life.”
“However, it is possible you possess some special constitution or have encountered a unique opportunity that allowed you to ‘acquire’ affinity.”
“In any case, this is the first time I have seen such a thing in my teaching career.”
She paused, then continued, “Since you have perceived space elements, my previous offer stands.”
“From today onward, you may study spatial magic in my research lab.”
“But let me warn you: spatial magic is one of the most profound and dangerous fields in all magic systems.”
“If you lose control, the best-case scenario is a spatial backlash. In the worst case, you could tear space apart, causing a spatial turbulence that swallows everything around you.”
“Are you sure you want to continue?”
“I’m sure.”
Zoe gave a slight nod and pulled a thick stack of notes from her workbench, handing them to Jiang Lin.
She then said, “These are my spatial magic research notes. They range from foundational to advanced, covering spatial perception, spatial folding, spatial cutting, teleportation array architecture, and more.”
“You can take them back to read. If there’s anything you don’t understand, come ask me at any time. Also...”
She stood up and walked to a square object covered by a shroud in the corner of the lab, reaching out to unveil it.
Beneath the shroud was a cubic crystal container about one meter on each side.
Suspended inside the container was a swirling, twisting mass of silver-white light, looking like a captured miniature nebula.
Tiny silver bolts of lightning occasionally shot out from the light, striking the inner walls of the container with soft “crackle” sounds.
“This is a spatial rift stability sample,” Zoe said with a hint of pride in her voice.
“In the entire Silver Moon Kingdom, I am the only one who possesses one.”
“Using it to practice spatial magic perception and manipulation will yield twice the results with half the effort.”
“From now on, you may use it for three hours every week.”
Jiang Lin walked up to the crystal container, gazing at the twisting silver-white light.
He could clearly feel that the density of space elements inside the container was dozens of times higher than that of the outside world, and they were exceptionally active, like boiling water.
Practicing spatial magic in such an environment would indeed boost efficiency significantly.
“Thank you, Mentor!” he said solemnly.
“No need to thank me.”
Zoe turned back to her workbench and picked up her quill again.
“Spatial mages are extremely rare. Encountering a student who is willing to learn and has the capability to do so is a rare opportunity for a mentor as well.”
“Study hard. Don't waste your talent.”
Jiang Lin bowed slightly, then turned and walked out of the lab.
Elune followed closely behind him.
As they left the research lab, Jiang Lin held Zoe’s notes, reading them even as he descended the stairs.
Zoe’s handwriting was completely different from Elune’s delicate script; it was messy and forceful, with large sections of cross-outs and annotations.
The content of the notes started from the most basic perception of space elements and gradually delved into advanced fields like spatial folding, spatial cutting, and teleportation array architecture.
Every page was densely packed with a staggering amount of information.
He was just reading a chapter on “Spatial Nodes and Teleportation Array Stability” when a figure suddenly flashed from the side, blocking his path.
“So you’re that human?”
Jiang Lin looked up.
Blocking his way was a young male elf.
He wore well-tailored, deep blue noble attire, with a decorative rapier hanging at his waist.
His face was handsome, but his brow carried a sense of arrogance and impatience.
His long golden hair was tied back with a silver ribbon, and his pointed ears tilted slightly backward.
Behind him stood two other elven youths, also in noble dress—one male and one female—with expressions as if they were waiting to watch a show.
Jiang Lin looked him up and down, his golden eyes filled with confusion.
“Who are you?”
The noble elf’s face instantly flushed red.
The female elf behind him couldn't help but giggle, only to be met with a fierce glare from him.
“What happened back in Silverleaf Town, when you used some cowardly trick to humiliate me... that isn't over yet.”
The noble elf’s voice was low, but his tone held a clear threat.
“Now that you’re on my turf, you’d better show some respect.”
At that, Jiang Lin remembered. This was the same noble elf he had scared witless with Blood Deterrence in the tea house back in Silverleaf Town.
The pathetic way he had fled then was a far cry from his current arrogant posture.
“Is something wrong?” Jiang Lin closed the notes.
The elf took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and introduced himself in a condescending tone.
“I am Alwin Moonshadow, heir to the Moonshadow Earldom and the grade-level chief of the Silver Moon Academy’s swordsmanship department.”
“Back in Silverleaf Town, you ambushed me while I was off-guard. Today, I am challenging you to a fair and square duel.”
Jiang Lin looked at him, then at the two elves behind him, before looking back down to reopen Zoe’s notes.
“I don’t have time.”
Alwin’s face turned from red to a bruised purple.
He stepped forward, reaching out to grab Jiang Lin’s collar.
But before his hand could touch Jiang Lin, it was firmly caught by another hand.
“Alwin, what do you think you’re doing?”
Elune stepped forward, her pale purple eyes staring coldly at Alwin.
Her elven longsword was still at her waist, but a faint magic fluctuation already surrounded her.
Alwin froze for a moment, then shook off her hand.
“Elune, this has nothing to do with you. This is a personal matter between me and this human.”
“He is my friend,” Elune said, not backing down an inch. “Challenging him is challenging me.”
Alwin’s mouth twitched. His gaze flickered between Elune and Jiang Lin a few times, a flash of resentment in his eyes.
Ultimately, he took a step back and straightened his ruffled collar.
“Fine, very well.” He glared at Jiang Lin, his voice turning cold. “Hiding behind a woman... what kind of man are you?”
Jiang Lin finally looked up from the notes.
He looked at Alwin, then at Elune, before putting the notes back into his spatial ring.
“How do you want to fight?” he asked, putting his hands behind his back.
A flash of triumph crossed Alwin’s eyes.
“Tomorrow at noon, in the academy arena.”
“A public match. The entire faculty and student body can come to watch.”
“I will make you pay for your arrogance in front of the whole academy!”
Jiang Lin nodded slightly.
“And what price are you willing to pay to challenge me?”
“After all, if I had to deal with every stray dog that barked at me on the street, I wouldn't have any time for myself.”
Upon hearing this, Alwin’s face went from bruised purple to a dark, angry plum color.
He gritted his teeth, staring fixedly at Jiang Lin as if he wanted to bore holes through the human youth with his gaze.
The two lackeys behind him stopped laughing and exchanged looks, clearly not expecting this human to dare set conditions in return.
“What do you want?” Alwin squeezed the words through his teeth.
Jiang Lin thought for a moment, his gaze landing on the decorative rapier at the elf’s waist.
The gems on the scabbard shimmered with a soft luster under the Moonlight Tower’s lamps, and the crossguard was engraved with complex elven runes that held a faint flow of magic.
“If you lose, that sword is mine.”
Alwin’s pupils constricted.
That sword was named “Moonshadow,” an enchanted longsword passed down through the Moonshadow family for centuries.
The blade was engraved with a triple-layered wind-attribute magic array, which could increase sword speed by at least a hundred percent.
While it wasn't the family’s most precious treasure, it was certainly no ordinary weapon.
“You’re just a human. Do you think you’re worthy of a sword from the Moonshadow family?” the male lackey behind him blurted out, his voice full of contempt.
Jiang Lin didn't even look at him, keeping his eyes calmly on Alwin.
“Not brave enough? Then forget it.”
He turned, reopened Zoe’s notes, and continued toward the stairs.
Elune followed closely by his side, casting a cold, warning glance at Alwin.
She didn't say anything, but the warning in her eyes was clear enough.
“Wait!”
Alwin’s voice came from behind, filled with a grit-toothed determination.
“I accept. But if you lose...”
He paused, emphasizing every word.
“You will get on your knees and apologize to me in public. Then, you will leave Silver Moon Academy and never appear before Elune again.”
Elune’s footsteps came to a sudden halt.
She turned around, about to speak, but was stopped by Jiang Lin’s raised hand.
“Fine,” Jiang Lin said without turning back, his tone as flat as if he were agreeing to a cup of tea tomorrow.
“Tomorrow at noon, at the arena.”
He continued down the stairs. Elune shot Alwin one last fierce glare before hurrying to catch up.
In the corridor, Alwin stood his ground, his golden eyes reflecting the receding golden figure.
His lips slowly curled into a cold smirk.
“Tomorrow, I’ll show you the price of provoking the Moonshadow family in the Silver Moon Kingdom.”
The female lackey behind him hesitated before whispering, “Young Master Alwin, that human was able to take a full blow from Instructor Gal... he might actually be very strong.”
“Shut up,” Alwin interrupted coldly.
“Gal is just a 4th-rank peak tester. I am already a 5th-rank early-stage magic swordsman.”
“Besides, the item Father gave me is perfect for dealing with that strange mental pressure of his.”
...
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