Knight: from Apprentice to the Almighty

Roland was all too familiar with the object before him.

It was the very same bone that Bronson held every night, meticulously carving Spell Patterns into it to draw in Magic Elements.

However...

Noticing Dalko’s attention wasn’t on the bone, Roland stepped forward discreetly. As he slowly began to re-wrap it in the linen cloth, he casually asked,

"Dalko, you just said... Mr. Bronson left the manor?"

"That’s right."

Dalko, who had been about to ask about the bone’s origin, was distracted and instantly lost interest.

In any case, he didn’t care much about what Bronson had given Roland. Right now, his only concern was his father’s safety.

"Mr. Bronson did indeed leave the manor, but he didn’t say where he was going."

Hearing this, Roland wasn’t surprised.

After Bronson had previously gone out alone to gather Magic Elements, it seemed perfectly plausible that the research-obsessed scholar would do anything unexpected.

What Roland couldn’t understand, however, was why Bronson would have Dalko give this bone to him.

’Is he in a hurry for me to test this bone’s effects?’

As he was pondering this, Dalko’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What about you, Roland? When are you planning to return to the manor?"

"In a few more days."

He still had enough money in his pocket to buy a dozen or so more Devil Fish.

According to his original plan, Roland intended to finish Refining the remaining Spirit Summoning Potion in Distant Harbor before heading back.

"Then why don’t you come back with me!"

Seeing Roland seemed to have improved Dalko’s mood considerably. The young nobleman reverted to his usual self.

He placed a hand on Roland’s shoulder and said with a smile.

"If nothing unexpected happens, King Morne will be summoning us nobles in a few days. Once the audience is over, I’ll be able to leave."

"Alright."

Roland nodded slightly.

"So where are you staying now? Do you want to stay with me..."

Before Dalko could finish, Roland gently waved his hand, declining the offer.

For one thing, Refining Spirit Summoning Potion required a quiet environment.

And for another...

His hand unconsciously touched the hard bone in his bundle, and his eyebrow rose slightly.

’Now that I have a bone that can absorb Magic Elements, I don’t have to wait until I’m back at the manor to learn a Trick.’

The thought of the Flaming Arrow Bronson had cast that day filled Roland with an unbearable sense of anticipation.

Although a Trick’s power was limited, the chance to learn a supernatural skill was something anyone would yearn for.

Roland was certainly no exception.

"Alright then..."

Seeing Roland refuse, Dalko shrugged nonchalantly.

"Then how will I contact you?"

"Go to..."

After giving the name of the inn where he was staying, the two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then Roland turned to leave.

Back in his inn room, he eagerly unwrapped the bundle.

Gazing at the pale bone, Roland took a deep breath to calm his slightly racing heart.

He then closed his eyes, carefully recalling Bronson’s instructions on how to use the Spell Patterns as he slowly placed his palm on the bone, which gleamed with a cold light.

The moment his palm touched the bone, an icy sensation spread from his fingertips.

At first, nothing unusual happened.

But just as Roland was about to give up, the seemingly random Engravings suddenly became clear in his mind.

Each line seemed to come alive, outlining a complete pattern in the depths of his consciousness.

"This is..."

Roland’s heart trembled.

He felt the fine Engravings on the bone’s surface begin to warm up slightly, and something invisible in the air seemed to be slowly drawn toward it.

Like a traveler in the desert suddenly catching the scent of water vapor, he clearly sensed the existence of Magic Elements for the first time.

The free-floating Energy swirled around the bone like tiny fireflies.

They would sometimes gather into a stream, sometimes scatter about, but were ultimately all captured by the exquisite patterns on the bone.

As more and more Magic Elements gathered, Roland suddenly felt a slight sting in his palm.

The Energy absorbed by the bone actually began to seep in slowly through his fingertips.

At first, it felt like icy threads burrowing into his skin, bringing with them a slight numbness.

But as more Magic Elements poured in, Roland’s palm began to heat up, as if it were submerged in a spring whose temperature was gradually rising.

He could clearly feel the unfamiliar Energy flowing slowly along the channels of his arm. Wherever it passed, his muscles would tremble involuntarily.

It was a peculiar experience.

It was neither painful nor pleasant, but rather an unprecedented sense of... presence.

It was as if a tangible substance had suddenly been injected into what were once empty blood vessels.

Roland could even seem to hear a faint humming as the Magic Power flowed, like the sound of distant, barely audible wind chimes.

His breathing quickened unconsciously, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

His body was having some trouble adjusting to receiving Magic Elements for the first time.

Every time the Magic Elements passed through a joint, it would cause an instinctive tensing.

But strangely, when the Magic Power reached the vicinity of his brain, Roland felt a peculiar sense of fullness.

It was as if he had chugged a large glass of sparkling water, and even his heartbeat became exceptionally clear and strong.

"Hooo..."

After a long exhale, Roland slowly lifted his hand from the bone.

Though his fingertips were still trembling slightly, the corners of his mouth turned up in an irrepressible smile.

"Mr. Bronson... you really are a genius."

He murmured in admiration, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

Without any hesitation, Roland turned and sat on the edge of the bed. After regulating his breathing, he closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, a familiar haziness filled his vision.

The scent of the damp sea breeze vanished, replaced by the unique silence of the Consciousness Shallows.

Completely different from the chaotic, surging scene he had witnessed when he first drank the Spirit Summoning Potion, the Consciousness Shallows now presented a refreshing tranquility.

The gray fog had long since dissipated, replaced by a sea surface as clear as a mirror, reflecting an endless azure sky.

A gentle breeze carried the unique, fresh scent of the sea, as if it were cleansing his very thoughts, making them exceptionally clear.

Recalling the Rune structure for Flaming Arrow that Bronson had demonstrated, Roland took a deep breath and slowly traced his finger through the empty air.

As he made the first stroke, his Spiritual Power materialized in the Consciousness Shallows, seeping from his fingertip like a silk thread and leaving a crimson trail in the air.

’The core arc of the Rune must be precise... Too loose, and the Magic Power will dissipate. Too tight, and it will cause a premature combustion.’

Roland muttered to himself as he watched the red light bend and take shape according to his will.

The moment the three arcs converged, the Rune suddenly began to tremble slightly.

Roland immediately steadied his wrist and began to sketch the peripheral auxiliary patterns. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

This time, he picked up the pace. The threads of Spiritual Power danced like flickering flames, quickly weaving the serrated Burning marks and the sharp projection arrowhead.

As the final stroke was completed, the entire Rune suddenly collapsed inward, transforming into a single, floating, dark-red point of light.

Roland could feel the compressed heat within it.

It was like holding an ember on the verge of bursting into Flame.

He carefully wrapped it in his consciousness, placed it in a specific spot in the depths of his mind, and then left the Consciousness Shallows.

The moment he returned to reality, a line of clear text slowly materialized before his eyes.

[Skill Acquired: Flaming Arrow. Current Level: Level 1]