"So, Gauss, you're here to train your defensive magic, right?" Lawrence asked with visible excitement.
"Yes."
That was exactly why Gauss had come—to train through mutual practice with other members. Originally, he'd planned to pay someone in town to help him, but now that there was a free option, even better.
To improve his Mage Armor, Gauss needed to gather a wide variety of hit feedback. Now that he had Magic Resistance, his Level 1 Mage Armor seemed to offer some resistance even to spells. He suspected it might be able to withstand even cantrips.
And this Spellcaster Mutual Aid Association was the perfect training ground. Here, he could collect enough data and deepen his understanding of the resonance between his magic and Mage Armor.
"Shall we begin?" Lawrence eagerly led Gauss to a training room.
The building might have looked plain on the outside, but the interior was impressively well-equipped. Especially the training rooms—Gauss could clearly see remnants of powerful magic etched into the walls, the kind no apprentice could cast.
Clearly, there were professional-level spellcasters backing this place.
"My cantrip is Chill Touch," Lawrence announced as they got into position.
Among the apprentices here, defensive casters were always in high demand. Since no one else had arrived yet, Lawrence was eager to get in some early training with Gauss.
Chill Touch? Gauss gave him a sideways glance. He hadn't expected this upright, thick-browed, righteous-looking young man to specialize in a necromancy-based cantrip. It was a bit of a surprise.
"Let me test it out first."
Gauss cast Mage Armor, and a layer of invisible force shimmered around him. If one looked closely, there was a faint pale-blue glow at its base.
That glow was his innate Magic Resistance.
It seemed to be subtly enhancing the original Mage Armor spell.
Lawrence nodded. He extended his right hand, and after closing his eyes and concentrating, a ghostly green skeletal hand slowly manifested in front of him.
As soon as it appeared, Gauss felt a brief chill run through him, like standing in a crypt. But the sensation faded almost instantly—his magic resistance neutralized the negative effect.
Seeing Gauss remain calm and unfazed, Lawrence silently nodded in approval.
No wonder he got a recommendation from Madam Andeni, he thought. This guy's composure and strength are far beyond most apprentices.
Don't be fooled by Chill Touch's basic appearance—most apprentices, when first faced with its eerie cold aura, would instinctively shudder from the psychological pressure alone.
"Let's start the real training."
Lawrence cautiously directed the ghost hand to touch Gauss's Mage Armor.
Despite the name, Chill Touch was fundamentally a negative energy spell, and would have been hard to withstand under normal conditions.
But with Magic Resistance, the result was different.
The barrier rippled upon contact, but stabilized quickly with the help of Gauss's innate resistance.
Feels kind of weak, Gauss thought. The initial contact gave him a chill, but afterward there was no further discomfort.
At the same time, he felt his inner magic becoming more active—the magical resonance had returned!
"Keep going, don't stop."
Lawrence had been slightly disappointed that Gauss barely reacted, but hearing this, he immediately resumed his assault.
The ghostly claw struck again and again, each time creating ripples in the Mage Armor as it fended off the attacks.
And so, Gauss stood immersed in this contrast of cold outside and warm magic flow inside, his Mage Armor gradually growing stronger and more resilient.
"Mage Armor Proficiency +1"
"Mage Armor Level Lv.3 (0/50)"
At last, the words flashed before Gauss's eyes.
Mage Armor had broken through to level Lv.3.
A slight enhancement spread across his body. The armor gained a subtle new magic-resistant coating.
Encased in this reinforced barrier, Gauss could feel the difference—his armor had become thicker, sturdier.
In that moment, he fully understood the significance of a Level 1 spell reaching Lv.3 proficiency.
Unlike cantrips, which only gain moderate improvements as they level, a Level 1 spell at Lv.3 becomes uniquely personalized.
The same spell used by different casters manifests differently. Once your understanding is deep enough, it evolves into a signature variant.
The current version of Mage Armor was no longer a generic formula—it had begun to morph into something new.
Gauss closed his eyes.
He could feel it now. His Mage Armor had integrated with his Magic Resistance—it was evolving toward a "Universal Defense" archetype.
Of course, "universal" here was aspirational. In reality, no single spell could defend against every type of attack.
Much depended on factors like magic power, resistance strength, and spell proficiency.
Reaching that ideal of all-purpose defense would take a long journey of refinement.
But his unique Mage Armor had clearly gained greater growth and adaptability. In the future, who knows? Maybe it could be enhanced further, like it had absorbed Magic Resistance this time.
Perhaps it wasn't merely armor—but something more.
Gauss opened his eyes, a gleam flashing across them.
Lawrence, on the other hand, was slumped on the ground, completely drained of mana.
Staring at Gauss—still radiant and energized—he couldn't help but feel astonished.
So this is the monster Madam Andeni introduced... Lawrence thought. This guy doesn't feel like an apprentice—more like a professional spellcaster.
"Thanks for your help," Gauss said, pulling Lawrence to his feet and helping him into a nearby chair.
"Are you really still an apprentice?" Lawrence asked, still trying to recover from the shock.
"What else would I be? If I were already a professional, why would I need to train here?" Gauss replied with a smile.
Fair point.
Lawrence looked at Gauss's relaxed face.
He felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. To think someone at his level could do so little—it was a humbling realization.
"Is anyone else scheduled today?"
Gauss wasn't done. Now that Mage Armor had hit Lv.3, he was still chasing resonance with his magic. He needed more varied attack feedback.
It wasn't about sparring partners—it was about mutual training.
"Yes, yes," Lawrence said after catching his breath. "I'll go call them now."
That reminded him—maybe his cantrip was just a poor matchup.
He couldn't believe Gauss was that strong. Maybe it was just that Chill Touch was countered by his magic? If they tried a different type of spell, maybe Gauss's defense wouldn't hold up as well.