Chapter 211 People are indeed different
"Only elemental magic?" Aaron said, a little unconvinced. "Actually, I can learn other things too, preferably ones that can boost my combat power."
Slap!
Before he finished speaking, his head was smacked.
"Do you know what 'haste makes waste' means?" Weichert said sternly. "I appreciate your eagerness to learn, but you can't be too greedy. You can't chew more than you can bite!"
"But I've been studying elemental magic circles all year—water, fire, earth, wind, and lightning. I've almost mastered them all.
As long as you give me enough time, not to mention ultimate magic circles, I can even freely use forbidden and abyssal-level magic circles.
So I'd like you to teach me other things—summoning, teleportation, decomposition, and any other magic circles that can quickly boost my combat power."
Weichert was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook his head. "Didn't I teach you all of those last year?"
"Ancestor, please don't humor me.
What you taught me last year was just the basics. After studying them, I found that those things couldn't even be considered intermediate magic circles.
Only the summoning ones were barely effective, but the summoned creatures were also somewhat restricted. Unless they were bound by a contract, I'd have to expend some magic power."
"Hmm…" Weichert mused for a moment. "This is for your own good, and it's also my teaching experience accumulated over thousands of years. You are too weak now. Learning elemental magic circles is the best choice because the summoned elemental energy will be under your control."
Hearing this, a string of question marks floated above Aaron's head.
"So, according to you, other magic circles all carry certain risks."
"Naturally." Weichert shrugged. "My fourth disciple was particularly fond of summoning magic circles, but he didn't know that summoned creatures also have their own thoughts and won't obey the summoner's commands 100%, unless the summoner has the strength to suppress them.
When he was fourteen, he drew an ultimate summoning magic circle and summoned an abyssal demon comparable to an Archmage. If I hadn't intervened in time, he might have died.
My thirteenth disciple preferred sealing magic. His talent was only slightly less than yours.
He was just like you back then, asking me to teach him more advanced magic circles. After careful consideration, I agreed to his request, but afterwards, he almost sealed the entire Castle, along with himself, into an alternate dimension."
Gulp!
"Are all these ancestors so fond of excitement?" Aaron swallowed involuntarily. "Wait, since you are so proficient in magic circles, why didn't you stop them back then?"
"Alas!" Weichert said, both proudly and awkwardly. "Because these accidents never happened to me. I could 100% control every magic circle I drew, so I thought they were the same. But I didn't expect… I only discovered this situation after more than two hundred years—that not everyone is like me.
No choice, perhaps it's a difference in talent!"
Aaron: …What's with this strong Versailles-like tone?
"More than two hundred years ago?
Even if you're slow to realize, your heart is a bit too big!"
Weichert scratched his head, looking at his descendant and disciple's astonished expression, he felt a little embarrassed.
"In fact, it's not entirely my fault.
I'm quite strict in choosing disciples; often, only one in several generations is deemed worthy.
In other words, it takes me decades, centuries, or even longer to find an heir. And most of these heirs, after learning some usable magic circles, abandon the discipline. They never had any problems.
However, those who diligently study and reach advanced levels inevitably encounter accidents.
The intervals between accidents were at least two hundred years, and I even once thought those few were the anomalies."
Good heavens, truly good heavens.
Aaron stared blankly at this white-haired, even somewhat benevolent ancestor, feeling for the first time that the other party was so unreliable.
At the same time, he silently thanked the predecessors who had paved the way for him in his heart. If not for them, he probably would have stumbled once too.
"So, your point is that until I can withstand these risks, I can't learn high-level magic circles other than elemental ones."
"More or less!" Weichert didn't deny it. "Besides ability, a certain amount of talent is also needed.
After all, there are too many types of magic circles, and not everyone can be first in all aspects like me."
Aaron choked, his eye twitching.
This ancestor really doesn't know humility!
Although it was true, hearing it always gave him an urge to hit someone.
"What a pity, I thought I could learn some combat-boosting magic circles this holiday!" Aaron said with some regret. "Now it seems I can only proceed step by step."
"Do you have some misunderstanding about elemental magic circles?" Weichert frowned slightly. "Elemental magiccircles used to be quite common, but in terms of destructive power, they are definitely among the top.
Moreover, most Wizards in the past could only control one to three types; you are already a rarity."
Aaron was somewhat dismissive. He had to use a tactic of 'killing a thousand enemies but losing eight hundred of his own' just to fight Tom Riddle, and even then, he almost failed.
Unless he could instantly cast higher-level magic circles, magic circles wouldn't boost his combat power much in a short time.
"You don't seem to believe it!" Weichert's lips curled into a playful smile. "How about we have a little competition? I'll show you the brilliance of magic circles."
"Don't joke, Ancestor." Aaron said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. "You can make Genes gasp for breath with just a glance. If I fight you, isn't that just pure masochism?"
"I won't bully you. You are an Intermediate Archmage, so I'll suppress my strength to the level of an Intermediate Archmage."
"That won't do either." Aaron became wary in his heart and refused very seriously. "Your combat experience is infinitely richer than mine. Even with suppressed strength, I have no chance of winning."
He wasn't stupid. Ancestor Weichert had said before that challenging those of higher rank was commonplace for him.
Although he had some confidence in his own strength, he wasn't so confident as to fight this unbelievably strong ancestor at the same rank, unless he recalled his thought-form, or… his brain was filled with water.
"Then I'll drop another rank, how about Novice Archmage?" Weichert said temptingly. "You can use any means, including calling your pet."
Aaron's heart skipped a beat. If he added a Holy Dragon… maybe he could win.
But the next moment, he threw that thought out of his mind. Ancestor Weichert clearly had enough confidence, otherwise he wouldn't have said that.
Moreover, winning wouldn't benefit him, and losing would just be a pointless beating. It seemed like a losing proposition no matter how he looked at it.
"I must refuse." Aaron said calmly. "I absolutely, positively will not fight you."
Weichert raised an eyebrow, then let out a chuckle.
"Hahaha, you little fellow are really interesting. I even admire your rationality."
"Thank you for the compliment." Aaron showed no embarrassment. He almost had the word 'scared' written on his face, so it was perfectly normal for Weichert to see through his thoughts.
"Ancestor, you won't force me, will you?"
Aaron suddenly thought of this possibility, and his expression changed slightly.
If this ancestor directly attacked him, he would have no choice but to fight back.
"No, that method is too simple and crude." Weichert scoffed. "It's rare to encounter such an excellent successor. If I scare you off and you stop coming to this classroom, I'd suffer a huge loss, so it has to be your voluntary choice."
"Mhm mhm mhm!"
Aaron nodded repeatedly, a huge weight lifting from his heart.
However, the next moment, a red magic circle flashed in Weichert's hand, and a thick, ancient-looking book appeared in his grasp.
"This is?"
"My notes from when I was alive. They meticulously record the functions of various magic circles.
Although they can't compare to what I've mastered, everything you want and urgently need is inside." Weichert said lightly, his voice filled with temptation. "As long as you can defeat me, I'll give you this book."
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Aaron's heart raced uncontrollably, his gaze fixed on the ancient book, filled with longing.
"Ancestor, it's not that I don't believe you." Aaron said with a shy smile. "Can I inspect the goods first?"
"No problem." Weichert said with an amused smile. "This book has been enchanted by me with a magic called Oblivion. No matter how good your memory is, you won't be able to remember its contents."
Aaron felt a little disappointed. He had originally planned to perform a live demonstration of 'getting something for free.'
He would remember it first, then slowly learn it later.
But now it seemed he had overthought it; this little trick wouldn't work at all.
After getting the book, Aaron eagerly flipped through it, but in a short while, his expression became incredibly complex.
In this book, elemental magic circles seemed to be the simplest. Sealing, enchanting, decomposition, death, summoning, space, and even time were all described to some extent.
"Is this real?" Aaron's voice trembled, somewhat incredulous.
"Of course it's real." Weichert silently took the magic book away. "But don't think too much. This book doesn't record those exaggerated, reality-bending magics. It's mostly just theory and some superficial applications."
"That's still quite remarkable!" Aaron said incoherently. "You should be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the founder of Gaius, right?"
"No." Weichert shook his head, saying earnestly and reverently, "I am far too inferior compared to him.
Our common ancestor was a Wizard unlike any before him, and there will never be another like him. My lifetime achievements are nothing in his presence."
"It's not that exaggerated, is it!"
"It's the truth. You'll understand once you meet him."
Hearing this, Aaron felt more doubts. "Didn't he die thousands of years ago?"
Weichert realized he had said too much and immediately explained, "I also died thousands of years ago, and aren't you still able to see me?"
"Uh… that's true." Aaron nodded. All twenty-something of his ancestors could preserve their existence through memories, so there was no reason the most powerful one couldn't do the same.
"Then is he in the family's Chamber of Secrets?"
"You'll know that after your father returns." Weichert said meaningfully, then held up the magic book in his hand. "Enough talk. Now tell me if you are willing to compete with me."