The next morning, Im handed each student a flat stone etched with faint runes. "These are mana conduits. Carve runes with your mana, power them with magic gems, and place them at the circle's nodes. They'll channel mana to create the effects we want."
"Only stones? What if they break?" Leon asked, pretending to tap the stone against a stake.
Im snatched it back. "Metal works too, but it requires magic metals—expensive. Stones are cheap, and we'll bury them for protection. Once the circle is active, it'll shield them."
Dahlia asked, "Do all circles need rune stones?"
"No—strong mages can conjure runes from pure mana," Im said. "But rune stones are best for permanent circles. Top-tier circles absorb free mana and run for thousands of years. My old academy's library has one from the first dean."
Leon thought of Eldrin's ruin—its magic trap had lasted centuries. It must be a top-tier circle. He'd stay far away until he was stronger.
Im walked to each stake, waved his staff, and a clay column rose, lifting the stake. He slid a rune stone into the hole at the column's base, then the column sank back, leaving no trace. He repeated this for every stake, then stood at the center, raising his staff.
The grass in the circle rustled—only along the lines connecting the stones. Mana flowed, invisible but tangible. "Done," Im said, exhaling. "This circle gathers mana and adjusts temperature. Four zones: cold-damp and hot-damp in the woods, cold-dry and hot-dry in the open. We'll plant herbs here—start with cold-loving ones, since winter's coming."
He led them to the valley mouth. "Moonlight Grass seeds arrive in two days. I'll teach you to plant and care for them—you'll manage the garden. Now, let's reinforce the warning wards."
Leon practiced tai chi that evening, the cool air nipping at his cheeks. No mist poured from his mouth—yet—but the movements helped him relax. Im had built a wooden gate and half-permanent warning wards at the valley mouth, more a symbolic barrier than a defense. The real protection was around the house and laboratory, which required Im's magic mark to enter.
Leon's meditation was almost stable—he failed only once or twice out of ten attempts. He envied Dahlia and Flower, who could cast simple spells, but he knew a strong foundation mattered—novels had taught him that much.
After breakfast, they checked the Moonlight Grass they'd planted. The silver-green blades thrived in the circle's magic. "This is the main ingredient for mana restoration potions," Im said. "With charcoal filtration, we'll make high-quality potions—finally, we'll earn gold."
Linden Pine Valley was large, but they only used a small corner—they were poor. The lord couldn't fund a mage forever; a single mage tower would bankrupt the territory.
Leon wandered to the hot-damp zone, where he'd placed rotting logs. He'd cut them from the woods, removed the mushrooms, and left the mycelium to regrow. He'd tried this with wood ear mushrooms as a child, but only a few tiny ones had sprouted. Now, with the magic circle, maybe it would work. Magic made everything better, didn't it?
Im watched him, saying nothing—he'd wait to judge until he saw results. Leon smiled, imagining fresh mushrooms with his bread. Maybe he'd make mushroom soup tonight.