"This is… the *Truth Mage Combat Manual, Volume One*? C-Can I have this?" Isaac asked, looking at Cheryl in surprise after glancing at the title.
The *Truth Mage Combat Manual*. Even in the Truth Association, only a select few Arcanists were permitted to study this Magic Book. It was said to contain a highly practical and systematic collection of combat Arcane Arts. Though its academic value was considered average, it provided a tremendous boost to one's combat strength.
As for whether Isaac wanted it? Of course he did.
But the Truth Association's rules were not to be trifled with.
"Just take it. Father already bought the succession rights for this Magic Book. It was originally intended to train our own Arcanists, but it's a shame there are so few with talent. So, it's barely been used."
"You can do that?" Isaac asked, surprised, as he accepted the Magic Book.
"Yes. Go ahead and start studying. If you don't understand something, just call for the Tower Spirit. She'll let me know. I'm heading up; I have a few things to attend to."
"Alright, Big Sis. Take care!"
After watching his sister leave, Isaac immediately went over to the desk and eagerly began to flip through the Magic Book.
This Magic Book didn't contain many spells, only three in total: Magic Seal, Flaming Arrow, and Flame Shaping.
The rest of the book was filled with all sorts of battle plans, covering a wide array of unforeseen circumstances. It was practically an encyclopedia of real-world combat.
Of course, this didn't mean the spells themselves were unimportant. On the contrary, they were crucial, and incredibly powerful!
Magic Seal: A modification-type Arcane Art. A Magic Seal can be implanted in a part of the body to store additional Magic Power—up to three times one's own total!
Flaming Arrow: A noble Fire Element Magic. Among all Tier One Magic, it was the Flame Magic with the longest range, highest precision, and greatest power.
Flame Shaping: A Fire Element Assistance Magic that can alter the shape, flight path, and power of Flame Magic.
The three spells were interlinked, allowing one to construct a highly complex combat system.
Isaac was soon immersed in a profound ocean of Knowledge. The various combat scenarios recorded in the Magic Book greatly broadened his horizons. When presented with a scenario, he wouldn't just study the book's proposed solution; he would also devise his own, comparing the two approaches. The gains from this process were substantial.
Time flies when one is engrossed in learning, and in what felt like the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
In those three days, Isaac had studied a vast number of Wizard combat techniques. While most of his knowledge was still theoretical, he felt that a few real battles would be all he needed to master the majority of it. He had also learned two of the three spells: Flaming Arrow and Flame Shaping.
The only one he hadn't learned was the highly practical Magic Seal, and that was due to a lack of materials.
A Magic Seal had to be implanted into the body, and any spell involving self-modification was a serious matter that couldn't be trifled with—this held true for Legendary Mages and Truth Mages alike.
"Flaming Arrow!"
"BOOM!"
In the third-floor laboratory of the Mage Tower.
A searing line of fire shot from Isaac, tracing a crimson arc through the air before striking a target fifty meters away with perfect accuracy. It erupted in a furious ball of flame!
Isaac glanced at the Power Value provided by the Tower Spirit, and the corners of his mouth turned up. 'Now *this* is more like it. This is what it means to be a Wizard!'
Carried away by his excitement, Isaac fired off a few more Flaming Arrows until he'd had his fill. Afterward, he cleaned up and began to perform the experiments he couldn't afford before coming here.
...
"Is he still studying Magic?"
In the Lord's Mansion at Solomon Fortress, Caesar glanced curiously at Cheryl.
"He is," Cheryl said with a shrug, a sigh escaping her lips. "Now I see why our little brother is so exceptional. He's an absolute madman about it!"
Caesar shot Cheryl a sidelong glance. 'In her younger days, Big Sis's obsession with Magic was every bit as intense as Isaac's. She's only had a bit of free time recently because she hit a bottleneck.'
Caesar didn't voice his thoughts, however. He glanced in the direction of the Mage Tower and asked worriedly, "With him being so obsessive, you don't think he'll run into any trouble, do you?"
"Relax. The Tower Spirit is watching over him; he'll be fine. Besides, his Magic Pet... tsk... it's a little... abstract-looking, but it's surprisingly good at taking care of him. You don't need to worry."
"If you say so." Caesar shrugged, his gaze returning to the sand table before him, his brow furrowed slightly.
Seeing his expression, Cheryl's own delicate brows knitted together. She leaned her graceful figure forward, her eyes joining Caesar's on the sand table.
"Still no sign of the Black Orc army?"
"No." Caesar shook his head. "Based on past years, the Black Orc army should be mustering by now, but our scouts haven't found any sign of them."
"That is troubling..." Cheryl murmured, staring at the sand table in thought. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face as she debated whether or not to speak.
"What is it? Have an idea?" Caesar asked, noticing her hesitation.
*Sigh...* After a moment's thought, Cheryl let out a heavy sigh and decided to speak her mind. "Could it be," she began hesitantly, "that Second Brother is..."
At her words, Caesar fell silent. Cheryl hadn't finished her sentence, but he knew exactly what she was implying.
Second Brother was not the type to be subtle. Many people knew he coveted the title of Viscount and had been actively working toward that end.
As much as Caesar hated to suspect his own brother of betraying their domain's interests, he had to admit, realistically, that it was exactly the kind of thing Second Brother would do.
Because that was just his level—overly ambitious, short-sighted, and fond of taking risky shortcuts.
Take the recent goblin incident, for example. To compete with Caesar for his position, he'd gone so far as to let the goblins in their territory multiply unchecked!
He never stopped to think about the immense damage such actions would cause to the domain and its people!
Or perhaps, he simply didn't care. All he wanted was to secure the inheritance!
*Sigh...* After a moment of silence, Caesar sighed as well. He waved a hand wearily. "Have your Little Elves keep an eye on Second Brother. I'll send the Shadow Guard to find the Black Orc army."
Cheryl nodded silently. She had no desire to see her brothers turn on each other either.
"When is Father arriving?" Cheryl asked.
As things stood, if Second Brother was truly behind this, only Father could stop him. Caesar's involvement would only add fuel to the fire.
"Soon. Within the week. Preparing Isaac's gift caused a slight delay." At the mention of Isaac, the corners of Caesar's lips turned up slightly. His sour mood, brought on by thoughts of Second Brother, lifted a little.
Lately, the thing that brought him the most joy was Isaac becoming a Wizard, finally shedding his former weak and sickly image.
As the eldest brother, his greatest wish was for his siblings to be healthy and well.
...
"Haha! I did it!"