Robb attempted to merge his mental energy into the subtle rhythm, trying to grasp the concept of "resonance" between elements.
At first, it felt like trying to pick out a single voice in a noisy marketplace.
Various elemental energy fluctuations overlapped chaotically, hard to distinguish.
But over time, Robb gradually began to identify subtle patterns and rhythms.
Water and fire elements were not as completely opposed as he once thought, there was a delicate balance between them.
Wind acted as a mediator, capable of connecting and harmonizing with other elements.
Earth, though seemingly sluggish, held the most stable and enduring energy.
"So that's how it is…"
Robb muttered to himself, as a new understanding took shape in his mind: "Elements aren't isolated forces, they're part of an interconnected system."
As this realization deepened, he felt his control over the elements become increasingly intuitive.
Processes that had once required precise calculations and careful direction now felt nearly instinctive.
[Elemental Perception EXP +1]
After several hours of meditation, Robb felt a slight dizziness, his mental energy had reached its current limit.
He slowly opened his eyes to find that the Energy Anchor Crystal had shifted from its original pale blue hue to a deep purplish blue, clearly having absorbed a significant amount of energy.
"The effect is even better than I expected," Robb murmured, gently touching the crystal to feel the energy it now held.
In the following days, Robb spent most of his free time on elemental meditation and practice.
Unusual elemental phenomena frequently appeared in the workshop's courtyard, miniature flame vortices, floating water spheres, and even brief showers of light.
His elemental control improved steadily, especially with light and fire elements, which he could now wield with increasing ease.
The techniques Seraphine had taught him allowed him to produce stronger elemental effects with less energy consumption.
[Elemental Perception EXP +1]
After each class, Robb would stay behind to seek further guidance from Seraphine.
The old witch praised his dedication and progress, and shared even more of her knowledge and experience with growing generosity.
"Your progress is remarkable, Robb."
Seraphine commented after the third class, her violet eyes glowing with admiration: "Especially your grasp of elemental resonance, you're already approaching the level of a High Apprentice."
Back at the workshop, Robb threw himself into further study.
Following Seraphine's earlier advice, he set up a special meditation environment:
Crystals representing different elements were arranged around the room, with the Energy Anchor Crystal at the center. Specially crafted lamps maintained a stable energy field.
During meditation, Robb attempted to synchronize his mental energy with the specific frequencies of certain elements, as described in his notes.
It was a painstaking process requiring extreme precision. Any misstep would ruin the attempt.
After several tries, Robb finally found that unique sense of resonance:
Like two tuning forks vibrating in harmony, his mental energy matched perfectly with the light element's frequency.
In that moment, he felt an unprecedented surge of elemental power flooding his body, like a bright river nourishing every corner of his spiritual space.
[Elemental Perception EXP +1]
[Breakthrough! Elemental Perception (Novice 50/50) → Elemental Perception (Adept 1/100)]
[Gained Bonus Trait: Resonance
(Improved control efficiency over affinity elements; corresponding elemental spells gain increased power)]
When Robb emerged from his meditation, it felt as if he were surrounded by a gentle glow.
He could sense his connection with the elements had become more intimate, especially with light and fire, which now responded to him almost like parts of his own body.
"Unbelievable…"
Robb whispered, watching a tiny ball of radiant flame form in his palm.
It was brighter and more stable than any elemental construct he had previously created, and used only half the mana it once required.
To test his new understanding, Robb tried casting Radiant Ring.
Previously, this spell required considerable preparation and precise energy control, draining a large amount of mental energy.
Now, the spell model formed almost instinctively within his mental space, like a reflex.
Even more impressive, the "Resonance" trait significantly boosted the spell's power and efficiency.
The halo formed faster, its light was brighter, and its destructive strength had increased by at least 20–30%.
[Spell Construction (Adept) and Elemental Perception (Adept) triggered a synergy effect]
[Increased EXP gain for elemental spells]
[Radiant Ring EXP +1]
[Current Progress: Radiant Ring (Novice 42/50)]
"Skills can synergize!"
Robb's eyes lit up as he realized that achieving proficiency in both Spell Construction and Elemental Perception had unlocked a powerful synergy.
This synergy drastically accelerated his learning speed for elemental spells, nearly three times faster than before.
At this pace, he could reach proficiency in Radiant Ring within a short time, a process that normally took months or even years of rigorous training.
"What a pleasant surprise," Robb smiled, feeling incredibly satisfied.
The next morning, Robb woke early to begin his daily meditation of Whispers of the Star-Eater.
Since the Timewarden Pocket Watch had been upgraded, the energy cost to cleanse minor mental corruption had reset to its original minimal level, giving him more freedom to attempt deep meditation.
He retrieved a bottle of pale blue-green potion from his workbench, Amber Thought Elixir. Unlike those sold by the workshop, the ones he reserved for himself were of the highest quality.
By adding trace amounts of stardust and moonlight water, he had enhanced the potion's effects to better support mental focus and clarity.
He carefully placed a single drop on his tongue.
The taste was surprisingly pleasant, like a mix of mint and honey, but the effect was incredibly strong.
Almost instantly, Robb felt his mind elevate to a higher state. His thoughts became razor-sharp, and his perception range expanded greatly.
"Perfect state…" Robb whispered, then sat cross-legged and began his meditation.
With the potion's aid, he quickly entered a deep meditative state.
As his consciousness sank into the familiar starry expanse, he found that his perception of the starfield was clearer than ever before.
The living stars were no longer just fuzzy points of light, they now revealed surface textures, subtle connections between them, and even distinct "personalities" of certain stars.
"This is only the beginning…"
Robb silently chanted the mantras of the meditation method, extending his mental energy into the starfield, reaching for knowledge and power.
[Whispers of the Star-Eater EXP +1]
[Current Progress: Whispers of the Star-Eater (Adept 180/300)]
After two hours of meditation, Robb's mental power had increased slightly.
The growth was slow but steady, and dependable.
[Spirit: 3.7 → 3.8 (+0.1)]
"Finally reached 3.8." Robb opened his eyes and felt the fullness of his mental energy.
This value meant he was now approaching the threshold of a High Apprentice, just a hair's breadth away from the benchmark of 4.0.
Of course, since mental strength increases non-linearly, this last step would likely be harder than all the progress before.
"At this pace, once Whispers of the Star-Eater hits Adept (200/300), I should reach 4.0 and officially become a High Apprentice. By then, the date of the Bloodline Altar should be close."
Robb calculated.
As if responding to his thought, a warning flashed on his mental interface:
[Warning: Minor Mental Corruption Detected]
Even though the potion greatly boosted meditation efficiency, it also seemed to accelerate the buildup of mental corruption.
Robb had to once again activate the Timewarden Pocket Watch's reset function to clear the risk.
[Negative state successfully reset: Minor Mental Contamination. Energy -1]
Unlike before, where energy cost steadily increased, the stabilized energy cost now put Robb at ease.
This meant he could enter deep meditation more frequently without worrying about excessive energy drain.
The following week, Robb's life was productive and full.
Mornings were for Whispers of the Star-Eater, followed by elemental meditation and spell practice.
If there were academy classes, he attended various advanced courses. If not, he trained solo. In the afternoons, he focused on potion-making and alchemy in the workshop.
Evenings were reserved for checking in on the little sea siren Daera and handling the daily affairs of the workshop.
In Solon's Mental Control class, Robb's performance remained outstanding.
Especially in multi-spell model construction, he was almost always the first student to complete the practice.
"Excellent work, Robb,"
Solon praised as he examined the three stable spell models coexisting in Robb's crystal orb:
"Your mental control is at a very high level. Keep it up."
After class, Solon, as usual, kept Robb behind for special instruction.
This time, the focus was on compression techniques for Mental Shock, how to store the maximum energy in the smallest possible volume without sacrificing stability.
"The power of Mental Shock is proportional to the compression ratio, but so is the risk."
Solon explained while sketching a complex energy structure in the air:
"Overcompression can cause energy to destabilize. Not only will the spell fail, but it could also backfire on the caster."
Robb studied every detail carefully, trying to replicate the compression process within his mental space.
"You seem to grasp the technique very easily,"
Solon observed with a curious glint in his eye: "Is that because of Whispers of the Star-Eater?"
Robb was startled, he hadn't expected Solon to know the name: "You… know that meditation method?"
"Yes. Elena mentioned it."
Solon continued, his gaze a mix of admiration and concern:
"Whispers of the Star-Eater is one of the few meditation techniques that directly strengthen the essence of mental energy. But its dangers are equally daunting. Many who attempt it fall to mental corruption."
Robb maintained a cautious stance:
"Lady Elena did warn me of the risks. I've been careful to control my pace."
"I can tell."
Solon nodded: "Your mental state is remarkably stable. There's almost no sign of contamination. That means either you have extraordinary talent, or you've found an effective purification method."
He gave Robb a meaningful look:
"Either way, it proves you're someone worth watching."
Robb felt a flicker of unease, but it quickly faded with Solon's next words:
"Don't worry, I don't mean anything by it. As a supervisor of the reserve wizard track, my job is to observe and guide promising candidates, not hinder their growth."
For the rest of the session, Solon was more generous than ever, sharing high-level techniques on stabilizing mental energy and resisting corruption.
These were normally only available to advanced apprentices, clear recognition of Robb's unique talents.
[Mental Disruption (Adept) EXP +1]
As Robb left the classroom, he didn't notice that his special treatment had begun to draw attention.
"Another private lesson, how many times is that now?"
During class, Robb's enhanced supernatural perception allowed him to overhear two students whispering behind him.
"Word is, Lord Griffith gives him special coaching every time, at least half an hour after class."
"What's so surprising? Doesn't he have that rare 'Potion Resonance' talent? That's a second-tier ability."
"Still, he's just a fresh Intermediate Apprentice. Why does he get this kind of privilege?"
Robb stopped listening and focused on the crystal orb before him.
But the remarks had made one thing clear, his special treatment had become public knowledge.
After class, Solon once again kept Robb for personal instruction.
This time, however, two other students hesitated before leaving, then mustered the courage to stay behind.
"Lord Griffith…" said one, a middle-aged student who looked to be in his thirties. "I have some questions about Mental Shock theory. May I ask for your guidance?"
A flash of irritation crossed Solon's face, but he quickly masked it:
"Of course, Apprentice Morris. What would you like to ask?"
The other student stepped forward too, it was clearly a coordinated move.
Solon didn't refuse. He patiently answered their questions.
But Robb keenly noticed that Solon's attitude toward them was far less invested or enthusiastic than it was with him.
After about fifteen minutes, Solon frowned slightly, clearly displeased with their lack of understanding.
"That will be all for today," he said calmly. "Before the next class, I suggest reviewing the fundamentals of mental fluctuation theory. It'll help you grasp the advanced concepts."
The two students looked disappointed but didn't dare protest. They bowed respectfully and left.
Once Robb was alone, Solon's demeanor relaxed noticeably:
"Now, let's continue our compression technique from last time…"
Robb noticed that Solon's gaze carried a peculiar focus, like someone evaluating a rare and valuable artifact.
After the lesson, Robb stood and bowed: "Thank you very much for your guidance, Lord Griffith. Your techniques have helped me greatly."
Solon nodded slightly: "Your passion for learning and your talent are both impressive, Robb. I look forward to your future achievements."
As Robb exited the classroom, he didn't get far before encountering the two students who had stayed behind.