Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

The spell shop is also located on the 50th floor of the central Black Tower, but it is much smaller than the library. Upon entering, Richard was immediately faced with a counter, behind which stood a mechanical golem similar to those at the Seven Luminaries Trading Company. However, this one was more rudimentary, with many of its mechanical components exposed and gears constantly in motion.

Behind the golem were shelves holding spell models, reminiscent of the library's bookshelves, but only three rows deep.

"What spell model would you like to purchase?" the mechanical clerk asked Richard in a voice that sounded like metal scraping.

"Lesser Fireball, Ice Spike," Richard replied, naming the spells he'd planned to buy.

The power of Lesser Fireball was well-known, making it a formidable choice among low-level apprentices and one of the most expensive first-circle spells, valued at 100 magic stones. As for Ice Spike, Richard had a vague idea—it seemed odd to him.

Though named Ice Spike, its true power lay in the speed of the spike, with the spike itself providing little direct damage beyond its hardness. This peculiarity caught Richard's attention.

If Ice Spike's power derived from speed, then its spell model must contain a mechanism to generate that kinetic energy.

Richard had some interesting ideas about that part.

"Total cost: 11,000 academy credits."

Richard handed over a stack of academy credits he'd exchanged earlier. The mechanical clerk opened its chest compartment to deposit the credits, confirming the amount with a brief whir of gears.

"Amount confirmed, please wait." The clerk turned and pressed a few buttons on the shelves.

A mechanical sound emanated from above the counter, and a metal tube descended in front of Richard, accompanied by a series of clinks.

Clang!

Two scrolls shot out of the tube, caught swiftly by the mechanical clerk.

"Here are your goods: Lesser Fireball spell model, Ice Spike spell model."

"Pneumatic tube," Richard recognized the system, surprised to find something similar in this otherworldly realm.

He carefully stored the scrolls. Unlike crystal balls, which transmitted information mentally, these scrolls contained written information. This method allowed for curse inscriptions to prevent students from reselling the knowledge and avoided the high cost of using crystal balls.

Back at the dormitory, Richard handed the Ice Spike scroll to Ellie. He hadn't opened the scroll yet, so its curse hadn't activated, making it still tradeable.

"You want me to extract the part that provides kinetic energy?" Ellie asked, puzzled.

While others enhanced spells, Richard wanted to dismantle one.

Richard nodded, confirming his request. "Yes, I have some experiments in mind."

As an alchemy wizard, Richard's understanding of energy spell runes paled compared to Ellie's expertise. This was a drawback of being an apprentice; time was too limited to double-major without a mentor's guidance.

"Alright, give me three months, and I'll have it ready for you," Ellie agreed, casually mentioning, "Oh, by the way, Master Susanna has accepted me as her formal apprentice."

"What, already? Congratulations!" Richard congratulated her, pleased that his investment in their friendship had paid off.

Unlike Jolord, other wizards didn't require magic stones for knowledge. Becoming a formal apprentice meant gaining a significant portion or even all of a wizard's teachings.

"That's it?" Ellie was dissatisfied with Richard's reaction, puffing her cheeks. "Don't you have anything else to say?"

"Uh... what do you want me to do?" Richard scratched his head. Was she expecting him to treat her to dinner? Shouldn't she be the one treating him to celebrate?

"You... you... aren't you going to compliment me?" Ellie pouted like a puffed-up pufferfish but soon deflated. "Fine, you're always like this. Now that I've said it, hurry up and praise me!"

Richard found her childlike demeanor amusing. After offering a few compliments, Ellie finally released him, satisfied.

Back in his room, Richard didn't immediately unroll the scroll. Instead, he took a handful of iron pellets to the balcony.

"Wuni, time for your iron pellets."

At his call, a green-eyed crow flew into the room, landing on Richard's arm and pecking at the pellets in his hand.

Wuni was the name Richard gave the Death Omen Crow. After a year of care, it had grown quite attached to him.

It wouldn't be long before he could implant a soul seed into it without resistance.

After feeding Wuni, Richard returned inside and opened the Lesser Fireball scroll.

A wizard's soul can only bear a limited number of spell models, with each spell imprint adding to the soul's burden. However, increased mental power enhances the soul's capacity.

As an apprentice, one could bear up to four spell imprints. Removing an imprint was costly, so each choice had to be carefully considered.

Lesser Fireball, as a direct damage spell, was one of the most powerful first-circle energy spells, providing excellent value in the apprentice stage.

The scroll depicted a complex two-dimensional diagram filled with dense runes, forming a near-circle on the outermost layer. This circle represented the spell's "circle" or complexity, not its power. Among wizards, it was said, "There is no best spell, only the most suitable spell."

Spells are tools, and tools are most effective in appropriate contexts.

Memorizing a spell was time-consuming and labor-intensive, as inscribing a spell imprint on the soul allowed no room for error. Interruptions not only wasted effort but could also damage the soul, causing permanent mental decline.

Fortunately, Richard had the Truth Furnace. With a mere five-point mental power expenditure, he memorized the Lesser Fireball spell model.

Once the model was memorized, the rest was straightforward.

Richard sat cross-legged on his bed, entering a meditative state. In his soul space, he condensed runes with mental power, arranging them in the model's sequence. Then, he infused the runes with mental power until they merged with his soul.

This process was slow, taking Richard until the next morning to complete the fusion. When the spell model fully imprinted on his soul, he felt a mysterious weight, not from the physical world but from his soul.

This indicated his soul was burdened, but it also meant success.

"Finally done. I wonder how powerful this original version of Lesser Fireball is."

Richard's eyes gleamed with excitement. He needed to blow something up!