NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: 16. Silent Casting
If the magic level needed to cast the Illumination Spell is 1, then Ivan was using a power level of 10 to cast it.
Before, Ivan couldn't even attempt this spell because he didn't have a wand. But now, with the help of the Phoenix Wand, Ivan feels confident. As long as he understands a spell, he believes he can cast it—whether it's a basic Illumination Spell, a level 20 Fiery Spell, or even magic with a difficulty of 30.
"Yumi, close your eyes," Ivan said.
With that, he pulled out a pair of sunglasses from the cabinet and closed the curtains. Yumi, catching on to her master's hint, quickly lay down and cutely covered her eyes.
Ready to begin, Ivan took a deep breath, picked up his wand, recalled the sensation of casting without words, and waved the wand.
"Buzz!"
Once again, the room filled with a flash of intense light, but this time, both Ivan and Yumi were protected from the brightness.
"Interesting!" Ivan said, taking off his sunglasses with a smile. "It's just as I thought. Once you remember the feeling of casting a spell, you can repeat it."
"But… what should I call this?"
Is it a flash spell or something that causes temporary blindness?
Through this one attempt, Ivan noticed how the same spell could have different effects depending on the magic power applied.
"One thing is clear: the effect of a spell isn't simply proportional to the power used," he thought.
Unlike in fantasy games, where increasing magic power could make a small fireball grow into a huge one, the magic in this world is more unpredictable. Even a slight change in power can lead to wildly different outcomes.
For example, casting the Illumination Spell with a power level of 1 is just a light spell, but with a power level of 10, it becomes a flash spell. This isn't just about brightness; it's a completely different spell.
Ivan's instincts, supported by his heightened awareness, warned him not to change spell power too casually. It could lead to failure or, worse, unexpected consequences.
As noted in Basic Spells, Elementary, a wizard named Baruffio once mixed up "s" and "f" sounds in a spell, and he ended up with a bison standing on his chest. This incident clearly showed how dangerous it could be to lose control of a spell.
Right now, Ivan's magic skills aren't advanced enough for him to make random changes to spells without risking harm. He wouldn't mind taking risks himself, but he has Yumi, his owl, and even his friends and the staff at the orphanage to think about. These factors make him cautious.
"If I want to experiment, I should find an empty place or make sure the area is well-protected to prevent accidents."
"Now that I think of it, didn't Harry Potter have a classmate who accidentally cast explosive spells all the time?"
Ivan wondered how that could happen, as it didn't seem like it was simply due to using extra magic.
"Increasing power by ten times all at once is a bit much," he decided. "It's best to start by mastering the first-year spells."
Using the wand to direct his magic, Ivan easily cast the nine spells in the first-year textbook on his first try. Each spell flowed smoothly, almost like second nature. Through this, Ivan memorized the magic strength needed for each one.
Instead of testing these immediately, he chose to keep studying, spending the afternoon firmly memorizing the contents of the first-year textbook. After dinner, he began reading the second-year spell book.
This book contained six new spells: the Dance Charm, the Expansion Charm, the Freezing Spell, the General Counter-Spell, the Forgetfulness Charm, and the Locking Spell. With his wand, Ivan quickly cast each of them on his first try.
Among these, Ivan focused on the Freezing Spell. He repeated the spell multiple times to better understand the power needed to cast it effectively.
He soon discovered something interesting: the importance of willpower in casting spells. "The willpower attribute helps stabilize the flow of magic. It's what allows spells to be cast smoothly and prevents them from going out of control."
For example, with the Freezing Spell, the effect is more like slowing down molecules, similar to a scientific concept from his past life, rather than simply freezing something solid. It works a bit like slowing down time, affecting both living and non-living things within the spell's range.
"When casting this spell, you have to focus intently on slowing things down," Ivan thought.
He realized that this "willpower" was essentially a form of mental reinforcement. Casting a spell without words felt as natural as using his first language; when he saw the word "horse," he would instantly picture the animal. It was about instinct and basic understanding.
"Alright, let's give it a shot," he decided.
Ivan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then lifted his wand.
Watching him, Yumi quickly slapped an empty snack box on the table. This was a signal they'd planned for Yumi to assist him in learning the Freezing Spell.
"Slow down!"
Ivan opened his eyes, waved his wand, and provided the magic power for the spell, while focusing all his willpower.
"Whoosh…"
Silently, the box floated in the air, falling bit by bit, almost as if time itself had slowed down.
"Success!" Ivan's eyes lit up, and he gripped his wand tightly.
"It's exactly as I thought—the spell's core lies in strong mental focus," he realized.
The phrase "slow down" that he repeated in his mind was actually in his native language, Chinese, rather than the typical magical incantation.
This success confirmed something for him: casting a spell doesn't always require a specific language. It depends on personal understanding and intent. So, Ivan had managed to cast the Freezing Spell silently by focusing purely on his intention, without needing the actual words.
Yet Ivan wasn't satisfied with just this; he continued practicing, determined to master the precise power required for the Freezing Spell through repetition.
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