Chapter 16 : Chapter 16
Chapter 16 : Choosing a Specialization
Over the next two days, Ryan attended two more guidance lectures in completely different styles.
One was 《Foundations of Advanced Magical Theory and Frontier Hypotheses》, taught by a young professor with an elegant temperament whose speaking speed, however, was like a rapid-fire barrage.
The content was indeed profound. It ranged from microscopic models of elemental spirit resonance, to the topology of energy flow in large-scale composite magic arrays, to how one might design a stable and efficient new spell framework from scratch... The density of information was astonishing, with each logical link following tightly after the last.
Ryan listened with a slight furrow in his brow.
It was not that he could not understand it. The original owner’s grounding in theoretical magic was unexpectedly solid, and combined with Ryan’s own logical thinking from before transmigration, he could barely keep pace. But the problem was that this path demanded not just comprehension, but also long, tedious, deeply focused research, along with extremely strong concentration and innovative thinking.
It was more like theoretical physics or pure mathematics on Earth—a path toward the summit of magical truth. But for Ryan in his current situation, the cost-performance ratio was too low, and it was far too easy to draw attention by proposing some wildly unconventional theory.
As he listened to the professor passionately describing thirteen possible optimizations for a certain ancient magic array, Ryan had already silently crossed that option off in his mind.
The other lecture, 《Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Skill: The Art of Fusing Mana and Combat Techniques》, was an entirely different sort of spectacle.
It was held in the training hall on the eastern side of the academy, and the lecturer was a former Imperial Knight Commander with bulging muscles and a voice as loud as a bell.
Right there on the spot, he demonstrated how to coat a blade with wind magic to increase cutting speed and force, how to instantly harden the ground beneath one’s feet with earth magic to secure a stable point of leverage, and even how to use the simplest burst of fire to deflect the path of an opponent’s weapon. It was exciting, direct, and full of raw force.
Many students from knightly families or those who admired strength listened with shining eyes. Ryan had to admit that its power and practicality were real.
However, when the knight commander asked the students present to try wrapping a strand of Mana evenly around a wooden sword and maintaining it for ten seconds, Ryan felt a distinct sluggishness.
The original owner’s body possessed an almost instinctive talent for pure Mana control, but when it came to combining Mana with an external object in such a fine and stable manner, he was clumsy and strained.
The glow of Mana on Ryan’s wooden sword flickered unsteadily and collapsed after only three seconds. By contrast, a few sturdily built students nearby, though their Mana glow was weak, kept it stable for much longer.
The body’s hardware and the original skill tree really do not match...
Ryan shook his head inwardly. The original owner was clearly built to be a pure mage. A violent artillery-style route or battlefield control path probably suited him better. Forcing a transition into a magic swordsman would yield half the result for twice the effort, and the intense physical training and combat practice would also be far too conspicuous, making it easier to expose his unfamiliar fighting habits.
Close combat is risky, exhausting, and too troublesome. Pass.
After listening to both lectures, Ryan’s mind was made up.
The Magic Tool direction had practically become the only and best choice.
Its threshold was relatively clear. It required theory, practical ability, and a certain amount of resources. Its growth curve was comparatively smooth, and its results were measurable. If you made something, it could be used or sold. It could also perfectly make use of his potential advantages as a transmigrator. More importantly, this path would allow him to minimize the amount of time he had to spend appearing in front of crowds, because at its core, it was the path of a technical shut-in doing engineering work. It was low-profile enough, and it would also conveniently provide cover for private research, such as investigating the circulation of abnormal Magic Tools connected to Emerald Courtyard.
Once the target was clear, Ryan did not hesitate further.
Early on the third day, he went to the academic affairs office, collected a specialization selection form, returned to the dormitory, and under Cosette’s curious but hesitant gaze, filled in his information in clean, concise handwriting. In the space marked “Emphasis Direction for Advancement Assessment,” he clearly checked:
Magic Tool Application, Appraisal, and Risk Management.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, he took the completed form and once again went to the office in charge of the matter at the academic affairs department. The one who received him was a male teacher named Mr. Glenn, who wore reading glasses and was sorting through a pile of parchment scrolls.
“Teacher, I’m here to submit my specialization selection form.” Ryan handed over the form.
Mr. Glenn looked up at him over his glasses in some surprise, accepted the form, and gave it a quick scan.
“Ryan Velt... Third Year, Lower Division...”
When he saw the submission date and the clearly marked specialization, he adjusted his glasses and looked over it again carefully.
“You decided this quickly?” There was obvious surprise in Mr. Glenn’s voice as he lifted his head to examine the calm brown-haired boy before him. “Child, this is not the same as choosing an afternoon snack. This concerns the main focus of your studies for at least the next several years, and even the starting point of your future profession. Many students listen to lectures again and again, consult mentors, even try some basic trial classes, and only barely settle on something by the end of the month. But you... this is only the fourth day?”
In his impression, those who submitted this early were either students from families with long-standing traditions who had already fixed their path in advance, or those who had chosen blindly and would definitely come back to change it later. As for this young master from the Velt family, his reputation did not seem to have much to do with “steady and decisive.”
“I’ve thought it through,” Ryan replied briefly and firmly. “The Magic Tool direction suits me very well.”
Mr. Glenn looked again at the neat handwriting and clear selection on the form. It did not look like random scribbling. He pondered for a moment.
“Mm... Magic Tool Application, Appraisal, and Risk Management... That is actually quite a specific combination. And... a practical one.” He paused, then added, “Still, since you’ve decided, I have nothing more to say.”
He picked up a stamp and pressed it firmly onto the “Academic Affairs Approval” section of the form, producing a solid thump. Then he tore off the copy and handed it to Ryan, filing away the original.
“Keep the copy safe. Your selection has been entered. Over the next month, you may focus your reading in the relevant library sections. You may also reserve some basic tools and workspace in the alchemy workshop and Magic Tool practice rooms to familiarize yourself in advance. The formal specialization guidance classes and the initial practical projects assigned to you will be announced together at the end of the month. Oh, right,” Mr. Glenn added, as though remembering something, “although you chose early, the academy will hold a small ‘Direction Experience Day’ around the middle of the month for all third-year students. There will be some simple demonstrations and trial opportunities. You can attend as well, to reinforce your choice.”
“Understood. Thank you, Teacher.” Ryan accepted the copy, gave a polite nod, and turned to leave the office.
Mr. Glenn watched his back disappear through the doorway, shook his head, and muttered, “That boy from the Velt family... he really is hard to figure out. Ah, well. Better that he settles early. It saves them all from crowding in at the end.”
As Ryan walked back toward the dormitory, he held that light, thin copy of the form in his hand. Though it weighed almost nothing, it carried great meaning. Yet there was not much emotion in his heart.
Choosing was only the first step. What came next—study, practice, resource accumulation—would be the real challenge. Especially startup funds and sources for materials...
He touched the few coins left in his pocket, and his gaze darkened slightly.
I still need to find a way to make money.
Perhaps he could start by trying to repair or optimize some common low-grade Magic Tools with defects? That would require deeper knowledge and a bit of initial capital.
When he pushed open the door to Room 207, he saw Cosette sitting upright at her little desk. Spread before her was the literacy primer, with several pages beside it covered in crooked writing. She was checking them against the book one word at a time with great difficulty, her little face serious as though she were deciphering some secret code. Hearing the door open, she immediately stood up, still holding the charcoal pencil in her hand.
“Master, you’re back,” she said softly. There was a bit of anticipation in her eyes, along with some nervousness, like a soldier awaiting inspection.
Ryan’s gaze swept over the handwriting she had clearly poured a great deal of effort into, though her progress remained painfully slow. Then he looked at the somewhat uneasy expression in her eyes, and suddenly felt that while he had already chosen the broad road ahead for himself, the “little trouble” at home was still struggling at the very first hurdle of literacy.
“Mm.” He responded and casually placed the copy of the form on his own desk. “Keep studying. I’ll check tonight.”
“Yes!” Cosette let out a small sigh of relief, quickly sat back down, and continued wrestling with those stubborn symbols.