Chapter 157 - Soul Golem

  “You may have noticed that I use the term ‘She’ instead of ‘Archer Mage,’” the professor said as he walked around the room, our curious expressions. “There’s a bit of a debate between academid the military on the correct terminology. Traditionalist professors prefer ‘Archer Mage’ because they feel it represents mages who don’t necessarily pursue military careers or bat training. Meanwhile, those with a military background, like myself, lean towards ‘She,’ which emphasizes the precision in ratacks.”

  He paused, giving us a small smile. “Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal choice, and both terms are correct. So, feel free to use whichever one resonates with you.”

  He tinued as he flipped the page, revealing an illustration on the board showing six gems, each glowing with different levels of iy.

  “The mana gem has six levels:

  1 - Ember

  2 - Fre

  3 - Fme

  4 - Bze

  5 - Star

  6 - Sun”

  He gestured to the board. “As you increase your attu with your mana gem, it expands, making you more powerful. This expansion leads ter mana reserve, ease in casting spells, reduced mana ption, accelerated recharge, and other perks. Star and Sun levels are reserved for true magical prodigies,” he expined, his eyes alight with admiration.

  He paused, casting a curious g the css. “Did you know that, naturally, High Elves awaken their mana gems at the Bze level? This means they’re a raaturally ined toward magic.”

  Some students raised their hands, eager for more information. The professor poio one, who quickly asked, “What happens at the Sun level, Professor? The books are pretty vague about that.”

  The professor nodded, as if expeg this question. “Star and Sun levels are indeed reserved for those mages who iionally pursue the pinnacle of power. Such mages are cataloged by the three kingdoms as magical powerhouses, each equivalent to aire army. At the Sun level, there’s something called ‘Elemental Iion.’ This is when the mage and their Mana Gem pletely merge, being one. However, this level is only fendary mages… officially, no one has reached it. Perhaps Inquisitors might, but they are mages whose identities remain unknown.”

  Whispers of surprise filled the room as the professor took a deep breath, ready to reveal the point.

  I had awakeo magic with a Fre level Mana Gem early on. Now, both Chloe and I are at the Bze level. The difference isn’t as stark as some might think. While the mana reserve increases, and more plex spells bee possible, it’s more of a practical requirement than a direct reward. Expanding one’s Mana Gem is like learning to trol the flow of a faucet: at first, you only turn it on and off, but over time, you learn tute the pressure precisely. True power es from a profound uanding of your own Gem, allowing for subtle and effit mana manipution.

  My cousin and I reached this level quickly, thanks to the greatest mana trainer ever known. When we were eight, Adrihna assessed us with that Special Eye of hers, mapping each of our mana els and teag us how to mold them for optimal Gem expansion. Her method is so effective that nobles from all realms vie for her services as a personal instructor. She has an unparalleled ability to train young nobles, and her reputation is well-earned.

  “Now, let’s talk about the most gifted mana category there is.”

  The students, gripped by a nearly tangible excitement, began taking notes feverishly, immersed in the fasating perspectives of a world where magid power iwined so deeply.

  “The st category is the rare and blessed Summe. These mages are naturally more powerful than others. They say it’s rare enough for a oo have a child who is a mage, but having that child born with the Summoner category is even rarer.”

  My situation was a bit more plicated. My eyes beloo the Summoner category, not me. So I didn’t possess the mana reserve advahat came with being a Summoner.

  Summoners are incredibly rare, and no one really knows why they’re so different from es. From what we know, there has to be at least one mage in the family tree to increase the ce of produg a Summoner. Even so, they’re extremely hard to find, even rarer than Healer Mages. Maybe one in every 10,000 mages? I’m not sure.

  Summoners, essentially, are an advanced version of Emitters. They have an even rger mana reserve araordinary magical affinity. They not only learn and create plex spells with ease but also have a unique distin: their mana gem is alive, which grants them unparalleled magical power. The talent of a Summoner is so sought after that nobles line up to marry them, hoping to produce equally gifted heirs.

  “A Summe is the peak of magical talent,” the professor said, looking at the students. “They’re exceedingly rare, blessed with a living mana. They perform plex spells and possess a vast arsenal of teiques, like Golem spells. In nobility, there’s a race to secure a Summoner heir due to their natural skill and unparalleled potential. Even if the heir doesn’t i the Summoner category, there’s a ce they’ll be born with two mana categories. That’s why these mages are coveted, whether for the military or romance,” he added with a ugh at the end.

  The professor paused, our reas.

  “However, these mages are exclusive to humans and elves,” he tinued. “Now, aell me why the kingdoms’ armies pay handsomely to have Summoners in their forces?”

  The students exged intrigued gnces until Her Highness Alice stood up.

  “Because of the Soul Golem,” she decred.

  She has authority to speak on this subject, after all, her family rules over the human kingdom… and she’s also a Summoner.

  “My family ands one of the most powerful armies in the realms, and we always seek out the most talented mages, especially Summoners, due to the Soul Golem.”

  The Soul Golem is what turns a Summe into a living on. This unique ability is sidered by many to be a spell that should be forbidden. A single Soul Golem ge the course of a battle. Even Charles, the drunken king of my human kingdom, if he were a Summoner, would have the power to single-handedly destroy entire armies.

  “Excellent answer, Alice,” the professor remarked as she sat down. “You’ll have a specific lesson on Summes and the Soul Golem with a specialized instructor. Now, let’s move on to the spell-learning levels for each mana category,” the professor cluded, returning to the lesson.