Chapter 172: Education Problems
Matthew checked over Liana's progress, his face full of smiles.
Her grasp of knowledge was solid and thorough, without blindly rushing to hasten spellcasting.
A strong foundation is crucial for all knowledge.
Even more so for dangerous arcane knowledge.
After carefully reviewing her status panel, Matthew assigned her new learning tasks while pondering thoughtfully.
Perhaps, Liana also had a chance...
Liana
Age: 9
Profession: None
Talent: None
Specialization: None
Inheritance: None
Attributes:
Strength: 5 → 6
Agility: 6 → 7
Constitution: 5 → 6
Intelligence: 14 → 16
Perception: 10 → 11
Charisma: 18 → 19
Luck: -2 (Doomed Aura)
Evaluation: Misfortune surrounds her, a life full of hardships.
Thanks to Matthew's relentless support, Liana's attributes had notably improved.
Particularly after more than two months of study, Liana displayed an astonishing talent.
Those two points in intelligence were entirely earned through hard work and study.
Given her current efforts and her resilient streak of bad luck, Liana could very likely raise her intelligence above 20 before she turned 15.
Having extraordinary intelligence is one of the prerequisites for becoming an Arcanist!
As a "genius" Arcanist himself, and with the aid of data display, Matthew understood the difficulty of becoming an Arcanist inside and out.
However, Liana's charisma remained irrepressible, continuously manifesting its presence.
Matthew even suspected that, if Liana continued to live well and thrive, her latent bloodline power would naturally emerge.
Perhaps Liana was another sort of prodigy, destined to become a sorcerer.
So, after some thought, Matthew decided to have a serious talk with young Liana about her future.
When Matthew spoke with children, he never condescended, treating them as he would any citizen.
Children are clever—they understand more than people think!
After finishing her assignments, Liana adeptly asked Matthew her questions, then reflected deeply, showing an exceptional capacity for learning.
Matthew patiently waited for her to process everything, then asked in a gentle tone:
"The next question is important; it will shape your future path as a professional."
Liana nodded thoughtfully, her eyes full of determination.
Ensuring that she was clear-headed, Matthew explained the differences between an Arcanist, a wizard, and a sorcerer:
"Sorcerer: Born with an innate ability to cast spells. Like breathing or moving an arm, you can wield your magic."
"For instance, some sorcerers are born with the ability to cast Fireball. With practice, they can gradually unlock new powers."
"But sorcerers have a limit to their abilities, determined largely by their inherent talent."
"Objectively, you possess great talent. With the right guidance, you could immediately become a sorcerer."
"Out of 1,000 total power points, your talent alone could bring you to 800 within 20 years."
"Wizard: Studies the magic weave and spell mechanics, learning how to cast them more effectively."
"They research new spells and experiment with making them stronger or weaker. Theoretically, a wizard can learn everything a sorcerer can do."
"Objectively, after a few days of study, you could become a wizard and also gradually acquire sorcerer powers."
"Through diligent study, you have a good chance of reaching 900 power points in 20 years!"
"Arcanist: Investigates the fundamental truths, laws, and mechanics of the universe."
"Why do we breathe? Why does parchment burn? What remains after it burns? These are all things we study..."
"An Arcanist can learn all the powers of both wizards and sorcerers."
"It won't stop you from inheriting sorcerer abilities, but instead, it will help you understand and develop them further."
"Objectively, you'll need to put in even more effort, study more knowledge, and it'll take about a year of dedication before you can become an Arcanist."
"With hard work, after 20 years, you could reach the full 1,000 points of power!"
After hearing Matthew's explanation, Liana fell into deep thought.
First: Immediate mastery of power.
Second: A little bit of study over time could lead to mastering even stronger powers!
Third: With long-term dedication and hard work, she could surpass her innate limits and acquire even greater power!
Even for an adult, making such a decision would be difficult and stressful.
Matthew remained silent, not interfering or saying things like:
"You have enough talent to be more carefree; whichever path you choose, you'll achieve great things."
This would mean she wouldn't need to consume many resources or make great efforts and could naturally grow into her abilities.
The path of easy growth!
"You could just study slowly without any pressure and grow at your own pace."
This would involve using up some resources, the equivalent of supporting a spellcaster, but not too much.
The simple education path!
"You could push past your limits; you have that potential."
This would consume massive resources and put tremendous pressure on her.
The pressure education path!
Matthew didn't entertain any biased thoughts.
Everyone must be responsible for their choices.
Matthew merely wanted to inform Liana of what was to come.
His aim was to ensure Liana wouldn't regret whatever choice she made.
The young girl blinked, looked down at the books in her hands, and gripped them tightly. With firm resolve, she answered:
"I want to grow through hard work, little by little, because that's what I can control!"
Surprised by her determination, Matthew couldn't help but nod approvingly, gently patting her head as he said:
"Alright. Then from now on, your studies will get harder."
"You'll need to learn even more, so give it your best effort!"
Seemingly more relaxed after making her decision, Liana lovingly stroked her books, looking up with eager eyes as she said:
"I'm ready!"
Watching her serious expression, Matthew mused inwardly and then said in an encouraging tone:
"I've found a great partner for you; you'll be learning together."
Thinking of Yaya's learning abilities, Matthew believed the two of them would be a perfect match.
Curiously blinking, Liana seemed to realize something. She bit her lip and hesitantly asked:
"Teacher, will she be affected by me?"
"Huh? Ugh... Sis... want some of this?"
Yaya had snuck in, her eyes darting away from Liana's books as she sheepishly held out a roasted chicken leg.
Liana smiled helplessly, having already guessed Yaya's identity. After sneaking a glance at Matthew and getting his confirmation, she took the chicken leg with excitement:
"I'll eat it! Since you're so kind to me, I'll definitely teach you well later!"
"Huh???"
Yaya stood there dumbfounded, puzzled by this different response compared to Rebecca's reactions.
"This... isn't right, 'ya!"