The end of the month of Frost Fall (November), the first snow falls.
Black Stone City is draped in silver, vast and white.
Sunan's progress in learning the Mage's Hand also reached 100% on this day.
['Mage's Hand' learning progress is full at 100%, obtained 'Mage's Hand']
A large amount of information instantly surged into his mind. Sunan closed his eyes to process it for a moment, then opened his eyes and looked at the books on the table, lips slightly parted, uttering a series of peculiar syllables.
The moment the sound arose, the book suddenly trembled lightly, and then slowly floated up, drifting slowly up, down, left, and right with his gaze.
The effect of the Mage's Hand allows distant objects to float and move arbitrarily.
To outsiders, it looks like an invisible ghostly hand is moving objects.
The name 'Mage's Hand' came from this very phenomenon.
Among many Tier Zero Magic spells, Mage's Hand is considered one of the most practical.
Whether it's for surgical experiments or potion making, using Mage's Hand as an aid can save a considerable amount of effort.
In battles, Mage's Hand can also be used to remotely control weapons to attack enemies.
The effective range of controlled objects and the weight that can be borne depend on the caster's proficiency in spellcasting and spiritual power.
This is also why Sunan chose Mage's Hand as his first spell.
With Mage's Hand, making potions and extracting Lizardman blood in the future becomes much more convenient.
"Which spell should I choose next?"
Sunan's thought moved, and three magic books automatically floated from the bookshelf and landed on the table.
Acid Splash, Sleep Spell, and Flash Skill.
The effects of these three spells are easy to understand, one can tell from the names.
After pondering for a while, Sunan eventually decided to learn Sleep Spell first.
To brush up on biological transformation learning progress, he caught quite a few small animals for experimentation.
If he mastered Sleep Spell, it would undoubtedly make experiments much more convenient.
Anyway, Black-scaled Lizardmen have retreated, and he doesn't need to participate in battles for the territory right now, so there's no need to rush in learning attack magic.
In fact, the combat prowess of a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice is generally not considered strong.
Upon just advancing, a Level 1 Apprentice merely has stronger spiritual power than ordinary people, can activate external energy particles, store them in their body, forming the concept of mana as a novice.
Later, as meditation enhances spiritual power, the body gradually becomes strong due to the subtle infiltration and improvement by energy particles.
At this point, a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice is not much more powerful than a knight apprentice.
Compared to a knight apprentice, they merely have a bit more spell resistance, far from the league of Knight Level figures.
Once they master two or three attack spells, a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice is deemed to truly have combat power, possessing the strength to match a formal knight.
This situation will persist until advancing to a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.
A Level 2 Wizard Apprentice can preliminarily control energy particles, sufficient to enhance their physique to a high level, coupled with spell aids, even a peak knight can hardly match, only a grand knight level expert can resist.
Moreover, a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice can also contract a magical pet and use magical items.
A Level 2 Wizard Apprentice with a magical pet and combat magical items, even a grand knight wouldn't dare confront them.
It's at this stage that the gap between wizard apprentices and knights truly starts to show.
Collecting his thoughts, Sunan picked up "Sleep Spell" and started reading.
[Reading 'Sleep Spell Magic Model,' 'Sleep Spell' learning progress +0.08%]
[Reading 'Sleep Spell Magic Model,' 'Sleep Spell' learning progress +0.08%]
...
Time flies.
After the month of Frost Fall, the coldest and most trying month of Slumber (December) also passed.
On the fifth last day of December, the Black-scaled Lizardmen finally retreated in disgrace, stepping on snowflakes.
This war lasted for over two months and has now reached its conclusion.
After resting for five days, Black Stone City welcomed the first day of Winter Lyre month (January), year 1249 of the Starlight Calendar.
This day is the New Year of the Starlight Principality.
The cold wind whistles, yet it cannot mask the jubilant atmosphere within the city.
The streets are lined with colorful decorated houses, groups of children dash and play among the crowds, their little faces reddened by the chill yet still giggling nonstop.
The inner castle, guest hall.
The young maids busy themselves, continuously bringing fragrant ham, cheese, dried fruits, and wine to the tables.
Knights gather around the dining table celebrating with their drinks, occasionally bursting into hearty laughter.
Old Geller directing the servants to arrange the hall, catching sight of this scene, couldn't help but feel emotional.
In previous years, due to the damage caused by Black-scaled Lizardmen, the former lord and his generals were always overwhelmed, having no mind to host New Year's banquets.
But this year is completely different.
According to Jordon the knight, they dealt such a blow to those lizard bandits this year that they couldn't bear the first snow and retreated to their nests.
Nearby villages hardly sustained any damage.
Because of this, on New Year's day, the serfs sent various agricultural products to the inner castle to express their gratitude to the lord.
But what puzzled Old Geller was, he heard these achievements were all thank to Young Master Sunan?
Those knights and generals he knew all seemed to suggest this, mentioning Sunan was in a tone of utmost respect.
This left Old Geller completely baffled.
Having stayed in Black Stone City for decades, he could faintly sense that this city seemed to be undergoing some kind of positive change.
"The lord and Sunan have arrived!"
A loud exclamation suddenly arose.
The hall immediately fell silent, everyone turned in unison toward the door.
Kei and Sunan entered the hall side by side.
Both were dressed in their finest, their faces shared a resemblance of seven to eight parts, equally handsome.
Kei, as the elder brother, had a robust physique, muscles full and rounded, the lines rugged, as if a perfect statue from ancient Greece.
Though Sunan, as the younger brother, still appeared thin, there was no longer a weak impression, his entire being exuded a spirited aura.
Especially his eyes, deep and bright as stars, making it hard for others to gaze upon.
The arrival of the brothers instantly drew everyone's attention.
"Lord,"
"Sunan,"
The knights bowed in greeting.
The title for Sunan had changed from 'young master' to 'sir,' showing respect.
Kei strode ahead, raising his wine cup.
"Thanks to everyone's efforts last year, tonight let's indulge in our drinks and savor the food!"
The knights shouted jubilantly, the raucous waves of chatter nearly lifting the roof.
Sunan quietly watched this, picking up a cup of fruit wine from the table, and took a sip.
After over two months of energy particle infusion, his physique had now increased to 2.79, nearly reaching the peak of a knight apprentice.
Moreover, due to his ability to absorb energy particles, unlike other knight apprentices, his appetite hadn't increased vastly, requiring large amounts of food to compensate for the energy spent in training.
If needed, he could even go several months without food.
Now, eating was merely for the pleasure of taste.
Having just finished a cup of fruit wine, Kei approached him.
"Why not join everyone in drinking?"
"I still prefer a bit of peace by myself."
Kei knew his brother's disposition, and hearing this, he didn't say much, merely laughed and said, "I've got good news for you, I've found the item you wanted, it should now be in your courtyard."