VRMMO: World's First Glyphborne-Chapter 130: The Basics of Spellcasting
With fire still on her mind, for obvious reasons, Belladonna moved her studies to the subject of elemental spells. It was all well and good to relearn the basics, but she could not stand reading any more books on the absolute idiotic basics of mana and how to absorb it.
She did so anyways, just in case, but it was mind numbing and pointless. Like studying 2 + 2 for an exam involving logarithmic functions. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
The elemental lessons were, however, a bit more enlightening even if some of it was still quite basic. For example to compose any elemental spell one had to first pull mana from a source, either the air or your actual Source, and then transform it into the appropriate element.
Fire mana for a fire spell, for the most obvious example. This was, in actuality, the basis of her infusion skill. She was transforming the mana in her body into that of an element, which gave her certain effects.
Belladonna’s issue came with the next step. Pushing the mana out of your body and forming it into certain spells. The intensity of those spells being linked to your personal control and the quality of mana. But Belladonna could not push the mana out, not without incredibly serious effort that was not worth it.
That is why she needed components to make up for it. They would pull the mana from her body, keep or transform its elements and then the magic words wove the spell into its right form.
The book she was reading also made a brief note that this was not the only way to empower spells. Before the times of the spell chants, casters would learn to weave their spells into magic circles that existed in the air. It was not dissimilar to the runic circles used for ritual casting, but woven entirely out of mana instead.
The runes of these circle would dictate and even empower the spell, but since this required much more talent and learning the craft slowly faded with time, taken over by the more accessible mediums.
While it did not go into much detail, as these techniques were considered too advanced for who this book was designed for, there was some mention of the alternative uses of certain elements. It made sure to say that a wizard should be a beast with many hands, which she assumed was their version of saying a jack of all trades.
That made sense, a fire mage was inevitably going to be dreadful against someone who knew water spells or earth spells for defence, or could simply defend against fire.
During his E-sports career her brother always spoke about ’One-tricks’ and how, while they could be incredibly good on a team if they were skilled enough, once you found their hard counter all of their talent and skill hit a brick wall in terms of what they could effectively do.
But Belladonna was sure that the book was referencing the abilities of the different elements. For example fire gave stamina and increased natural healing. So while she could craft fire element into destructive spells, could she also weave it into healing spells or even ones that could increase her physical prowess to the levels that it would usually tear itself apart.
If she could harness hysterical strength, or even the strength she gained from her transformation without going crazy again, then she could really step up her game. At least in this world.
Letting out a soft sigh, Belladonna closed the book and moved onto her next. This wasn’t filled with information that would reshape her mind. It was simply a text book on glyphs.
Her teacher had given her some notes on them, with some basic ones to start her off, but they were never even close to a full compendium or even what the most basic textbooks contained. It was always just something to get her going down the right path.
The thought of just handing her all of the answers would undoubtedly cause his beard to fall out. Well... What little there was to begin with, that is.
Her own grimoire sat on the table next to her as she noted down all of the glyphs she didn’t yet know, taking a lot of time to very carefully copy them until she was sure she was right. However any mistakes she made were not removed, instead she noted why they were mistakes and kept them there for future reference, as well as made notes about ideas she had.
For all the fun and wonder this game offered, and all the secrets that it held right below everyone’s noses, this was how Belladonna spent the next few hours. Studying in silence, going from book to book and filling page after page of her grimoire with magical theories.
When she was half way through her study session, she eventually remembered about the mage that she had looted. Besides the mushrooms they had collected for her and the components for spells, that mage also had a small variety of scrolls and his own notebook of magic notes.
His notes were... less than spectacular, and mostly consisted of bullet pointed ideas. But there were a few spells that he had copied down that Belladonna stole the incantations of, as well as reviewed his scrolls.
He had another lightning bolt scroll, which she had already used and was alright to have, as well as two others. A scroll of chain lightning, a more advanced form of lightning bolt, and a scroll of air step.
Air step as a scroll allowed the user to do exactly what it sounded like and step on the air as if it was solid ground. Like a rudimentary version of flight. It was limited to three steps before the spell gave out.
However if she could turn that into a spell she assumed that she would be able to use it until her mana ran dry. Or, even better, if she were to replace her flaming feet with a runic version of this air step then she could manoeuvre around in combat even better than before.
Use the air as a foothold to deliver powerful punches or attacks from angles people would never expect. Plus she could get around better without burning her feet, which was always a plus.
Her mind reeled with the different possibilities as she lost herself in her studies. Meanwhile, the small locket that was still pressed comfortably against her chest - the locket that she had forgotten about the moment she put it on - pulsed ever so slightly with the tiniest hint of power.
Of course, since she had no idea of its existence despite it hanging around her neck, Belladonna did not notice its peculiar behaviour nor this pulse of power too small for her senses to pick up. Then again, it was not for her to detect in the first place.
