Hearing her master's assessment, Flamme giggled until she shook, much of her fatigue dissipating. According to Frieren's evaluation, she had just reached the stage of "arrogantly thinking she could catch up to a mage from the Age of Gods"—at least she had some discernment now, putting her observational skills on par with those clueless demons.
Frieren's true strength was unknowable. Flamme knew this well herself. Although the villagers called Frieren a young elf, her body was actually strengthening at a human pace. Flamme even suspected her master ranked among the very strongest beings. Moreover, Frieren had grown up in the twilight of the Mythical Era, giving her some perspective, not to mention she would only improve further after awakening her unique "dream training" magic. How did she compare to the Demon King?
However, fighting the demons was Flamme's own mission. It was up to her to change the fate of being slaughtered. Even if Frieren was incredibly strong, Flamme shouldn't rely on her; master and disciple had their own goals...
Bonk!
Suddenly, the silver-haired girl flicked her forehead, seemingly infusing a wisp of mana.
"Master, what's this?"
"A little Soul Magic trick. If you're injured beyond a certain point, it will trigger protection and summon me. With your current strength, you won't easily face life-threatening danger. If you do, it'll likely be underhanded attacks or being hunted by someone much stronger—situations where you're being bullied. I'll stand up for you then. Of course, don't think you can rest easy. If I arrive too late, I'll just be avenging you."
"You don't need to protect me like that... Besides, what if it's a curse user like one of the Seven Sages of Destruction?" Flamme joked.
"Perfect timing. I'm about to teach you how to deal with them right now."
"How is that possible?!" Millialdelle, who had been listening intently, couldn't sit still any longer. They had all been researching together, yet somehow Frieren's progress had inexplicably skyrocketed again. "Apart from the Curse Reflection Magic passed down in the village, isn't there even a clue about how to counter curses?"
"What? Such magic exists?" Bombarded by successive shocks, Flamme was utterly dumbfounded. As expected of the elves with their long history, they actually knew about a power that sounded specifically designed to handle indecipherable curses.
Humans actually had similar methods too; otherwise, wouldn't the Seven Sages be invincible? But these mostly involved divine protection, blessed defenses, or simply warriors toughing it out for a while. In most cases, victory was sought by having several Grand Mages gang up on them. All in all, humans generally lacked the combat power to truly match, let alone kill, one of the Seven Sages.
True, exceptionally powerful heroes emerged occasionally, but they were too rare to count. It was only because the demons were few in number that humanity wasn't in even greater danger.
"That's where you're mistaken, Flamme. Besides Curse Reflection Magic, other methods exist; I just don't know their names."
"Do you know how to use them?"
"Probably only Serie knows. That progenitor of modern magic likely holds the key to all curse countermeasures."
"Oh, so no one in the elf village knows them now."
Millialdelle, who had been momentarily smug, coughed at Flamme's innocent question. Currently, apart from Frieren, all the prominent powerful elves were outside the village—something worth reflecting on. Regardless, elves still occupied most of the top spots among the world's strongest. She quickly changed the subject: "So, what Frieren is about to teach you must be a new method! Learn it well. In the future, if you encounter a demon who only relies on curses, you can crush them in minutes!"
"You all need to learn too, especially you, Millialdelle. Don't waste your talent; you have the aptitude to become a Grand Mage." The silver-haired girl's words made everyone nod repeatedly and prick up their ears. She was now undoubtedly the village's foremost instructor. Almost everyone had embarked on the path of magic or warrior under her influence; given time, universal conscription wouldn't be an issue.
Hum!
A light shimmered around Frieren's body. Some recognized it—magic from the Dark Souls world. "Twisted Wall of Light. It can reflect magical effects, and those it can't reflect, it weakens. Originally, it wasn't very practical, but I've incorporated analytical principles, making it more useful than before. It's not as good as divine protection, but it can buy you time to escape."
"I recommend this as an entry-level technique; anyone can learn it." The elves nodded eagerly. Frieren had mentioned it before, but it hadn't been perfected. So, she had been researching it deeply all this time. She always shared new discoveries with the village first, never hiding things or concealing her experimental goals—a mutually beneficial relationship.
Excellent. Now, even if they encountered powerful curses, they wouldn't necessarily face a total party wipe. Even a small chance to struggle could lead to a different outcome; margin for error could never be overvalued in combat.
"The next one is mastery-level, limited to Soul Magic practitioners." Frieren looked around regretfully. "I'd like to find an elf to inherit this, but unfortunately, your souls aren't active enough. Learning it would be twice the effort for half the result.
So, only Flamme is suitable for this technique: Soul Parting Protection."
The red-haired girl, singled out, looked thrilled. The other elves weren't jealous; some even seemed relieved. Everyone knew studying with Frieren meant hellish training, practically inhumane treatment for elves. It was better if she didn't force everyone to learn it, especially since the entry-level Twisted Wall of Light was available and sufficient.
"The inspiration for this new magic comes from a technique that allows reviving in another body after separating the soul, but it's too dangerous."
"So, I settled for the next best thing: temporarily desynchronizing the soul from the body."
"For example, when the body suffers negative curses like petrification, paralysis, or weakening, you can actively sever the connection to the soul, reducing the impact by half. Later, you restore synchronization, using the intact soul to quickly restore the body."
"Similarly, if affected by mental illusions, the body can maintain its actions and continue attacking the enemy, then use the intact body's synchronization to pull the soul back. Its essence is risk division."
"Therefore, I will also teach you magic to separately enhance physical and soul resistance. This Soul Parting Protection isn't a single spell but a countermeasure system formed by coordinating multiple techniques."
"Even if not used against curses, it should have other clever applications. But it hurts a lot."
"Will you learn it?"
Hearing this, Flamme nodded vigorously like a chick pecking grain.
Frieren smiled knowingly. Only she knew this was the product of three generations of inheritance, as many technical aspects came from Teacher Sellen. Using a resilient soul to withstand trials—that certainly had the flavor of the Lands Between. Those with strong willpower could achieve it.
"Don't worry. Although the process is quite painful, I'll minimize the side effects. Besides, it might be a prerequisite for soul transference."
"Does that mean I can live longer? Can I accompany you for longer, Master?" The red-haired girl's eyes lit up.
"Probably." To be honest, Frieren had never considered this because she was surrounded by long-lived species; her mindset hadn't shifted that way, unlike Flamme's wildly imaginative thinking. "An interesting hypothesis, but it lacks the most crucial part, like the secret art of rebirthing life..."
Frieren thought of the Great Rune held by the Queen of the Full Moon in the legends of the Lands Between. It was said to be a gift from her consort Radagon, not part of the mystery following the Shattering. Combined with Rennala's secret arts, it could grant life anew. Not only would this greatly benefit her own Soul Magic, but it might also allow Melina to obtain a physical body—killing two birds with one stone. Another reason to delve deeper; it really was time to make some progress in the Lands Between.
"You've passed this test, Flamme. The contents of this notebook should keep you busy learning for several years."
"Thank you, Master!"
The red-haired girl accepted the new notebook. A quick browse revealed fresh handwriting; Frieren must have spent the recent period organizing her entire knowledge system up to this point, condensing it into a unique textbook.
Most contemporary mages who taught disciples didn't even have such a concept, relying entirely on oral instruction; how much one learned depended on their own ability. Expending such effort to compile knowledge like this was typically something noble mages did when grooming their heirs; doing it for anyone else was akin to treating them as one's own child.
The more Flamme read, the more astonished she became, unsure how to express her gratitude. She looked at Frieren, who smiled faintly. "Don't get too excited. I'm only doing this because I can't fulfill many of a teacher's responsibilities."
"I'll be sleeping for a long time next, only offering intermittent guidance midway at best. You'll primarily be on your own. Perhaps I'm not a very good teacher. So, consider this notebook both a reward for passing the test and compensation."
"Also, if I grasp any powerful or interesting magic, I'll discuss it with you. Don't think your tests are limited to the textbook; you're still my assistant."
The silver-haired girl patted her disciple's head, suddenly noticing she had grown a bit taller.
"Rest assured."
"Actually, what worries me most is the village's defense. Although I can wake up instantly, without my large-scale mana perception, your reaction might be slow. I'll be relying on you for reconnaissance then, Millialdelle. Be especially careful with the barriers."
"Mm, you just rest well. If you can comprehend some amazing magic, that's worth more than anything."
Old acquaintances best understood how wondrous their friend's dream magic was. To many elves, Frieren's meditation was actually a magic to acquire new magic; sleep was merely the cost mechanism.
Millialdelle just needed to protect the village. Iron and fire often temper a person; the elf girl who used to be frequently drunk now possessed a touch more steadiness than before. Lacking in offense, but sufficient in defense, and besides, there were others. Calculating based on demon strength, at most Sage-level demons could be freely deployed. Those at the Seven Sages level either didn't follow orders or were too crucial to their posts to be moved. So, as hypothetical enemies, they were still manageable.
"Master, I have a gift for you too! Come with me."
An enthusiastic Flamme led the group from the training ground to the village outskirts. Several barrier magic formula marks were placed here, made from basic materials bought at the shop. But with a wave of her hand, a circular barrier shield rose, remarkably concealed. Not only that, she released a cuckoo bird, which passed through easily, but when she used monster materials, they were firmly blocked, simultaneously triggering lightning that electrocuted them to cinders.
Wait! The sharp-eyed elf mages immediately realized its essence wasn't mere defense; it set rules disallowing certain elements, like a password layer. The real punishment was the magical cost imposed on intruders—an application of fundamental principles! Its performance was superior.
Flamme proudly explained, "Right now, I can at most protect a single village, and the magic formula is still being refined. Once sealing magic elements are added, it could even counter area-of-effect curses, creating an impregnable city. It will become a thorn the demons cannot remove."
"You've done exceptionally well."
"It can be even better. If you add your formulas, Master, it will surely be stronger."
"In terms of barriers, I truly am inferior to you. This is where you surpass me, Flamme. From now on, defense is mainly your responsibility. I'll set up Twisted Wall of Light on the outer layer."
Frieren didn't know how many surprises she had received during this time. Indeed, human talent combined with rapid growth could shock long-lived species. She was likely creating a monstrously powerful mage. It wasn't nearly enough; talent like this deserved to learn all sorts of powerful magic. Hopefully, the Lands Between could satisfy both master and disciple.
While pondering, the silver-haired girl waved her staff. Constructing a permanent Twisted Wall of Light around the elf village wasn't difficult. A rainbow-colored shimmer flashed and blended into the natural background. Many elf children chirped in amazement, their interest in magic growing stronger. An extra layer of defense, plus establishing a mental link for prediction, would allow Frieren to detect enemy presence faster—an added insurance measure. Her own magic system wasn't actually specialized in defense, especially static defense. It felt a bit like forcing things, but thankfully, Flamme had the talent. One had to admit, aptitude was crucial in magic. Despite having little foundation, just by witnessing it a few times, Flamme had practically taught herself.
"Resisting the demons does indeed require powerful barrier magic for defense. I look forward to seeing your theories perfected."
"Rest assured, Master."
"What kind of monsters are you two, master and disciple? Does this mean I don't even have barrier duty anymore?" Millialdelle suddenly looked regretful, then pleaded, "Frieren, is there any magic suitable for me? I want to get stronger too!"
The silver-haired girl pondered for a moment, chin in hand. "...There's a set I don't often use, but it's very similar to a priest's magic system. I call them Miracles. They generally possess holy attributes, focusing on protection while also having offensive capabilities."
"So, does it mean strong survival abilities like priests have? I'll learn it! I definitely want to learn it!" Her undisguised adherence to the principle of 'just surviving' made Flamme's lip twitch beside her. Why is Master's contemporary like this?
"Most of them are related to healing, which you've already learned. Actually, your talent in this area is quite good; you even figured out Tears of Denial. While I'm asleep, maybe you can teach Flamme about this too."
"What I'll teach you now are Wrath of the Gods, which generates shockwaves to repel enemies; the defensive magic Great Magic Barrier; and the magic-blocking Vow of Silence..."
Frieren spent some extra time instructing her old acquaintance. Millialdelle, as if having found treasure, promised to study them diligently.
In contrast, Flamme, apart from basic healing and protection, paid little attention. Her interests lay in being a battle mage and in barriers. Clearly, though influenced by the same mentor, the two were gradually diverging onto different paths, routes that would require long study.
Night fell.
Returning to her room, Frieren set up a simple spell formation to ensure the place remained as clean as possible during her absence. There was no need to worry about the rest. The elf village had taken a significant step forward, relieving her anxiety. Besides, with Flamme's abilities, she would soon develop into a new combat force.
"It's time to pay attention to the situation in the Lands Between again, and collect more magic."
With this thought, the silver-haired girl lay down, closed her eyes, and let her consciousness settle. In the blink of an eye, it flowed back to the land illuminated by the Golden Tree.
She was back.
____
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