[Light Mage – Level 3!]

[Skill – Deep Focus Acquired!]

[Skill – Light Manipulation Acquired!]

That’s what I got after a quick nap.

If my life were a movie, perhaps my training montage would have gone on for much, much longer without any sleep on-screen. But after taking a beating and a visit to a [Healer], I engaged in some extremely hard magic.

Also, did you know that [Healers] are not [Mages], apparently? No one knows bull about healing magic. Nothing. Zero. Healing potions are common stock in this world, but healing magic doesn’t exist.

Go figure.

Maybe I’ll get some healing-like abilities as I move further down the Light Magic path. Who knows, I might even become a [Light Pope] at some point. That would be totally hilarious.

And blasphemous.

My mother surely wouldn’t have liked it.

But you know, if it’s fun and irritates her just the right amount... why not?

Anyway, the skills.

I would like to keep napping if we’re being totally honest, but alas, let’s not.

[Deep Focus] and [Light Manipulation] are the rewards I got for my third level-up in the [Light Mage] class. Well, wait. I had my first level-up in [Mage], I believe. Then the second was actually a transition from [Mage] to [Light Mage]...

I yawn.

Whatever.

“I wonder how that [Deep Focus] works. I just say [Deep Focus]?”

Laying down on the bed and staring at the ceiling, with the distant sounds of traffic coming from the street and keeping the room somewhat alive, I wonder what the skill will do.

But nothing happens.

Maybe I need to think about focusing—

WOAH.

Every single noise in the room goes silent.

As I focus on the skill, I find myself becoming more and more immersed in its effects. The rest of the world seems to fade away as I concentrate on analyzing and understanding it. I feel a sense of calm and clarity wash over me as if my mind was zeroing in on this single task to the exclusion of all else.

At first, I try to force myself to think about other things, to get distracted by something else. But it's like my mind has a will of its own, and it keeps bringing me back to the skill no matter what I do. It's almost as if [Deep Focus] has taken over, making it impossible for me to think about anything else.

As I continue to focus on the skill, I can't help but wonder about its inner workings. How does it work exactly? How does it manage to block out all distractions and keep me so completely engaged with this one task? Is it just a matter of intense concentration, or is there more to it?

I decide to experiment with the skill, trying to push its limits to see how far I can take it. I focus all my attention on [Deep Focus], trying to understand its mechanisms and how it affects my mind. It's a strange feeling, almost as if I was inside my own head, looking at my thoughts and actions from the outside.

In a way, it just feels like...

I shake my head in frustration, sighing.

No. It’s not like that. Not even close.

For a second, the skill felt like it could be the cure to my biggest problem—the loss of intellect and memory that I experienced growing up. But I soon realize that this skill just increases my concentration. My memories feel more accessible only because they are more focused—in reality, my brain is just working with a narrower focus.

A far cry from the Swiss army knife this head of mine was.

Curious, nonetheless, I started experimenting and trying to see if I could at least solve a couple of my problems with the skill. I try to enhance my memory by using [Deep Focus] while attempting to memorize some information, but I find that it doesn't seem to make a significant difference—can’t even recall the naked images of some of my exes. I decide to use it for something less useful to increase my processing power, to see if I could work through problems faster and more efficiently in my head, but again, the results are underwhelming.

Despite my efforts, it seems that [Deep Focus] is just a tool for helping me perform at my best rather than giving me any sort of superhuman abilities. It's a little disappointing, but I suppose I shouldn't have expected too much from a single skill. Still, I can't help but wonder what other hidden talents I might have, waiting to be unlocked with the right combination of effort and focus.

As I continue to experiment with [Deep Focus], I begin to feel a sense of determination and curiosity growing within me. I will not give up on finding ways to improve myself and push my limits, no matter what obstacles stand in my way. I may not be able to rely on a single skill to transform me back into a genius, but that doesn't mean I can't... find a woman with a massive caboose and make a bunch of children with her.

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Yep.

Priorities.

Despite my best efforts, I can't seem to crack the code to make [Deep Focus] do other stuff. Eventually, I realize that I need to take a break, so I deactivate the skill. The sudden shift in focus is disorienting, and the world seems to spin around me for a moment. But as I take a few deep breaths and allow my mind to wander, I begin to feel more balanced and centered again. It's clear that [Deep Focus] is a powerful tool, but it's important to use it wisely and not get too lost in its effects.

“Woah, that was trippy as hell,” I mutter.

Well, I guess that [Light Manipulation] does what I was trying to do before, but kind of allows me to do it better?

...

I lay on my bed, gazing up at the wooden ceiling of my apartment that is softly lit by a glowing magical lantern.

Listen, I am in awe of the many incredible things that magic is capable of, and now, I am even able to do some cool stuff. The ability to wield magic is an extraordinary gift, and it’s also cool that I got a magical book along with it. But I still feel empty for some reason.

I sigh.

The warm light from the lantern creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere in my room, and I feel a sense of peace and contentment wash over me as I ponder the endless possibilities that magic has to offer.

When I decided to open the book, I was overwhelmed by a sense of darkness and anger. It's not just about the desire to learn and understand the magic contained within the book but also a fierce craving for violence. I can't help but think about the possibilities of using my magic to harm others, specifically the [Soldiers] who beat up Truffles and the three handicapped people. The thoughts of choking them or knocking them unconscious fill my mind, and I can feel myself getting increasingly agitated.

However, I know that giving in to these thoughts and actions would be wrong. Violence is not the answer to every problem, and there are always other, more peaceful ways to resolve conflicts.

At least, that’s what my mother used to say. Violence can, at times, be a solution, but very rarely. In fact, violence begets violence in a perpetual cycle; its biggest problem is that you either go for total annihilation, or the problem will keep popping up all throughout your life. And once you do that, you are forever changed. My mother knew a lot about that…

As these deep thoughts churn inside my heart, something much more mundane starts bothering me as I hoist myself up from the bed, grumpy as hell.

Once you start learning some magic, you truly don’t expect your life to be riddled with the same stupid problems that affected you before. And so, I’m caught by surprise by a terrible pain in my neck.

Wouldn’t you think that once you start leveling up and doing that kind of stuff, you wouldn’t get neck pain from sleeping on a bad pillow?

What now? Do I have to invent cervical pillows?

And how long did I sleep anyway?

I look at the clock on the wall and see that I ‘napped’ for about three hours. It’s almost 9:30 AM.

Can I be a little selfish after magic made me think of my most likely lost romance? I know I should be thinking more about the [Soldiers] and magic, but there’s something as important – if not even more – that’s plaguing my mind. Especially now that I’m back on the magic train.

The whole fiasco with Lucinda really put a dent in my mood.

She’s beautiful and smart. Plus, the first time I looked at her, I immediately felt like she was the perfect candidate to be my future wife.

But what am I supposed to do? I can’t date or court someone who’s not interested, can I? I have enough issues in my life without adding that to it, don’t I?

And one of the said issues is the book that currently rests on my nightstand. I wish it was some erotica, to be honest. It would have caused fewer problems.

I look out the window; there is a whole world out there. It is messy but magical. It is full of romance – maybe – but also a big pain in the ass.

That’s why I decide to look back at the book.

I’m not in the mood to be told what to do, who I am, and what my future should be. But I’m also not in the mood to stir up any trouble in the outside world.

“Good morning, pal; how you doin’?”

The book flies in front of me and opens in the middle.

‘The road to mastery is hard! You will need to practice different matrixes, more and more complex. However, [Light] is the foundation for everything else.’

‘You will need to practice spinning, shape-changing, dynamic movements, coordination, and many other cantrips!’

‘Magister Mulligan prepared all 529 cantrips for you to practice! And you qualify to practice them all!’

The same words from yesterday, right. But some new words start to appear on the page.

‘Once you have practiced all the cantrips, you will finally have the necessary foundations to start practicing magic properly! Don’t go learning some inferior spells outside the Omnium Compendium if you don’t want to suffer at the hands of the [Thunderbolt Curse]!’

What’s this stupid nerfing?

So, let’s see if I got it right:

This is an extremely powerful, self-teaching relic that should impart insane knowledge to you. However, the same Relic gives you stupid tricks to strengthen your foundations—and it doesn’t want you to learn any actually useful magic before you do this. Now, what would happen if I were one of those wacko adventurers who needed to survive? Or what if I were simply thrown into a dangerous spot? Would I flicker some [Light] at monsters as they delightedly chewed on my bones?

And let me guess; there is a very strict deadline for this stupid homework assignment.

‘Be careful, new apprentice; there is a very strict deadline for the assignment.’

Well. It is what it is.

‘Only by pushing against boundaries can a [Mage] truly shine!’

‘Description: you will have nine months to strengthen your foundation as a [Mage]. Magister Mulligan would be proud of such a hard-working disciple!’

Do they have normal months here?

Like, if there are nine days a week, are there still twelve months?

And why didn’t I ask before?

Well, assuming that a month still has around thirty days, it should be…

‘Requirement: learn to perform all 529 cantrips in the next nine months. Ask the book to teach you the cantrips.’

‘Days remaining: 333’

So, wait. Isn’t that more than it should be?

I do some quick math in my head. I mean, the math is quick. I am slow.

“That’s like thirty-six-something days per month? Thirty-seven? What the hell?”

At least it’s a pretty number. 333, I mean.

Did I get all the cantrips because of my exploit? I should have waited, maybe; simulate some mediocrity. Once again, working hard doesn’t pay off, does it?

“Book, show me cantrip number one.”

If I want to make it, I need to learn what, two cantrips a day? One and a half, maybe?

‘The first exercise Magister Mulligan has prepared is to make two [Lights] circle one after another at the same speed for a full minute.’

How do they have the notion of a minute?

I turn toward the magical clock, and, indeed, there is a hand for seconds.

“Well, how difficult can it be to—"

Oh, shut up, shut up. Shut the hell up, Joey.

Why? Why?

Why would you say that?