The carriage wheels rattled and groaned as the carriage made its way towards the Mages' Guild in the city center.

The cheap carriage had no shock absorbers, relying solely on the wooden frame's resilience to endure the bumps. Sitting inside as it rocked and swayed was very uncomfortable.

I heard high-end carriages use leather straps for suspension, or even levitation spells to completely eliminate bumps from the road. Of course, their prices are astronomically high.

After a while, Celandine decided to test her apprentice Rosen.

"Rosen, based on the gravitational principles you proposed, how would you design a constant levitation spell for a carriage?"

This was no challenge for Rosen.

"Teacher, I would design a six-directional gravity well, with the well width and length maximized at 20 centimeters, to ensure limited sway. The well walls would start gentle then sharpen, to evenly distribute forces on the carriage."

Ockham's Razor principle states entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity.

So, one should not use two spells where one suffices, nor add physical aids where none are needed. That would only increase system complexity and fault rates.

Celandine applauded, sincerely impressed.

"Brilliant design! Its spell structure is at least two degrees simpler than traditional levitation spells, without needing any additional fixtures, yet achieves identical, or even better stability."

After a pause, she added, "For our carriage here, even a low-tier spell would suffice for stabilization. So why doesn't my apprentice try making his teacher more comfortable?"

"As you command, Teacher."

Rosen opened his spell simulator and swiftly designed the simplest low-tier spell based on his earlier idea. Testing it briefly in the simulator and ensuring no issues, with a thought he cast it on the carriage.

The carriage shuddered slightly as the spell took hold, before gently lifting and floating. The jarring bumps instantly smoothed into a gentle sway.

Celandine was very satisfied. "Excellent. Submit this spell too when we reach the Guild."

She deliberately honed Rosen's casting skills, asking while he maintained the spell, "Do you remember the etiquette I taught yesterday?"

"Yes, Teacher."

Rosen nodded slightly, finding it somewhat strained as the stabilization spell was 3-star, occupying much of his power.

Celandine firmly grasped her apprentice's limit, immediately asking, "How does one distinguish a Formal Mage's status in the Mages' Guild?"

"By special divine favor, casting ability, and magical level, with divine favor weighing the most, and magical level the least."

"What are the main types of divine favor, in descending order?"

"The three main ones are: divine patronage, divine blessing, divine mark."

"So between a mid-tier 10-star divine blessed mage, and a high-tier 12-star ordinary mage, who has higher status?"

"By the status weighting formula, the former would be slightly higher, so the latter would have to bow to them as a junior mage."

"Very good."

Celandine was quite satisfied, but did not cease her questioning.

"What etiquette must an apprentice follow before unfamiliar Formal Mages?"

"The three silences - of sight, speech and action. The apprentice cannot look directly into a Formal Mage's eyes, but must keep their gaze lowered in deference. They cannot speak unless addressed by the Mage. They cannot act unless invited by the Mage."

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"Anything else?"

"The apprentice must not obstruct a Formal Mage's path. On narrow paths they must give way 5 meters beforehand. And they must bow first as a junior apprentice regardless of circumstance."

Celandine was satisfied. "I teach you this not out of harshness, but for the path of self-protection for the weak."

"When alone, we master and apprentice can interact freely. But before others, etiquette must be strictly kept, so none can pick out faults."

"Perfect etiquette leaves no openings for meaningless attacks. This spares much unnecessary trouble."

Rosen nodded seriously. "I understand, Teacher."

Though their relationship was intimate enough for physical passion, Teacher was still Teacher, guide in the ways of magic. His deep respect for her was unchanged.

An educated female mage was a progressive woman in this world. Independence was her spirit's core. Mundane chastity held no true sway over them, physical pleasure just another way to pass time.

If it pleased, they indulged. If not, they abstained.

To think relations meant license for arrogance or presumption was the mark of an ass-kicked mind, and would lead nowhere good.

Many men in this world could not accept this, calling female mages utterly debauched and vulgar, often insulting them as witches.

But in truth, judging behavior irrespective of gender, male mages were often far more debauched, and the mud slung at women was purely from their relative social weakness.

But I digress.

Silvermoon City was not large. In less than half an hour the carriage smoothly stopped at the Mages' Guild entrance.

Celandine lifted the lace hem of her hat, concealing her dazzling visage, and only alighted with Rosen's support after he descended.

Once standing, she tidied her dress, then softly reminded her dear apprentice.

"Bring the experiment tools. Follow behind me. Observe the apprentice etiquette."

"Yes, Teacher."

The so-called experiment materials were tools to verify paper conclusions - smooth metal balls, wooden tracks, paints, and vision-blocking curtains.

Too many odds and ends to handle alone without mage assistance.

Once Rosen put everything on, Celandine headed towards the Guild's main hall.

The hall was as crowded as always, mostly youths, with some white-haired elders.

But no matter who, upon seeing Celandine's 12-star platinum badge, they immediately made way, lowered their gaze, and bowed deeply from afar, as if an invisible exclusion zone surrounded her.

Rosen sighed inwardly. "Ah...this is a powerful mage's glory."

After walking a while, they met a familiar face - Firama, a low-tier 4-star Formal Mage.

He hurried up and bowed first as a junior mage, before speaking. "Greetings Lady Celandine. How may I be of service?"

Perhaps due to her changed attire, his attitude was far more deferential than last time.

Celandine displayed the poise of a senior mage, merely nod-acknowledging.

"I am going to the 2nd floor Thesis Review Department. I know the place well, so carry on with your tasks, Mage Firama."

Firama bowed slightly again before withdrawing to the side.

Celandine lifted her skirt's hem and ascended the moonsilver staircase to the 2nd floor, Rosen following etiquette by staying 3 meters behind.

With no others on the stairs, she continued tutoring her apprentice in gentle tones.

"Teacher dislikes noisy crowds, especially meaningless small talk with boring strangers. Along with Alice's entanglements, I'm not popular in Silvermoon."

"But in the Mages' Guild there are mages focused on magic and of great wisdom. To fulfill formal mage duties I have submitted some papers, so have a few tolerable colleagues in Thesis Review."

"Do not be jealous. They are all white-haired elders."

Rosen regarded the peerless beauty before him and sighed again inwardly.

"They must all be sages who know of fate, to converse with you in equanimity."

It was precisely due to Celandine's eccentricity and misfortunes that he gained her favor.

Under normal circumstances, with her looks and talent she could easily obtain high status. She probably wouldn't even glance his way.

He was truly fortunate.

On the 2nd floor, after walking about fifteen steps down the wide corridor, they reached a large set of doors. Beside the imposing doors hung an entire doorplate made of spellsilver, labeled "Silvermoon Formal Spell Thesis Review".

Compared to the 1st floor's bustle, the 2nd floor hall could only be described as empty, or more accurately, containing only Celandine and Rosen as outsiders.

Celandine went to the doors and knocked lightly. "Greetings Mage Fowler."

The interior staff was also sparse, mostly middle-aged and elderly male mages above mid-tier.

More precisely, a batch of distinguished gentlemen of status, achievement, and wealth.

Hearing the young female voice, all the mages swiveled and stared. Upon seeing Celandine, unconcealable enchantment filled their eyes.

With lowered gaze, Rosen observed all from the corner of his eyes.

"Tsk, tsk. So many gentlemen, the mental pressure rises."

Just then, an elderly mage seated at the circular wooden table looked up. Seeing Celandine, he guffawed loudly.

"Ahaha! So it's Miss Celandine. No wonder the songbirds outside were chirping nonstop."

Rosen saw this Mage Fowler wore a deep purple badge on his chest, encrusted with 14 sapphires on the outer rim, and a darker gold winged rim outside that.

"A 14-star high-tier divine patronage mage, with a meteorite eternal gold badge and outer undying orichalcum wings. His status seems even higher than Chairman Feylen's."

If he remembered right, Chairman Feylen was just an ordinary mage. Higher in post perhaps, but before this elder, he would probably have to bow as a junior mage too.

On the other side, Fowler looked upon Celandine with a fatherly, benevolent gaze.

"Well, what surprise does Silvermoon's Lonely Rose bring me today?"

Celandine smiled faintly. "The surprise is rather major this time. Do prepare yourself mentally, Elder."