Chapter Twenty-Six: The Art of Meditation

"Thank you, Senior Emmy, for accompanying me today and helping me get to know the academy's paths. I think I've mostly memorized them now, and I'm really grateful!"
"That's good to hear. As long as you've remembered, that's all that matters. Some places are off-limits, and wandering in by accident can cause trouble—even if a teacher steps in. No need to thank me, since you're my junior. If there's anything you don't understand, you can always ask me."
"I will!" Hughes smiled and bid Emmy farewell.

After parting with Emmy, Hughes went to the dining hall for dinner. The two had spent nearly the whole day wandering the academy, and dusk had already fallen. Hughes planned to return to his dormitory after eating; he was impatient to read that meditation technique.

He pushed open the door, took off his apprentice wizard's robe, and noticed that the garment must have an automatic cleaning function, for it remained spotless.

After a brief wash, Hughes sat on his bed, opened his bundle, and took out the crystal ball again, holding it in his hands.

"Beep! Data connection port detected. Begin connection?"

"Begin connection!"

At Hughes's command, that familiar pain spread through his mind once again. Hughes was thoroughly accustomed to this sensation, as if someone were striking his back with a wooden stick.

As the pain radiated, Hughes gradually became aware of a flood of words and images filling his mind.

"Are these... are these the meditation techniques?" Hughes felt his thoughts growing denser.

"Chip, organize this information and label it as 'Basic Meditation Technique.'"

"Beep! Task established. Beginning to record and organize; cataloging under 'Basic Meditation Technique.'"

It was only after a long while that Hughes felt the pain in his head finally begin to recede.

"Beep, recording and organization complete. Partial optimization: 8.7%; effectiveness increased by 12.8%. Begin transmission?"

"As expected," Hughes murmured in surprise at the chip's optimization, and joy surged within him.

"Chip, begin transmission!" Hughes ordered the chip to start the transfer; he could hardly wait to begin his training as a wizard.

"Beep! Basic Meditation Technique content transmitting: 10%, 20%, ..., 100%."

"Beep! Content transmission complete."

Hughes closed his eyes and began reviewing the chip's transmitted content.

He gained a clear understanding of the crystal ball's contents—it held the exclusive meditation method for apprentice wizards.

This basic meditation technique was designed specifically for apprentice wizards like Hughes, handed down from ancient wizard traditions. Though ancient, every academy used these techniques only for apprentices.

The method involved meditating in specific postures, using one's mental strength to construct spiritual runes, thereby exercising that power. The more spiritual runes one could construct, the stronger one's mental force became.

Wizards categorized apprentices by rank: First-level apprentice, Second-level apprentice, Third-level apprentice.

The criteria for these ranks were based on the number of spiritual runes constructed in one's mind: six for First-level, twelve for Second-level, eighteen for Third-level. Beyond Third-level, the basic meditation technique held no further records.

The speed of meditation progress was closely tied to innate talent; the higher the talent, the easier and faster it was to construct spiritual runes.

Thus, wizards valued talent highly. This explained why, upon seeing Hughes's deep violet talent, people eagerly sought to recruit him into the Shadow Ring.

A talented wizard could bring considerable returns, so it was only natural that those with lesser talent were overlooked.

"Chip, can you analyze these spiritual runes and transmit them directly to me?"

"Beep! Yes, host. Begin analysis now?"

"Begin!"

"Beep! Task established. Analyzing spiritual runes."

"It really works!" Compared to the academy's crystal ball, which simply flooded his mind with knowledge, the chip's advantages were numerous.

"Wonderful! With the chip's analysis, plus my own meditation, I should soon reach First-level apprentice."

Hughes sat cross-legged on his bed, following the prescribed posture, mentally constructing spiritual runes.

The room was silent, broken only by Hughes's gentle breathing.

He lost track of time.

"Beep! First spiritual rune analysis complete. Transmit?"

"How long have I been at this?" Hughes looked around in confusion.

"Beep! Seventy-six minutes have passed."

"Less than an hour and a half? That's fast," Hughes thought, realizing the first rune had been analyzed.

He had been trying to construct the runes, believing his talent would allow him to do so quickly. To his frustration, each attempt collapsed halfway.

"Chip, transmit."

"Beep! Beginning transmission."

Instantly, Hughes saw in his mind a strange symbol with intricate patterns, resembling ancient script—utterly unintelligible.

Examining it, Hughes realized the rune was three-dimensional; its patterns and lines twisted bewilderingly.

"No wonder it's so difficult to construct—with these patterns, most people would need days."

With the chip's analysis and transmission, Hughes fully grasped the rune's structure. He decided to attempt meditation again, confident that with the chip's assistance, he could construct his first spiritual rune tonight.

He took a deep breath, adjusted his posture, emptied his mind, and prepared to enter meditation once more.

To set the mood, Hughes turned off the lights, closed his eyes tightly, and sat on his bed as if asleep.

Around him, faint glimmers began to seep into his body.

Hughes's eyes began to roll, then suddenly snapped open.

"Did I... did I succeed?" Hughes closed his eyes, gazing at the spiritual rune in his mind.

"I really did it!" Hughes leapt to his feet. "Finally, I've succeeded!"

"Beep! Host's cellular activity increased; brain cell activity heightened."

"Beep! Detecting host's physical attributes!"

"Beep: Host's mental strength increased by 0.5, constitution increased by 0.08."

"Beep! Hughes Bruch—Strength: 3.8, Agility: 4.1, Constitution: 4.08, Mental Strength: 3.65, Status: Weak (recommended: rest immediately)."

"Huh? The meditation technique even boosts constitution—no wonder it's the wizard's training method."

Hughes looked at his attribute panel, his mental strength and constitution, and felt a certain addiction to the increase in power.

Recalling the meditation technique's instructions, Hughes remembered that after each session, proper rest was essential, lest problems arise.

He took off his clothes, lay on his soft bed, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

"Beep-beep-beep, beep-beep-beep!"

In the morning, Hughes was awakened by the chip in his mind. He got up, washed, ate, and went to pay his respects to his teacher.

Eight o'clock—the appointed time between Hughes and Wizard Matt.

Following his principle that arriving early leaves a good impression, Hughes always made it a point to be early.

"Good morning, teacher." Hughes opened the door to find Wizard Matt already standing there, and promptly bowed.

"Mm," Wizard Matt replied curtly, then looked at Hughes.

"You started practicing the meditation technique last night?"

"Yes, teacher," Hughes answered truthfully, knowing he could not hide it.

"How did it feel?"

"My head hurt—as if struck by something."

"That's the aftereffect of the crystal ball transmitting knowledge to you. Your mental strength is still too low, but it will improve with time. Rest more; there's no rush with the meditation technique for now."

"With your talent, you ought to be able to construct your first spiritual rune within three days at most."

Hughes heard Wizard Matt's words and thought, I've already constructed one. But he dared not say so—he couldn't guarantee that this amiable teacher wouldn't dissect him for research if he did.