On the Vistoria Continent, the ranks of mages are divided into Apprentice Mage, Great Mage, Magister, Magebane, Demon King, and Demon Emperor.
Ordinary people need to be able to harness the magical power of the world to become a mage.
But in this world where spells are immensely powerful, even the very first rank—the Apprentice Mage—is beyond the reach of most.
To become an Apprentice Mage, one must master at least three spells and bring them to a proficient stage.
From ancient times to the present, the sages of the Vistoria Continent have established a ranking system for all spellcasters to measure their current level.
This system distinguishes ranks by the speed and strength of spellcasting, as well as the integrity of the spell when disrupted.
A mage’s mastery of any single spell is divided into four stages: [Basic], [Proficient], [Master], and [Grandmaster].
The [Basic] stage is the most ordinary, attainable as long as intelligence is normal.
At this stage, one only needs to understand the fundamental composition and release of a spell, and be able to cast it fully to be considered qualified.
However, advancing through each stage demands an unimaginable amount of time and effort.
Many fail just to cross from [Basic] to [Proficient].
That is to say, becoming an Apprentice Mage on the Vistoria Continent is no easy feat.
Even if you know three spells, you must practice them diligently to reach the [Proficient] stage before you can truly be called an Apprentice Mage.
Otherwise, you aren’t even considered the lowest rank of mage.
This is why magic on the continent is both extraordinarily powerful and notoriously difficult to cultivate.
And for a mage-swordsman like Hill Yu, who trains both martial and magical disciplines, she is an exceptionally rare prodigy.
Ofilia’s attack on Willis targeted exactly this weakness.
According to intelligence reports, among all the spells Willis knew, only the Air Blade had reached the [Proficient] stage; the rest remained at [Basic].
By this measure, she was a mage who could use magic but not an Apprentice Mage by the continent’s universal standard.
If even her spells hadn’t reached [Proficient], she hardly deserved to be compared to the sages of old, let alone take up a teaching position today.
Willis knew this well, which was why her counterattack left Ofilia speechless.
To reach the [Proficient] stage, each spell has its own defined standards, which vary due to their complexity and power.
Facing Ofilia’s renewed assault, Willis took a deep breath and parted her red lips.
“Fire Armor!”
At her command, the Flame Armor erupted from her body, instantly enveloping her completely.
Flames blazed and sparks glittered like stars.
At this moment, Willis shone brilliantly like a sunlit saint descending from the heavens.
“Everyone present is an elite of the Empire. Is it not clear to all that my Fire Armor has reached the [Proficient] stage?”
As Willis finished speaking, a professor rose to give his assessment.
“Flames rise at will, the armor blazes wildly, covering the entire body without a single gap! Fierce yet gentle, there isn’t a trace of scorch anywhere near Her Highness the Princess, showing impeccable control!”
“In both casting speed and completeness, it undoubtedly reaches the proficient stage!”
“Moreover, the Flame Armor flows, violent on the outside and gentle within. This is beyond what ‘proficient’ alone can describe! Your Highness, have you modified this Fire Armor spell yourself?”
The professor’s words sparked exclamations from all teachers and students present.
A modified spell?
Apart from a few absolute geniuses, such refinement could only be achieved by powerful mages ranked Magebane or above!
Even in the past, this was the sign of a rising sage.
But…
Standing there was none other than the Empire’s notoriously infamous Second Princess—Willis Egbert!
How could this be?!
For a moment, everyone was dumbstruck.
“This professor surely knows talent when he sees it…”
Willis snapped her fingers, and the Flame Armor instantly vanished without a trace.
Her clothes and surroundings were pristine, showing she wielded the spell with absolute mastery.
Before Willis’s eyes, a line of information slowly faded away.
[Consumes 30 Spirit Force points. Using Real Eye, the Fire Armor spell was improved. Although this temporary optimized spell can disguise itself as proficient to confuse enemies, the true path requires diligent practice!]
That is to say, no matter how optimized a magic circle is, if the caster lacks dedication, it is useless.
“I trust everyone has no objections? This spell of mine has long reached the proficient stage, with just minor improvements…”
When Willis finished, the professor asked excitedly, “May I ask, Your Highness, how much power does this improved magic circle add?”
“Double both attack and defense!”
Gasps and scoffs met Willis’s claim—some inhaled sharply, others ridiculed her arrogance, but most were utterly shocked and silent.
However, Willis’s next words silenced any doubters among the teachers and students.
“Since I have come with the will to cultivate talents, this improved magic circle will be publicly released in one month, available for all to practice!”
Of course, the part that disguises the caster as [Proficient] would remain undisclosed, left as it is.
But this decision stunned the hall even more; some stood in excitement.
“Is this true, Your Highness?!”
Someone asked, unable to contain their excitement.
“Of course!”
Willis smiled, clearly pleased with the effect.
Though there are many mages on the Vistoria Continent, most magic factions and spells are controlled by academies and noble houses.
Apart from some low-level or commonly spread spells, high-level magic is rarely seen by commoners, let alone learned.
Some noble families even shelve their high-level spells that their own members cannot master, unwilling to auction or let them slip into the world.
Cherishing a treasured item describes the continent’s situation perfectly.
Even if a commoner accidentally obtained a coveted spell, most would practice it secretly, unwilling to share even with siblings.
So Willis’s gesture refreshed everyone’s understanding of her.
If she truly shared her magic, many here would likely change their attitudes toward her.
In this world, being able to cultivate precious magic can even reconcile longstanding feuds.
Not to mention many here only hated the Evil Princess by hearsay and prejudice.
Seeing her ploy for trouble turned into a display of pride and status elevation, Ofilia was furious to the point of grinding her teeth.
She clenched her fists, cutting off the excited shouts.
“So what if your Flame Armor reached proficient? Only two of your spells meet the standard!”
One must understand, advancing one spell to the proficient stage demands tremendous time and energy.
So…
“So… is that enough?”
Willis spent another 30 Spirit Force points, using Real Eye for further optimization.
Holding a fiery whip that flickered like a dragon, she left Ofilia utterly drained of will to continue.
Ofilia collapsed back into her seat in disbelief, muttering to herself.
“How could this be…”