Chapter 40: The Evolving Nature of Fireball

However, Luwen Ailin had truly misjudged the situation. Filing Errol, even now, did not know my name. She only had a vague impression of this classmate with such a low presence, mostly hearing others refer to me as ‘that white-haired kid’.

After all, a shock of white hair was quite distinctive. Apart from certain unique races, white hair was generally an uncommon sight.

“I’m Filing Errol. Would you like to get acquainted, classmate?” Filing Errol approached me, initiating the conversation.

“Oh? I’m Ren. My name is Ren.” I was momentarily stunned. It was true I had never introduced myself publicly, and her seat was quite a distance from mine, so it made sense she wouldn’t have registered my name.

Filing Errol’s direct approach clearly challenged Luwen Ailin’s perceptions. She had chuckled at Ren’s conversation just yesterday, and now, to her surprise, there was someone in the same class who didn’t even know her? Had Qieluo not asked the entire class to introduce themselves?

‘His social circle must be incredibly small,’ Luwen Ailin mused. ‘Introverted, low-key, with absolutely no presence—I’ve truly never encountered someone with such a personality. It’s a rare sight. Even the introverted students I’ve taught in the past weren’t like this.’

“Ahem, well then, since you’ve all gotten acquainted, let’s move on,” Luwen Ailin swiftly redirected the conversation. “First, let’s test your understanding of the Fireball spell. Class Monitor? You may begin.”

“Understood.” Air, called upon by Luwen Ailin, showed no hint of discomfort as she calmly began. “I’ve had some experience with the Fireball spell, so I’m well aware of its capabilities. As an introductory spell, its structure is straightforward, it’s simple to cast, and it consumes minimal energy. However, its power is commensurately low, making it a spell typically only utilized by novice mages.”

“Oh, quite good. Filing Errol, what are your thoughts?” Luwen Ailin offered no further commentary, primarily because she wished not to influence the perceptions of the remaining two students. She wanted to hear their unadulterated opinions.

“Me?” Filing Errol paused, briefly gathering her thoughts before speaking. “I haven’t had much personal experience with the Fireball spell, having only observed others use it. In my estimation, as a low-cost offensive tool, it’s quite effective for suppressive fire and interference. As for its actual damage output… it’s not particularly high. The energy required to significantly boost a Fireball’s damage would be better spent on a different ability altogether.”

“Indeed, a very pragmatic perspective. And you, Ren?”

“Me? I haven’t had any prior experience with supernatural powers,” I admitted, feeling a touch self-conscious.

The embarrassment was genuine. I felt utterly outmatched compared to them; my entire understanding of the Fireball spell came solely from descriptions in games and novels. Surely, admitting that would only invite ridicule.

Yet, even if I had to improvise, I needed to say something. “However, I believe that as the simplest spell, Fireball must also serve as a foundational cornerstone for the initial exploration of the supernatural. So, while its damage might not be high, its primary role could be instructional, perhaps even supporting various variant spells derived from the original Fireball?”

“Excellent! I retract my previous statement, Ren; I truly appreciate you more now,” Luwen Ailin declared, unable to resist a round of applause after hearing my words.

Her enthusiastic reaction sent a fresh wave of embarrassment through me.

Fortunately, only the four of us were present to hear it, or my mortification would have been far greater.

“Spells within the Witch World are in a constant state of evolution and iteration, and the Fireball spell is certainly no exception,” Luwen Ailin began. “First, regarding your collective assumption that Fireball’s damage is low, that’s entirely relative. Setting aside the very latest versions of the spell, the Fireball spell as I currently wield it, using a standard energy expenditure, possesses enough destructive power to level this entire teaching building we’re in.”

As Luwen Ailin spoke, she swiftly completed the incantation for a Fireball spell. A sphere of intense flame materialized in her hand, causing all three of our eyelids to twitch involuntarily.

‘Surely this isn’t the Fireball you claimed could flatten a teaching building?’

Gazing at the condensed fireball, which now seemed to shimmer with a chilling blue hue, I dared not even contemplate the scorching temperature at its core.

‘You’re telling me this is a Fireball spell?’

‘What in the world is this Fireball spell?’

“Therefore, never underestimate the true power of the Fireball spell,” Luwen Ailin emphasized. “And this potency isn’t merely achieved by augmenting it with a greater influx of supernatural energy.”

“As I just mentioned, that was a Fireball spell cast with standard energy consumption, yet its destructive capability is truly terrifying!” Luwen Ailin dissipated the fireball, but a palpable wave of heat still radiated outwards, making me feel the ambient temperature rise significantly.

“Furthermore, Ren was absolutely correct,” Luwen Ailin continued. “The sheer number of spells derived from the Fireball as a prototype is now countless—be it direct derivatives, variations, or applied concepts. Thus, ‘Fireball’ no longer refers solely to that specific spell, but broadly encompasses any spell based on its fundamental principles.” Luwen Ailin paused, and several elemental spheres materialized in her hand once more.

There were orbs of pure light, spheres of molten earth, continuously swirling masses of high-pressure gas, and even spheres of arcane energy.

“These, too, are considered Fireball spells,” Luwen Ailin explained. “Therefore, your perspectives on Fireball are far too rigid. You are destined to become witches; your vision should be more expansive, even a little rebellious! Someone once spent many years modifying a Fireball spell to render it utterly harmless. To what extent, you ask? It couldn’t even produce any observable effect on the material world! Yet, despite being a spell of the material world with zero practical utility, the field she pioneered spread like wildfire, even sparking a frenzied wave of research into the absolute lower limits of spell damage! And…”

Luwen Ailin continued to regale us with fascinating anecdotes about the Fireball spell, each story further expanding my own understanding.

What struck me most, however, was the thought: are witches truly a race with so much leisure time?

A Fireball spell that inflicts no damage?

A spell designed to test the absolute minimum damage threshold?

Though I couldn’t fully grasp the implications, I felt a surge of excitement! This very atmosphere, wasn’t it precisely what I had yearned for?

What truly defined the exploration of the supernatural? This was it!

The supernatural should be about exploring the world’s mysteries, not merely a tool for destruction!

It shouldn’t be that the supernatural is simply a synonym for the relentless pursuit of power.

Power was an inherent byproduct of the supernatural, yet far too many sought only the outcome, not the journey.

Therefore, if I wished to achieve my ultimate goal, I would need immense power to bolster my aspirations.

Currently, I was far too weak. Thus, for the time being, my primary focus had to remain on acquiring strength. Only by empowering myself could I truly reach my objectives.

“Alright, having discussed so much, let’s begin with the fundamentals of the Fireball spell,” Luwen Ailin announced, producing a selection of materials and distributing them among us.

These were the essential ritual components required for casting a Fireball.

“Do any of you know the steps involved in casting a Fireball spell?” Luwen Ailin inquired. “Of course, I’m posing this question with Ren in mind, as he’s new to the supernatural. You two go first; simply describe the process as you understand it for a Fireball spell. Class Monitor, you may start.”

“Casting a Fireball requires using mental energy to guide elemental power into a pre-established spell model, which is then activated,” Air stated concisely. She could have easily demonstrated it on the spot, but chose not to.

“Our world’s approach is quite similar,” Filing Errol added. “It involves communing with arcane energy, drawing a spell model, and then converting and injecting elemental energy into that model.”

“Yes, that’s essentially it. Ren, are you able to follow along?” Luwen Ailin turned her head to ask me.

“Hmm… roughly?” I replied, though my tone carried a distinct note of uncertainty, as I couldn’t be entirely sure.