"Imbuing materials with magical power."
By the golden sunlight streaming through the window, Levi examined this page of notes with growing fascination, scratching his head in concentration.
There was a spark of inspiration flickering tantalizingly in his mind, but it felt like being separated by an impenetrable membrane, never able to break through to true understanding.
It was like having just been doing something important, then turning around and suddenly forgetting completely. That feeling was simply agonizing, hanging in mental limbo, unbearably frustrating.
He understood the concepts but could only grasp a tiny fragment of the whole picture.
"Truth cannot be comprehended through casual observation."
Suddenly a voice sounded from behind with obvious authority.
Saruman.
"Our guest seems to lack proper manners. Those are my personal belongings."
He snatched the note from Levi's hand and slapped it down on the table with obvious irritation.
"Indeed difficult to understand."
Levi had to admit this point honestly.
"Heh heh."
Saruman sneered with obvious condescension and said:
"Wisdom is not something everyone can possess. Forcibly viewing things beyond one's comprehension only damages the mind permanently. I suggest you go downstairs to read some simple storybooks instead. That would broaden your knowledge appropriately."
"Perhaps you're right."
Levi shrugged with apparent acceptance: "Then regarding this research on the table, what insights does the great Saruman have?"
"I have absolutely nothing to discuss with you. That's not something you should be involved in."
Saruman settled into his chair with obvious dismissal, picked up a small lens from the table, and began examining the ore specimens before him with scholarly attention.
"If you have nothing else to ask, then please leave immediately. As you can see, I'm not idle."
Not minding Saruman's open mockery in the slightest, Levi's attention was entirely captured by the intriguing item in the wizard's hands.
"What exactly is that you're holding?"
"I have no obligation to tell you."
"How regrettable. I was hoping to share some secret medicine with someone knowledgeable..."
"This is a specialized tool I use for researching material properties."
Saruman looked up with renewed interest and explained: "With this lens, you can observe the texture of metals or other substances more clearly. This helps considerably in understanding their fundamental essence."
"May I take a look?"
"Of course."
Levi accepted the offered lens with careful reverence.
It felt somewhat familiar, but he wasn't entirely certain why.
He held up the lens and looked at Saruman through it experimentally.
He only saw a gloomy, weathered old face staring back.
Levi seriously shifted his gaze away and examined a nearby water cup instead, especially the clear liquid inside. He observed the room's reflection cast in the weak light, thinking deeply about water's flexible yet firm properties.
A flash of sudden enlightenment arose in his mind like lightning.
"Water: firm enough to collapse mountains and shatter rocks, gentle enough to flow softly around fingers."
"This element exists within water and all water-containing objects. It is the fundamental source of life."
Elemental Mnemonics
Some profound knowledge about "water" floated into his consciousness and was absorbed by Levi's understanding.
A notification appeared:
[Obtained "Water" Elemental Knowledge Point x1]
New items appeared in the crafting interface.
Plop.
Levi placed the small lens carefully on the table.
"What did you observe?"
"I perceived the fundamental wisdom of 'water.'"
Levi's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Crude brute, putting on airs.
Saruman disdainfully criticized in his mind.
"This is for you."
Levi tossed out a night vision potion and said: "Your tower is far too dark. This can help you see more clearly."
"A potion that allows vision to pierce through darkness and see the outlines of hidden things?"
Saruman took it, examined it briefly with professional interest, then casually set it aside.
This effect wasn't particularly rare. He could achieve it himself with some techniques. But there were indeed some intriguing magical elements within, giving it certain research value.
It barely qualified as adequate consultation payment.
"Then I'll accept it graciously. Thank you for your generosity."
The reputation value didn't budge at all.
He didn't mind this small detail.
Waving his hand as he departed Saruman's research room, Levi felt genuinely excited.
Elements!
That was the hallmark of true mysticism.
A new modification had been unlocked!
An "Age of Mystery" was about to arrive.
Without wasting any precious time, the next day Levi mounted his horse early in the morning, informed the servants of his departure, and left.
He rode straight back to Roadside Fort.
On this day, residents lived as usual. Farmers tended their flourishing fields, miners rode minecarts feeling the momentum, people with fishing rods sat by the river in small groups anticipating the next catch, and crowds of residents gathered around an empty lot discussing what kind of house to build.
Everything developed according to normal routine.
Until Levi appeared at an empty lot outside the city walls with a backpack completely full of building materials.
Then, on this empty lot, he used stones to lay out a large serrated circle and then built upward following this circular pattern.
Thus creating an enormously massive tower foundation.
That's right, a tower.
A giant fortress tower whose diameter, when viewed from above, was several times longer than the castle itself.
Sauron had Barad-dûr, and Saruman had Orthanc. Both were incredibly solid fortress-type towers, both magnificent and practical.
Previously, when Levi had nothing urgent to do, he hadn't given it much thought.
But now, after all, the Age of Mystery had arrived.
What kind of magic could you practice without a proper wizard's tower?
Levi also wanted his own tower.
A massive construction project thus began.
This month, whenever residents had free time, they would climb the city walls to gaze at the enormous structure gradually rising by the lake.
"My goodness..."
Most residents were seeing Levi personally build something for the first time.
They had thought that with their lord's magical enhancement, three to five people working together could build a tall, large, and beautiful house in a few days, which was already quite impressive.
But they never expected there were stronger among the strong. The source of that great magic, Roadside Fort's lord Levi, when he worked personally, could match all the people in the territory combined!
Just sleeping for a while, or briefly doing other things, and with a moment's inattention, that heavy and massive tower foundation would visibly rise a large section, almost flying upward.
"That gray tower grew from its foundation into a massive structure piercing the clouds before this season could pass, forcing passersby to crane their necks upward, unable to see its end."
A resident picked up paper and pen to record this historic event.
"And all this was accomplished by our lord alone. In this matter, even the residents most skilled at building houses in the city dared not volunteer to help."
"We finally understand how Roadside Fort was established when this land was still barren. It must have been a feat that would make people from surrounding towns' eyes pop out."
"Recorded in 2942, Autumn."
Falling leaves brought news of changing seasons.
This year's territory remained peaceful with no major incidents, except for the sudden appearance of that fortress-like tower.
When Roadside Fort's trading company set out loaded with various specialties and carts of fine wine, it was still just a foundation.
By the time the company had circled through various regions and returned to Roadside Fort, the tower's top had been completed.
Autumn winds rustled, bringing a hint of coolness.
Atop the tower, looking down at the tiny things below and glancing at the clouds within reach beside him, Levi spread his arms and took a deep breath.
What an exhilarating marathon of construction!
Since the venue construction was complete, it was time to get down to serious business.
Whoosh.
The next moment, Levi jumped down, donned his elytra, and slowly spiraled downward until he reached the entrance stairs at the tower's base.
Little Pink, who had been grazing on the grass nearby, saw her master descend and scampered over eagerly, nuzzling Levi's pants with her small head.
Those bright eyes were full of longing for the sky.
Patting the dragon's head affectionately, Levi looked at the small patch of bare grass nearby and fell silent.
"Eat less of that stuff in the future."