Chapter 53: Mage Armor
An open field outside Gray Rock Town.
Gauss tightened his grasp on the staff, closed his eyes, and immersed himself in focus.
Continuously communicating with the new spell within his will, Mage Armor.
One advantage of the spells rewarded by the Adventurer’s Handbook is that they save a lot of introductory time compared to other apprentices learning skills.
It’s as if he had already mastered this skill, and now he’s just picking up past experiences.
Referring to the intelligence Gauss and the Night Owl Squad gathered, typically, even if others obtained a Skill Book, starting from scratch to reach the entry-level, which is just barely able to release the skill effect, would take at least several months.
As for wanting to use it proficiently, for ordinary apprentices like them, the time spent is measured in years.
However, Gauss’s process from entry to proficiency does not take much time, putting him ahead at the starting line.
Benefiting from the effects brought by the Adventurer’s Handbook, the time it took him to advance the first two spells, Mage’s Hand and Magic Missile, from Level 1 to Level 2 was not too long.
With eyes closed and mind focused, he mentally reviewed the contents about Mage Armor.
Gauss began to recall some knowledge from Andri’s notes he read recently.
A spell is an independent Magic Effect.
Such Magic Effects can create convenient tools, weapons, damage, Protective Barriers, and other effects, which are broadly divided into eight major categories.
Protection, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion Technique, Necromancy, Transmutation.
The Mage’s Hand and Magic Missile that Gauss has already mastered belong to the Conjuration and Evocation categories respectively.
The Mage Armor he is about to practice falls into the Protection category.
This spell’s magical casting target can be oneself or other creatures after touch.
But casting it on other creatures requires more experience, and the effect is less apparent than self-casting.
Upon successful casting, a Protective Magic Field envelops the body.
After briefly reviewing his memory, Gauss began formal practice.
"Mage Armor!"
Gauss focused his attention and mobilized the magic power within his body.
The spell etched in his will moved slightly.
There was feedback!
A slight expression of relief appeared on Gauss’s face.
Finding that sudden, chilling sensation on the first attempt indicates that practicing this spell shouldn’t be very difficult.
Having feedback is good feedback.
"Continue!"
"Mage Armor!"
...
Gauss tried several times in succession.
He felt this spell was about to "emerge readily at his call."
Of course, casting isn’t strictly related to whether he shouts the spell’s name.
It’s just that casting is an extremely focused process where words serve as a direct psychological cue to help quickly get into the right mental state.
Many may have such an experience— the more one tries to control the brain not to think about something, the more uncontrollably the brain transgresses.
Focusing on something without distractions sounds simple but is quite complex, especially when you’re not proficient in the content you’re practicing.
Therefore, certain verbal or posture cues are very necessary.
Even for Gauss, who is quite proficient with Mage’s Hand and Magic Missile, he also silently repeats spells to ensure his attention stays focused on the corresponding spell.
He took a short rest.
Gauss took a deep breath, feeling like he was just a step away from success.
He patted his cheeks to reinvigorate his spirit.
"Mage Armor!"
His brain started sending instructions to his body, causing the Meditation Seal belonging to Mage Armor to flicker slightly.
The magic power within his body began to surge rapidly.
"Buzz Buzz!"
This time, his internal magic power gathered smoothly on the White Bone Staff, finally releasing a wave that merged with the Natural Magic on his body surface.
With the consumption of magic power, it eventually formed a layer of Magic Protection Field.
"1st-level Spell Mage Armor Level 1 (1/10)"
"Success."
Gauss exhaled in relief.
Once successfully cast, Mage Armor no longer requires special concentration; it has already formed and only requires slight mental effort to maintain.
Being able to sense his magic power, Gauss could clearly perceive the mysterious Force Field protecting him.
Yet, it’s not a tangible protective material like Leather Armor or plate armor.
Gauss hesitated for a moment, pulling out a dagger he carried with him.
He carefully made a cut on his finger.
"Buzz!"
With his tentative attack, the magic field around him seemed to hum slightly.
Where the blade contacted his finger, besides a faint flash of white light, there was no other reaction.
The blade seemed not to cut his body but cut against an invisible, extremely thin yet resilient outer membrane.
Of course, this description isn’t quite accurate, but Gauss just couldn’t find a better way to describe it at the moment.
"No bleeding, no harm." Gauss inspected his fingertip, displaying a slightly excited expression. "Such a distinct effect!"
This is the Magic Effect brought by Protective Spell.
It might not provide more power, create an object out of thin air, or deceive others’ hearts.
But it can guard the target and offer ample security.
"The effect of the Protective Field seems to have weakened a bit." After some careful feeling, Gauss concluded.
An attack is counteracted by Mage Armor, but correspondingly, the effect of Mage Armor also wears down a portion of its power.
Very reasonable.
You can’t expect Mage Armor to continually withstand all damage; being magic, it also has its limits.
So, even mastering Mage Armor doesn’t mean one can be recklessly bold.
Relying on Mage Armor’s protective effect to endure enemy damage isn’t a wise choice.
Especially now, when his proficiency with Mage Armor isn’t fully developed. The effect isn’t that optimal, so more caution is needed.
Avoidable attacks should be dodged as much as possible.
This way, the "protection" of Mage Armor won’t be worn down by unnecessary attacks, and it can offer better protection when unavoidable attacks occur.
Gauss remained clear-headed.
"Next, I need to test Mage Armor’s damage limit."
Fully understanding the limits of his spell is necessary.
With a clear understanding, he can judge in real battle which attacks he can withstand and which he likely cannot.
Thus making a relatively wise combat decision.
Following the first "self-harming" attempt, having personally experienced the effect of Mage Armor, Gauss felt more confident.
Decisively, he made another cut on his hand.
Previously, this blade might have caused severe bleeding.
But now, when the blade touched the skin, it sliced through a faint white light and hit a layer of invisible protection, ultimately causing no harm.