Four Split Personalities

Chapter 2258: Chapter 1062: Deadly Game (VI)

"So, what’s going on?"

Unable to comprehend the conversation between the two, Motan asked Diana in a low voice, "Did you find out what’s wrong with Double Leaf?"

Diana smiled sweetly at Motan, then shrugged helplessly and said, "I’ve always known what the problem with little Double Leaf is, and so do Ana and Brother, which is why we don’t want her to delve into overly advanced knowledge too early."

"Tsk, tsk, let me put it this way."

Double Leaf smacked her lips, her pretty face looking a bit dejected, as if she was explaining to Motan or mumbling to herself: "When it comes to drawing Mudkaqiu, a mage with average talents like Diana has to spend a lot of time on fundamental skills, such as studying Mudkaqiu’s habits, observing its routines, analyzing its inner world, dissecting its innards, and savoring the taste of its meat, only after almost turning herself into a Mudkaqiu can she draw them well."

Diana didn’t mind Double Leaf rudely calling her ’average talent’ at all, and nodded vigorously in agreement, "That’s right, that’s how it is for most people!"

"But I’m not ’most people.’

Double Leaf sighed, shrugged, and made a cheeky expression: "For me, replicating a Mudkaqiu isn’t that troublesome at all. Even if I’ve never encountered such a creature before, I can recreate it vividly the first time I see it. I can even dye it yellow, add some blush, and throw in some lightning special effects just by my own will."

Motan nodded thoughtfully and pondered, "But if we compare magic to a painting, starting from the Epic Tier, it’s not just as simple as replication; so because you haven’t studied the habits of Mudkaqiu, nor dissected it, is that why you’re in a predicament, Double Leaf?"

"That’s right. That’s why I have the capital to cross rank and cast spells, but can’t even perform the simplest [Azure Flame Stream] of epic magic."

Double Leaf looked down at her delicate white hand and gritted her teeth: "Because, in my concept, there’s no such thing as ’fundamental skills,’ and one crucial prerequisite for flexibly using epic magic is to fully master a series of foundational skills from the primary stage to advanced magic. Damn it, what is this, being too clever for my own good? Is it wrong to be exceptionally gifted?"

Diana, seeing that Double Leaf wasn’t as devastated as she had originally imagined, or rather, although somewhat affected, wasn’t too discouraged, quickly comforted her, "Little Double Leaf, don’t think that way. You must know that your speed from the primary stage to advanced is the fastest I’ve ever seen, and those things you missed before can be caught up slowly. It’s just a matter of time; you’re still young, and time is what you have the most."

"Ah... You don’t have to tell me, I know."

Double Leaf ruffled her hair that she had just smoothed with the Water Element before leaving the library, giving Diana a sidelong glance: "So, your reason for keeping me from contacting the Epic Tier like guarding against a thief is because you’re afraid I’ll be too shattered to recover?"

Diana instinctively retracted her neck, then shook her head slightly and whispered, "Not entirely, although there is indeed some worry on that front... um, after all, Double Leaf, you’ve progressed really quickly, and you’ve never encountered any setbacks from the moment you started learning magic until now. But the most important reason is that whether it’s me, Ana, or Brother Kenneth, we all think that if you get the chance to learn Epic Tier magic, you’ll be eager to start, and that’s really too dangerous..."

Motan looked at Double Leaf uneasily, hesitatingly asking, "Dangerous? What kind of danger?"

"Magic power disruption! Element backlash!"

Diana put on a serious face and stated earnestly, "You must know, little Double Leaf, although you could exceed rank casting magic in the primary and middle rank, the Epic Domain has a fundamental difference from the previous three stages. Whether it’s the control over the precision of magic power or the ability to manipulate elements, the requirements of the Epic Tier are more than ten times higher than advanced stages. Even no matter how talented or careful you are, a slight error could easily lead to the two situations I mentioned, resulting in either severe injury, or in severe cases, being washed into an idiot by magic power or outright killed by elemental backlash!"

Motan let out a soft gasp, staring intently with concern at Double Leaf’s listless doll-like face, "I saw you trying to use magic before! You wouldn’t..."

"Don’t curse me, shitty man."

The girl countered Motan without much force, raising a forefinger to gently rub her nose, and snorted: "I’m perfectly fine, not a problem at all, but Diana, really, could you not just tell me plainly? Why do you have to resort to such guarded and cryptic nonsense?"

Diana rarely lowered her beautiful eyes, staring unblinkingly at Double Leaf and asked, "If we told you this, wouldn’t you still try to find a way to touch Epic Tier magic?"

Double Leaf honestly shook her head, "No, I probably would be even more interested in those things that require fundamental skills to handle."