Chapter 27 – Magic Infusion

“Before we begin anything else, let’s first learn a small technique for using magic power — magic infusion!

“A witch’s magic power is the only energy at tier three and below that possesses the property of infusion.

“It is also the key to how we witches can craft exclusive magical items from ordinary materials!

“Magic infusion is essentially the process of coating an object with magic power or Magic Power, allowing it to take on magical properties. It requires a certain degree of magical control.

“However, whether it’s mana or magic power, neither can be observed with the naked eye before it manifests as magic with obvious effects.

“If it’s invisible, it’s very difficult to see the state of infusion.

“Most races use perception or detection magic to gauge the power level of extraordinary individuals who aren’t in combat.

“But we witches have a simpler and more convenient method — infusing our own eyeballs with our power, granting them the ability of witch sight.

“After prolonged infusion, even without actively using magic power, our eyes can perceive the traces of different energies.

“Of course, witch sight produced through magic power infusion can only observe energies at the same tier as magic power or lower — such as spiritual force, elemental force, and so on.

“Having a pair of eyes capable of observing energy traces will greatly aid our study of magic.

“However, infusing the eyeballs carries a certain degree of danger, so you’ll need to get accustomed to the process first.”

As Lady Amisha reached this point in her lecture, the Wand beside her stirred slightly, and from the large pile of items by the lectern, a stack of something that looked like paper — yet also resembled thin leather mats — flew out.

Each young witch received one sheet. When unfolded, it was just large enough to cover an entire desk.

Another sheet affixed itself to the blackboard behind Lady Amisha.

“This is resonance paper. Any force will leave traces on it.

“Next, we’ll use this to practice magical control. Once your magic power can spread thinly and evenly across the entire sheet, turning the paper a uniform green, you may attempt to coat your eyeballs with magic power and activate witch sight.”

Amisha placed her hand on the resonance paper. With her palm as the center, a faint green spread outward, quickly covering the entire sheet.

“This is what passing looks like.”

She made slight adjustments — the green became uneven, with patches of varying depth, then shifted to pale yellow, then to deep red.

“Uneven color means your magic power output speed is unstable, which leads to uneven infusion. Pale yellow means your magic power output is too low to meet the threshold for infusion. Red means your magic power output is too high and will damage the infused object. All of these are failures.

“As for how to output magic power — magic power exists within our bloodline. It is part of our bodies. Unconscious instinct, clear intention, and strong emotions can all cause magic power to surge forth.

“However, for stable and controllable magic power, directing it with clear intention works best.

“In simpler terms, clear your mind of distractions, focus on willing your magic power to flow out slowly, and spread it thinly across the entire sheet of resonance paper. That’s all there is to it.

“Feel free to give it a try. These sheets of resonance paper have been specially treated and won’t be easily damaged.”

The moment she finished speaking, the resonance paper in front of some young witches was already splotched with patches of blue-green and yellow — clearly the result of uncontrolled thoughts.

Vasida and Sylph couldn’t resist trying either. The instant their fingertips touched the resonance paper, the sheets turned a solid red, with a tendency to darken toward black.

“Control your output speed and volume — don’t rush!”

Amisha stepped down from the lectern.

“Vasida and Sylph, you two are Sorceresses. Your mana is far stronger than ordinary magic power, so you need to be especially careful with the amount! If magic power infusion requires one unit of magic power, then mana infusion requires only a thousandth — or even a ten-thousandth — of that.”

“Once the paper has fully changed color, stop your magic power output. After it reverts to its original color in a moment, you can continue practicing.”

Mo Lan had previously lost control the moment Lilith explained how to channel mana — one surge of excitement and it had spiraled completely out of hand. This time, she had learned from that lesson. Even after Lady Amisha finished her explanation, Mo Lan didn’t rush to try immediately. Instead, she reined in her emotions and mentally reviewed Lady Amisha’s instructions once through.

Among the twenty-seven first-year young witches, she was the only one whose resonance paper remained an unchanged milky white.

All the other young witches had already begun waiting for their paper to reset.

Amisha paused in front of Mo Lan as well. “Well done! Exercising caution with your power is very important!”

Mo Lan had already experienced the terrifying consequences of letting emotion and instinct control her power. Only after she felt fully prepared did she channel her Magic Power.

Her mana hadn’t fully recovered yet, which made her even more reluctant to use it recklessly. She channeled it miserly, opening only the tiniest trickle, thinking that should be about right for covering a sheet of resonance paper this size.

But in a flash, a patch of red still appeared on the resonance paper. It wasn’t as deep as Vasida and the others’ — not that dark, verging-on-black red — considerably lighter, in fact.

Startled, Mo Lan immediately cut off her mana output. She had stopped so quickly that more than half the paper remained unchanged.

She adjusted, becoming even more miserly with her output. The resonance paper began to bloom with varying shades of red. Even after the entire sheet had changed color, she still couldn’t produce a single hint of green.

The three young Sorceresses in the front row, with their vivid red resonance papers, stood out conspicuously among the sea of deep yellows, pale yellows, and spotted patches of green from the rest of the class.

After about thirty seconds, the resonance paper returned to milky white.

The young witches resumed their practice.

The other young witches practicing magic infusion: “A little more, just a little more — the paper isn’t green enough yet.”

Mo Lan, Vasida, and Sylph practicing magic infusion: “Too much, still too much — less, even less!”

Only when some young witch lost control and poured all of her magic power into the resonance paper at once would any red appear on the sheets.

The gap between a witch’s magic power and an Sorceress’s mana was plain for all to see.

The other young witches actually mastered the output volume for magic infusion more quickly. Before long, their resonance papers averaged various shades of green.

At this stage, Mo Lan and the other two had a much harder time.

It took them many more attempts before their resonance papers finally showed a deep green.

However, perhaps because they had put so much more effort into controlling their output volume, their control had improved considerably. When it came to mastering output speed, they caught on slightly faster.

The jumping between color depths on their resonance papers quickly became far less dramatic.

Halfway through the class, quite a few young witches had consumed the better part of their magic power through the relentless infusion practice. They had no choice but to take bites of Breadfruit during the paper’s recovery periods to speed up their replenishment.

Fortunately, Breadfruit restored magic power much faster than it did mana.

Nibbling on Breadfruit while practicing was the only way to barely keep up with consumption — though their tongues and stomachs were getting a bit uncomfortable.

Lady Amisha had even thoughtfully prepared a whole basket of Breadfruit for them, available to take at any time.