Despite the wooziness it had caused, she was a bit tempted to do it again. That “oneness” she’d felt with her elements was unlike anything she’d ever experienced under the guidance of her tutors. There was a longing inside of her now to go back to that wonderful moment again. Lilianna had already decided she would do so the very moment she could.

“And that’s why learning multiple runes is important,” Professor Aldric continued. “This isn’t restricted to just conjurers, either. Enforcers imbuing their attacks with magic, sorcerers combining runes in tandem for different effects, healers incorporating different spells to target different ailments. All of it comes back to the runes you know and how you use them, regardless of affinities or class. Don’t let people tell you that you only need to stick to a handful of them that apply to you. There’s a lot you could learn from what other people practice.”

He pulled a scroll of vellum from somewhere in his robes, holding it up for everyone to see. It was a blank spell scroll, one that a sorcerer and another mage together would imbue. It would contain a spell until any class of mage unleashed it at a later time.

They still couldn’t be used by non-mages, and it was a laborious task for a sorcerer to make one even for a simple spell, but they were an invaluable asset, especially in times of war. Many considered it the most valuable skill sorcerers possessed. It was also why many believed sorcerers were only useful for stockpiling scrolls, and thus the lowest class of mage.

“For example,” the professor continued, placing the scroll on his desk so that the entire class would see it clearly. “This is igni, a basic fire rune. Caffaret, what would happen if I cast this scroll as is?”

Codrin frowned, like he expected a trick question. “It would burn, obviously.”

“Correct. Igni.” At the professor’s declaration, the scroll under his hand burst into flames. It quickly consumed itself before sputtering into nothingness. Lilianna couldn’t help but feel that it was a waste of such an expensive asset. Spell scrolls had to be specially prepared and required many ingredients.

Professor Aldric took out yet another spell scroll, the same igni rune inscribed on it. “Nadrina! Why do novice mages speak runes out loud when they cast?”

“Um... because it helps with concentration,” Nadrina answered haltingly. “I-It cements a clearer image in the caster’s mind, and it leads to less mana draw than silent casting. Advanced mages rarely need to speak runes aloud, unless the spell is complex.”

“Only partly true, but that’s the answer I wanted, anyway.”

Nadrina looked torn between being pleased and being disappointed, but the professor continued. “Focus is only half of the answer. The other half is completely different, and something most mages don’t learn until many, many years of practice.”