Chapter 91.1 - The Second Year at the Academy - Remedial Assignment (1)
Bathing in the early morning sunlight, I focused on the kneaded clay in the basin.
What I was about to initiate was the [Multiple Chanting] of [Operate Water] and [Operate Soil].
Mana permeated the clay, synchronizing with my consciousness.
Now came the tricky part.
[Multiple Chanting] allowed for the activation of several spells, but it didn't mean they were interconnected.
This time, I had to control a single target using two different spells.
I slowly manipulated the solid and liquid components of the clay.
When Danil had asked me about [Multiple Chanting] I explained it by likening both hands to launchpads.
My current task was akin to operating 2 launchpads simultaneously without a hitch.
The spring breeze brushing through the town ruffled the sweat on my forehead.
Ignoring it, I extended the tendrils of clay.
The tendrils crawled up the outer wall like living creatures, hesitating for a moment before it infiltrated a crack. Phase one is penetration.
From here on, it was all guesswork since I couldn't see beyond this point.
With Operate spells, I could know where the target was. But I couldn't sense it.
I moved the clay tendrils, filling the gaps through trial and error.
Concentrating too much on the tips would cut off the supply from the basin.
I had to maintain awareness of the entire structure while not only fixing the parts that were out of reach for manual repair. But those that had deteriorated due to the weather.
Gradually, I became more adept at the operation, creating clay repeatedly and silently continuing my work.
After some time, I've done all the repairs.
I wiped the sweat droplets from my forehead and exhaled deeply.
Checking my status, I had consumed the mana equivalent of a few fireballs.
The basic operation of the Operate spells was easy. But as it got a bit more complex, its mana consumption spiked, and the difficulty increased significantly.
I would have likely used a fair amount if my mental strength was low.
I immediately attempted to touch the blue robe with the tendrils of mana but was disappointed when nothing became clear.
However, I noticed a difference when I touched the lightweight two-handed sword.
The azure robe felt smooth, while the lightweight sword was rough to the touch.
I fiddled with it extensively, trying to deduce the difference, which appeared to be in the level of completion.
The azure robe had pushed its abilities to the limit, while the lightweight sword had some room to spare.
It had probably become a magical item without fully tapping into the potential of the materials or catalysts.
Next, I learned [Operate Soil], which was quicker. I activated [Handy Soil] through [Multiple Chanting] and layered [Operate Energy] over it. Normally, they wouldn't sync, but with repeated attempts, mana unexpectedly soaked into the earth, and I acquired [Operate Soil].
At this rate, I could complete the Operate series, but first, I needed to finish the repairs.
After the smoothing was complete, I carried a large bag into the backyard and brought it upstairs to the partially damaged room.
I gazed at the repaired walls, which still bore the traces of water leaks.
It seemed that [Earth Shield] had its limits.
I needed to redo this repair as well.
First, I took the planks that acted as the roof and leaned them against the wall.
Today was the last day I would call these planks a roof.
They had endured rain, been soaked, and even blown away by the wind, playing quite a versatile role.
I offered my gratitude to the planks and looked up at the refreshing sky.
For my second life, I should... I pondered but returned my gaze to the walls, which were riddled with gaps.
Operate magics were deep, but the Wall series was also quite something.
I could freely change the angle and specify the shape to a certain extent.
When I activated it. It would just create a shoddy earthen wall, but its strength could change dramatically based on the mana infused and the catalyst used.
It seemed to depend on individual aptitude for how much mana could get infused, but I believed I had no issues with that.
Also, Helena had mentioned before, that I could use the roof and walls as catalysts for repairs, but I realized a crucial point was missing.
Using the roof and walls as catalysts meant I needed to reconstruct even the undamaged parts. Otherwise, there would be inconsistencies in strength, potentially causing new damage.
