Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 61: Elemental Promotion

The more Ethan read, the more he felt Mr. Anonymous’s brilliance was unparalleled.

He eagerly opened "Fireballs and Ice Arrows: The Study of Magic (Part Two)." Next to him, Miss Zhao Cai lazily sprawled under the gas lamp, and everything seemed to revert to a distant past.

The layout of the second part differed from the first; it no longer categorized elemental magic into multiple segments. In the beginning, the author acknowledged his own achievements in elemental shaper magic, indicating that reaching this part meant he had already explored to this level - an exceptional achievement among elemental shapers.

Ethan felt an affinity; those words felt like a long-distance conversation. He had always regarded Mr. Anonymous as a good teacher. The teachings from the first part enlightened him as a young small-town man who once knew nothing about elemental shaper magic.

When this dialogue ended, the concept that followed gave Ethan’s heart a jolt.

"Elemental Ascension."

His understanding of the "affinity" system was strikingly similar to Mr. Anonymous’s resonance theory. After Mr. Anonymous achieved the theory of elemental resonance, he stagnated for a long time, even once believing it to be the end of elemental magic.

From fragments, Ethan could see that Mr. Anonymous had undergone a systematic study of elemental shaper magic and held a good reputation in that system.

It wasn’t until he shifted his focus from himself to the elemental elves that he finally touched upon a realm beyond resonance.

The elements themselves can also evolve.

This was the nascent form of the "ascension" theory and the reason he emphasized the essence of emotions corresponding to elements in the first part.

Ethan felt even closer to Mr. Anonymous. Upon reading this text, he finally understood the other’s elemental shaping school—it was of an ice elemental shaper who once stood at the pinnacle of the world.

He involuntarily held his breath, fully engrossed, unwilling to miss a single word or symbol that followed.

Even someone as formidable as Mr. Anonymous only completed the ascension of a single element, and he believed that within this single ice element, there were still other directions and possibilities for ascension. Not wanting to stifle other possibilities, he used himself as an example to propose the essence discovered during his studies.

From the "slowness" caused by the ice element to the concept of total "stillness."

When the ascended ice element was driven by the caster’s magic power, it would create an entirely still space—with even the concept of time frozen within it—a world belonging solely to the caster in solitude.

Ethan recalled Mr. Anonymous’s description of the ice element from the first part, where he believed that the ice elemental elf corresponded to pain and downturns.

Thus, he created an absolutely lonely world.

Ethan was deeply immersed in the lessons of the parchment; the span between these two books felt like suddenly stepping from a beginner into a saint’s realm.

Mr. Anonymous mentioned the supreme title of "Saint." When he completed the ascension of elements and looked back, no one could keep up with his pace.

He also believed that, for elemental shapers, the magic of the saints represented a unique spell that only a specific caster could complete.

This book would guide future generations forward; to make the final leap, one must facilitate elemental evolution through the "ascension" theory and mark it with a label unique to him.

Ethan read the parchment over and over. As he said, Mr. Anonymous was a good teacher who could explain profound knowledge usually beyond reach in simple terms. Furthermore, he sincerely and selflessly shared his process and insights during his study of elemental magic.

As far as Ethan knew, throughout the history of elemental shapers, very few people touched upon this field, and with the hint of the "ice element," it immediately ruled out all incorrect answers for him.

He understood why the author of this book used "Anonymous" to refer to themselves.

Some books were too ancient for the author’s identity to be traced; some authors may feared leaving their names, inviting ridicule.

But there were also those whose name alone would bring disaster upon them, making everyone afraid to mention it.

Ethan still remembered, whenever the hunters of the guild mentioned the grand Fallen War, everyone would shudder at the reference; even the bravest among them had to lower their voices, as if the air was filled with an unseen chill.

Ethan closed the parchment and turned his face aside.

Miss Zhao Cai was also looking at him.

"Is she still alive?"

The wordless gaze lasted for a long time; the cat finally nodded slightly. Her eyes were filled with unease and evasiveness, and her breathing turned rapid.

Nodding meant that Miss Zhao Cai knew of the existence deemed unclean by the Empire and seemingly understood how people evaluated her.

Ethan could see Miss Zhao Cai’s worry.

Unbelievable, truly unbelievable.

Even though he had vaguely thought of Mr. Anonymous as an excellent elemental shaper, he never expected the one who taught him elemental shaper magic was such an incredible figure.

Ethan raised his hand, and Miss Zhao Cai reflexively shrank into the shadow behind her.

"That’s really great."

A warm hand rested on Miss Zhao Cai’s head, "Thanks to her care, if ever there’s a chance in the future, I must be introduced to her. I’ve always wanted to thank her in person, uh."

Miss Zhao Cai was startled for quite some time.

"Meow?"

She tentatively called out, as if asking Ethan.

"Hmm? You ask why I don’t dislike her? Rather than relying on hearsay, I believe in what I see for myself, so if there’s an opportunity, I’d like to judge for myself what kind of person she is... Huh? What’s that look in your eye?"

Suddenly, Miss Zhao Cai raised her body, her pink tongue licking her lips, staring intently at Ethan, a scene that seemed familiar.

Those red eyes appeared to ripple with water.

Then, just like last time.

The cat arched her body.

The cat was poised to act.

The cat sprang from the ground, like a cannonball hitting him.

The fluffy white lump crashed into his embrace, the force enough to knock both him and the chair to the floor.

Miss Keroy, startled by the noise from the study, banged her head against the door to open it, only to see Miss Zhao Cai frolicking in Ethan’s arms.

The little hen was utterly puzzled.

Miss Zhao Cai heard the noise and turned to glare at her.

—Leave!

Her eyes conveyed that message.

"Goo."

Miss Keroy backed out of the study, full of questions, not forgetting to use her beak to close the door.

Though Miss Zhao Cai’s gaze retained some ferocity, she seemed very happy.

Miss Zhao Cai seemed happier than she had ever been before.