Hand-painted circular magic array, the teacher may be able to, Catherine guessed in her heart.

Catherine drew a hexagon on the ground, wrote simple characters on each corner, and then meditated silently for a moment, and a fireball smaller than a fingernail jumped in the magic circle. This was the fire element condensed with the magic array, but after only a second, the fireball dissipated into the air again.

The research and use of magic circles has been going on for a long time. When thousands of years ago, the "forerunner of the elements" Fuganger accidentally discovered that the triangular pattern has the ability to communicate with nature, and the magic array finally entered the field of vision of mankind.

Prior to that, the theory of magic held that communication with the elements of nature could only be through the meditation of the human beings themselves. This can serve as a gathering of natural elements and help the caster incorporate them into the body. Obviously, cohesion through external forces is not possible.

Fago's discovery was ridiculed by the major magic academies of the time. The main reason is that Fuganger is unable to produce effective evidence. This made it difficult for him to get funding from the academy to conduct further experiments.

But like every great man, "give up" never appears in their dictionary. Föganger went bankrupt and began his arduous journey of experimentation. In order to find a stable solid system, he experimented with a large number of regular patterns. The equipment was rudimentary, with limited precision, and it was difficult to capture the natural elements that gathered together. Catherine couldn't imagine how Forgoner had used perseverance and patience to detect magical effects smaller than the tip of a needle and record the results of different experiments.

When Catherine's teacher, the wise Gisling, explained the magic circle to Catherine, he first told her the story of Forgon. Ghisling wanted Catherine to understand that study and persistence are the most powerful weights for success.

But sometimes success requires a little luck, just like the forerunner, who died and failed to reveal the mystery of the magic array. Therefore, the great but unknown Fuganger had to pass on all the records of his experiments in the past three years to his disciple who returned from a distant expedition - the "Elemental Pathfinder" Fale before he died. The latter, on the other hand, relied on an accident, perhaps more appropriately called luck, to make his name forever in the annals of magic.

What Gisling must have had predicted was the success story that ultimately led Catherine to abandon her career as a scholar.

As she was refilling the fire for the third time, Catherine felt a wave of drowsiness hit her. She tried to get up and walk around, but the sleepiness was so strong that her eyelids slammed shut like a falling floodgate.

Catherine knew that a threat to the mercenary group was coming. She shouted desperately in her head, but this could only put herself half-asleep. The eyelids are so heavy that each struggle only opens a small gap. Catherine saw the flames of the campfire grow dimmer and groaned in despair.

"Pop" a skewful coldness exploded on the cheeks. The Sandman was ruthlessly exorcized. Catherine shuddered and opened her eyes. It turned out that Green Wind was holding a branch covered with leaves, dipping the rain from the puddle and sweeping it across everyone's faces.

The elf's unique physique woke Green Wind from sleep and immediately took the best measures. When the members of the mercenary group woke up, they immediately felt a little uneasy. It's years of adventurous life that give them an instinct for danger.

"Donklers. Green Wind muttered a whisper and began to throw firewood into the campfire. It seems that the elves are trying to make the campfire burn even brighter.

Catherine gasped at the whisper of the green wind, the ancient elven term for dark creatures.

Sure enough, Ferry in the priesthood began to notice an abnormality that caused him palpitations. White light kept flashing from his chest, and it was obvious that the divine aura in his body was stirring violently.

"We were surrounded by a dark aura that had almost covered the place just now. Ferry instructed the group to build a few more bonfires around them.

"Light and heat will dispel darkness. Ferry clasped his hands to his chest, and a ball of light slowly rose from his chest. The ball of light flew above Fee's head and exploded in one fell swoop. The soft light dispersed in all directions, forming a diffusing circle of light centered on Fee.

The aperture slowly faded away like a wave, and finally faded away. In the darkness in the distance, a few screams could be faintly heard. Green Wind quickly drew his bow and shot an arrow. A creature let out a dying cry, followed by the sound of tiny footsteps echoing densely through the forest. Even a layman can tell that there are large groups of creatures moving.

Green Wind closed his eyes, listened for a while, and said, "They're scattered around." ”

"I've dispelled the aura of darkness, plus a few bonfires. It is believed that the forces of darkness will not gather again, and as long as we wait until dawn, we will not have to worry. Ferry sat down on the ground with peace of mind, the spell he had just used had taken a lot of energy, and his words were full of tiredness.

Ace sighed softly, and Catherine knew what was on his mind. The enemies are not only dark creatures, the campfires around them are like beacons to guide the way, and it can only be hoped that the druids will not "visit" with them.

There were still a few hours before dawn, but no one dared to close their eyes easily. Even the anvil that needed to recuperate was lying asleep by the tree with a steel axe. Soon there were not enough branches to burn, and new wood had to be collected to maintain three campfires at the same time.

"We have to go and collect wood. Catherine picked up the last of the firewood and said, "I have a solution, and it should work." Ace is stationed in the camp, and Green Wind is the fastest, so come with me. ”

Catherine explained her method in detail, and together they made four small torches. Then start with a bonfire and walk out, planting a torch on the ground every five steps. Catherine and Greenwind moved slowly, testing the dark creatures' boundaries. As the third torch was inserted, the screams intensified, and Catherine saw many crimson eyes converge from either side.

Catherine followed the agreed plan to unleash a wall of fire as far as she could. All of a sudden, the front was much brighter, and a large number of piercing screams came and went.

"It's a black-fronted rat. Catherine recognized the fleeing creatures of darkness as she prepared for a second wall of fire.

The moment the wall of fire rose, the green wind had already rushed out to collect the branches on the ground. Catherine nervously watched her surroundings, and the fleeing black-fronted rats appeared frightened and emitted a strong dark aura. The wall of fire in the distance quickly dimmed, and it was estimated that it would be extinguished sooner than expected.

"The aura of darkness is too strong, the magic in my body has not been well gathered, I must hurry!" Catherine shouted without hesitation, and without hesitation, she released a second wall of fire in front of the green wind, which was the signal to return.

Ace in the camp began to walk back and forth, looking very anxious. Catherine knew that her limit was three walls of fire in a row, and now she was releasing faster than planned. If you had to let go of the last wall of fire, the situation would have become critical, because it was meant to be a means of saving your life.

Green Wind also realized this and hurried back. No sooner had the two of them entered the camp than the second wall of fire was extinguished. The firewood was only half as expected, but it would last for two hours, at which point Catherine's magic would be restored.

"Luckily, it's just a black-fronted rat. Catherine said with relief as she blew the warm breeze and dried the branches, "I wondered how the creatures of darkness came to the surface world. If it's these rats who are good at drilling, it makes sense. It's entirely possible for them, occasionally to make a tunnel that leads to the ground. But dark creatures hate sunlight so much that they want to go back even when they come to the surface. Even if the black-fronted rats were able to hide during the day, they should not be an exception. "Catherine.

"Maybe it's because the forest here is too dense to feel the sun during the day. Philip explained to the black-fronted rat and helped Catherine fiddle with the branches.

"Maybe. Fortunately, the black-fronted rat was less timid and did not dare to rush over. Catherine nodded.

"But why should we be afraid of a bunch of rats?" asked Anvil reluctantly, opening his eyes.

"They're no ordinary rats. It is said that in the underworld, swarms of rampaging black-fronted rats can consume any living thing in an instant, even dragons. Catherine furrowed her eyebrows, telling everyone as much as she could remember about the black-fronted rat.

"Eat the dragons? How is that possible? Aren't they just black-headed mice. The rat couldn't even bite the dragon's scales. Ace, who had sharpened his sword, was in disbelief. Is Catherine overblowing?

"Each Donklers has its own unique characteristics. Green Wind, who doesn't like to speak, took the initiative to speak. Several people looked at Green Wind and found that he was actually carrying a dead black-fronted rat with an arrow stuck in his body.

It turned out that the direction where Catherine and Midori had gone just now was the same place where Midori had fired a tentative arrow earlier. As Green Wind expected, the dark creature was shot to death, so it's worth checking it out. At all times, it never hurts to know more about the enemy. Of course, the partners didn't expect that Green Wind picked up the black-fronted rat with his hands.

Green Wind didn't say anything further about what made the dark creature unique, but pulled out the arrow stuck in the rat's body. Everyone was amazed when they saw the arrow.

"Corrosion! something terrible, the arrow melted inside it. Ace shouted to his feet.

The arrow in Green Wind's hand was gone, an arrow made of fine iron. It is evident that the blood of black-fronted rats has the ability to corrode metal. That means that in the battle with the rats, both weapons and bodies will have to face this negative effect once they are stained with blood.

As's mouth was a little dry, and he broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of fighting in the rat colony. He stared at the black-fronted rat for a few seconds, then stepped forward to take the corpse of the rat, peeled off the skin, and sewed a small water bladder from the rat's skin.

"Captain, why don't we draw magic circles around them and let them gather some fireballs or something. Ferry suddenly felt that he had a clever idea.

"To put it simply, in order for a magic array to last for a long time, you need to have excellent materials. "Actually, Catherine already had an idea in her mind, but it was too difficult to implement, so she might as well popularize some magical knowledge.

"The natural elements that are usually gathered by the magic circle are stored in the materials where the magic circle is drawn. When the elements are released, the material itself is also lost. Just like the wind magic circle I drew on the soles of your shoes, although the wind system is the least loss-making one, even if you don't walk, it won't be long before the magic circle will naturally disappear with the soles of your shoes. Catherine's words disappointed Feely.

"Look, it's still going to be iron. Anvil wasted no time in interjecting into the conversation. In the dwarven mind, wear and tear is due to lack of fruit.

"Metal is inherently very repulsive to the natural elements, which is why there are so few weapons with magical attributes on the entire continent. Using a magic circle to bless metal with special effects is a very difficult task. Catherine noticed that she was digressing and pulled out the Quircillus Secret Letter in her arms, "And fire magic is the most depleting of materials, like this one we sent. ”

Catherine sat down close to the campfire and asked her companions to lean in. She pointed to the magic array above and said, "If someone doesn't know how to open it and opens this woodpipe at will, then the magic array above will instantly emit flames." It doesn't take a few seconds for the entire woodpipe to burn to the ground. The client used quince wood to bind the letter, because it valued the strength and flammability of this material. Quince wood must be burned out after it is on fire, and it is useless to throw it into water. ”

"There must be a lot of secrets in this, and it has to be kept secret like this. Ferry took the woodpole and looked at it, "Captain, do you have a way to open it?"

"Why do you open it?" Ah Si wrenched his face when he heard this, "Open the entrustment letter privately, once it is discovered, our mercenary group will not have to do it in the future." Besides, if you want to open it, you have to be able to restore it, otherwise you won't let the recipient see it?"

The second half of As's sentence betrayed his true thoughts, and Catherine gave Asa a blank look, and it turned out that the curiosity of the deputy head was also very heavy.

"No, this magic array is too complicated, and opening this letter requires cracking the entire magic array. But the magician who drew it mixed in a lot of mutant symbols in order not to be seen through. It would be impossible to crack a magician's secret magic circle without spending three or five weeks. Catherine took the woodwind back and studied it, unconsciously immersed in her own world.

Faller was a genius, Catherine looked at the symbols and thought of the "Pathfinder of the Elements". The genius magician buried himself in the records of Foganger's experiments for ten years, and made a great deal of supplements and proofreading. Due to the weak magic effect, it is never possible to achieve a breakthrough. But luck finally came, and by chance, several spell characters were carved into the wooden board in the ancient elven language. That experiment set Faller's laboratory on fire, and several years of materials were burned to ashes.

But this touched a nerve in the unfrustrated Faller. Over the next year, he finally found a way to control and amplify the effects of magic with spell characters. Two years later, Faller discovered the famous fixed law of the magic circle, that is, "if the regular side of the magic circle is drawn and its number of sides is a multiple of three, then the fixed effect of the magic circle is proportional to the number of sides of the regular circle".

Having said that, the teacher Quisling had another evaluation of Faller. Quisling once lamented, "Faller probably didn't expect that his greatest achievement in spell character control was to advance the study of history." Because of his discovery, the ancient elven language has been studied by the major magic academies, and many ancient documents can be interpreted again."

Catherine's assessment was explained by the teacher's almost fanatical historical research habits.

But what neither Gisling nor Faller expected was that now, out of the need for secrecy, a cryptographic science has also taken shape. Rather than a clear spell being rewritten according to a certain rule, flooding the magic circle with a lot of meaningless characters can be a good way to disguise the true effect of the magic circle.

Just like this magic array on the quirk pipe, in a small space, the inside and outside are full of writing. According to the ancient elves, words and phrases that cannot be read and understood are everywhere.

Two hours passed before she knew it, and Ace shook her hand twice in front of Catherine, saying that it was time for her and Green Wind to work together to collect wood. Catherine, who came to her senses, put away her fruitless thoughts, shook her head and smiled.

Perhaps it was close to dawn, and there were significantly fewer black-fronted rats around, and the collection process was relatively smooth. Catherine, who returned safely, was "ordered" by the team members to rest immediately because she did not close her eyes all night. Catherine was indeed exhausted, so she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

When the mage woke up again, it was early in the morning. Ace and Anvil were talking and laughing around the dying bonfire, and on the ground beside them, there were two more black-fronted rat corpses.

Could it be that the black-fronted rats have attacked? Catherine couldn't help but feel a little nervous.