Still, he listened attentively.
When she finished, Myra reached into a cabinet and pulled out a worn book.
She placed it on the table.
"This contains several Tier One to Three spells."
Ash's eyes lit up.
His first spellbook.
"Read it carefully," Myra instructed.
"Practice the exercises inside."
"If there's anything you don't understand, ask me."
Ash nodded immediately.
"I will."
Satisfied, Myra stood up.
"Good."
Then she glanced toward the front of the clinic.
Several patients had arrived while they were talking.
Despite it being only ten in the morning, the waiting area was already beginning to fill up.
"My work isn't going to do itself," she said with a laugh.
Ash smiled.
"Go. I'll study."
Myra gently patted his head before returning to her patients.
Soon, she was busy treating villagers once more.
Meanwhile, Ash lowered his gaze toward the spellbook.
The moment Myra was out of sight, Raphael spoke.
'Master, would you like me to analyze the contents?'
Ash grinned.
"Of course."
The book opened.
His eyes scanned the first page.
And immediately, Raphael began breaking apart every word, every diagram, and every magical theory contained within it.
What would normally take a beginner weeks to understand was being processed in seconds.
Of course, when it came to Spirit Magic, Ash was already far ahead of his peers.
Over the past three years, he had managed to learn Spirit Magic spells up to Tier Three.
The only reason he couldn't learn any Tier Four spells was because Myra didn't possess any.
She lacked the qualifications to study at a Greater Academy and had only learned spells up to Tier Three during her own education.
As a result, the highest-tier spellbooks available in her clinic were Tier Three.
Still, it was far better than nothing.
During the last three years, Ash had refined his Tier Three Spirit Magic to an astonishing degree.
He was confident that if he had to fight several children with the same mana core level as himself, he would win easily.
Not only because of his skill, but also because of his mana core.
Over the years, his core had advanced from Deep Orange to Yellow and finally to Deep Green.
Each refinement had strengthened both his body and his magical abilities.
That was one of the unique traits of mana cores.
Every advancement improved the mage as a whole.
As a mana core progressed from Deep, to Light, to Bright, before advancing into the next color stage, the body would undergo repeated refinements.
Compared to three years ago, Ash was vastly stronger.
If his current self fought the Ash from three years ago, it would be like one thousand children fighting a single child.
The difference was simply that large.
However, despite his progress, Ash had deliberately avoided learning the other elemental branches of magic.
He had focused almost entirely on Spirit Magic and core development.
But now that he finally had access to proper spellbooks, that would change.
He intended to study all the elements.
With Raphael's assistance, learning magic was incredibly easy.
He had already mastered the methods used by fake mages.
Hand signs.
Chants.
Spell formulas.
Casting sequences.
He understood them all perfectly.
Ironically, he didn't actually need any of them.
As a true mage, Ash only needed his thoughts and willpower to cast spells.
The mana would naturally obey him.
However, revealing that ability would immediately expose him as an Awakened.
And that was the last thing he wanted.
For now, he needed to maintain his cover.
So despite being capable of casting silently and instantly, Ash continued practicing the methods of fake mages.
After all, pretending to be ordinary was much easier than explaining why a five-year-old village boy could cast magic like an Awakened mage.
A few more years passed.
Ash was now eight years old.
During those years, he had continued studying under Myra while secretly advancing far beyond anything she imagined.
At least publicly.
Privately, he was already a Bright Green core Awakened and he have also mastered all other spells upto Tier 3 with Raphael help.
Now all left is the Tier 4 and above level spells which he have no access too though Raphael is working on it.
They already have many theories for tier 4 and above magic but since they have no knowledge about those tiers it can't be said if it's tier 4 or not.
But on the surface, he behaved exactly as an exceptionally talented village child should.
One of the biggest changes was his role in the clinic.
After mastering Light Magic spells from Myra's collection, Ash had gradually begun helping her treat patients.
At first, it was only simple tasks.
Cleaning wounds.
Applying healing salves.
Diagnosing common illnesses.
But as his skills improved, Myra began entrusting him with more responsibilities.
Now, it wasn't uncommon to see Ash treating patients on his own while Myra supervised from nearby.
The villagers had long since grown used to it.
After all, Ash had proven himself hundreds of times over.
"Next patient," Ash said.
An old farmer stepped forward with a swollen arm.
Ash quickly examined it.
A minor strain.
Nothing serious.
He formed several hand signs and recited a short chant.
A soft green glow surrounded his hands.
The swelling immediately began to decrease.
A few minutes later, the farmer flexed his arm.
"It doesn't hurt anymore!"
Ash smiled.
"Just don't overwork it for a few days."
The farmer thanked him repeatedly before leaving.
Another patient quickly took his place.
From the corner of the clinic, Myra watched silently.
'By the Great Mother...'
Even after seeing it countless times, she still found it difficult to believe.
'He's truly talented.'
At only eight years old, Ash could already perform tasks that had taken her decades to master.
She still remembered how hard she had struggled to learn healing magic.
How many mistakes she had made.
How many years it had taken.
Yet Ash seemed to understand everything almost effortlessly.
It was as if he had been born for magic.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Pride filled her chest.
To the villagers, Ash was her adopted son.
But to Myra, he had become much more than that.
He was family.
And every day, she became more certain of one thing.
Ash did not belong in a small village clinic.
His future was far bigger.
Far brighter.