24 Principle of Magic!

Bruce lounged beneath the whispering shade of an ancient tree, his indifference to the scornful glares from Corona and Torenço palpable. With a book in each hand, he delved into the arcane texts, the scent of parchment mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest floor.

Gifted with the Dragon Clan's prodigious memory, Bruce absorbed the contents of the books with ease, his eyes dancing over the lines, each word etching itself into his mind. For him, the verbose descriptions within the pages were mere distractions; the true essence lay in the fundamental principles of magic construction— a chapter that unveiled the mystique of spellcasting.

Spellcasting hinged on two pivotal elements: the caster's mental fortitude and a reservoir of specific magical elements, known as the magic rune building elements, or simply, magic elements. These were the keystones of magic: the magic elements served as the foundation, while the caster's mental power acted as the catalyst, binding and shaping the spell into existence.

The craft of spellcasting was an art of mental architecture. A mage would first conjure an ethereal magic model within their mind, a complex lattice of spiritual virtual leads intertwined with magic rune element infrastructure points. It was a process that seemed deceptively simple yet was fraught with intricacies, a delicate balance that made true magicians a rarity, their existence far eclipsed by the more common warriors.

The revelation was staggering. To become a true mage required not only formidable mental strength and an abundant reserve of magical power but also a memory that defied the ordinary. Even the most basic of spells, like the archetypal circular fireball, demanded an intricate web of over 3,000 spiritual and magical components. A single misstep, a solitary misplaced element, could unravel the entire endeavor, rendering the spell stillborn.

Yet, humanity's finest mages had devised a solution to tame this complexity. They engineered a magic matrix, a system that consolidated similar magical structures into singular units. Aspiring mages were tasked with mastering the construction of 3,456 basic magic matrices within their minds' sea—a foundational step toward mastery.

Bruce, his light yellow vertical pupils flickering with astonishment, was engulfed in the profundity of human magic. Whether it was the craft of a common mage or the unparalleled artistry of a magic master, Bruce perceived them not as the insignificant beings Corona and Torenço deemed them to be, but as entities worthy of respect, even from dragons.

In contrast to the natural magic wielded by dragons and other magical creatures, human mages sculpted their spells through sheer tenacity and relentless practice. Each spell was a masterpiece, a testament to the human spirit's resilience and ingenuity.

In this world, a mage's meditation was a relentless pursuit of perfection, an odyssey of the mind where each spell was honed, each magic model intricately woven, until the casting became an extension of the mage's very essence.

Bruce mulled over the intricate intricacies of magic, feeling the weight of its demands. "Mastery paves the path for instantaneous magic, a feat born from relentless dedication," he pondered aloud, the gravity of the endeavor dawning upon him.

"Is this arduous journey the only path for one devoid of magical lineage?" Bruce's heart sank with the realization. His unique situation, a magical dragon without inherent magic, seemed a cruel twist of fate.

Yet, his innate prodigious memory, a gift of his draconic heritage, offered a glimmer of hope. Devouring the contents of the two tomes in mere hours, Bruce's photographic memory was his ace in the hole. "Isn't this akin to inheriting magic through knowledge itself?" he mused, his spirits lifting. With diligent study, he could rival, perhaps even surpass, the ancient dragons.

Bruce's newfound understanding of magic construction from the books ignited a fervor within him to experiment and manifest magic. He recognized the indispensable duo for spellcasting: a robust spiritual force and an ample supply of magical elements. Without one, the magic would be but an empty husk, void of potency.

Contemplating his previous failed attempts at casting, Bruce identified his shortfall—he lacked the technique to wield his mental prowess to sculpt the magic model in his mind, much like the chaotic and ineffectual nature of the green dragon's poisonous breath.

With impatience fueling his resolve, Bruce embarked on constructing the magic model in his mind, drawing upon his profound understanding of Poison Breath Magic. The task was mentally taxing, demanding unwavering focus and precision. After twelve grueling hours and several setbacks, Bruce triumphed, giving life to his first Green Dragon Poison Breath model in the vast sea of his consciousness.

With the model complete, the execution was instinctual. Bruce aimed at a nearby thorn bush and released the dragon's breath. A venomous stream, akin to a high-pressure spray, shot forth, its potency evident as it dissolved the verdant foliage, leaving a trail of blackened destruction in its wake.

"Ha! Success at last!" Bruce exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Though it lacks the full might of the green dragon's breath, it bears its essence."

At a distance, perched atop the tree crown, basking in the sunlight, were Corona and Torenço. Witnessing this spectacle, their expressions morphed from casual disdain to sheer astonishment. The once underestimated dragon had just unleashed a genuine green dragon's poisonous breath, shattering their preconceived notions and leaving them with a lingering sense of humiliation.