Need Hard mode mage tips, Never played other KB's.

[MoonLite22]

I fully explore everything, I even try to dig in every single pixel of the map, I do have both scouting and learning at max, and I do have most medals maxed. Is it possible I had horrible luck with shrines ? Because I remember only a few granting me int. My def and attack is almost the same as my int (18 and 19 respectively) so... maybe ? I don't know, but if so this is pretty frustrating.