Wizard Runners
Chapter 11's
The other students stared at Aev as if to tell
they that he had never seen the sun.
“You don't know what stage it is ?!”
Aev could not see who was speaking, but the voice
that sounds dumbfounded. From the look on the faces of the students, it could be in between
them.
Master Usep turned towards the Students. “All of you,
back to your training,” he said in a stern tone that would not allow
squabbles.
Reluctantly, the Students followed Master Usep's orders,
although some of them shot Aev with a curious look. Clear
that his words surprised them.
“Did I say something wrong?” Aev asked
at Master Usep, feel uncomfortable.
The man turned towards Aev. “Not wrong, exactly. Follow
me, we have to talk.”
Aev follows Master Usep to a small room on the side
training hall. Inside was a table and several chairs, but few
othersmore. The stone walls were bare, and the room looked as if it was not
much use.
“What did your master say about magic?” Master Usep's
he asked, closing the door behind them.
“Not much,” Aev replied honestly. He continued to
repeating little he knew about magic, Nature, and Essence.
“So,” said Master Usep with a serious expression that does not
it fits with his friendly face. “I'm afraid your master has done a loss
to you,”
Aev was surprised to hear such harsh words about Master Zhao.
Clearly, the man had thought that Mr. Zhao was failing in his duties as a teacher.
“I don't know why your master failed to explain this, but
I'll do it instead. “
Aev sat down, listening attentively. He understands
that what Master Usep will say is important.
“When learning magic, magicians start at the level
Foundation,” Adept Kadir. “In Foundation level, there are nine stages.”
“Nine stages?” Soon, Aev wonders what the stage is
by oneself.
Master Usep nodded, then continued, “Three stages
first forming the Student level, the second three stages forming the beginner level, the,
and the last three stages form the level of Master.”
“So, what do different stages mean?” Aev asked.
“The first stage only requires opening the Realm,” replied the Master
Useps. “The second stage requires you to control Essence to the point at
where You Can Remove It from Your Body. As shown in
training room, you have reached that stage,”
Aev nodded, wanting to hear more.
“Third stage,” Advanced Master Usep, “must you to
fully control one strand Essence.”
“Fully control the Essence strand?” Aev asked, though,
little confused. “What does it mean?”
“Fire is not my strongest Realm, but I will give you
small demonstration,” said Master Usep.
He raised his hand, then stuck out his index finger.
A moment later, a marble-sized fireball appeared above his finger.
After the ball was fully realized, he flicked
his wrist, and the ball began to circle his hand. With movement
the other wrist, the ball suddenly flew towards Aev, stopping
just a few inches from his face. Finally, by flicking the Master's finger
Usep, the ball disappeared in an instant.
Aev watched in amazement. While he was looking at the Master
Joko performs magic, the man never shows him that control
smooth like this.
“From the way you looked, I thought you hadn't reached
this level of control,” said Master Usep, giving Aev an amused look.
Aev shook his head. Then, he asked, “So, what
fourth stage?”
“Students reach the fourth stage, and become novices,
once they learn to use spells,” says Adept Kadir.
“But didn't you show me a spell?” Aev
inquiring.
Mahir Kadir shook his head. “It's just technique.”
“There's a difference?” As of now, Aev thought the two were the same.
“Technics control raw Essence,” replied Master Usep.
“They need constant attention and effort to maintain it.”
“And mantra?”
“Mantra different. They weave strands of Essence, and once
cast, they can be maintained without effort.”
Thinking of how Master Zhao changed his appearance, Aev
understand. He wondered how that person could maintain the illusion
without any apparent effort, but what Adept Kadir said explains it.
“So, I'm Student of the second stage?” Aev asked.
“True,” replied Adir Kadir, although his expression was interrupted.
“When I threw that fireball, the other students
with mind. “Why is that?”
Master Usep chuckled for a moment, but when he spoke, he,
his eyes turned serious. “You are a Student of the second level. What however
what you did ..”
“Didn't I just use technique?” Aev asked. “You
say it's normal for Students, right?”
“The technique itself is normal,” says Master Usep. “Total
The essence you use, however .
used a beginner in general, let alone a Student.”
As Aev thought, he was sure it must be due to the pills
the black that Master Zhao gave him. But he understood that if the effect
the black pill was so unusual, it was something he could not discuss
liberally. At least, without Mr. Joko's permission.
“Have your master told you how witches strengthen
their strength?” Master Usep asked.
“Master Zh—” Mused, Aev barely misspoke. “Mr Joko
telling me that the mage's connection to his Realm grew stronger as he
using it.”
“Indeed,” says Adir Kadir. “But usually, this is a process
the slow. To reach a point where a witch can be interesting
as much Essence as you do can be years if not
decades. But in your case ..” He shook his head. “I haven't
ever seen anything like this,”
Aev started to worry. Master Usep clearly sensed something
that's wrong, and the guy seems smart enough to see through
aev's sloppy lies.
“So, does that mean I'm as strong as a beginner?” Aev asked, though,
trying to keep Master Usep away from the origin of Aev's power.
Master Usep laughed, then shook his head. “You
you have power, but you have no control. In magic, which
last is much more important than the first.”
“But if I'm strong enough, can ‘
“Skilled magicians can easily handle
raw strength,” says Master Usep. “Let me show.” He stood up,
walk towards the bare stone wall, then turn around. “Throw some
the fireball was towards me,”
Aev paled. “Are you sure?” Master Usep seemed to believe
self, but Aev is afraid he will hurt the man.
“No need to worry. You won't hit me,” Master
Usep looked completely calm.
Aev did not like the idea, but he stood up and
facing Adept Kadir. Ignoring his unwillingness, he gathered Fire Essence
in his hand, then threw a head-sized fireball directly at Adept
Cadets.
The fireball missed the target at three speeds
step, hit the stone wall with harmless.
“How?” Aev. At this distance,
“Again,” says Master Usep.
Aev tried again, but the result was the same. Again, the ball
the fire drifted into the wall, away from Adept Kadir.
At Master Usep's insistence, Aev tried again, then again.
After eleven fireballs, his Flame Essence ran out, and he stared at Adept Kadir, who was,
which is not hurt at all.
“How do you do it?” Aev asked. She didn't
saw something extraordinary, but it was as if his fireball refused to
coming near Master Usep.
“I use Wind Essence to deflect fireballs
You,” says Master Usep. “Without you fully controlling your Flame Essence,
even a little bit is enough to send them off track.”
Aev surprised. Until a moment ago, he believed
fireball technique as a terrifying weapon, but now he understood
that other witches could easily defeat him.
“So, I have to improve my control,” said Aev,
recognize problem. With his current orders on top of the Flame Essence, to
another witch, she'll be little more than a little boy who
awkwardly throwing stones.
“You should,” says Master Usep. “But with your strength,
and you use Fire as well .. It would be too dangerous for other Students to.
training with you.”
“Then what should I do?” Aev asked, hoping
the man has a solution.
For a moment Master Usep was deep in thought.
“I'll ask Grandmaster Windballad to give you
wind Realm scroll,” he finally said with a smile. “Thus,
you should be able to practice magic without burning another Student.”
Hearing this, Aev was overjoyed. Not only will he
improve his magic skills, but he will also receive a new Realm.
So far, their stay in Windballad has been more
better than he expected.
