The next morning saw the children awakened at sunrise.
Breakfast of bread and the leftover stew from last night was provided then the instructors came to inform them of the day''s schedule.
"This morning, you will be given basic magic instruction, then after lunch back to weapons training, we leave tomorrow morning, so make the most of your time and energy."
Ohm Icura was as gruff as ever. He wanted to remind the children of his offer for their weapons and items but decided to let them suffer the bottom rung of this world for a while yet, just to soften them up.
Bihai Suuncurio stepped forward and after gaining the attention of the students, she began speaking.
"We flow ever onward. that is the secret to feeling the energy in everything that allows us to understand and perform magic. We are each our own rivers, children. The path of least resistance for one, may not be the same path for another. What you shall be doing this morning his locating the stream through which your live flows."
At the children''s confused looks, Bahai sighed and simplified her instructions.
"You will get comfortable. You will not speak. You will try to sense the six different type of magic in the air, Earth, Fire, water, and wind. If by some miracle you are attuned to light or..." She hesitated, then powered on, "dark, then you should inform me immediately."
She eyed the children and went back to her previous flowing voice, "This meditation technique is for beginners who don''t know what element they are most attuned to. Those who are aware of their highest affinities usually choose methods that correspond accordingly. Your natural elemental affinities have nothing to do with the gods who may have brought you here. Serving one god or another is simply one way in which to raise a certain affinity."
"This usually takes weeks of trial and error so don''t become impatient. This also doesn''t reflect your magic power or your talent in using magic, in the end, this is strictly how well you recharge your magic particles inside your body. A skill even warrior need. Very few warriors do not have at least one magic skill under their sleeve. So get started."
One of the Students Lincoln Manis raised his hand and ask, "how will we know if we actually manage to do it?"
To which Bahai, smiled, "It will be impossible not to know."
The children got into their meditative poses, most choosing the crossed leg position. Leon kneeled comfortably and simply let his mind wonder.
If it was possible to feel the magic particles then I will eventually, so no need to try and rush. If they are there, I will eventually feel them. Once I feel them, nothing can stop me from using them.
Leon focused on the feel of the ground beneath him, the air around him and the moisture in it. The dark of the shadows and the light of the sun. The fire pit was near, the coals from last night still hot.
he first gave up on the sun. The light hurt his eyes, even when he wasn''t looking at it. his eyes had always been somewhat sensitive that way. The fire pit was close enough he imagined he could feel the heat, but rather than any kind of revelation, it just made him uncomfortable. The morning wasn''t so cold that his mind had a pleasant opinion of the fire.
He knew the dimensional ring raised his dark affinity, but Bahai said this meditation technique was prevalent on their natural affinity.
Eventually, Leon sits quietly thinking of the six affinities, over and over. Some, more, and some, less. It is right before mid day when a break through happens. Not for Leon but another student.
"Holy shit!!"
It''s America Freeman, her eyes large and staring into nothing. She reaches out and seems to play with something, but the other students see nothing in her hands.
There is more commotion has Bahai and Ohm Icura rush over. There is a hushed argument, the America is taken away by the instructors.
Inside the medical tent, America sits by, largely preoccupied with the new information she is receiving from her analyze. The instructors testing are largely ignored, except when they draw blood and even that was barely an issue.
By the time they are finished, the rest of the children had had lunch and are getting ready for their weapon training.
"Change of plans children." Ohm Icura announces, "We will be continuing the meditation training for now. Normally the amount of time it takes to be effective would make it pointless to train so much, however, we believe for you, it should be different."
He leads the children back to their former positions and explains further.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
"Your old world''s lack of magic means your bodies are so starved for mana, it''s practically begging to be absorbed."
It takes time but before the last meal is ready to be served, all of the children have had a breakthrough, including Leon.
<table border="1" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0">
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Mana[Fire]
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<td style="text-align: center" valign="top" width="550">
Magic representation of [fire]
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
Affinity18%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table border="1" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<div>
<div>
Mana[Earth]
<div>
<table border="1" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0">
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<td style="text-align: center" valign="top" width="550">
Magic representation of [Earth]
</td>
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<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
Affinity 49%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div>
</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
Not just those but all six affinities are available to the children. From the fire, Leon first gains the knowledge of his somewhat low affinity for it. The wind comes naturally after that, then the rest.
<div>
<div>
<table>
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Creal
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</tr>
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Level
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<td style="text-align: center">
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28
</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
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Active Title
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<td style="text-align: center">
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Veteran of the Vine Hill battle, Father''s Footsteps
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
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Health
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
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1274
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
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Mana
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<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
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434
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</tr>
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Stamina
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
514
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Actually, wait, what did titles even do?
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Veteran of the Vine Hill battle
</td>
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<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
<div>
18% Chance avoid damage to yourself and those around you.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table border="1" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0">
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<td style="text-align: center" valign="top" width="550">
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Father''s Footsteps
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
<div>
+63% Learning speed in father''s occupation,+23% chance of teaching father''s occupation
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div>
<table class="tablebg" border="1" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0">
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<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="4">
<div>
Titles
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
Champion of Chaos
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Use of god''s shrine or temple monthly, +15% Dark Affinity, +30% to dark skill and abilities, 15% defense on divine mission
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Unavailable
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
Otherwordly Traveler
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Increased learning speed, reduced chance of mental debuffs, +50 bonus points
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Inactive
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
Lifelong Student
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Accelerated learning speed of new subjects
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Inactive
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
Healthy young man
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
+36% chance of making a good impression, reduced stamina loss,+ 6% defense on village walls
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Inactive
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
Blood Drinker
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
2% chance to gain stats, skills, abilities, or knowledge from blood
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Inactive
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" colspan="2">
Servant of Chaos
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Use of god''s shrine or temple monthly, +3% Dark affinity,+6% to Dark skills and abilities, 3% to dodge of divine mission
</td>
<td style="text-align: center" valign="top">
Active
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Not bad, not bad, too bad I can''t activa... WAIT, WHAT!