Vel led them to an open area behind the mansion. The grass had been cut lower than the surrounding, creating an open field. One side had targets and the other trying dummies. A small shed was off to one side, bringing Max memories of playing football in middle school.

Walking out of the shed, Vel held a few things. Three practice wooden swords, and a quiver with arrows. She gave each one of them a sword, and the quiver of arrows to Reep.

“Everyone should have a sword at all times. Max has one. I will have Icarus bring others. No matter if you are a mage, an archer, or a bard. You will at one point have to use a sword. If anything, think of it as your last line of defense. Clammy, I don’t know how you want to specialize, but sword training will do you good. I want you all to keep your practice sword on you. Once you get a real one, keep that one and leave the wooden one here.”

She got nods all around. It made sense. Max already knew a few spells, but a sword was key in this survival against Tyr. Max could feel the splinters already. He just knew his hands were going to get cut up.

“Max. I don’t know what you want to do with your life here. And I am not going to make that choice for you. I want you to be able to defend yourself. There will be times where people will try and harm you for being a Lost One. Just look at Lester. He had so many enemies. His creations and his knowledge brought many things. Some were good things, like this town. Others were... Well, you get what I’m saying.” Vel spoke without her normal attitude, opting for a more serious tone.

With that they got to the basics of sword training. How to hold a sword, how to move your feet, how to slash, stab, duck, dip, dive, and dodge. Max always liked the training montage in movies. Max quickly changed his mind.

They took a break for dinner; Max ate bread with thin slices of meat. He honestly wasn’t feeling that hungry. Working out had always done that to him. Reep and Clammy on the other hand, ate everything they could get their hands on.

After dinner, they moved indoors. Vel explained that they would be training magic now, and she wanted no one to be able to scry. The room they went into was underground. A large, what looked like concrete, chamber was their new home for the next few hours. Runes were carved deep into the walls, ceiling, and floor. The only possible explanation was so no magic could collapse the house.

Vel first had Max explain to the group what “gravity” was and how to control it. He talked about mass and its difference from weight. Potential and kinetic energy. Entropy. Vel and Reep had tuned him out, while Clammy intently listened. Max bet that the only reason Vel hadn't stopped him was because Clammy was actually listening.

Vel eventually took Reep aside and gave her instruction. Vel pointed at a target, explaining to try and get a feel for her class. It took a few tries to get the timing right, but once she did, all of her arrows had electricity flickering off of them as they flew. Max could hear Vel muttering something about, “a genius” and “a damn shame”. Max couldn't help but smile. Eventually Clammy tried to reverse the gravity on a small wooden block. After the 14th try Max got bored and left her to it. He went over to Vel, asking for his training.

“Finally, boy. Took you long enough.” She said with a smirk. “Now then we need to talk. All [Water Mages] need a source of water to use. It is the biggest weakness of the class.” She emphasized her gourd. “However, when I found you in the woods, there was none nearby, and clammy was dripping. Now you could have taken it from the ground. Maybe there was an underground pool? But no, I checked. My question to you. How did you do it?”

“Oh. That's it? I thought I was in trouble or something. I just pulled the moisture out of the air.”

“There is no water in the air. Try again.” She crossed her arms, thinking she was getting duped.

“What? Yes, there is. What do you think clouds are? Why do you think on a hot day after it rains, the air feels terrible? Where does water go when it evaporates?” Max asked rhetorically.

Vel sat there eyeing him. She took a few moments, eventually speaking.

“I don’t know what evaporate means, but those are good questions. Show me.” she gestured with her arms, giving him the go ahead.

Max had been thinking about this for a while now. How water spells work. He remembered Vel’s water ball jet cannon spell, from the night before. He remembered the sheer destruction caused. He focused within. Feeling the liquid mana from his system, sloshing around, a storm just starting up. He released his mana around him, like a thick mist. Once he felt it was enough, he pulled the mist back, filtering the air collected by it, drawing water out, towards his hand.

Slowly a ball of water started to form. Collecting and hovering just above his hand. Max could feel an easier source of water, being Vel’s gourd. He could tell it would cost him less mana to simply take from it. But he was showing a proof of concept. The ball was now about the size of a basketball. Max felt it was enough, any more he would have to release his mana mist out again.

Max thought through his next few actions carefully. He wanted to move the ball of water forward quickly. He looked to the far end of the room. A target sat there. Palm still straight up, he willed the water to move. Fast. The water shot from his hand, faster than he anticipated. The ball deformed slightly, taking on the shape of an oval. The water collided with the wall; a loud splash sounded out. The ball was blown apart, water started to trickle down the wall and nearby targets. Max turned, looking at Vel. The others all stopped what they were doing to look at him. Uncertain of who shot the projectile.

“Hmph. The water collection was...neat. The rest could use work.” Vel had lowered her eyebrow by this point. “Did you get a spell creation notification?”

Max checked.

Congratulations you have refined and learned the spell technique Water Coalesce (Mythic):

Condense water vapor into liquid form.

Your knowledge of water proceeds even masters.

Congratulations for learning your first Mythic spell technique you have gained a level.

[Tidal Mage] is now level 2.

You gain 5 stat points.

Congratulations you have learned the spell Water Bolt (common):

5-15 Damage.

6 Mana.

Water can be deadly; this is only the beginning.

Congratulations, Water Bolt has become level 2!

"Oh, I leveled up." The familiar glow sounded Max. “I gained a level. Should I have learned that at a higher level to skip the experience needed?”

"What? Show me."

Max shrugged, allowing Vel to see the spell box. After she nodded, he showed her the technique box.

"What the hell? A Mythic water technique that I don't know about? Max, you have been here for less than a week, and once news of this gets out, and trust me it will, water magic will be revolutionized." Vel was in deep contemplation.

"Here is what we are going to do. I will try and learn this technique. You keep practicing Water Bolt. Get it on target. Once you can hit it five out of five times, we will move on."

She was quiet for a moment.

"You already gave me a tip on how to do your technique. Do not give me anymore. I need to know how hard this will be for others to learn simply from sight. If it is very difficult, it might remain hidden. Otherwise only the gods can help us." She went quiet.

"What do you mean? I don't see this as a big deal." Max asked.

"Max. A [Water Mage]'s number one weakness is water availability. If this gets out and everyone can do what you just did. It is going to be a gold rush of innovation… The mage world will never be the same. Can't you see? [Water Mages] will be able to explore places they have never been to before. Fight battles never meant for them…" her eyes looked downcast, a memory playing in her mind's eye. One that she wished to forget, one that she couldn't. "It will change everything."

The rest of the night went quickly. Max was only able to hit 2 out of 5 at a distance of 25 meters. Vel had not learned the technique and was getting frustrated. Reep was still fine tuning her new technique timings. Clammy on the other hand succeeded.

"WOO! YES! IT WORKED I DID IT!" She screened, breaking everyone's concentration.

She was bouncing with joy, her eyes looking to the distance, reading a box. A golden flow of light and energy quickly followed.

"Nice! Congratulations Clammy!" Max said, meaning it.

She turned; her eyes wide. A glint of an idea forming in her eyes. She turned her attention to Reep. Mana forming around her, flowing towards forward. Reep quickly dropped her wooden sword. It made a crack as it shattered on the hard stone. Clammy let out another cheer!

"Ah. Made gravity pull her sword down huh? Impressive" Max looked to Reep, her eyes were large in admiration.

Even Vel seemed impressed. Clammy quickly got to experimenting. A few minutes later she had to stop. Her head was killing her.

"Mana headache. I think I am done for the night."

The rest of the group agreed, all tired from the long day. Everyone went to their rooms, even Vel, electing to stay the night. Max set his room to a serine waterfall landscape; his bed turned into a hammock. He slept well.