Magnus slowly made his way to bed. He was so absorbed into the conversation he forget all about the pain he was feeling at the time; it was like a small backdrop inside his mind. However, now the pain came back in full force, and he was feeling it. He did not know how he will ever be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

Nevertheless, the conversation he had with the Matron kept on playing in his mind, after the bombshell that the Matron drop about how low his techniques was Magnus was feeling filled up to the brim with too many new and shocking information.

So he decided to cut it short and say his goodbyes to the Matron, he just didn’t want his mind to explode yet. What the Matron gave him today could be food for thought for countless nights.

That is why when Magnus finally made it to his bed, which felt like literal heaven even if he had always complained how stiff it made his back, he got started on digesting his on all the new goodies and knowledge.

The first thing he began with was the two techniques which he took out of his inner tunic pockets and unrolled it from their cylinder shape he put them in. Magnus then laid the two techniques side by side right before him, the technique he wanted to start off with was the breathing technique so that he could fully understand it and answer one big question he had.

Will it always cost another 10 gold lions to practice it? Because if it does, then it will not be feasible to practice it ever again since that is too far out of his price range. Thus Magnus flipped open the breathing technique once more and started reading, but this time with no skimming.

After reading the breathing technique not once but twice over, Magnus finally closed it and sighed in relief. It will not cost another 10 gold to practice this technique!

What Magnus did was very stupid and dangerous, he did not know how he was not already dead yet. What the technique does is convert food into enhancements by boosting your metabolism the key here being you need food to advance yourself.

But Magnus did not stuff his face full like the booklet recommended, that is seriously what it recommended, meaning that the technique did not have anything to convert so it used what was readily available, Magnus, himself.

The newborn practitioner did not know what the technique drew upon whether his fat, which was already minuscule, or something else, but Magnus thinks it is his fat most likely. He looked at himself this morning, and his high cheekbones are way more prominent than before, and his baby fat is all but gone.

Anyways thanks to rushing to the pantry and gorging himself done on all the food inside of it, he saved his own ass and offset the drain that the technique was making on his body.

Now it was clear. The technique only converts what he had in his belly, which was great news, but still, Magnus felt like coughing up blood, and he had himself to blame. All that gold went down the drain thanks to the foolish mistake he made in his over eager and haste, his near death didn’t even bother him at all but the GOLD.

A small part of Magnus‘s mind was quite disturbed with the attachment he was gained towards gold. Back on earth like old any person, he wanted money and to name a few other things, but here in this world… gold is started to take more precedence than even his life.

He didn’t become greedy, far from it, the donation he makes to the orphanage every day. The money he uses to buy treats, toys, clothes, and other stuff for the orphans shows that he is not becoming selfish.

Though every time he has to send money, it is like a piece of his flesh is being chopped off, so you can say he became stingy for money.

Magnus set aside the breathing technique; right now, he couldn’t practice it since he didn’t have any food on hand. Although he knew a perfect time that he could practice the technique and he didn’t even have to pay for the food that he will be stuffing himself with.

Magnus picked up the meditation techniques and started to read it, but this time he did not go over the techniques only. He also made sure to read the whole little booklet. There were some things that caught his attention, namely, where was the techniques getting the energy to power his advancements.

Unlike the breathing technique which used food as the energy for powerups, Magnus found that the meditation techniques did no such thing like that. No matter where he looked, he couldn’t find what reserves were used up.

If there is one law that Magnus knew with absolute certainty about the vast Cosmos is that there is no free lunch! It bugged Magnus to no end that he couldn’t find out the secrets of the meditation techniques. It had to do with some spiritual voodoo nonsense, he was always a man of science it is obvious why he could not understand this. But still, it looked like it was safe to practice it.

Considering that there were not any dire warnings written in the booklet and the Matron would not have given him the technique if it was dangerous. Anyways inside, Magnus was jumping up and down in joy and could not hold himself back from jumping right in and seeing some powerups.

The first step in this technique was to have a clear mind of everything, and then go into a trance; after that, nothing, it was only those two steps. It just surprises Magnus with how simple and clear cut these techniques are and the power they offer in that simplicity.

Magnus did his best to clear his mind. Ever since he came to this new world, his mind has been lately very preoccupied with numerous things, whether it be shock, awe, worry, sadness, sorrow, and woe.

It took a while, but Magnus was finally able to clear his mind, it felt relaxing and soothing just drifting off into emptiness with all emotions and feelings cut off. Magnus wanted to stay like that forever and ever without any worries to concern him, but he knew deep down that was not any way to live.

No matter how bad things get, you always gotta keep on struggling and fighting because that is what life is a struggle and a test.

Also, he had to move on to the second step of the technique, so Magnus got started going into a trance. He tried to find the half-conscious state the technique was talking about however he got nothing. Suddenly Code spoke up, "Try not to force it," she advised, "as I understand it, this stuff usually works by instinct. So let go."

Magnus could see the wisdom in that, so he once again cleared his mind and this time he did not force anything. For a long, while he sat there doing nothing, saying nothing and thinking nothing. He had no idea how long he was like that but after a short while, he heard somebody calling his name. "Magnus, MAGNUS, MAGUS," the shouting got louder and louder until he broke off from whatever state he was in and came back to the present.

"Magnus are you alright?" the voice asked which turned out to be Codex.

"Yea, and I actually feel oddly refreshed."

"Are you sure you are alright?" Codex ased again in a slightly worried tone.

"I am good, what wrong?" Magnus replied bac with, catching to her concern.

"You have been standstill in that crossed legged position for hours!"

"Huh?" Magnus asked, too perturbed to what she said to even form a proper response.

"Yep," Codex answered, "that stuff is some freak mumbo jumbo."

"Wow," Magnus said after a long while of silence as he processed what she observed. That basically mean he was meditating all night, that he has been sitting there for hours on end doing nothing! Plus he did not know why but he felt utterly refreshed and energized.

Magnus looked down at the small booklet in amazement, he wanted to proclaim this technique as the best, but the mystery it contained held him back. Nevertheless, thanks to the technique, Magnus felt like he just drank a dozen coffee shots and was at 100%. All the cramps and burning sensations he was feeling throughout his body was all gone, and he felt like he was ready to tackle the world.

Magnus turned to face Codex, in a metaphorical sense, and asked her in an eager tone, “Codex show me my stats!”

Without a word, Codex passed on Magnus’s information in the form of a screen that appeared right before his very eyes.

[Scanning Complete] [Physical Stats Available Spiritual Stats Available]

[Module Units Identified:

Might: 3.76

Speed: 5.14

Physique: 3.98

*NEW* Spirit: 10.99(10.38) ]

Magnus's eyes nearly popped over when he saw were his spiritual stat, it was way above normal and beyond an average adult. Anyways, it is clear that he had the typical mage build, though he had not run into spells yet. So this higher stat really meant nothing to him since it does not translate into power.

Even if Magnus hated saying it, he rather be some muscle brain right about now- some might or physique would do well in this world he is in. Intelligence and wisdom do not get you anywhere as a commoner, however brute strength does just about right for you.

Magnus recalled those elemental and energy techniques that the Maton mentioned, he did not know what those techniques were or did, but he just felt that it would pair well with his high spiritual stats.

However, he did not have them so all he could do was wish for them longingly and move on to more important things.

Say, for example, what does these two new stats mean? Unlike the other stats which were more clear cut, these two stats could mean a number of things, so just to be safe, he asked the expert.

“So, what do thus stat stand for, Codex?”

“Well,” Codex said, and Magnus imagined she would have been pulling up her glasses like some expert. “This stat is more abstruse and esoteric than the physical ones, so what I could say is little to nothing. I need to get a more deeper understanding of this stat by collecting more data."

Magnus was a tad bit surprised that Codex did not have all the answers, he smiled fondly, that made her all the more human.

Codex saw the smile on Magnus’s face and took it the wrong way, “What do you find so funny, Magnus? Well, if you are so smart, go ahead and try to figure what this stat means.”

Magnus held his hands out in mock surrender and smoothly said, “I was not laughing at you or assuming that you are stupid. If that is what you are wondering about, then it was because I only found you human! Also, if you need data, you can always collect it from me.”

“Well, that better have been what you were thinking!” Codex said in a stutter.

“Ahh, look who is acting like a tsundere!” Magnus said as he poked fun at Codex.

“You know what, fuck you!” Codex said, and Magnus had to point out that she did not deny anything.

Magnus looked outside his widow and could see that the dawn lights were peeking through the sky, there really was no point in going back to sleep, the meditation technique covered that for him perfectly. Getting up from his bed he decided to help in the garden then get some breakfast.

------------------------------------------------------------

He looked around the dining hall with his porridge and spoon in his hands, he was trying to spot the older boys so that he could have the chat with them. Spotting them all sitting in a corner far off to the right, back end he made his way over.

Magnus made his way to them, Tamer spotting him walking over, and not knowing that he was already coming over, waved him over, especially inviting him to come sit with them.

“So, I have heard that you have been busy these last few moons turns,” Erhan said as Magnus seated himself.

Magnus raised his eyebrows, unsure if he was talking about the coin purses they have been stealing these last five moon turns or something else. Magnus sighed silently as he took a spoonful of porridge- this is why he hated when people spoke in vague terms or in circles.

That is why he asked, “What do you mean, Erhan? Just speak to me clearly, and I will answer back honestly.”

“Well then if you want honestly, then answer me this, why is it that you are stealing? Also, how could you include the other kids into this?”

Magnus wasn’t surprised that they found this dirty laundry this late. The older boys work long shifts and rarely come home until the twilight hours. Before long, Magnus too would be joining them in their long schedules, and it thanks to the Matron that he has his ass covered.

Finally, he could be gone for long days on end, and he is free from his daily triple check-in that he had with Mother Selin. This would free him up, and he could jump into his new job.

Also, Magnus knew this day would come, these boys are smart, and they could add one and one together to figure out what he was up to.

Anyways Magnus did not want to way through the mire, which is morality with them. He did what was necessary to keep the orphanage afloat. Also, he knew that too are in the deep in with him, because after all one is a gangster and nobody seems to have a problem with it.

Magnus knew what they were up to, like any parent or older sibling they just wanted to shield him and the other orphans from the world.

“Look, we stopped stealing if that is what you guys are wondering,” Magnus said. He also wanted to add how bad the orphanage's financial situation was, but that would be a dick move. Even with his skewed morality, Magnus knew that would be a low blow adding the orphanage's problem on to their consciousness.

Also, most importantly of all, Magnus feared what they would do, would they steal like him or kill for money, trick or beguile, and etc.

“Still, do you the danger you are in?” Etkin asked, “The gangs set their eyes on you and the other kids.”

Erhan nodded his head along to Etkin’s statement, “also, the guards are keeping their eyes out for you as well. Do you know how bad that is, you got the guards and gangs to agree on something.”

“I know,” Magnus said it looked like he will have to go through a berating. “That is why we have stopped stealing, forever, and we will keep our heads down.”

Then Magnus paused, he turned to look at Erhan with squinted eyes, “I get how Etkin knows about how the gangs are looking for me but how do you know that the guards are looking for me?”

Erhan chuckled as he awkwardly scratched his the back of his head, “Well, I wanted this to be a surprise, but you guys will never leave me alone until I tell you, huh?”

Everyone seated on the table nodded their head, making it clear that Erhan’s thoughts are correct; they are not going to give him any wiggle room until he spills.

“Alright, I will spill,” Erhan said. “I did quite well in my training that I got accepted as a guard, a guard in training to be more exact but a guard all the same since I pretty much have it in the bag.”

“Overconfident, much?” Tamer asked in rye amusement.

“Well, then I guess you can say hello to a nice comfy job, huh?” Andrew asked.

“More like a corrupt and lazy job, you mean,” Etkin said.

Magnus patted Erhan on the shoulder, “Well, I am sure that he will be our city’s finest, guarding us, folk from… Hey, Erhan, what do you guard even guard us against?”

“Actually the guards act as a defense against the creatures that dwell in the valleys and other mountains,” Mazhar said.

Etkin snorted in disgust, “Everybody knows that those animals and beasts in the valley do not attack the cities. They only attack outcropping towns and villages; the guards only act as a drain to the city and its folk.”

Erhan rolled his eyes, “Please, Etkin, we all know the true drain on this city, the gangs who are always shaking down the commoners.”

Magnus shook his head, the two of them are already falling into their cliches of the gangster and guard. Anyways his worked out perfectly for Magnus as it drew the heat away from him; he even thought about stroking the flames so that he could sit back and watch a live sitcom. It has been too long since he had good amusement, ahh, how he misses the comforts of modern life.

The only reason why his thoughts strode into that direction was because he knew that they were above the hate relationship that the guards and gangs have with each other.

However, he still did not accomplish what he came here to do, so that is why Magnus decided to knob this fight in the bud. “Alright guys that is enough, you look like cats and dogs going at it.”

Erhan had the decency to look ashamed while Etkin just drew back.

“Anyways before we move on to anything,”

‘namely my berating,’ Magnus added as a side note.

“I come here, bearing good news.”

“Well, what is it?” Tamer asked, being the first one to take the line.

“First, I am going to have you guys swear by the Great Sage, Andrew, you can swear on the First King. Don’t look at me like that, this is very important and secretive knowledge that I am about to give you and me making you swear on the founders should show you how paramount this is.”

There was some whining going on since this was a lot to ask for, swearing by the founders is a sacred thing, and Magnus made it doubly difficult by not telling them what they are swearing on.

In this brutal world, this action is highly regarded, and it is what people stick to keep a shred of legitimately and honesty. Magnus always found this tradition weird since it isn’t as binding as a magical contract, but it does the job.

Finally, all the older boys swore by the Great Sage, or in Andrew's case, he swore by the First King, the founder of the Golden Plains.

Then Magnus got out the breathing technique and laid it out in front of them giving them a clear sight of it. After that, Magnus started talking, and it was a long, shocking conversation he had with them.