Chapter 8: 2 Years later

Since my first class, 2 years have already passed. In these 2 years, I learned many things. Those were just basics like history of magic, training of my mind and body and more theoretical stuff. Thanks to my quick understanding, I was able to finish what normally took 2 years in 8 months and since then, I was developing myself.

Riley was a big help in my understanding of Void. Void is much deeper than I previously thought. It will take immense amount of time to master it, but I believe I can do it. When Riley was teaching me meditation techniques, I found out they were much inferior to those I already knew. Even so, they were useful. Thanks to them, I was able to make my own meditation techniques better, even if only by a tiny bit. He even taught me how to use Void magic. Since then, I constantly train myself.

I found out enchanting isn’t so easy to use. Depending on a type of material you use, you must use different techniques and what’s more, we must be able to use enchanting even without those special tools that help with usage of mana. Runes and glyphs apart from basic ones are immensely hard to use and with every higher level of enchanting, difficulty rises exponentially. I am the only one who can use glyphs right now. Beliar said, that glyphs are normally learnt at the end of 3rd year so I skipped a little.

Survival was unexpected. Teacher took us to the forest practically every hour and taught us all kinds of plant, characteristics of animals and monsters, trap making, shelters, how to make fire without magic or tools and many more thinks. Theory through practice he called it and every hour, there was a test. I really had to study hard for it. Even though I knew characteristics of plants through my hobby of alchemy, it was hard. He even said ‘good work’ once.

Beast taming wasn’t nice. Teacher took us to a slave market to see how to imprint slave marks. There are hundreds of slave marks, everyone with different function. Some would do immense pain if slave did not comply, others would kill, paralyze etc. There were many types, all we had to learn. We even practiced contracts with animals. To create a contract isn’t simple at all. It is hundreds time as hard as with slave contract. Only handful of us was able to create contract. Lili and Sani were one of those. In my case, it was strange. Animals congregated to me but I couldn’t create contract with any. Like something was blocking it. Even teacher did not know what to do. The best thing is, Lili’s and Sani’s contracted partners liked me more than them. They always pouted because of that. Lili had bird as partner and Sani a cat. These are just pets to experience making of contracts. Contracts will be relieved and we all will have to find our own partners in the future.

Control was the one, which gave me the biggest gain. I can feel mana in me and around me much more clearly than before. I can change my flow of mana and even use special techniques. Teacher used a military type of training on us and some even left because of that. I know one thing. I will forever be indebted to him. Without his guidance, I would have died already. The reason for that will be known in a while.

Martial arts or should I say Hell? Master did not joke even a little bit. Phantom style body training was enough to destroy your body and mind but thanks to that, I change a great deal. My scrawny body changed in many ways. I have muscles now. Not like a gorilla or so. With clothes on, you probably would not even think I was muscular at all, but without a shirt, I really looked great and my strength was no joke either. I could even match those people, who looked like bears. My endurance greatly increased too and thanks to my lean muscles, my agility wasn’t hampered even a bit. I solely trained my body for yearn and a half. In another half a year, I was learning basic skills to use Phantom style. Even so, Master taught me only 2 Phantom style skills. He said, what I did in these 2 years normally would take more than 10. I made him proud. The reason for that is, his rivalry with a full plate guy. They were always talking about their student being a genius and such. I was one of those geniuses as you already know. The second is Irel. He is genius when it comes to being a tank. To breach his defense is no joke and his strength is no laughing matter either. Once, my master and I were invited to look at their training. Irel was really strong but my master was inwardly laughing. Compared to me, Irel was nothing. Even with just my pure physical strength I could defeat him.

My master always told me one thing. ‘Never show your true strength and never let your guard down, no matter who your opponent is.’ And so I stick to these words.

This was what happened to me in classes in these 2 years, but it’s not all.

With Lili and Sani we became great friends. What’s more, they are great teasing material. I always tease them whenever I get a chance. Sani hated me first, but now, she doesn’t mind me and I could even say that she likes spending time with us three. Her assets got even bigger and Lili is down casted because of that. Lili’s assets aren’t too great but they will be not too much and not too little in the future. Her demeanor changed and she isn’t a crybaby anymore. She looks dignified and calm but in the inside, she did not change much. She changed because of me. I always taught her through my teasing. She will become a scary lady in the future with who you definitely wouldn’t want to mess up.

As I said before, Irel became my rival, even though in his eyes I’m just an eyesore, I know he respects me as I respect him. We never thought against each other. It is forbidden for us. I could even say, we became friends but grudge against me is still there. I don’t think it will change until we will fight with all we got.

What I regret the most is Liz. Because she is my senior and part of the council, we do not meet much. In these 2 years, we met just dozen times. She is still cold ice queen and I heard it is even her nickname, but whenever we two met, she always was like a kind older sister. I regret not being able to be with her more.

Irene, since I found out her secret, started to avoid me. Whenever she saw me, she changed route or even jumped out of window. I never wanted to meet her, just our luck wasn’t great. There were rumors about her trying to find a man and every time she found one, he ran away. Nobody knows why though, even though I know. It looks like I really will have to marry her. What a pain. At least she’s even cuter as she gets older. She never told me her real age. She’s definitely not 30 as she claimed. How do I know that? Thanks to Control classes. But feeling flow of others you can find out approximate age, but I never could touch her but even so, I can feel it.

With Alice, I spend all my lunch breaks. There is even a rumor about us. Something about me forcing her every night. You probably know what it means. Sigh. I don’t care about such people. I will do whatever I want. Now, with my power I don’t need to take care of my surroundings too much. I still pretend and lie before all of them, but I don’ fear being found out anymore.

With Alice, I don’t know what our relationship is. She has a wall around her heart, but I know even so, I am inside her heart. Why she keeps that wall against me, I don’t know. Since the time I saw her for the first time, I knew she kept something hidden. Something that will make me involved. I hope it will never happen. I still will treat her the same way. Just like a younger sister. I will take care of her and protect her. That’s all I can do for her.

I think that’s all you wanted to hear about changes in my life. Now, about me. I grew taller, much taller. I’m 1,7 meters tall. My hair color changed a little. It’s dark, but with a closer look, you could see dark violet color, almost inextinguishable but still there. My body got much more fit as I already said and my mind changed too. I don’t act like 12 years old at all. Even master told me that. My mental changes are his fault. Phantom style body training will make your mind stronger and sharper. It helps with strengthening my soul too. From Riley, I got my black robe and I wear it on my school uniform. It changed a little. It is now dark with a blue pattern and golden lines. It looks nice. My eyes are as Sani said, like looking into the Void and piercing through ones soul but even so attracting all those who will look into them. Lili said I am really handsome. And when I hear girls whispering about me, saying all kinds of things, I don’t doubt that anymore.

It looks like I am the most handsome guy now. Big change since first year when everyone looked at me with disdain for being a commoner and looking, well, like a commoner.

I never was able to get back home, to see my parents but I write letters at least once a month. It looks like Sylvie is studying as much as she can. She really wants to come torment me. Who would have thought something like that could drive someone to such lengths. The reason why Sylvie can study so much is because of me. Thanks to my black card, I send money to my parents and so they can buy books for her. I’m glad for her. She is my cute little sister after all. Even if she hates me.

Father asked me about my progress in alchemy. Even though I did not take that course, I progressed in it. Using alchemical labs when they are free, I created few potions. Explosive, to let me stake awake, to enhance my senses and even to increase my mana regeneration.

Now, I want to show you all I achieved. Take good look.

NameRisielAge12Level2Stage ChildGenderMaleRaceHumanAffinityVoid, ManaAttributeChaos and OrderHealth400Mana1000TitleDifferent oneStrength104Agility112[/tr]Vitality148Dexterity137Inteligence247Wisdom289Endurance87Luck±15Willpower44Dignity27Honor41Charm122ResistancesFire5%Water5%Earth5%Wind5%Void20%Poison45%

My physical progress baffled even master. I was baffled too, but I found out reason for that. Again, thanks to the control.

I found out that blood vessels should not congregate around mana core like mine did, buit thanks to that, I got this benefit. Because my blood vessels are in such a close proximity, my mana affects them and causes my body to develop faster. Even my willpower is caused thanks to that. The reason for honor, dignity and charm is thanks to the etiquette. And I even reached level 2. Something to boast about. Stage appeared when I reached level 2. It depeneds on level and show how many things you experienced. Resistances are thanks to the Phantom style. Break your body and attune it to the world. One of the phases in which is possibility of death quite high.

I even developed affinity for mana. Everyone who trains in control develops it, just not so fast as I did. Let’s continue.

Mana1000Purity20%Main pillar of magic

-Purity decreases amount of mana needed to use magic

TitlesDifferent one

For not acting like others in your age group, you received this tile

Phantom style practitioner

For practicing this style, you received this title

Void mage

For getting Void affinity, you received this title

Prodigy of all

For being able to do anything and everything in short amount of time, you received this title

Most handsome

For being acknowledged by all women in your age group, you received this title[/tr]

I can’t look up what all this tittle do and some of those are ridicules, like that most handsome. It’s not even my own doing!

AffinityVoid[/tr]Understanding6%Void is place between worlds, in another words, a different dimension where time and space do not mean anything

You can tap to powers of Void

AffinityManaUnderstanding12%Mana is primordial power that existed since the creation of the world. It is a building stone without which the world would not exist as we know it

[tr]AttributeChaos and OrderUnderstanding too low

Innate abilitiesPhysical damage absorbtion

Iron stomach

Heart of Void

Quick regeneration

Eidetic memory

Cold reading

Manageable body

SkillPhysical damage absorptionRankN/AYou can absorb part of the hit inflicted on you, reducing damage dealt to you

SkillIron stomachRankN/AYou can drink and eat anything you wish without damaging your stomach

SkillHeart of VoidRankN/AYou are connected to Void on Soul level, increasing how fast you understand Void and all your Void magical attacks

SkillQuick regenerationRankN/AYou recover your health and mana at increased rate

You recover your stamina at increased rate but with a cost of increased stamina use after you completely use it. Increased stamina use is nullified only after it is recovered completely.

SkillEidetic memoryRankN/ADue to increased power of your soul, intelligence and wisdom, you can remember anything with a single glance

SkillCold readingRankN/AYou can observe even the tiniest details. By looking at muscle movement, heartbeat, breathing, eye movement and changes in surrounding mana, you can read others movement like opened book and know who is lying or saying the truth.

SkillManageable bodyRankN/ADue to your strange congregation of your blood vessel, your body develops faster.

SkillsEnchantingBeast tamingMana manipulationMana controlMana strengtheningSurvival techniquesPhantom style movement

-Sprint

-One with breath

-Silent step

-Presence manipulationPhantom style sword arts

-Slash

-Pierce

-Block

-Counter

-StepInner meditationOuter meditation

Magical abilities Void bolt

Void mastery

Void blast

This is all I learned in these 2 years. There’s too many to show and most of them are self-explanatory. Magical abilities in void are with my level of understanding unreachable. I could learn just these. Magical abilities in other affinities aren’t so hard to learn. Even with 5% understanding you get dozens of spell.

I, in just 2 years, was able to reach 6% and that is unheard of. Riley has just 17% and it took him 27 years so what do you think?

Most of my skills are at apprentice rank. Some even intermediate. These 2 years were really good. I can’t wait what I will learn next.

Tomorrow is the first day of my 3rd year. Let’s see what awaits me.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Tables take so much time! If I had to do all table for skills and magical abilities, I would drop dead. If you want them though, I can do them. Just write comments. This chapter was to just summaries 2 years, you could say prologue to 2nd arc. I changed my planes a little and I won’t do arc I had planned. I have no idea how I will do this arc exactly. It should be around 4 chapters but it’s hard to guess. I really have tons of idea and I change what I thought of as I write too.

Oh and I need help to think of basic I repeat basic Void spells. All I can think of are monster class Void spells and those that are not are blocked due to his understanding. Hope you will help me.

I hope you enjoyed.