The visit to the cobbler was pretty normal. Theo had been expecting another trick, or obvious lesson about how to interact with people, but nope. Nothing much happened, he just picked up Sparrow’s package and left.

“Here’s your shoes.” Theo said, as he handed the brown box to Sparrow. They nodded in thanks, and put the package away without comment. Theo paused.

“So, what was the trick with the cobbler? She seemed normal enough.” Theo commented, trying to seem offhand and casual (and succeeding, somewhat). Sparrow let out a slight snort, as he looked around the obstacle course room.

“The trick is that there was no trick. Sometimes you just meet normal people and need to know how to treat them as well.” Sparrow replied. “I want you to be always mindful of interactions with anyone, doesn’t matter if you feel like you can lower your guard. Every small detail can be meaningful.”

“But, how can I pay attention all the time? That already sounds exhausting.” Theo asked. Sparrow nodded, and grinned.

“It would be…if you weren’t learning internal magics.” Sparrow said, as their grin transitioned into a wide smile. “It’s difficult to learn to use compressed mana with Self Awareness and Meditation, but those will help.” They paused, before adding (like an aside), “Oh, and what we’re covering today.”

“So far, you have only been learning first tier internal magic. Today will be your introduction to the higher tiers.” They stepped back from Theo, and leaned on the brick wall. He started to whisper, and flames started to float in the air between them, a scatter cloud of swirling butterflies.

“Internal magic tiers are not defined by complexity or difficulty, but simply that they require an understanding of the previous tier. So, all the internal magic you have learned so far is first tier, because they do not require any previous internal magic experience to learn.” Sparrow paused, and whispered as the flames started to organise themselves into a single line.

“Second tier requires either a familiarity with first tier internal magic in general, or specific first tier internal magic. Third tier requires second tier, but there are vanishingly few third tier internal magics. Theoretically, there could be fourth or higher tier internal magic, but those are highly guarded secrets, if they exist at all.” Sparrow finished, and whispered again. The flames started to join in pairs, becoming larger flames, before those joined together to create an even larger flame, until there was only one ball of flame the size of a fist. The ball split in two, and then again, and again, until it was the scattered clumps of flames at the start. Sparrow snuffed it out.

“Every internal magic I’ve taught you so far has been a foundation. I’m working you towards a specific third tier internal magic, but this second tier is also very useful by itself. It’s called Tome of Memories, and requires Owl’s Eyes, Bat’s Ears, Dog’s Nose, and Self Awareness. The first step allows you to more clearly recall senses, for example if you need to remember the exact colour of a plant, or the pitch of a voice. The second step improves your memory. The third step gives you perfect clarity and allows you to relive your memories. Now, the difficulty of higher tier internal magic is that it requires you to be able to cycle all the requisite magics simultaneously. So that’s what we’re going to start drilling in preparation.” Sparrow said, as they clapped their hands once. Theo swallowed.

---

Being able to use multiple internal magics at once was definitely a good thing to learn, Theo conceded. He just wished it was easier. He’d been making more progress with infusing as he walked, than he was with cycling multiple at once. It was hard to split his attention in a way that didn’t mean dropping one to attend to another, like a child trying to pick up an apple and then dropping another one in the process.

It had been two hours of him metaphorically picking up an apple while dropping the other, and going to pick up that first apple while dropping the second one. Two hours of just doing that over and over and over.

“Sparrow, why is this harder than infusing while walking? That feels more distracting.” Theo asked. Sparrow nodded, in a way that made clear they thought it was a fair question.

“When you walk, are you paying attention to every movement of your leg?” Sparrow countered. Theo shook his head. “Even with the improvements from Striding Wind, Self Awareness should help to regulate that. You are able to walk without thinking about how to do it, because it is so ingrained in your muscle memory. That frees up space to think about moving the mana inside you. Meanwhile, cycling multiple magics at once means you have to focus on them all at the same time. But, once you become so familiar with how to move that mana, and in the specific patterns to do so, you’ll be able to do it.” Sparrow paused, hesitating. They took a moment to think through their next few words, before continuing.

“I don’t expect you to get this right away. I know I’m pushing you hard, but you are doing a good job. I just want you to know that there is so much farther to go.” Sparrow said, looking Theo in the eyes.

“Plus, progressing to second tier internal magics will take you quite some time, so I’m going to leave it there and start teaching you other things. But feel free to ask questions any time.” Sparrow smiled, and one question immediately came to mind.

“How do Self Awareness and Meditation help with paying attention all the time and seeing everything?” Theo asked. “…would it be easier to learn those than Tome of Memories?” Sparrow laughed.

“Not even close. Self Awareness is required for Tome of Memories, but it is the reason the third step is so difficult. Compressed mana in the bits of your head that aren’t things you can comprehend easily like your eyes and ears is very tricky, and even more dangerous. The few I want you to practice with right now are easy to grasp, and unlikely to make your brain bleed. So that is going to take a lot more practice with Self Awareness before I’d recommend you approach it with compressed mana. For Self Awareness, you should be able to cycle it alongside another, as well as infuse it while walking, before you should even think about approaching its third step.” Sparrow paused.

“Do not take shortcuts with magic. The harder something is, the more it pays off. The third step of Self Awareness slows down your perception of time, and increases your reaction speed. It is an invaluable skill to possess, but very few ever manage to do so.” They lowered their voice. “I know I never did.”

“Now, Meditation is difficult to compress mana for, as it requires such a whole-of-body understanding that it is the single hardest first tier piece of internal magic to master. But once you do, it will help you focus on the present moment and find that state of flow where everything is clear. Effectively, you will be able to work at 100% as long as you have mana and energy.” Sparrow coughed. “Theoretically. I know some people have achieved it, but there are few and far between, and those are usually ascetics who dedicate their whole lives to it.” Sparrow sighed.

“So don’t worry if you don’t figure those out. There’s other ways to improve that are better uses of your time than hammering away at this for years.” Sparrow quirked their lips and smirked.

“Now, ready for another run of the obstacles?”

---

Theo walked into The Pub tired, but still standing tall (which, for Theo, meant standing normally). Reflecting, he realised that even though he had been pushing himself hard, and felt incredibly tired in the moment, he wasn’t as exhausted afterwards as he had been at the start (which, if he paused for a second longer, he would realise would be because of all the mana pumping through and into his body).

Raising his hand, he greeted Alan as he polished a stein. Some things never changed, and he smiled as he sat down at the bar, at a stool in the middle. Before he could finish raising his hand, Alan had already set down a beer in front of him. Theo’s grin grew wider, and Alan smiled back (which, again, simply meant a slight raised brow on his impressively neutral face).

“Training going well?” Alan asked. The Pub was fuller at this hour than it normally was, which meant that the door kept opening and closing, and Theo kept raising his hand in greeting at those coming through. He looked back at Alan.

“Yeah, it’s been progressing. I don’t really have anyone else to compare that with, but I think I’m doing well?” Theo responded. He took a sip from his beer, and watched the head slowly disintegrate.

“Well, let us be of assistance.” Theo jumped a little bit, as Rick and Sean suddenly appeared at the bar. They weren’t alone either – Theo recognised Grant there as well, albeit he looked very reluctant (then again, Grant always had the face of someone begrudgingly saying something nice about their enemy, so it was hard to tell what emotion lied behind that).

“Sean! Rick! And lovely to see you without your head buried in paperwork, Grant! Welcome to the pub.” Theo said.

“This is the little monster we told you about.” Rick said. Sean chuckled, Theo blushed, and Grant rolled his eyes.

“Sure. I know what he’s doing in the obstacle courses. It won’t surprise me.” Grant replied, with the personality of a mouthful of sand. Rick and Sean gave each other a knowing look, as they fought to keep a smile off their faces (and failed).

“Well then, how’s your training been, Theo?” Asked Sean. Grant looked thoroughly unimpressed, while Rick had the look of a child tasting the candy before they’d even touched it. In an instant, all three of them had a beer in front of them, and Theo barely even noticed Alan moving them their way.

“It’s been good, I think. It’s been tiring, but I think the past month has been really good. I’ve been doing the second step of a lot of internal magic, and I’m starting to work on the third step for Bat’s Ears, Owl’s Eyes, Dog’s Nose. Today I just got the higher tiers explained to me, so the goals now are to work towards second tier internal magics, as well as the third step of Self Awarene- are you okay?” Theo paused, mid-word, as Grant let out a strangled, choking noise, and beer started to dribble out of the corner of his lips. He still maintained the same, forward stare, even as he started to cough. His eyes narrowed the slightest bit, and nodded at Theo to continue.

“…as I was saying, the goals for the future are second tier internal magics, and the third step for both Self Awareness as well as Meditation.” Theo finished. He realised that Sean and Rick had entirely forgotten about trying to mess with Grant, as they sat there dumbfounded with wide eyes. Grant took a deep breath, and crushed the stein in his hand.

The sound of wood splintering filled the room, and Alan’s head whipped around with a fury in his eyes that Theo had never seen.

Alan and Grant stared at each other, and the conversation died down as Theo, Rick, and Sean all watched as two men almost froze in time together. It was like watching a staring contest between two statues.

After a few minutes of bated breath, Grant eventually blinked, and coughed out the last of the beer in his throat. Alan nodded, satisfied with his victory as he scribbled something down on a piece of paper.

“To answer your question, you grow into a scarier monster every time I see you.” After Grant had wiped away the beer and spittle from his mouth, Rick broke the silence.

“Most people don’t get to second tier internal magics for at least a few years, likewise for the third step. Most graduate before they have a proper grasp on either of those. And that’s for easy stuff, not things that take a lifetime of focus like Meditation.” Sean helpfully supplied.

“What do people learn at the College of War then?” Theo pondered. Grant cleared his throat, and instead of just being the aftermath of choking, started to speak.

“A warrior is not defined by their strength. They are defined by how well they do what they need to, which is usually either killing or protecting. A large blunt weapon will serve you much worse than a small sharpened one. We teach tactics, and how to use your abilities to their fullest potential. And if what you’re saying is true, as a representative of the College of War, I formally extend to you a scholarship to attend.” Grant said. As he spoke, he slipped into a voice (and vocabulary) that made Theo think he’d said it many times before.

Wait, did Grant just offer him a place in the College of War!?