Mind Arts

It's been three weeks since I was allowed to study on my own. Just like I thought, these subjects are hardly proving to be of any challenge. The only subject that I am finding a bit of challenge is RUNES. I see a lot of potential in Runes though, and that is why I am spending more time on Runes when compared with other subjects. But the remaining subjects have a lot to do with memory. I think Potions will be interesting when I start making them.

Herbology is like a big encyclopedia on learning about different plants and stuff. It's more like a complementary subject to potions. Latin as a language is boring as fuck. But I have progressed well in learning that language. However boring Latin may be, It has a certain power to it. Whenever I pronounce any words in Latin, I can feel my magic stirring.

Coming to the last subject, Arithmancy is basically maths with a different set of standardization and has its own set of laws. If you don't know maths, then it becomes tough to understand the stuff. But since I know a bit of math from my previous life, it helps you in learning Arithmancy.

I think at this speed I will complete all five subjects in two years. My "father", like he said has been testing me on my progress from time to time. Yesterday he did one of his "surprise test" to check my progress. It was so satisfying to tear through his so called "tough" questions. Satisfied with my progress my "father" said today he will send the promised "Book and artifact on an Arcane branch of magic" to my room. Apparently our family got "the book and artifact" in some ruins of an ancient magic settlement way back in the 1500s and it requires both the book and artifact to learn this Arcane branch of magic.

Well, I think it's enough study for today. I closed my book on Runes and exited the library and headed towards my room. My room is situated on the floor above the library. My room is like a massive suit with a medieval profile to it. I never spend much time in my room, other than for sleeping.

When I entered my room, I saw an ancient leather-bound book sitting on my bed. On the leather cover of the book there is a symbol which looked like an eye. But what caught my attention was a staff which has a tripod like legs to allow it to stand without holding it. The staff is placed beside my bed. There was black gem sitting on the top of the staff. What looked like runes ran through the entire body of the staff. The artifact was definitely eye catching. I think this is the artifact my "father" was talking about.

Now lets see what this entire Arcane shit is about. With that thought I started moving towards the book. I took hold of the book and had a closer look at its leather cover. Yes, it was definitely a picture of an eye. Entire leather cover was black with the eye having golden colour. The book was surprisingly heavy, even though it was a thin book.

The moment I opened the book, Words started appearing on the pearl white page. the first line on the page read,

"Welcome wizard, my name is Achaikos. In my time, wizarding world considered me to be the most accomplished wizard in MIND ARTS. And I wholeheartedly agree with that."

WOW!! what an arrogant piece of shit. But still I like where this is going. if my guess is right, I know what this "Achikos" is speaking of. Pushing those thoughts aside I started reading remaining lines.

"This book is useless, if you don't have my magical artifact called, "EYE OF ASTRAL". If you are in the possession of both the book and artifact, Place your hand on the book and take the following oath: 'I consider Achikos as my master and me his disciple in pursuing MIND ARTS'. After you take this oath, you have taken your first step on mastering your Mind. My fellow Wizard whoever you may be always keep in mind: YOU EITHER CONTROL YOUR MIND OR IT CONTROLS YOU."

I have to say my family is lucky in getting both the book and the artifact. Now let's get this started. With that I placed my palm on the book and took the oath which was mentioned in the book. When I finished completing the oath, for a few moments, nothing happened. But suddenly the Black Gem on the artifact glowed brightly before sending a beam of black light, which entered my glabella. After that the light receded back and the book in my hands started vibrating. I immediately tightened my grip on the book. After a few seconds the book stopped vibrating.

Seeing that everything settled. I sighed and with a bit of excitement opened the book. The previous lines that I read disappeared and in their place there was a title which read: "INTRODUCTION TO MIND ARTS".

After reading the entire introduction for around thirty minutes, I started laughing like a maniac. This book is a treasure of unimaginable value. I knew when there was a mention of MIND ARTS it was going to be about "Occlumency" and "Legilimency". But what excited me was that these arts were highly complex and much more overpowered when compared to portraying of these arts in Harry Potter movies. My "father" was not wrong in calling this branch of magic Arcane. If I could master both "Occlumency" and "Legilimency". I will be OP as fuck.

The book mentioned that I need to start with "Occlumency" before starting "Legilimency". I can only start "Legilimency" after mastering LEVEL 3 in occlumency. Apparently there are seven levels in "Occlumency" and the book provides only details on how to train first four levels. Remaining three levels will unlock once I have mastered the first four levels. the details about "Legilimency" will also be available only after mastering LEVEL 3 in occlumency. I think "Legilimency" will also have multiple levels. let's once more go through these four levels of occlumency that I need to master first,

LEVEL 0: This is an initiation level. We consider this level mastered, if one can clear their thoughts and make one's mind empty. There is a set of breathing techniques given in the book to master this level.

LEVEL 1: Finding one's Astral Plane. The Eye of astral will help you in finding your astral plane.

LEVEL 2: Constructing an Astral Memory Palace.

LEVEL 3: Forming Magical shields to protect One's Astral plane. One can do this by carving runes in the astral plane to erect a magical shield. There are around 33 runes given in the book which are needed to be carved in the astral plane.

After mastering the first four levels, the artifact will send a Legilimency attack as a test. If I can repel that attack the remaining Levels of occlumency will be given to me along with the knowledge on mastering the Legilimency.

I am looking forward to what those remaining levels will be like. With those thoughts, I sat on my mind to start my journey on mastering THE MIND.