Breathing Technique

"There are different types of breathing techniques and are characterized depending on their effects and difficulty level. As I said before, this is a major factor in battles, especially against other magicians. With it, even non-awakened individuals can fight high-graded beasts and stand tall amongst magicians in terms of strength." Alexander explained carefully about the subject.

"Today will be more theoretical than practical, I am sure that your teacher didn't tell you about this and I want to make sure that everyone knows at least the general idea of breathing techniques." As he said that he sat down on the cold ground, waiting for the others to also get in a more comfortable position.

After a while he began explaining the different types and their difficulty level. Max learned that breathing techniques were separated by what they amplified. Some made you stronger while others made you faster, there were even some that can improve swordsmanship or other types of weapon-wielding.

"Teacher, wouldn't this imply that people can just learn a multitude of breathing techniques from each type? Wouldn't this make you the strongest person by a long shot, even though you are unawakened?" One of the students asked, curious about his theory.

"It is great that you come up with questions like these. The answer is simple and it is no. There is a saying around the world and that is 'Jack of all trades but master of none' which fully complies with what you just said. The reason breathing techniques are hard to learn isn't just because you can't learn them at the same time, but after you master any, muscle memory will make it almost impossible to take it a step back and start from scratch with another technique. Many masters, including myself, find ourselves stuck in a repetitive cycle of accidentally switching towards our already mastered breathing technique, which makes it hard to master any others." Alexander said bitterly while shaking his head.

"This is why the breathing technique you choose, for us mages, is extremely important. It can amplify your powers tenfold or barely help you."

"Would this also mean that learning a more advanced technique of the same type is almost impossible?" The same individual asked right after hearing his teacher out.

"It is also hard but can't be called impossible. When learning a new technique you start from scratch while also having a drawback. When learning a more advanced technique of the one you already have you use it as the base of the more advanced technique while also having a smaller drawback, making it a lot easier than the former." Alexander explained slowly. He was patient, knowing that the students in front of him would have to make an important decision soon. He should tell them any information they require.

He looked around at them for a few seconds but nobody raised any more questions about his lecture. He got up from the ground and while patting various areas around his body to shake the dust of he said.

"Since there aren't any more questions, I would like to end today's hour. This week you will not be required to come at any of the practical hours. I recommend that you understand what this means. Go and inform yourselves about breathing techniques. I will always be present in your classroom at normal hours for a while so if any questions arise during this week you come and address them to me between that interval of time I am in class." He began walking towards the academy's main building after finishing talking.

"Class dismissed!" He shouted after turning around and still seeing lots of individuals still standing on the ground.

***

"Breathing techniques... breathing techniques..." Max muttered under his breath. There were a lot more students looking for the same thing. As everyone got informed about the breathing technique's capabilities they became intrigued to see how hard could they be to master.

The first place where everyone searched was the library, it was filled with books so one could guess that some of them would contain a lot more information about them and maybe even some techniques were present here.

'Finally!' Max contained his yell inside his thoughts, he didn't want to alarm everyone inside the library right now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that everyone would try to hunt him down for the book as they have been inside for quite a few hours just searching for one. From more than one hundred students there weren't more than thirty that were able to find one so far.

There wasn't a lot of information about the breathing techniques for some reason, all of the thirty individuals including Max found the same book called 'Introduction to Breathing Techniques'.

Max went and took a seat at one of the chairs. He opened the book and slowly read through the contents of it.

A few hours passed by once again and only a small but certain number of individuals were able to find the book, Mark being one of them. The total amount of people who found the books was exactly fifty, which were currently reading at their own pace through the contents of the book.

'So breathing techniques are techniques that help you circulate the magic particles inside your bloodstream in different ways. Some help you circulate them through your arms, others help you circulate through your legs, and so on...' Max was currently making a summary inside his head. It was late already so he will be going back to his room soon.

They weren't allowed to take the books outside the library which was the reason why he couldn't take the book back to his dorm. He would have to read inside the library and then come back the next day to read the rest.

Max thought it was strange as they were allowed to sleep inside the library or to pull an all-nighter but weren't allowed to take books from the library to the dorms.

'I think I am done for today' Max thought while getting up from the chair he had been sitting on for the past few hours.

"I'm going back to the dorms Mark, I'll see you tommorow." Max waved goodbye to Mark as he left to hide the book in the place he normally hid the books he wanted to continue reading. After hiding it Max walked out of the library and towards his dorm.

'What technique am I supposed to learn? It should be one that focuses on strength right? I use a shield and my bones have yet to heal fully since two years ago...' Max thought while looking forward, he was more attentive to his surroundings after what happened a week ago when he was almost brought into a fight because he accidentally bumped into somebody.

'Wait... How am I supposed to find a technique in the first place? The library had none!' Max realized after a while of thinking but then stopped worrying for now, he would just ask his teacher tomorrow.