Chapter 10 - Training

Callon, Sigur and their soul companions went a short walk away from Realm to a nearby restaurant named Solitary Pavilion.

Solitary Pavilion is a large wooden building with big glass windows that have a brick frame around them. Leading to the front door is a black marble pathway with wooden columns, the front door is wood painted black.

Walking inside the first floor is an open floor plan with plenty of wooden tables and dining chairs that seat a group of two, four, and six. Instead of sitting on the first floor though, Sigur went directly to the second floor. Callon followed Sigur to the second floor where they walked into a private room. The room had soft carpeted gray floors, the walls were white and there was a wooden table with a black booth on both sides.

"This is the private room Uncle has rented for when he comes, I also have permission to use it when he's not." Sigur explained to Callon.

After sitting at the table, they ordered into a magic device that a waitress could speak and hear through.

"I've just realized this, but why haven't I felt hungry or tired at all today?" While moving Reil and Neil to sit on the table, Callon questioned Sigur.

"When you become a cultivator, you don't need to eat much. You could probably go around 3-4 days without eating as a Spirit Realm Cultivator, your life force also increases. At Origin realm you gain 10 more years to your normal life force. Profound you get another 20 years, Spirit Realm another 30 years, and then True Realm is another 40. Once you get to phase or stage two though, it changes. Heaven Realm is another 100 years, King Realm is an extra 200, Emperor Realm is another 300 years and finally Saint Realm is another 400 years. So, if you're 16 right now, and your regular life expectancy is 200 years due to you being an elf, if you stop at Spirit Realm your life expectancy would be 260 years now. The amount of time you can go without food also increases as well, but that just depends on the person because many people still crave food. Sleeping is the same, although it is recommended to at least take a short nap to let your brain not over stress. Which is why most will still sleep between six and eight hours."

Callon nodded finding it interesting to find yet another thing he didn't know. While Callon and Sigur were waiting for their food, they told each other about themselves while Neil, Reil and Amia also got to know one another. Neil obviously not speaking very much, but still standing there and making small noises or nods of acknowledgements.

Callon found out that Gregor is not Sigur's biological uncle, he is actually his adopted son. He picked Sigur up on his travels, Sigur's family had died due to bandits and that's all he mentioned about it. He got an arrogant attitude because of believing he's above everyone due to Gregor's power. Finally, being put in his place, literally, by Neil's knife or someone would have probably killed him soon.

They quickly became close friends, even deciding to become sworn brothers.

"Siggy. Do you plan on going to Orlun Soul Academy?"

"Mm. Uncle wants me to go, says I need to see more of the world, but if you're going, I'll definitely go now! Just you have two soul companions will cause a riot, I can't wait to see."

Sigur and Callon both look at each other and break out laughing.

"We can travel together then! I plan on training for two months and then using the last month for travel. I should get accustomed to my powers and daggers by then, but I have to warn you."

Sigur looked at Callon with his head tilted, a look of confusion on his face.

Callon continued, "You can't fall for my sweetheart. He's too cute and I can't allow people to fall for his charms as well. So, you must help me protect him if I'm not around. I met him earlier today and his curly blonde hair and gold eyes won me over completely. He doesn't talk, but even not talking is beautiful when it's him."

"Today? Cal. You met him for say, 30 minutes? How can he be yours already?"

"Hmph. The way I fell for Neil and Reil, that's how I fell for my Aden. Love. At. First. Sight. SO, YOU BETTER NOT EITHER. YA HEAR?!" Callon glares at Sigur, while Sigur shakes his head and sighs.

"Should I call him sister-in-law then?" They both laugh.

"I'm glad you understand. You must protect your sister-in-law well! He's fragile okay?"

"Mm. Okay."

Suddenly the door opens, the food has arrived.

Turns out they both ordered roast chicken breast with potatoes.

"I thought elves usually don't eat meat." Sigur asks as he points towards Callon's ears.

"Mm, maybe. The only other elf I've ever met is Aden. My parents were both human."

Sigur knows there's a story there, but decides not to ask. He can tell it's a sensitive subject for Callon.

They both eat in a peaceful silence.

20 minutes later, they're both finished eating.

"Let me pay, take it from your older brother." Sigur winks while Callon rolls his eyes with a gentle smile.

"Ah whatever. There's plenty of time to act like a big brother on our way to the Academy."

Sigur pays and they both leave the restaurant. Walking Callon to the front gate, they fist bump and say their goodbyes.

"See you Siggy. Better train these two months, or I'll have Neil kick your ass."

Sigur feels a chill down his spine and nods quickly.

"Of course. I can't let little brother beat me, how else would I protect him?" Sigur ruffles Callon's hair as he speaks, making sure to glance at Neil and Reil, worrying they may try and cut him again. Noticing him looking, Neil just nods and Reil sticks her tongue out. Sigur lets out a visible breath.

Having finished saying their goodbyes, they go their separate ways.

Callon starts his training with running the four hours back to his house. On his way back, he goes to quit his job making sure he's not disturbed during training.

By the time Callon arrives home, it's already close to midnight. He's not tired, so he decides it's time to look over the meditation book.

Quickly he runs upstairs and takes a shower, after putting on a pair of black pants and a black t-shirt he takes out the book and sits on his cot.

Moonlight's Might was written on the cover of the book. Callon opens it up to the first page.

'Moonlight's Might is a soul cultivators manual that uses the light from the moon to warm and fill the soul.

It is best to use after 9pm, when the sky is dark and the sun is fully gone. It can also be used during the day, but the effect will be halved.'

Callon continued to read through the novel. Finally once he memorized it, he sat cross legged and closed his eyes. Relaxing his breathing, he tries to enter a mediative state.

After about two minutes, Callon starts to feel a difference, his body feels warm and feels it healing from the pain of the recent run. Entering into his conscious, he sees a gold ball shining brightly. His soul. Souls are ranked by their colors, which represents their talents, Gold – Red – Orange – Yellow – White, with gold being the highest grade talent and white being the lowest.

Feeling the light surrounding him, Callon breathes in and inhales the power of the moon using Moonlight's Might. Slowly circulating it through his body until it reaches his heart, where his soul is located. Callon continues for six hours before opening his eyes and taking a short hour nap.

Waking up at seven, he goes for an hour jog, does some push ups, and some sit ups. At around eight, he begins training with Reil and Neil to learn how to wield daggers and the use of magic.

When learning to use magic, Reil explained that he has to feel the mana in the world, and then imagine what he wants to happen.

"Those who have no affinity for magic will never be able to use it, no matter if their soul companion can. You need to have patience just the way you do when cultivating with meditation. Once you grasp the mana in the air, slowly make it come to life inside of your mind and in the real world. Once it manifests, you've truly begun the path to using magic." Reil slowly explains to Callon how to use magic.

Callon stuck to a strict schedule.

Mornings he would do a simple jog and workouts. From eight to two he would work on wielding daggers and fighting stances with Neil. He would take a short two hour break to eat and shower, then from four to ten he would practice magic with the assistance of Reil. During the night he would cultivate on his cot until six, after taking a two hour nap he would repeat his previous day.

Just like that, two months passes.