Lavon

The sun had barely risen when the ground shook, causing the orphan child Raven to stir from their sleep. Raven, who lived at the Saint Mary's Orphanage, rubbed the sleep from their eyes and stumbled out of bed to see what was happening.

Outside the window, Raven saw chaos. Angels and demons filled the sky, fighting with ferocity. Humans and elves, wielding magic and swords, joined in the fray. The Saint Mary's Orphanage was caught in the crossfire, its walls shaking as powerful beings clashed around it.

Thanks to the foresight of the caretakers, the children at the orphanage were protected by a spell. Raven, along with the other children, huddled in the room, safe from the chaos outside.

When the noise finally died down, Raven emerged from the room, dazed and scared, to see that the building was in ruins. They were the only survivor.

Wrath of the Lost

Raven was summoned to the training ground by Thorne, the intermediary magic master of the mercenary group. Thorne was a middle-aged man with a serious expression and a knowledge of magic that he had honed over years of experience. Raven approached him with reverence, knowing the importance of his training.


Thorne welcomed Raven with a smile, "Good morning, Raven. I am Thorne, your magic teacher for the next two days."


"It's an honour to meet you, Thorne," Raven replied.


"Let's get started," Thorne said, gesturing for Raven to follow him to a quiet spot in the training ground. "I want to explain the intricacies of magic to you. First, you need to understand that magic requires a core, which is the source of your mana. The core can be refined to different levels, each increasing the amount of mana you can store and the strength of your spells. There are seven levels of cores, starting from Pebble, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Mythril and the highest being Orichalcum."


Raven listened intently as Thorne continued, "It's important to note that refining your core takes time and meditation, and sometimes it's through dangerous situations that you can push over your limits. Additionally, training your body to store more mana is also crucial in becoming a powerful magician."


"Where do I stand in terms of the core levels?" Raven asked.


Thorne looked at Raven, appraising him, "You are at the lowest level, Pebble. But don't worry, with time and hard work, you can refine your core to higher levels."


"How exactly do I refine my core?" Raven asked, eager to learn more.


"It's not a hundred percent clear how the cores are refined, but it takes time, meditation, and training. Sometimes, facing life-threatening situations can also help you push your limits and refine your core," Thorne explained.


"I understand," Raven said. "What kind of spells can I use with my current level of the core?"


"At your current level, you can use basic spells like fireball, wind blast, and shield. But as you refine your core, you'll be able to use more advanced spells, harness more power, and even cast spells without incantations and only with your visualization. Also every mage has his preferred element, but this will only become clear when you refine your core to the Gold stage," Thorne said.


"What do you mean by visualization, and what is your specialty?" Raven asked, wanting to understand the process of casting spells.


"Visualization is the process of imagining the spell in your mind, as if you're creating it with your own hands. The more vividly you imagine it, the more control you have over the spell. Naming the spell helps with visualization, but it's not necessary. Although I possess enough knowledge on magic, I'm not as proficient, and I got stuck on the Silver core. Otherwise, I wouldn't be part of this mercenary group," Thorne said.


"I see," Raven said, "Can I start training my core now?"


"For the next two days, I will be teaching you the basics of magic and how to refine your core. But it's up to you to continue training in your free time. I believe that with determination and hard work, you'll be able to harness the full potential of your magic," Thorne said with a smile.


Raven nodded, grateful for the opportunity to learn from a master. He was eager to start his training and refine his core to higher levels, hoping to one day become as powerful as the legendary magician with the Orichalcum core, who lived centuries ago.


Chapter 7: The Art of Magic