Lessons

The next morning, Aldin woke early and went down to the basement, where all the ingredients were ready. Using the method he had devised while in bed, he prepared the ingredients. After mixing the throat powder with the non-mana-filled phoenix blood, he had now devised a way to activate it from a distance, he came up with one but it would take a lot of effort, he would pour in his mana using the same method he would use when taking in mana from around him only this time he would use it to pour mana into it, this was more man expensive than firing an actual spell.

‘But I first have to check how good it works,’ Aldin thought to himself and went outside. He headed to the wood and placed the small ball on the ground, he moved back several feet and placed a light construct in front of him to protect himself from the explosion.

When he poured mana into it, the tiny ball blew up and formed a hole in the ground.

‘Despite the mana used it is worth it, it could work really well for traps,’ Aldin thought to himself.

Aldin went back to the lab, he was going to try something new.

‘Since I already have made an exploding pill, maybe I could make something with mana-increasing capabilities.’ Aldin thought. ‘I could use the cores, they have mana-providing capabilities but in small quantities, if I overdoss it, it is said to cause the mana to run rampant inside the body.

‘The risk is too much for that,’ Aldin said and looked at the cores on his shelf. As he was looking at them an idea formed in his mind.

‘Similar to the mana ring I made for Isabella, maybe I can use it to power my arrays,’ Aldin thought to himself.

He took out the phoenix core and placed it on his desk but he had no idea where to use it, an array was basically a will-filled arrangement of lines, but Aldin had no idea where to place it.

So he first drew an array he was already familiar with, then as he filled mana he used his sense to observe it. He was able to note the movement after the mana flowed in until its execution.

‘If I place the core where the mana is taken in but I won’t have a trigger, if I do place a trigger it would mean that I would need to add more guidelines into the array.

Aldin took a book and a pen and began brainstorming to make an array that would work with the crystal.

It took him some time but he made one, he drew it onto a stone tablet then placed the crystal on top of it and the array began working, a small flame formed above it, Aldin observed it as the array worked, in that he noted that the crystal would draw in mana on its own and worked very well which meant that the powering part of the array was not needed but the trigger would still stay.

He took out the stone and the flame went out. This presented a new problem for Aldin.

‘When the core is moved the whole array is useless, holding it down with magic will still not deal with the problem,’ Aldin thought to himself, just then his mother walked.

“Aldin, breakfast is ready,” She said and Aldin walked out behind her.

Lark was already at the table having breakfast, Aldin joined in but remained silent as he had his breakfast. He kept on thinking of a solution to his problem whilst chomping down his food.

Once done, Aldin went back to his lad, after some time thinking and not finding a solution, Aldin was on edge and cranky.

He went back to his room to get ready to go hunting, he needed to cool off some steam.

He flew from home and arrived in the woods fast.

When he got there he hid his aura and flew in, he got to an area where there were several magical beasts, and as he flew in the sky looking for prey his mind was preoccupied.

‘What is it I am missing, I need some way to protect the core from getting tampered with, maybe like beasts they have it in them,’ Aldin thought and this thought stopped him in his tracks.

‘If I did so, that would mean that it would turn to forging, and with that, I would not be able to add an array into it, if only there was a way to create an array in the material without forging it,’ Aldin thought. In the time he was standing still, a darkness panter crept from behind him, ready to pounce, luckily for Aldin he had rader active and with one swing of his wrist he sliced it in half so that it would not disturb his thought.

After some brainstorming and coming up with ideas, Aldin found one that he believed would be suitable, covering the core with some material that would act as the hold for the array.

Aldin then stopped all he was doing collected the carcasses he had gotten and flew back to Aden.

When he got to the city, he went to the place where he had his carcasses disassembled the previous day and handed them to Revin for processing.

“Deal with Richard about them,” Aldin said as he walked out. Today though the amount of carcasses was twice as many.

Aldin then proceeded to the count’s castle, the guards were familiar with him and let him in, as he walked through the castle he would see on in every group was wearing his armour which brought a smile to his face.

When Aldin walked in the count looked up and when he saw Aldin drop all he was doing and rose up going to personally greet him, he embraced Aldin with a tight hug.

“It is good to see you again,” Aldin said and snapped Ariz out of his frenzy.

“ Why are you so happy?” Aldin asked when Ariz finally let go.”

“Well, the armour you brought me was amazing, the guards loved it,” Ariz said.

“Good to hear,” Aldin said.

“And what brought you here today?” Ariz asked.

“I wanted to know how many specialisations you are proficient in use?” Aldin asked.

“Actually I know a bit of forging and arrays but I have never had good control of magic so I have difficulties when practising,” Ariz said.

“Follow me when you are free I have something for you,” Aldin said.

Ariz walked out of the office after writing down a note for his aide and left to follow Aldin out, they headed to the Randell residence and once there they went to the basement, or rather Aldin’s new workshop.

“What are we going to be doing here?” Ariz asked.

“I want to help you improve your focusing ability and also teach you some forging and array mastery,” Aldin said.

“Okay,” Ariz said.

“And also from today, stop using the body refinement technique,” Aldin said.

“Why is that?” Ariz asked confused.

“Because right now it is doing more harm than good. Since everything about body refinement was wiped off the face of the earth not much information is retained on it. Body refinement refines the body and when the body becomes too tough the mind also strains to push mana through the body, to work through this you need to refine your mind and your core,” Aldin said.

“Okay, I will do as you say,” Ariz said.

“You should know in advance that it will be painful,” Aldin said.

“I am used to it,” Ariz said.

“If you say so,” Aldin responded.

Aldin then proceeded to draw an array on the ground, it was meant to increase the density of mana in the area at its centre.

“Sit in the centre,” Aldin said and Ariz did as he was told.

“Now what I need you to do is draw in mana and take it first to your core, pour it in until your core is full then keep on adding till your core can not hold any more mana then stop absorbing in mana and concentrate on keeping it in the core,” Aldin said and Ariz got to work. Meanwhile, Aldin went to his project, he took the stone tablet that had the array and erased the array, he then formed it around the core wrapping it around the crystal, it formed a pyramid with the core at the core of it.

After drawing the rune on the pyramid a flame burnt in the air, Aldin happy at his success turned back to see Ariz sweating bullets on his forehead.

“Don’t strain too much, it’ll be the death of you, now focus on retaining it in,” Aldin said.

Ariz who could hear what Aldin was saying stopped applying too much pressure on his core and worked to keep it in his core.

As Ariz was meditating Aldin picked up the book on alchemy and went through it again, now that he had learnt a whole lot from the past few days was able to realise more as he reread the book. Ariz woke up from his meditation and he felt a little faint and sat on the place he was, for a few more seconds.

Aldin turned to face him and wiped away the array that was under him.

“When I said push it to its limit I did not mean that you had to go past it, be more careful with yourself, it might cause you some injuries in the long run,” Aldin said in a stern voice.