3 bar menu

Return of the Fallen Vol1 Ch20

Author: Blue_Rat

ch20

Everyone sat around impatiently. After trying magic for the very first time, they all without exception wanted more. Garn, however, took back his magic rings and was about to get into more explanations on magic.
The group was obviously in the mindset of wanting an on-hands experience instead of sitting around and listening but what could they do.

Garn saw the boredom on their faces before he even started and sighed.

*Haaa*

“Fine, how about this. Since you all have just started and the later Mage Rank’s are a concept so distant as the clouds are to the ground, I’ll simply go over the first three Mage Ranks. Afterward, I’ll give back these rings and you can study them and your own magic to your heart’s content. How does that sound? First though, you absolutely must pay attention, no slacking.”

Eyes and ears began to perk up in anticipation as their bored expressions were now replaced with ones of excitement.

Garn smiled inwardly at how simple these young heroes were. He never had the intention to explain the later Mage Ranks at the moment because like he said the concept was too far advanced and he didn’t believe anyone would understand even a fraction of what he would mention and therefore found it a waste of time to explain it. This was the real reason he took back the rings. It was so that he could turn around and offer them back as a reward but only if they really paid attention.

“Well, first off, I guess I would say congratulations to all of you here.”

A question mark could almost be seen above everyone’s heads.

“You all have already stepped into the world of magic and are now 1st rank mages. The first rank is, of course, the easiest rank and you qualify simply by having your Mage Core form. I know it may seem odd, with you literally having to do nothing to reach this step but don’t doubt my words when I say the road is long and filled with both sacrifice and exhaustive hard work. With that being said, let’s talk about the first rank”

“The first rank is called Zhichi and its name represents an almost support like nature. Sam, you have a high affinity with the earth element. Stand up, and like before I want you to close your eyes and try to create a rock in your hand like earlier.”

Sam who was actually paying attention for once nodded and did as he was told. Closing his eyes he extended his hand forth and sent energy all the way to his hand. Remembering to breathe he visualized the image of a rock and imagined its weight and feel. Within his mind, he shouted.

(Rock!)

But nothing happened. He tried, again and again, repeating the process exactly how he had done earlier but nothing. He felt his magic coursing through his being and extending to the tips of his fingers. He remembered to breathe properly and visualize a rock and imagined what if felt like but all of his steps brought forth nothing. Opening his eyes he said.

“Sir Garn, for some reason it’s not working.”

The others couldn’t understand why he had failed but Garn knew.
Nodding with an [as expected], Garn chucked Sam the same magic ring he had worn earlier.

“Now try again.”

Sam again nodded, put on the ring and tried once more. The results this time were the exact opposite. A rock, no bigger than a golf ball, really formed and fell into Sam’s palm. Sam couldn’t understand why this happened but still, he felt relief in knowing that his magic didn’t just disappear out of nowhere.

“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you all that the ring is what allowed him to summon the rock. The reason is simple, at the Zhichi stage you cannot summon or use the elements without a magic tool. The reason being is because your physical bodies hold no magical energy. All of your magic is stored within your Mage Core but your mage core itself is separate from your bodies. Yes, it is within you but it is not a physical object, while the elements, on the other hand, are only physical. Only when you reach the second rank, the elemental stage will your body start to physically absorb magic. At that stage, your skin will have magical properties to it, as will your organs, muscles, bones, everything. At the Zhichi stage though you can only stick with the magic tools.”

Everyone now eyed the magic rings with even more desire and they couldn’t help but stare enviously at Sam’s.

“After the 2nd mage rank, the Elemental stage, of course, comes the 3rd mage rank, the Tigao stage, which means body enhancement. At the 3rd rank, your body can use the magical properties within to reforge it, increasing its aspects by a high degree. Whatever element your body has the highest affinity with, you’ll use it to make your muscles stronger, to flush toxins out of your pores, to increase your senses by many times, and toughen your skeletal frame to boot. Once you reach the 3rd rank, you’ll never fear a regular mortal ever again.”

After Garn’s talk, he handed out a ring to everyone and told them they could keep it this time. The energy on the training field was electric as everyone was abuzz with there own theories and interest on the subject of magic. At the same time, the group continuously, with the help of their magic rings, spammed the summoning of their element repeatedly.

1 time, 2, 10, 15. Right when everyone summoned their element around the 15,16,17th time, suddenly Danny’s face went pale and he keeled over. At first they thought he was playing but only a moment later, they too collapsed to the ground. Kazuki realized what was going on and pretended to collapse as well. Using his ki, he managed to regulate his body in a specific way so it copied the others symptoms on the surface.

Their vision blurred and cold sweat poured from their skin as they gasped for air.

They could feel a draining feeling on the inside of their body where their Mage Core was supposed to be and with this draining feeling their muscles began to spasm and twist causing the pain to go from almost manageable to crippling within seconds. A few had looks of panic on their faces and felt as though they were on the verge of death.

Garn casually stood by the group and spoke calmly.

“What you all are currently experiencing is called Mana sickness or Magi Fever. When a mage overuses the magical energy stored within their Mage Core, this is the result every time. In combat, there is a saying that we mages go by. No matter what, always preserve 10% of your energy. If your energy were to run dry as your energy did now, the crippling effect would allow even a small child to slay you. There are only three ways to recover from this state. The first is to sleep, your body will naturally but slowly recover your energy in this state. The second is to consume one of these.”

Garn pulled a small glass bottle from within his robe. A red liquid swashed around before its color transformed to blue and back to red.

“This is a mana potion. It is made from pure mana crystal and it can instantly recover a portion of your energy and remove most of the symptoms immediately.”

Garn uncorked the bottle and a smell both medicinal and magical wafted in the air. Danny and Kimi reached forward trying to grab at the bottle but Garn stepped back slightly before overturning the bottle and spilling its contents to the ground. The two looked up at him desperately as though they were asking why but Garn simply shook his head.

“To use this too many times has side effects and in my opinion should only be used in emergencies and right now there is no emergency. No, a potion should only ever be used during battle. Right now you have no enemies only your own sad desperation.”

Garn could see them losing focus and on the verge of passing out so he quickly continued.

“The third and final way is to meditate. By concentrating on the energy around you, your Mage Core will act like a sponge and absorb the energy right out of the air. Everyone close your eyes. Remember what your element feels like and focus on that feeling. While breathing deeply and exhaling slowly, your body will naturally feel your surroundings and your Mage Core, like a magnet, will automatically start to absorb that energy. You just have to remember what your element feels like and breath.”

Kimi and Danny slammed their eyes shut and slowly began to breathe, whilst focusing on the feeling of their element. Slowly but surely they felt it and their Mage Core’s started to go to work. Like a vacuum turned on high, the energy in their surroundings started to flow towards them with greater and greater speeds. A few seconds went by and their breathing became steadier and their faces began to regain a bit of color. Minutes later the two opened their eyes and barely managed to sit up.

Looking around they could see that they were actually the slowest as everyone had just now struggled to their feet but otherwise, they looked to be in a hell of a lot better shape than them.

Garn gave them all a small nod of acknowledgment before he said.

“Everyone, remember this feeling, remember this desperation, remember this fear, remember this intolerable pain and remember the panic that set in when you thought you were on the edge of death. The next time this happens I want you all to remember something just as important. Just as you remember all of these terrifying things, also remember that you didn’t die, that you survived the pain and overcame it. You all may be heroes but I believe this pain also shows you that you all have limits and that you can’t do everything on your own. When you need help when you think you’re all alone in the dark, just know that you’re not. I am here and you all are here for each other. Remember that.”