Meditation is one of the most important skills that a mage must learn to further his or her progression in the mage ranks, as the master explained.
At its basics it is the taking in of the surrounding mana, sending it through our soul to convert it, then stuffing the converted mana into our cores where we over time fill it to the brim to slowly widen it.
One couldn't rush the process, however, due to the core needing time to acclimate to its new size. If a core is over taxed from meditation or battle, it should rest, as if pushed further could break the core and end up crippling the mage for the rest of their short life.
Master Horace stressed this point a lot in our first lesson together and one could not help but think the the master had a chilling personal experience of this.
We were also told that one should not skip the purifying part as mana from one's natural surroundings contains minute traces of what the master called impurities that would over time collect in the body.
They would clog our mana veins and even halt one's future progress until the mage took the time and a massive amount of energy to flush them out of the body, which the master explained in terrifying and painful detail. Basically there were no cutting corners in ones rise as a mage.
As Master Horace went over this, he continued to coach us through our first meditation session.
"As you begin to reach out towards the mana particles in the air. I want you to send your aetherial touch to each one and try to get a feel for each one's element. The purifying process of taking outside mana and bringing it through your soul works much faster if it is an element you have a high affinity for."
Master Horace turns first to John "For you John I want you to send out your, shall we call it probes, and look for the elements light and life. I have looked at the report the chancellor sent and found from your encounter with the dire wolves that you have a high affinity for both light and life as they are the first ones you awakened to. I understand that you have other elements but I wish for you to first explore and focus on these two and as you grow in power you can look towards the rest."
Master Horace then turned to me, "As for you young conjurer, I wish for you to focus on air and darkness respectively."
I couldn't help but raise my hand tentatively, "But sir how will we know which one is which?"
At this question Master Horace gave a simple 'you will understand once you try it' explanation and sent us to it.
Aetheric touch is like a fifth limb, but it is also incorporeal and non existent. When Master Horace tried to explain that to us I felt like my head was about to explode from the sheer complexity.
I had to think over each sentence and figure it out on my own and it is basically that a mages soul continues to generate mana to the body and creates an aura around the mage in the process to keep the mana contained. Most people are not mages and without aura so their mana dissipates into the surrounding area. A mage with enough mental control can manipulate this aura to create a vacuum or hand to suck in the natural mana in the area, and they call it the Aetheric aura or touch.
Master Horace even demonstrated what a truly powerful aura could do, that like a muscle could get stronger over time with constant use.
Raising his right arm he flipped his hand over palm up which instantly caused me to experience a feeling of weightlessness and I was not alone by using just his aura he was capable of lifting both John, me and all the objects in the room up in the air.
John seemed to understand how to control his aura in just a few minutes, which seemed to surprise even the Master. While I took an hour to just find and control my own aura. It was like grasping at air and it only grew more frustrating that while I struggled to control the blob that was my aura, John was already making complex forms and shapes out of his.
It at least helped that master Horace was guiding me along the entire way, and said that the pace I was going at was above average.
"Aether is a higher form of mana, use your soul to control the surrounding mana, be it's master and do not let it master you." Were just some of the many tips he gave me.
Sensing the aura around me, which to me looked light blue, I slowly stretched it outward from my body. Like I was testing the area, I made my aura appendage search through the river of mana in the surrounding area to find the correct elements.
It was less like seeing in the normal sense and more like I was sifting through different feelings. Some felt raging which I took for fire, others were immovable like the earth, while others seemed to blind my senses.
Finally I felt a stirring in my soul and like a magnet to metal I was drawn to a particular area, the feeling I got as like a cool breeze on the beach,it seemed to be both endless and free, and that by wielding such power I would be able to be as chaotic and calm as the wind itself.
I felt a hand on my shoulder which caused me to open my eyes in shock, and found Master Horace standing above me with a smile on his face.
"You are now both ready."
*******
Master Horace led us down a walkway behind the training area we were just in through a path that seemed to take me and John near a forest by the school.
After a few minutes and a few confusing twists and turns the forested path opened up to a clearing devoid of any greenery. Instead there was a group of robed strangers standing around a pentagram like a circle.
I turned to Master Horace, "you are not going to sacrifice us to some evil god or demon are you?"
This caused some of the robed figures to sniffle a snort to prevent them from laughing. Well at least these demon cultists have a good sense of humor.
Master Horace shook his head. "No you would need a completely different summoning circle, which you will learn later in your demonology class. No what we are summoning today are much more important then some silly imp or some succubus to get your rocks off-'' wait what?! "We are summoning your familiars, which will boost your mage rank to the next level." he explained.
"What do you mean like a cat or an owl to follow us around and send messages?" John asked.
Yes! Good one John, I new my introducing you to my nerdom was not in vain *sniffle* they grow up so fast, already making pop culture references that no one else gets.
"No we are summoning a spirit or elemental from one of the planes that are soul bound to you, not only will they boost your rank, but they can increase your affinity and help you on your journey."
He looked at each of us seriously now. "You must understand that this is a costly endeavor and normally only the rich and the genius's can get one early, but due to being the hero and the pressing concern of the demon army we have decided to speed up your process." he turned to me. "As for you Alex, due to being the heroes companion you get some privileges, but this is also an experiment as you are the first mage from earth, me and the teachers are interested in the spirit's that you will summon."
Oh so that's who the demon cul- I mean robed strangers were, and looking closer I saw the insignia of the school on their sleeve, which was a blue phoenix.
Master Horace led us to the circle, "Ok John just step in the circle and we will begin. Now you will feel a pulling sensation on your soul, but that is perfectly natural as that is the calling to a familiar with a similar soul and is completely natural." John nods to this.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes"
"Then let's begin." with that he raised his arms and the circle lit up.