An hour had passed that the carriage stopped moving.
"What happened? Why have you stopped?"
Noticing the pause in the journey, Reya asked in a cautious tone- stopping her meditation.
Nier, who had stopped his stimming actions- remained indifferent, meditating- strengthening his mental energy by hammering it against his core.
The driver- Reiner, answered- pointing towards a large lonely food stall.
"See that? That's the last shop we'll see for hours, if you wanna take something to eat, do it now."
"Hmm...Nope" Reya answered closing her eyes- resuming training. Nier however exited the carriage, and strode forward.
"Oye, don't waste time now-"
"Keep barking" Nier cut Reya off and continued his slow, calm- walk towards the stall.
They were currently on a stone road surrounded by mountains, the mountain winds calmly raged as Nier appreciated the scenery and reached the stall.
The vendor who was sitting on a chair reading the Onisciente newspaper, saw Nier and stood up, waiting for orders.
He sold basic snacks and not much as proper meals. Nier grabbed a water bottle, and threw 15 black iron coins.
His eyes lingered on the newspaper for some time as the winds blustered his dead-white hair.
"Crime organization on the rise?" "King's Order: Metals from houses to be removed!?"
Reading the dark bold headings, several thoughts passed by Nier's mind as he reached the carriage and sat back.
He suddenly stopped midway and took out a nail. A fingernail. He looked around for a bit and ripped the middle finger of his left hand right then and there.
Nier groaned as he felt pained but quickly attached the treasure nail.
Reaching the carriage. Reya and Reiner looked at him for some time but kept what they had to themselves. Or at least a part of it-
"That tune you were singing, was it made by Lor Manor? Not many have heard them. I got lucky in hearing a traveller playing them. Interested- he told me what he knew-" Reiner asked as he continued the ride.
Nier remained silent but he was now surprisingly focused on listening.
"You see. When I was a kid, I had dreams...to become the strongest mage, or to become a great alchemist, or blacksmith or any famous job known to a kid. As I grew up- I realized. That's all they were- dreams. Life comes crashing on those dreams and you realize how incapable you are. As I faced my problems- I heard that man play those on his violin, his stories. I got dreaming again-I wanted to and even now want to travel the world. Visit the some of the beauty out there- listen to the great music. The World Tree, Chaosvilla, Spirit world, Dragoncloud Kingdom and especially Land of Music.
Lor Manor is said to be a musician from the Land of Music. His compositions are hard to get but it's said if you hear them directly from him- it automatically improves one's mental energy and mana. I really wanted go there-
But as time went on...I forgot, or rather- I realized that somethings are just dreams and not possible reality. Again. There are just so much- shit that one has to face in reality. That tone, it reminded me. It reminded me humming the music that I heard and how much I want to reach them. Maybe one day- I'll achieve my dream" Reiner said calmly with a smile.
"Yeah, and it seems you are going in that direction" Nier said, his tone sarcastic yet there was something hidden in it and closed his eyes.
"Hopefully...I guess" Reiner smiled and said. He obviously understood it was a ridiculing remark but he paid it no mind.
Reya didn't even bother reacting anymore and continued her training.
In Zelrun, there is no exact grading system for mages but a rather unorganized one.
In the first place, what makes someone more powerful? Larger mana capacity? Better techniques? Better element? More intelligence? Experience? The person's importance? Talents? Hard work?
The answer unsurprisingly lies in a combination of the traits one excells at, combination of traits are hard to divide in a linear fashion, as such- the grading system wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.
After starting training, it went like this-
• 0th Order - "Foundation establishment" which was someone just starting on their paths to power. It went on in 3 stages
- "Mana Flow" - The stage when someone can do basic mana manipulation and be able to get a good flow of it.
- "Mental Build - The sage when someone is able to cover objects their size and lift half their weight for at least 12 seconds.
- "Condensation Stage" - The stage where someone is able to evolve their mana core, which allows it to store liquid mana inside for moments when dantian is out of mana ( which is gaseous )
These stages can be done in any order
• 1st Order - "Built Foundation" is reached when all the above stages are completed and marks the start of a mages path to power. Such mage are called apprentice mages.
• 2rd Order - "Hexa-Spells Stage" - the stage when one is able to engrave 6 spells and increases other skills. Mages of this stage are called adept mages.
• 3rd Order - "Evolution Insight"- stage where the mages evolve the quality of their mana and gain 'insights' on their domain and spirit. Reach level 4 and above in mental energy. Such mage are called enlightened mages or intermediate mages.
• 4rth Order - "Master Mage" - the stage where all mana produced in the dantian is liquid and the mage is has reached at least level 3 of mental energy and is able to manipulate both energies very fluidly like an extension of their limbs.
-With more grades to come.
The problem was however, it wasn't necessary that someone from an earlier grade would win against someone from a latter, but it only represented the most optimal path to "mage-god" for someone. And in some cases, it was possible to get an attribute that was above your order.
While for the most parts, someone of higher order is likely to win in a fight, it all comes down to the magic technique and intelligence of the mage.....at least till a certain point.
'This woman...she probably has enough mana equal to an adept mage, although her aura suggests not...probably an aura weakening item- but I am sure I saw her true mana capacity. Even so, that doesn't mean her abilities are equal to an adept mage. She probably isn't some noble or shit, likely some adventurer or knight on a mission or else she won't need a disguise. Probably because of the "crime organization" related stuff on the paper" Nier leaned back on the couch and released a sigh. Closing his eyes, he sent his consciousness inside his dantian.
Opening his eyes, Nier found himself in world that was blood red- as if he was inside his own body, his heart. The place was red‐-yes but only in an area lit like a dark house lit by a candle, for all the surrounding was completely black.
The surroundings felt unexplainably claustrophobic yet endless. The young man knew that this sort of surrounding wasn't something unique to him but for everyone was the same...till at least the enlightenment stage.
One thing was, however- very unique to him. The large silver rock that seemed to float in this red world. The rock was un-shapely, cracks-filled, unrefined and--beautiful.
It was shining a bright silver and seemed to bring life in this 'dead' world. The candle that lit the house. Silver mist seemed to surround this core like a nebula and filled the dantian.
Nier's reaction however was indifferent-filled with scoff,even. He was floating in his dantian with his clothes- or atleast projection of them.
The beautiful rock was his anti-mana core, but if one took their eyes away from the mist surrounded beauty and gazed deeper in the mist.
They could see another piece of 'rock'.
Or rather- pieces..of a 'rock'.
With eyes that carried deep emotions, Nier took his gaze away from the broken pieces and focused on his surroundings and particularly on the silver rock.
The anti-mana core.
He didn't know how he got it, but for as long he could remember. It was with him.
A core that produced anti-mana, which could do as it's name suggested-and do more than it's name suggested.
Nier currently couldn't be considered even an apprentice mage, because his core didn't have the ability to produce and store liquid mana as of now.
However, the amount of mana in his dantian was much higher than average apprentices.
Some people were just different, their mana cores produced higher amounts and their dantian stretched much faster, much further than some people can ever hope to reach.
Nier knew he was one such person but he hated it.
Sending his consciousness back, Nier closed his eyes and continued absorbing anti-mana from the air which was surprisingly present in the air despite being able to destroy mana.
Nier had many theories about it but chose to think of them later and as such hours passed.
Opening his eyes, Nier looked at his surroundings, he was still in the carriage and Royal in front of him was also meditating.
Outside, they seemed to be on a rocky mountain road. On his left side was a 10 meter wide valley and a mountain wall on his right- since Nier was sitting with his back facing forwards.
The other side of the valley was same as this side.
Mountain walls from both sides blocked the sunlight and darkened the road.
The place was covered in light fog. Which alerted Nier, who liked his vision to be clear, and fogs were...a good cover for the dangerous.
He didn't immediately activate his ability which he was unable to maintain for more than 20 seconds in a continuous period due to the high consumption.
He turned to look at the driver-who was facing forward, with his back against Nier, the feature that stood out most was the hat the man was wearing.
"Where are we? Is this 'Highlandal's cleave'?" Nier asked.
"Indeed, It is. We have nearly reached Dainsport." Reiner answered
Highlander's Cleave
Nier looked at the bottomless valley again-this time intensely.
The place was considered a monument, a piece of art- for those who knew the legend behind it.
The valley was said to have formed by a sky-swallowing-slash from the leader of the Highlandals when they fought to take the kingdom.
"Fascinating!" Reya, who stopped her meditation-exclaimed.
Watching her reaction, Nier said-
"Do you believe in the myth?"
"Well, there are records about it, besides-you think this is not possible? How sheltered have you been? Have you not heard about...say-Yuverion? Or any of the paragons?"
"Oh? Were you there when it happened? Did you see him do it? History is written by the victor...the victor may not be always be...truthful about it"
"Does it matter? I just appreciate the power and history behind it, next you'll say- there are only 2 moons and not 3 or that an asura wants to destroy magic, because you haven't touched the moons or because you never saw the asura massacre. There are just somethings that one must believe" Ria sarcastically said but the last part was said in a low tone, almost a whisper.
"It does matter, I believe what I can see...the outcome- was the victory of Highlandals. That. I believe because those who live around me are their descendants, but these glorious achievements aren't something I saw and it was possible for them to faked."
"Even if this is a great spectacle, those who did it- are the ones we respect truly them? I hate those who keep a front- to hide their pettiness."
Reya suddenly opened the carriage door and jumped out- now walking alongside it.
The carriage was moving slowly in light of the dangerous path and as such it wasn't a problem to keep up by walking.
"Oh? Were--you--there to see that it wasn't true?"
"I do not refute, the myth. I merely don't believe in it"
"I hate people like you, honestly. You remind me of my brother. People like you deserve to be strangled by karma and die. My brother doesn't believe in any praise I get because he doesn't believe in me, he hates me- always belittles me, but one day I'll be the one to look down on him" Reya said with a smile.
Nier who was now focused on her- remained silent
"I guess you fall in the category I hate. Acting all spirit-ful to hide your pettine- Was the fog like this before?"
Nier who now got his focus outside due to Ria's exit noticed the oddity.
Without wait, he poured a-mana into his eyes. The world looked the same yet it had an etherial feel to it. Reya, in his eyes- looked as though she was transparent and there was red liquidy-fog in her whole body.
Like a painting, the painter of which- painted some drops of diluted paint on the people present in it.
In Reya's case- red.
There was no other source of mana in Nier's view when- as though someone let fall, a drop of blue paint in a glass full of water- the entire fog got filled with blue mana.
"!!!"
Nier suddenly pulled Reya back in the carriage and slammed the door shut. The fog suddenly turned into ince rapidly.
Just then-
Crash!
The front window through which Reiner peeked broke as an icicle shot through it.