The dawn of a new day had passed. It was now Primeradia, the first day of the week on this world's calendar.
Mikhail sipped his tea as he peacefully sat on the floor mat in front of Grand Elder Maya, who was also silently drinking her tea. They both let out a content sigh as they finished taking their sip, putting them down to the side.
"So, I think we can wrap up your crash course on the details of Evolution today. The Minor Realms of the Martial and Aether Centers of Power are pretty straight forward, so I'll get them both over with now."
Mikhail nodded. "Sounds good to me. I'll be able to get the rest I need in order to begin my tortuous training properly."
Maya let out an exasperated sigh when she heard him.
His plans were borderline demonic in nature. No sane Evolver would ever put themselves through what Mikhail was going to put himself through. Yet, she wasn't against his plan. No, she even admired that seemingly boundless tenacity of his…
But regardless, that commendable trait of his was of no concern to the topic of their meeting. Thus, the teaching began yet again as Maya manifested a hologram to coincide with her explanation.
Grand Elder Maya started by explaining the Minor Martial Realm.
It was split into the Martial Genesis, the Martial Adroit, and the Martial Savant Subminor Realms.
In the Martial Genesis Subminor Realm, one would refine their bodies by using Elemental Aether, attuning the body to those mystical energies.
In the Martial Adroit Subminor Realm, one enchanted their body with the power of the Elements. Elevating their capabilities beyond mere attunement.
And in the Martial Savant Subminor Realm, one infused their body with the power of the Laws. Going even further beyond, and changing the very foundation of the body itself.
"And, you'll see that the Minor Aether Realm is closely related to the Martial Realms."
The hologram shifted, depicting new information and imagery.
The Aether Realm was divided into the Aether Absorption, Aether Accumulation, and then the Aether Savant Subminor Realms.
Aether Absorption was simply saturating one's biological tissues with Elemental Aether until the body was fully saturated.
At which point, they would break through to the next realm as all the accumulated energy was condensed into the fourth center of power: the Fuentevacia.
Aether Accumulation was deceptively simple. One only needed to accumulate Aether into the newly formed Fuentevacia until it was completely full. Sounds easy, right?
But since the foundation of that realm was the fuel source for attacks, inscriptions, alchemy, and all other manner of things, that's when things become muddled.
It was a delicate balancing act between saving and spending, inadvertently setting the vast majority of people back by decades. Not because it was hard, but because oftentimes, desperate times call for desperate measures.
And one needed to compress the energies four times. Once per tier. And then, finally, came the Aether Savant Subminor Realm.
After fully filling the Fuentevacia with quadcompressed Aether, one would undergo the breakthrough. The Aether and the fourth Center of Power will fuse, becoming the Fuentepotencia.
An Aether Generator.
Like the Martial Savant Subminor Realm, one would elevate its fabric through the Laws.
And now, with everything ironed out, the only thing left for Mikhail was the opportunity to ask some questions before he went down to the Muscle Refinement Rooms.
"So, if I'm in the Aether Absorption stage, can I use that Aether to refine my body?"
"That's correct, and it is quite the effective method. So long as you're patient, that is. Since you would prolong the time you spend in the Aether Absorption Subminor Realm in order to speed up the Martial Genesis Subminor Realm's progression."
Mikhail hummed to himself as he sorted all the information he had just gotten.
He even took a few sips of his tea as he did so, before finally emptying it out when he finished compiling that information.
"No more questions?"
He shook his head. The last lesson had proven to be quick, informative, and above all else, easy to digest.
"You really have a knack for teaching, you know."
"Hmph. I would certainly hope so, especially after spending centuries doing it. Anyway, get going! You've got things to do!"
Mikhail nodded and left, making his way down to the empty corridors where the Muscle Refinement Rooms were. He spent a while down there on his own, continually parsing out information to try and understand things better.
Until Atticus arrived, that is.
"I have a request," he said hesitantly.
"Shoot," Atticus said as he sat down at the center of the inscriptions like usual.
"...Can you help me take the Muscle Refinement Pill?"
Atticus frowned when he heard him make that request. "And why, pray tell, are you asking me to help you with that?"
The flames of ambition flickered in Mikhail's eyes for an instant.
"I plan on enduring until I pass out, every day from this day forward."
Atticus only looked at him incredulously, before turning his attention towards the ceiling. After a few seconds, he harrumphed while turning his head back down.
"I don't condone that reckless behavior… But fine. Knock yourself out."
Mikhail grinned slightly. "That is the plan," he said with a nod.
"Tch… Go sit by one of the doors," he said while rolling his eyes.
And Mikhail did just that, taking his spot in front of a random door.
Lirim and his cohort arrived soon after, and they all shared what they had been up to during the days of rest.
Mikhail learned how Myles had endured a family spat because of one of his younger siblings. And how Lirim was dealing with knitters' block, not sure what to craft. Valeria, meanwhile, didn't do anything substantial.
She just worked like usual.
Lily had done the same, spending a great deal of time with Valeria over the weekend.
Mikhail already knew what Azalea had been up to, spending her time in the inscription hall. And Amir had been busy in the Weapon Crafting Hall.
Meanwhile, Tybalt seemed to be late…