"Come in Zane" John said as he peeked out the door.
Zane nodded and entered the room.
Since he had come to the conclusion that it was unlikely this teacher would want to hurt him, he decided to meet with him.
Zane was also certain that this person didn't know of his more dangerous ability, the ability to use pure mana.
His teacher William, told him that only Supreme mages could use pure mana. He also said that pure mana was very dangerous so it was almost impossible for anyone to just think of Zane being able to use it.
He himself didn't know why he could use pure mana, he boiled it down to Aurora's mistake. He knew it was a mistake because pure mana will surely make him stronger, and Aurora obviously didn't want Zane to become too strong.
"Hello Zane, it's nice to finally meet you" the old man smiled. As soon as Zane had entered the room he blew mana in order to see everything clearly.
Even if he had deduced that they wouldn't hurt him, it didn't hurt to be careful. Not that he would be able to escape now anyway.
Zane looked at the man who greeted him. He was an old man with a long, very long white beard. The man was sited in a lotus position and the beard was bundled up on his legs.
He had a wrinkled face with not even a speck of hair on his head. Zane was blind but he could swear he saw that head shine.
He donned large white robes that covered his entire body. Even though he looked old, his voice was as lively as a 20 year old man albeit old sounding.
"How old are you?" Zane couldn't help but ask, he knew the old man was most likely a High Mage. If he was one, this was Zane's first time meeting a High Mage.
The man laughed a bit but decided to entertain the curious Zane "I am around nine hundred years old, I don't know the exact age though, i lost count after 500" the old man said.
Zane wasn't very shocked, he had expected as much. After all the King of Berovia was around three thousand years old as a High Magus.
Zane then took seat opposite the old man, beside John, who was still shocked by Zane's earlier question. Even he didn't know his master's age until now!.
"What is your existence realm?" Zane asked another question out of the blue.
"My existence, or cultivation realm is High Mage, fourth rank to be precise. Any other questions" the old man smiled.
"What's your name ?" Zane asked.
"I don't have one" the old man said.
Zane nodded at that answer, he had seen a lot of strange things in this world. Someone not having a name was not that strange.
"I will call you 'Old man with the ridiculously long white beard'" Zane said with a hand on his chin. It seemed he really thought hard about that name.
"Just call me Old man, no need to use my full name" Old man chuckled.
Zane nodded with a smile.
<
'He doesn't strike me like someone who is short tempered so I'm pretty sure I'm safe. Plus it's fun' Zane answered.
<>
"So, Old man what do you need me for?" Zane ignored Alex and asked the old man. Even though he knew about 40% of the reason he's here.
"I want to train you" The old man said.
"Why me?" Zane asked.
"You are a healer" Old man said.
"What's that got to do with it?"
"Let's just say my training is...brutal so it is easier on someone who can easily heal themselves after" Old man answered.
Zane nodded in understanding.
"Okay how long is this training gonna take?" Zane asked nonchalantly. John and Old man were both surprised that Zane didn't show any reaction after being told that the training was painful.
They thought that Zane would immediately refuse or ask how strong he would get after completing it.
Zane didn't care about the pain because after three years of training alone in a forest for little gains, pain for large gains was worth it.
"You have to complete it after a month" Old man said.
Zane raised an eyebrow "Why must I have to complete it after a month?"
"Because i need my payment in a month's time" Old man revealed as he took a sip of his tea.
Zane wondered what kind of tea that was. Old man has been drinking it ever since they got here and it's not showing any signs of finishing.
"Ohh really?, Here i was thinking you were doing this out of your own goodwill" Zane said, very sarcastically.
He obviously knew that the old man wanted him to partake in some competition.
"I am old not senile" old man laughed.
"How much do you need?" Zane asked. Pretending that the old man wanted money.
"Not money. I need you to do something for me"
"Which is?"
"I want you to fight for me" Old man said.
"You're a High Mage, can't you fight your own battles?"
"Very funny Zane. Don't act dumb with me" Old man turned serious, he was getting tired of Zane's games.
"So this tournament or whatever is happening in a month?" Zane asked seriously.
"Yes"
"So only mortals are allowed to participate right?"
"I knew you were smart" Old man praised.
"Old man I am blind" Zane pointed at his eyes.
"I know you can see pretty well Zane. Remember the name you gave me earlier?, how did you see my beautiful beard then?" Old man smirked.
Zane smiled "Touchè"
"What?"
"Never mind, so you are really confident in your training that you would put your trust in a semi blind man to win this tournament?" Zane asked.
"You aren't my only contestant, but you have the best chances of picking up my training faster. Even though the others have been training for the whole year"
Zane was surprised "The whole year!?, are they slow learners or something?" he asked.
"No they aren't. It just that they would need to rest for at least three weeks after every session" Old man said.
"Rest?" Zane was confused. People don't rest for three weeks....well on earth they didn't at least.
"Let me rephrase, they need to heal for three weeks"
Zane's eyes opened wide "It's that brutal!?" he muttered.
Even though mortals from this world were equivalent to normal humans from earth. The people here were naturally stronger and faster even before absorbing a single mana core.
A mortal here could be considered superhuman back on earth. He had discovered this by seeing that his father could work in the fields the whole day without resting or eating.
So if a superhuman needed three weeks to heal from an injury that would mean a person from earth would need about six weeks!. That is a really bad injury.
"I did say it was brutal" Old man chuckled.
"Okay since I won't be the only one, is there a test to see who will fight in the tournament?" Zane asked.
"Yes there is. My participant in the tournament has to beat John first"