Eliza took a nap after the short trip with Heine, feeling refreshed as she woke up to the dimming light of dusk. Feeling that it was nearing midnight, she quickly got up and tidied herself, grabbing a light snack and preparing a cup of tea to prepare herself before starting her advanced training.
Eliza looked through the window into the courtyard, she noticed the soft glow coming from the lights outside. As she observed, she couldn't help but assume that her training would begin as soon as she set foot outside into the courtyard. After finishing her snack, Eliza savored the last remnants of flavor on her tongue, preparing herself for the training session ahead. With a deep breath to calm her nerves, she stepped out into the courtyard, under the soft glow of the moon.
The very moment Eliza set foot onto the middle of the courtyard, it was as if the moon itself unleashed a blast of lunar energy toward her.
Eliza effortlessly neutralized the attack by using her blackhole spell, absorbing the lunar energy with ease.
In a split second, a Warhammer hurtled towards her, but Eliza used her mana conversion spell, transforming her mana into earth energy and constructing a crude wall between herself and the incoming projectile. The barrier shattered upon impact, absorbing the force of the blow.
Eliza activated her energy vacuum to detect the whereabouts of her attacker. As she began to absorb mana from her surroundings, she sensed a potent mana source right behind her.
Eliza attempted to convert mana into cosmic energy to shield herself, but she was struck by a blast of lunar energy. The force sent her skidding across the ground. Quickly regaining her footing, she switched her siphon magic to healing magic and began to rapidly heal herself.
Eliza made the mistake of trying to visually locate her attacker while her energy vacuum was active. Instead, she sensed the powerful mana source directly above her. Eliza spotted another blast of lunar energy hurtling toward her. Quickly, she switched to her siphon magic and used energy fission, causing the blast to detonate in midair.
Using a significant amount of mana, she used mana conversion change her mana into cosmic energy. Forming a sphere around herself, she manipulated the cosmic energy to temporarily slow down time anything within its range.
There, within the slowed down time, Eliza saw her attacker. The figure resemblance Sun, albeit with a darker color palette. She assumed that this must be Moon.
The sphere of cosmic energy suddenly dissipated, the man spoke, "I see you didn't even need me to master Mana conversion."
Eliza's eyebrows furrowed in irritation as she said, "Hey, don't talk so casually, you just attacked me!" Her lips forming a slight pout.
With a contemplative gaze, the man spoke in a measured tone. "My intention was to witness firsthand how you were able to withstand Forbidden Energy," he explained. "However, I must admit, I'm disappointed. It seems your success was mere luck."
Eliza nervously laughed as she addressed the man. "You must be Moon," she said, trying to maintain a light tone. "Sun did mention you had a certain... demeanor."
"And it seems Sun was far too lenient with you," Moon said, his tone devoid of any warmth. "Don't expect any leniency from me."
Eliza cleared her throat. "A-Anyway, what am I going to be learning now? Sun taught me some basic spells for siphon magic, and just training in general," she said.
"With me, you're going to learn three advanced techniques crucial for your progress, and most importantly, combat training," Moon replied, his tone firm, indicating there would be no room for error or hesitation in the lessons to come.
"Are we diving straight into spellcasting?" Eliza asking with a curious tilt of her head, her cat ears twitching.
"Absolutely not," Moon replied firmly, his expression serious. "We're going to begin with combat training first. However, I suppose I could tell you about the three techniques I'll teach you."
"Hey, what exactly do you mean by techniques? Aren't I going to be taught different spells?" Eliza asked.
"Not exactly. These techniques you're about to learn are exclusive to healing and siphon users like yourself. Let's start with mana field. This skill allows you to manipulate the mana around you, essentially allowing you to gather and use more mana than you could under usual circumstances."
"Isn't that similiar to energy vacuum?"
"Energy vacuum is more about sensing and absorbing mana from the environment," Moon clarified. "Mana field, on the other hand, allows you to actively manipulate the mana around you, shaping it to your will."
"Furthermore, you can use mana field not only defensively but also offensively," Moon continued.
"Think of it this way: with the mana field, you're basically turning the battlefield into your playground," Moon explained. "You can power up your spells, making them bigger, increase their numbers, and reaching farther distances. It's like having an arsenal of attacks all around you, ready to be unleashed in any direction you choose. You can trap foes in a web of spells, preventing any chance of escape, or sabotage their own spells from within. And when you want to catch them off guard, just launch a surprise attack from behind. It's all about being creative and using the field to your advantage."
"Defensively with Mana Field, you're not just sensing energy; you're practically seeing the magic around you, making it easier to react quickly to any incoming attacks. Additionally, you'll be able to move and stand in mid-air, however that will taking practicing. In dire situations where you find yourself surrounded by hostile magic, you can use the power of Mana Field to create a protective barrier of condensed and fortified mana, shielding both yourself and your allies from harm."
Eliza's shoulders slumped as she sighed, "Ehh, it doesn't look like mana field will be easy to learn, let alone master."
"Indeed, mastering mana field shouldn't be taken lightly," Moon affirmed, his tone serious. "But once you learn it, it'll become a valuable resource you'll have at your disposal forever."
"The next technique you'll learn is mana runes," Moon said. "You'll dive into the realm of natural mana, shaping it with your intent to craft magical runes. These runes carry your wishes, dictating the flow of magic they command. Whether it's urging the magic to 'pursue the target' or to 'grow bigger,' these runes hold the key. You can apply them into spells, amplifying their effects, or arrange them into larger circles. While simple commands require straightforward designs, more elaborate arrangements can create more powerful spells and effects."
"At its peak, Mana Runes tap into the raw mana of nature, conjuring what we call True Magic, or you know it better as White Magic," Moon elaborated. "For instance, Fire Magic transforms into True or White Fire Magic manifesting as genuine flames. By using the boundless mana of nature, these spells are much more powerful far beyond what a mage could muster on their own. With this boost in power, you'll have no trouble taking down the weaker Forbidden."
Eliza nervously laughed, running her fingers through her hair. "Looks like I've got quite the challenge ahead of me," she muttered.
"Lastly, there's Soul Mana," Moon said. "It embodies all of the magic of its user and creates a unique, powerful spell. However, it demands something significant from you in order to be used."
"This magic technique requires you to become acquainted with your soul and a closer physical connection closer to mana," Moon explained further. "Only then will you be able to embody all of your magic and create a spell that is truly unique to you."
Eliza sighed, feeling the weight of the task ahead. "And I have to learn all of this in a couple of days..." she muttered.
"Before we delve into those advanced techniques, you'll need to undergo combat training first," Moon explained. "You'll learn how to apply your current set of skills to battle effectively. Once you've mastered those basics, we'll move on to the three techniques I mentioned earlier. You'll learn how to integrate them into your combat strategy and apply them in battle."
Eliza looked puzzled as she asked. "But what about learning more spells for my siphoning magic or even healing magic?"
"I was just going to teach you mana conversion, but you seem to have a good handle on it, at least the basics," Moon replied. "The more you use it, the more you'll master it."
"As for other spells, that's something you'll have to learn on your own. Sun, even the White Trial, and I aren't White Magic users like you. We only know the basics in terms of spells. Learning more spells is something you'll have to do on your own," Moon added, his expression thoughtful.
Eliza let out a sigh as she made her way to the opposite side of the courtyard.
"Well, let's get this combat training over with already..."