When Mortis finally opened his eyes after the long, exhausting meditation, he felt a renewed sense of clarity and purpose. However, soon after he recovered, the exhaustion from the intense transformation took over, and Mortis lay down on his bed, falling into a deep sleep.
When morning arrived, Mortis awoke feeling refreshed and invigorated. He stretched, taking a moment to savor the sense of power flowing through him. Today marked the beginning of his journey at the Myriad Demons Academy, and he was determined to make the most of it. However, his first challenge was finding the dining hall for breakfast.
Stepping out of his room, Mortis glanced around the corridor, noticing a fellow student nearby. The student was tall and lean, with messy black hair and sharp green eyes. His magus robes, though simple, had a worn elegance that suggested he came from a respectable background.
"Excuse me," Mortis called out, approaching the student. "Can you help me find the dining hall? I'm new here and haven't figured out where everything is yet.¨
The student turned, offering a friendly smile. "Of course. My name's Kael Voss. I assume you're one of the new recruits from the trials?"
Mortis nodded. "Yes, I'm Mortis Nacht from Nacht Kingdom. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kael."
Kael's eyes widened slightly. "Nacht Kingdom? Impressive. Your kingdom has a reputation for producing numerous magi over the past hundred years. Follow me, I'll show you the way to the dining hall."
As they walked, Mortis and Kael exchanged stories about their backgrounds and mentors. Kael mentioned that his mentor was Magus Lyra, known for her expertise in fire magic.
Arriving at the dining hall, Kael explained how it operated. "Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided free of charge, but all meals are chosen by the academy. If you want something specific or extra, you'll need to use contribution points. The most expensive meals are those that include monster meat, which provides a slight mana boost."
Mortis nodded, absorbing the information. He picked up his tray and joined Kael in the serving line. The food was simple but hearty, designed to nourish students and fuel their magical studies.
Kael led Mortis to a table where three other students were already seated. "These are my friends," Kael introduced them. "Guys, this is Mortis Nacht, a new recruit from Nacht Kingdom."
The first student, a petite girl with short, fiery red hair and bright blue eyes, smiled warmly "I'm Lena Rayne. Nice to meet you, Mortis. My affinity is fire."
Next was a burly young boy with a shaved head and piercing gray eyes. He extended a hand in greeting. "Garrick Stone. Earth, metal and darkness affinities. Welcome to the academy."
Finally, a lanky boy with wild blonde hair and deep brown eyes nodded in Mortis's direction. "I'm Jareth Windrider. As you can guess, my affinity is wind, but apart from that I also have a darkness affinity."
Mortis greeted each of them, noting their varied elemental affinities and how they complemented each other. As they ate, the group discussed their experiences and mentors. Mortis explained his affinity for fire, darkness and water and his mentorship under Magus Valthor.
"Valthor?" Jareth gasped. "He's a tough mentor but one of the best here. You'll learn a lot from him."
Lena leaned in, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. 'What about missions? Have you thought about taking any yet? If so, would you like to go on a mission with us?
Mortis hesitated. "No, and I prefer to work alone. But I'm open to your suggestions."
Kael shook his head. "Solo missions are either poorly paid or require at least apprentice rank three. So for now, it's best to team up with others for you. After all, missions that pay well at our level need at least five members."
Garrick nodded in agreement. "It's safer too. The more people you have, the greater your chances of survival and success. Think about it."
Mortis considered their words. Having four others to share the risks could be advantageous. "Alright. Let's see how things go. I might join you on a mission or two."
The group continued their conversation, discussing the challenges of their studies, their elemental affinities, and the difficulty of the academy's studies. By the time they finished, they had agreed to meet regularly for meals and to check offered missions in the mission area together in a few days.
As Mortis parted ways with his new acquaintances, he couldn't help but think about the benefits of their arrangement. Having allies could provide a buffer in dangerous situations, allowing him to maneuver more freely. He smirked at the thought "Four meat shields," he muttered to himself. "This might work out after all."
Arriving at the Magus Valthor's study, Mortis knocked gently. A voice from within bid him enter. The room was as impressive as ever, filled with magical artifacts and ancient tomes. Mortis felt a familiar surge of greed, quickly suppressing it as he greeted Valthor.
Valthor eyed him critically. "Hm? You've taken the potion and tried the meditation technique? How did you feel?"
Mortis replied, "It felt like something unlocked within me as if I had been allowed to begin connecting with the world and its energies."
Valthor's eyes widened in surprise. "Already at apprentice rank one? Most people take several days to achieve that. It seems you're more talented than I thought."
A moment of silence followed before Valthor continued, "By the way, are you familiar with my rules?"
Mortis recalled the list he had seen when choosing his mentor. "Yes, I remember. I am to assist you with your experiments when asked and clean up your study room daily. In return, you'll teach me spells."
Valthor nodded approvingly. "Good. Here are the spells you'll be learning. However, all of them are only rank 0 spells because you are only a rank 1 apprentice, and this is the maximum you can handle right now."
With a swift motion, Valthor took out a crystal orb from his desk. He handed it to Mortis, who examined it curiously. "This is a Storage Crystal," Valthor explained. "Infuse it with a sliver of your mana, and it will display the spell charts that are stored inside."
Mortis held the Storage Crystal in his hands, channeling a sliver of his mana into it. The crystal glowed softly, and a series of runes appeared, forming a list of spells. He could manipulate the crystal to flip through the pages of spells and their descriptions.
The first spell that appeared was Shadow Tendril. As Mortis focused on it, the crystal showed an image of dark, writhing tendrils emerging from shadows. These tendrils could entangle and immobilize a target, making it an effective tool for restraining enemies or hindering their movements.
Next was Inferno Spark, depicted as a concentrated burst of fire that could ignite flammable materials and cause minor burns. Mortis envisioned using it for quick, targeted attacks, perfect for moments when precision was needed.
The third spell, Umbral Shield, created a temporary shield of dark energy. The crystal displayed a shimmering, shadowy barrier absorbing blows from an unseen attacker. It provided brief protection against both physical and magical attacks, giving Mortis a momentary advantage in battle.
Following that was Shadow Dart, a spell that fired a small, fast-moving projectile of dark energy. The crystal illustrated its swift trajectory, piercing through soft targets with ease. Mortis saw its potential for striking at weak points with deadly accuracy.
Lastly, the crystal revealed Darkness Veil, which shrouded the user in shadows, making them harder to detect. Mortis imagined entirely slipping into the shadows, evading enemies' sight, and moving stealthily through dangerous areas.
As Mortis read through each spell's description, his eyes gleamed with interest. Valthor continued, "These are just rank 0 spells. When you become Rank 1 Magus, you'll be able to use Rank 1 spells. But even though these are just rank 0 spells, you can use them at your level a maximum of three times before exhausting your mana reserves, because your reserves are still quite small, and you have only just begun to connect with the world's energy particles. As you progress to apprentice rank five, your connection will strengthen, making it much easier to cast these spells without significant strain and even with less mana consumption than now thanks to the world's energy particles around you."
Mortis practiced each spell under Valthor's watchful eye, his determination unwavering. Despite the limitations of his current rank, he knew that mastering these rank 0 spells was crucial for his future growth.
As the day wore on, Mortis continued his training, honing his skills with each spell. Valthor provided guidance and corrections, pushing Mortis to refine his technique. By the time evening arrived, Mortis felt a sense of accomplishment and a clearer understanding of magic and his affinities.
Leaving Valthor's study, Mortis reflected on the day's events. The bonds he had formed, though out of necessity, could prove to be valuable. And with Valthor's mentorship, his path to power was becoming clearer.
As Mortis was about to return to his quarters he heard a voice calling his name. Turning around, he saw Jareth approaching him with a determined look. "Mortis, can we talk for a moment?"
Mortis nodded, curious about what Jareth wanted to discuss. "Of course, Jareth. What's on your mind?"
Jareth looked around to ensure they were alone before speaking in a low voice. "I noticed something about you during breakfast. I don't know why, but I feel like there is something strange about you... but I have no idea what it is. What are your true intentions here at the academy?"
Mortis's eyes slightly narrowed, but he maintained a calm demeanor. "I'm here to become stronger, just like everyone else. My goal is to become an official magus and proudly represent our academy just like all of you."
Jareth studied him for a moment before nodding. "I believe you, but still... there's something about you that stands out. Just know that if you ever need help or information, you can count on me. I've been here longer, and I've seen how many things work."
Mortis appreciated the offer and once more recognized the potential benefit of having loyal meat shield "Thank you, Jareth. I'll keep that in mind."
As they parted ways, Mortis couldn't help but ponder over Jareth's words. His true intentions were far more ambitious than he showed and he would need to tread carefully to achieve his goals without drawing unwanted attention.
Returning to his quarters, Mortis settled down, his mind racing with plans and strategies. The academy was a place of opportunity and danger and he was determined to navigate it with cunningness and precision.
With his new spells and the support of his four meat shields, Mortis Nacht was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The path to power was never easy, but Mortis knew that he had the resolve and the intelligence to overcome any obstacle.
And so, as the night descended upon the academy, Mortis prepared for the journey that awaited him, his ambitions burning brighter than ever. The Greatest Heretic of the Magus World was just beginning to rise.