The Knights patrolled Wyrmport tirelessly, keeping the city almost entirely free from crime. This constant vigilance provided a significant sense of security for tourists, who often praised the presence of a knight on nearly every street.
Ardiel rose before dawn, eager for his first day under Elder Alentor's guidance.
The path to the Elder's cottage was shrouded in early morning fog, its silence only broken by the soft crunch of Ardiel's footsteps.
Elder Alentor looked up with mild surprise as Ardiel arrived, his brow furrowing in curiosity. "You're here quite early. Have you had breakfast?" The elder was engrossed in preparing tea and buttered toast, his routine showing a moment of tranquility amid the day's demands.
"Ah, just take a seat for now. Let me finish my tea. The enthusiasm of the young can be quite overwhelming," Alentor chuckled, his voice tinged with a weary fondness. Despite his advanced age, he seemed to relish his role as a mentor, even if it came with its share of grumbles.
Ardiel recognized this familiar act of Alentor's. Though the elder spoke of old age with a hint of nostalgia, his slow aging made him more of an enigma than a frail old man. He romanticized the idea of retirement, but as a Dragon Vessel, he knew ordinary life was beyond his reach.
As Alentor sipped his tea, Ardiel broke the silence with a question that had been on his mind. "Is it true that I can enlist after our training?" His curiosity was genuine, but he couldn't help but notice how much the elder cherished his tea time.
"I see that Frey has told you. I surmise it's because of Reno?" The white-haired old man raised an eyebrow, giving the boy a look that clearly asked, "Am I right?"
Ardiel nodded, feeling a bit caught off guard under Alentor's scrutinizing gaze.
"I thought so. Given the small age gap between you two, it's natural to have such ambitions. It was the same for me and my late sister. That's why I agreed with Frey's arrangement, but only if you can prove yourself worthy and not be seen as a pushover when you enlist at such a young age."
Ardiel understood the significance of this opportunity. It was rare and carried both risks and responsibilities.
After breakfast, Elder Alentor led the way to the enormous oak tree in the backyard, its ancient branches casting long shadows in the morning light. The quiet strength of the tree seemed to resonate with the task they have on hand.
"I know you've had physical training under Simon—basic swordsmanship and core exercises. So, today we'll start by familiarizing you with dragon mana."
He launched into a brief lesson on mana, his words painting a vivid picture of its importance.
"Mana is the essence of life, shaping the world's laws and governing existence. Both Aura users and Magisters rely on mana, but they use it differently. A Magister forms mana rings around their heart, while an Aura user refines their core."
"The more magic circles a Magister can create, the greater the mana they can store and utilize. The limit for humans is ten magic circles. The core of Aura users differs in color, following the order of Red, Orange, Yellow, Emerald, Cyan, Blue, Indigo, Purple, Black, and White, from weakest to strongest.
A Magister conjures mana, using their body as the medium and mana as the weapon, while an Aura user uses their body as the weapon by augmenting it with mana.
Both paths are different, but this doesn't mean there are no existing people who are both a Magister and an Aura user. However, they are scarce in number, as following both paths requires multiple folds of time it would take for a single path taker to reach the next stage. This means it's less efficient unless someone possesses prodigious talent that could bypass this limit.
"You need to decide which path you want to take," Alentor said, his tone steady but carrying a weight of finality.
This choice was pivotal for Ardiel, a crossroads that would shape his future. Exzhen had already given him some insights, which made the decision easier, though no less daunting. Surely the Herrscher of Dragons would know a lot more about this matter than him.
"I'll become both an Aura and a Magister," Ardiel declared with conviction. Alentor's surprise quickly shifted to concern, his gaze sharpening as he assessed Ardiel's resolve.
"Are you sure? This decision is not to be taken lightly," the elder said, his voice growing somber. "The path you're trying to take is fraught with immense challenges. The rewards are great, but the struggles are formidable. You might find yourself lagging behind your peers for years. Are you truly ready for that?"
The atmosphere grew heavy, the air thick with tension. Alentor's aura seemed to darken the space around them, amplifying the gravity of Ardiel's choice. The oak tree's leaves rustled softly, mirroring the unease that filled the air.
As clouds covered the sun and a chill wind rustled through the trees, Ardiel felt the weight of his decision.
Ardiel's heart pounded as he met Alentor's intense gaze. The choice he was making wasn't just about his own future; it was about the path he would carve out for himself, against the backdrop of expectations and personal ambition.
"Fine, I won't pressure you anymore, there's still time before you establish your foundation so take all the time to make your resolve firmer, but until then, we'll proceed with getting your body accustomed with mana," the elder said after retrieving his aura.
Ardiel spent the rest of the day practicing meditation and mana breathing techniques. As he absorbed mana from nature, he could feel it transforming into dragon mana, highlighting its unique attributes compared to regular mana.
A dragon's power falls under True Magic; they are born with their attributes and don't rely on magic circles to conjure fire, water, or any elemental magic. Humans, on the other hand, must use magic circles to convert pure mana into elemental magic.
"A Fire dragon breathes fire as naturally as breathing, but a Magister needs a magic circle to use fire magic," Alentor explained.
"The reason why you need to understand and resonate with your dragon mana, grasp its attributes and behavior, is because this is where your control over your power will depend," Alentor said.
Exzhen had been vague about most details back when they had discussed things in the Spirit Realm, but Ardiel wasn't entirely naïve not to make any accurate guesses.
It didn't take him long to realize his attribute. The way he saved Reno from falling in the stairs was one thing that made him realize it. The others may have been left with the impression that he can finally use magic without realizing how he did it, but he on the other hand had realized something from the situation.
"I already know about my attribute," Ardiel said, his voice steady, "It's Gravity."
"As I suspected," Alentor said. "That only adds up on the already harsh path ahead of you, you must know that handful of individuals who could use it. You sure are unlucky."
"But I've got a great mentor, right?" Ardiel grinned. He knew that having Exzhen and Alentor as his mentors would allow him to have a better start.
"Oh spare me such flattering words, I'm too old for that," The Elder said, but he doesn't keep the smile drawn on his face.