A dazed Fabian was now looking at Kai.
- Uh, well, maybe I didn't say it right... I've never been trained in this craft, so my terminology may be incorrect. - Thinking quickly, Kai said.
- Ah, well... That makes sense... - Fabian seemed to calm down a bit.
Looking at the thoughtful man, Kai realized that he had to be more delicate in order not to blurt something out again.
- Look, Mr. Fabian, what stupid thing did I just say that you had that reaction? Hahaha. - Kai said nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened.
- Well... Just you see, only supreme array masters can feel the energy flows, as you have to learn so many different types of arrays and techniques for writing them to understand its movement. You also need to understand each individual element of the array and how it will affect the flow of energy. This takes a lot of studying and practicing. - After calming down, Fabian began to explain.
- Isn't it enough just to learn the pattern and writing of the array? - Kai asked.
- Of course not, you need a lot of practice in applying each symbol, only by trial and error, you will learn to feel the correctness of the element. This cannot be done without a teacher who already knows how it should be correct. Then he will point out the inaccuracies in such a symbol until you write it with the right energy. It's like learning to draw blindly... - Fabian explained thoughtfully - Without an outside observer who can see what you are drawing and his instructions, you can't learn to blindly feel the correctness of the drawing. - Fabian told me calmly, as if he was visualizing it all in his head.
- That is, to answer your question... - he paused and continued speaking, - To draw an array, you need to learn how to draw each element correctly, and this is years of training! - He said seriously.
- Hahaha! So that's why you had that face, I really did say something stupid! - Kai laughed loudly, slapping his forehead as if realizing his mistake. But at this moment, he was dumbfounded.
"Damn! Yes this principle is very similar to my Shadow Mark... That's why Old Man Mo was so shocked back then! It seems that the Shadow Mark Dance Technique basically ties martial arts and small array together, now I see why many people can't master it." - Kai dumbfoundedly digested everything he had just heard.
"But doesn't that mean that if I learn how to draw with energy, and just learn each symbol by looking at their counterpart in an already prepared array... - Kai slowly began to realize something, "I can just copy it, even without a teacher! I can literally pick a lock by seeing its insides...". - Kai realized that he should start learning the basic skills of the Masters of the Array, as it would definitely help him in the future.
- Mr. Fabian, how do you even start learning to become an Array Master? Can I buy some sort of treatise or beginner's guide in the Border Beast City? - Kai asked.
- Hmm, well initially you have to learn how to draw with energy, but without a Master to guide you, it's impossible... So it's not hard to buy a manual book, it's just useless. - Said Fabian.
- Is it so difficult to do without a Master? - Kai knew the answer, but continued to find out.
- Of course! Maybe you don't know, since you don't practice any craft, but all of us, Alchemists, Blacksmiths, Masters of the Array, have an unspoken code. According to it, a Master trains only one apprentice to whom he passes on his legacy. - Fabian explained slowly.
- That's why it's easy to find an Array Master, but it's very difficult to get him to accept you as his only disciple! Some masters don't pass on their legacy to anyone at all, and never find a worthy disciple..." Fabian said with a shake of his head. It was as if he felt sad for such masters.
Listening to this, Kai thought back to his old man. Master Mo was just like that, if by chance he hadn't found Kai, his legacy would probably have been lost to time. Kai never forgot his promise, he had to become stronger and help his master, he always believed in his heart that he would do it, although he didn't know how yet.
The higher up the mountain, the more you see! He knew that if he continuously climbed the path of martial arts, he would at some level find a solution to continue Old Man Mo's life!
While Cai was thinking, Fabian suddenly said:
- By the way, if you're interested, I can let you read the treatise on Mastery of the Array, it doesn't contain any of my techniques and secrets, it only describes the most basic principles. But I'm sorry, I can't teach you, I already have a beautiful student, albeit a capricious one, hahaha. - Laughing Fabian looked at Keshi with parental love in his eyes.
- Can you really do that? I would be very grateful to you! - There was no longer fake admiration in Kai's eyes now.
- And why not, it's a good way to satisfy your curiosity, and it's not a long way to go, you need something to keep you busy. - Fabian said with a smile.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a thick, tattered book, handing it to Kai. It looked as if it had already been read to death.
- Do you carry it around with you all the time? Hehehe. - Kai said with a good-natured laugh.
- Well, how could I? Even if an Array Master has been studying for decades, when you see an array that is new to you, you can't understand it without a book on the basic principles, it can be a very good help. So don't you dare mess it up! Hahaha. - Kindly said Fabian, he really was a nice man.
- Thank you very much! I will treat it with all respect! - Accepting the book, Kai bowed gratefully.
- You're welcome, have fun! - Said Mr. Fabian and turned around to his student as she kept tugging on his sleeve and asking him something. He started to explain something to her with a smile.
Kai slowly opened the book and began to read and examine it.
"To draw an array element, release your energy imagining it as a brush. But you need to feel every fiber of that brush, and learn to control them! Drawing a line of a symbol or some element of the array, it is not enough to repeat its outline, you need each lint to leave the right trace! Each lint must have the right amount of pressure and energy density, and the right meaning put into the energy!"
Reading this, Kai began to realize what such a colossal difficulty of Array Mastery was...
"How the fuck! How can one learn this without seeing the Essence of Energy! You have to be a complete fanatic about it!" - Shouted Kai in his head.
Although he was so overreacting to these fanatics, he didn't realize that he was exactly the same, or maybe even more fanatical, but in terms of cultivation and martial arts...
"One must start learning to draw from a tentative one large lint, slowly dividing it into two, and then into four, eight, and so on. Slowly train yourself to control all of them. When trained to control two perfectly, divide and learn to control four, only by diligent practice will you learn to do it!"
The problem was that the student couldn't figure out if he was controlling the pile correctly or not unless the Master pointed it out! Even the initial stage with one solid lint was like painting with an invisible brush ...
"It just doesn't make sense!" - Kai thought as he visualized the process of the Array Mastery training that ordinary people went through.
"The more lint under your control, the more complex arrays you'll be able to paint!"
"Without a teacher, it is indeed useless to learn this craft. But fortunately, not for me!" - With burning eyes, Kai thought as he continued reading further....
"Well, I'm going to have a lot of work to do on this journey, so much to catch up on... Hehehehehe..." - Smiling evilly Kai continued reading.