This week, my training in all the three disciplines of dark magic is going to move from the preliminary stage to the first stage. In Beast Magic, my assignment is to try and tame a wild bird with the knowledge that I have learned. The only wild birds present here round the capital are pigeons and crows. I don't think I will gain much by taming a pigeon so my focus is on a crow. In the Body Magic department, I will now start running up and down a hill that is just a small distance from the capital. I will also be carrying some small weights with both of my hands. As my instructor says, this will further strengthen my body before I can start learning about body mimicry. For crafting Magic, my assignment is turning a bowl of sugar to a bowl of salt. Apparently this is the easiest exercise because I can taste, smell and feel the texture of salt. In most cases in the line of duty, you have to turn harmful substances such as poison to a non-harmful substances to save lives. It is not advised to feel, smell or taste poison yet you are supposed to identify its composition and then change it.My 'Companion' is still missing in action. I have been alone for plenty of times yet whenever I reach out to the basta... Eeh 'Companion', I do not receive an answer. I did not dream the whole experience did I? Well no point in starting to doubt myself. In the morning, I went to Miss Lavender, the exercise of today was I was given a bowl of salt to taste then given that of sugar. "Your work is to close your eyes, using that fork pick up some grains of sugar while imagining the taste and texture of salt." Miss Lavender said. Why a fork? A spoon would be much better. The answer I received is that too much sugar is not good for my health. A fork allows me to try as many times as possible while keeping the amount of sugar I consume as low as possible. It took two hours until finally I could taste salt in my bowl. "I did it. Ha-ha, that is what I'm talking about. My second ever spell." I said happily. "Well done. Tomorrow we are going to try having you turn paper into cloth. Here is a sample of a cloth and another for paper. Remember you cannot eat paper. We are now working with the sense of touch and that of smell." Miss Lavender added. With that, I spent the reminder of the time caressing the cloth and piece of paper until the lesson came to a close. For the body magic, we travelled outside the capital with Mr. Albert. We reached a large hill that was to be my training ground. "Your objective is to run up and down the hill while holding the weights in your hand. Once you are able to run up and down the mountain without stopping, your assignment is considered to be passed. I will be waiting for you at the foot of the hill." Mr. Albert said. This is difficult, I had to rest seven times before reaching at the top of the hill. I knew moving up hill would be a challenge but not to this level. The added weights are also not helping the matter. My arms feel like they are going to fall off. Is there another way to make this exercise less difficult?
[You can try controlling your breathing technique. Currently it is too inefficient]
< Where the hell have you been? I have been alone and calling you for all this time.>
[Negative. There were still people within a 100 meters radius. You were not alone.]
[Noted I will adjust the distance to 50 meters.]
Is this guy trying to pull my leg or something?
[That will be difficult. Your thoughts a day are in the value of thousands. It is difficult for me to know when you require my help.]
[Yes that is plenty.]
After holding a brief discussion with my companion, it suggested that my routine becomes running up the hill, practicing breathing techniques at this height and then going back down once rested and repeating the process over and over again. That became my schedule.For the Beast Magic, I was going to try and tame a crow. There is a compost heap in the backyard of our house. Crows usually gather there in the morning and evening. After the days body training came to a close, we returned back to the capital. On the way home, I bought a bunch of bones with meat from a butcher in town. If I could attract the crows with some meat, I could trap one of them and probably put it in a cage. Giving the crow food and water would not be a challenge. That was going to be my plan. Once I reached home, I took out the pieces of bones and placed them near the compost heap and went a little far away to observe. Alpha, my fox puppy began to eat the bones. How could I forget that I have another carnivorous animal at home? The results were disappointing but atlest I had learnt something.The repetitive schedule continued for two more weeks without getting a break through on any of the disciplines. In crafting magic I was not moving forward, my Companion stated that this part of the journey was mine alone. In the body exercise, I can now go up the hill only stopping twice to rest. I think this is my limit so I am not particularly proud of this achievement. In Beast Magic, I have not yet captured a crow. Though it seems there is a particular one, the weakest of the bunch that is bullied a lot and gets left behind searching for more food once the others have left. I have started waiting for the others to leave and offering that particular crow the best parts of the bones. It will not be long now if all goes well.