Anfer brought his new disciples to what looked like a dojo, surrounded by a large garden, which left the youths speechless.
«I tried to make it as comfortable as possible. A warrior always prefers to have the ground to his advantage, although most of the time it will not be so. My dojo consists of three sections. One for practical training, one for theoretical training, and the garden, usually used for serious clashes, so as not to ruin everything around. Of course, before the practice, you will study the theory. My master taught me so. If you will, one day, develop a concept of combat, then you will be happy to follow it. Since I am the master now, we will do it my way... Do you have any idea of a field in which you want to specialize?» Anfer asked, opening the door of the large structure.
The three looked confused.
«What do you mean by "field"?» Ren asked, speaking for her companions.
The man finally entered the dojo.
«My master will now explain it to you.» Anfer replied.
As soon as they entered, they found themselves in front of an empty room, only a chair and a table to the left of the entrance filled that incomplete space. Waiting for them, there was an old man who, as soon as he saw the youths enter, got up, helping himself with a staff.
«He is my master. His name is Rokai. You can call him grand master, or master Rokai. As you prefer. Now he will put you through the affinity test, so that you understand what field you belong to.» Anfer said.
All three of them bowed to him. Still rising, he leaned on the staff.
«Come on, Anfer. We haven't even met... one at a time. Tell me your name and rest your back against the wall, looking into my eyes.» The elder said.
♦️
The first to offer herself was the girl from Shiitia. She put her backpack on the ground and put her back against the wall.
«My name is Eavelin.»
«Well, Eavelin, keep your eyes open.»
The grand master began to look closely at her face and came very close. Shortly afterwards he moved away. The second was the red-haired girl.
«My name is Rensean.»
«Well, don't move.»
He did the same procedure, but seemed a little more interested in the eyes of the second girl.
«My name is Herega.»
This time he said nothing, but still looked him closely in the eye. The test was over. The great master drew the sum.
«I will explain how the affinity test works. Everything is based on the color of the eyes and the aura they transmit. There are 5 primary affinities via eye color:
• Blue: Close combat affine.
•Yellow: Black magic affine.
•Black: Ranged combat affine.
•White: Magic affine.
•Red: Each category affine.
The aura they transmit, instead, will indicate the fighting style to you more like. I'll give some practical examples about you. Eavelin: Your eyes are green, so they have both yellow and blue pigment. This means you are affine to black magic and close combat. Their aura is weak, which means that you will fight by throwing many shots, not very powerful but precise. Rensean: Your eyes are blue. That means you're good at close combat. Their aura is very strong, which means you will fight with few but powerful and deadly blows. Herega: your eyes are red, so you're used to all categories. The aura they express is calm but not weak. This means that you will fight by using your mind, devising a suitable strategy. None of you represents the case but, if your eyes had red pigment and another of the primary ones, they would be affine to all categories with one in particular. For example, the purple eyes indicate an affinity to each category, most of all close combat. I want to make a premise. Being related to a category does not mean having it from birth. Eavelin, your eyes have the yellow pigment of black magic, but I'm sure you can't use it and probably neither can your companions.» Rokai said.
The three were very satisfied with the answers but, after the last sentence of the grand master, Ren and Eavelin looked at Herega, waiting for him to speak.
«What is the difference between magic and black magic?» The red-haired youth asked.
The question did not surprise the old man, who was quick to give an answer.
«Magic is performed by the magician on reality. Black magic is performed by the magician on an enemy. I'll give you an example. Create a flame: if the flame belongs to magic, then it will be created in the hands of the sorcerer, and at a later time can be thrown, if you want, on an eventual enemy. If the flame belongs to black magic, then the enemy will catch fire directly, with no possibility of using the flame in any other way.» He answered him.
Herega more or less managed to understand the difference, in essence, the Solid Characterization was for magic, the Imaginary Characterization was for black magic, at least as far as the Chains Spell was concerned.
«Master Rokai. I can use both kinds of magic.» Herega answered by touching his chest with his left hand.
He seemed a little skeptical, but he didn't think he'd lie.
«Prove it.» He said.
Herega made a chain with which he wrapped the old man's staff. Then he concentrated for a moment.
«The constraint I impose on you is that you cannot move!» The young man said.
He had not yet tried to create a different bond from the Gestio Hominum, but decided to try anyway. The old man tried with all his might, but he could not move, then he broke the chain with one hand. Anfer was speechless, and although the grand master did not seem surprised, one could well guess that he was amazed.
«Your chain is fragile, moreover the constraint that you imposed on me lasted little more than a second. You're already sweating, and your breath is just starting to get out of hand, I can hear it from here. But it's amazing. Very few people know the origin of sorcery, and even fewer are able to use it... After the test follow me, I must talk to you.» Rokai said to the young man.
It did not take long to complete the test. While Eavelin and Ren enjoyed the hot spring that flowed near the garden, Herega followed Anfer and Rokai.