Two long days passed in the way to the Spire. In one of the forests halfway through the journey, after setting up camp, Hartold taught Mettel the basics of surviving first and foremost.
"How much do you know about surviving in the wilderness? Did Erick or Litney taught you anything?"
"They did, some lessons here and there. But I never went out to the forest once. Like how to start a fire, finding edible mushrooms, setting up camp, or shooting an arrow."
"The knowledge remains theoretical then. You have to remember that such lessons are extremely valuable in the dungeon where a variety of harsh environments exist. Often times, you will find yourself in a non-optimal location to apply these lessons. Most hunters, in the absence of food supplies, would simply prepare, cook and eat the monsters they hunt. Just like what we're doing now." Hartold poked a roasted boar with a stick. It smelled mouth-watering and appetizing already with a mundane chant he just casted. Mettel thought that one shouldn't rely on convenience from what he said last time, so what's going on here?
'There should be a difference in when and where to use them.' He's not complaining though, as he bit into the juicy meat.
"Did you also go through such things? Even though you're a wizard?"
"Hahaha. I was once an active dungeon hunter too. Almost all of the powerful organization authorities of the sapient races are. What, you think wizards are just fanciful pompous scholars?"
"Never. It's just… hard to imagine you a hunter like Erick once." The fire crackled.
"Alright alright. Enough chattering. You saw me how I skinned and butchered the boar using a knife—you will do the same for our next prey. You will use this." With a flick of hand, Hartold summoned a plain wooden bow. Mettel took the bow in his hands, weighing it with a curious expression.
"I still don't get why we have to do all this. Don't we have aether to do our bidding? I just feel like it's a waste of time and effort."
"True, it is a waste of time and effort."
"Huh? Then why do we even do this?"
"Because it makes me feel human once in a while… hahaha, what would you say if that's the reason?" Mettel had an incredulous look.
"The true reason is you need to conserve aether. Aether won't solve everything. Even a wizard like me has to be frugal with their aether usage—otherwise you'll just crawl like a snail when it comes to the final sprint of a landscape rush." Hartold shook his head as he says so. It seems he had a fair, or rather, too many stories of people overusing their abilities only to fall drop fatigued.
"Listen to me, Mettel. I am sure you have questions why I have not taught you all this while. I'll explain everything. Have you read the book Introductions to Aether: Living Biology?"
"Only the starting pages…" Embarrassed, Mettel shook his head. Thinking about it, for three years he didn't read all of the books Hartold gave him due to unwilling laziness. After all, each book contained at least 300 pages—and what with them being in a different language that he had to slowly cross-reference with the dictionary the old man gave him, he just didn't have enough space. Hartold sighed.
"I really should've hired someone from the capital to teach you. Unfortunately, neither Erick nor Litney could read the books in that language I taught you. Tryndale could, but he has his hands full. This is a blunder. Such advanced self-studies should really be handled by young adults, not for young teens." Somehow, the way Mettl heard the last part made it feel like he wasn't up to par to his expectations.
"…. No, it's okay. I should've been more determined. It was the fault in my part after I declared I was going to be stronger. Knowledge is power, as you said once. What were you going to say?"
"Ah yes, the reason, aside from my being so kept busy for the follow-up matters after the disastrous monster outbreak and the dungeon sub-layer incident, it has to do with how Tezhe comes to be in a living conscientious being."
"I think I read that in the beginning parts of the book. That Tezhe could only be used at the age of 16? But then, I remember you said something about I have to be fourteen before you could teach me." He was confused when he read that part, thinking it might have to do with training.
"It is not. The reason I said that is because I could effectively artificially awaken you if there's a seedling of Tezhe within. Or otherwise, that spiral alignment of sudden enlightenment you had. Such experiences could happen to a finite select few, at most. one to ten thousand. These people grow up to be geniuses." Mettel understood then. He's one of those geniuses then, or a possible genius from his words.
Afterwards Hartold explained further that if he were to directly explain this to him before even a seedling of Tezhe was present in his life root, it could affect his chances of natural awakening to significantly less. This mysterious phenomenon wasn't verified even now but the most logical speculation is that the deities designed the knowledge of Tezhe to be only held by those who can wield it—otherwise, it disrupts the world's aether balance. It's all a convoluted mess to Mettel. But after the explanation, the almost nonchalant and disregarding attitude of Master Hartold towards his teaching could now be explained. That served to ease up his unconscious hatred towards the old man, somewhat.
"Once again, I must apologize for the neglect of my promise." Hartold even bowed towards the boy, which greatly agitated him. Then Hartold continued even more, teaching all the necessary matters as if making up for the last three years.
"Aether is, to put in layman's terms, the blood of Existence, of life itself. Aether is present anywhere and everywhere, in each speck of dust to the largest celestial Physical, it is profuse within and without. They take on a sundry of forms; from the basic elements to the fundamental forces that make up our reality."
"I remember that part—there are two types of Aether. The world ambient aether, and the individual aether essence."
"Correct. The individual aether essence are better known as Life Root Aether—the spirit itself. The life root aether is the source of our mana reserves. As for Tezhes, it is the gifts from the deities to the conscientious races. One of the patent deities of humankind is Serath, the Deity of the Flourish Tingears, of the Hailing Rain, the Sorrowful Sky, the Grieving Star. Tezhes are manifestations of our Life Root Aether, and it only appears in selected individuals." Mettel nodded.
"But they are actually two different things."
"That they are. Tezhes are what give shape to the other, the other is what enables you to interact with the world's ambient aether—and the effect is what we call as aether magic through the use of aether spells. Now, do you know about the three pathways of Tezhe?"
"The Physical Pathway, the Will Pathway and the Concepts Pathway. Physical pathway is focused on the body, objects, and entities. Will pathway have to do with the mind-specific abilities, thoughts and emotions, as well as controlling the elements. While Concepts pathway is the control of Intangible concepts…? Untouchable things like shadow or light." Hartold nodded.
"Good. Since you know, I'll give you examples of mixing together Tezhe and Aether spells. Take Sha'en Sect as the first—these hermits and ascetics carefully select and advance their Tezhe while reserving some of their life root aether for equally-as-important spells. Their long years of research, trials, meditation training arts have thus given them access to some of the most esoteric and mystical abilities known to the living races.
On another hand, the Y'shaad Sajara, the sorcerers, are different. They balance between Aether spells and their Tezhe. Widening their repertoire to the highest degree while their Tezhe supports, enhances that flexibility in one way or another for a harmonized complement.
"Then we have our Aethercloud Spire, the complete opposite of the Sha'en Sect. We focus on Aether Spells whilst relegating our Tezhe to the utmost support. And then we have the various churches around the world.
Almost all of them have their own ways of developing their unique powers. Some are pure Tezhe and others purely mastering Aether spells. Most of the time, their biggest difference are the repertoire and the attributes." Then Hartold went on to make one specific example of how they balance it: for example, the use of rapid flight. People with the Will Pathway Tezhe of limited control of air could pair it with an aether spell that reduces their air friction, making them as swift and agile as any flying monster.
And another example from the Yshaad Sa'jara, using the Tezhe of limited fire control and combining it with multiple fire-related aether spells—they become masters of fire.
Perhaps focusing on a rare Tezhe ability in the Concepts Pathway, where you're able to set foreign shadows as secondary eyes, to a limited degree, could develop it with many other scouting spells. The possibilities are almost endless, no matter where you start with.
"That means, you could literally do anything you want as long as your imagination wills it."
"That's not wrong but not quite right. Remember, the further you develop Tezhes, the more restricted our life-root becomes, our bodies are then acclimated to this change. Which prevents one from utilizing the more aether-demanding spells that the living races have created."
"Of course, these are all dependent on your aether reserves, our mana. It grows as we age naturally, but there are other artificial ways in increasing it permanently by spells, special Tezhes, or artifacts. I wouldn't recommend any other ways than that, for they involve dubious ritualistic aether magic at best, and at worst—forbidden aether magic. Such things are what I purge from this world, for these often involve sacrifices." He paused for a while then continued.
"Some, however, are born with more natural aether reserves than others, it largely varies in race. But even in the same race, there are variants. Born with a larger container is common but more specialized ones include a natural tendency for lightning attribute aether or a capability to release instantaneous burst of aether force. They are what we call prodigies." Hartold finished off with his long explanation then. Mettel organized all the information for a minute or two before he asked.
"Oh. Then how do I find out if I am a prodigy? You said I'm special in some way, right? Due to surviving the White Void's breath." The old man chuckled.
"I should've expected you to focus on that part, almost all children your age do." Mettel caught himself, his excited state. This wasn't like him… but then, what was he like, then? Hartold's next words called back his attention.
"Not to worry, we'll determine what's your potential once we got to the spire." Hartold then pointed to a rock the size of a palm two steps away.
"What you did in the outskirts, could you try doing it again?" Mettel blinked his eyes on that rock, he raised one hand towards it, recreating that old sensation—but the rock didn't budge.
"Huh? It didn't work? But it worked that time and that time, too"
"Did you try to do it again after that?"
"I did, in the night of that day before going to sleep." He was so excited he had awakened his Tezhe that he'd immediately tried it out on a notebook. It worked then.
"Ah, what do you think is the difference between now and then?" Mettel pondered.
"Is it because I was excited and fully committed to making the notebook move?"
"That's one part. The other is just luck. That move is called Telekinesis, a child division in the Energy Force division." Mettel read about that. There were only two main divisions; parent division and child divisions. Parent divisions are the broadest bracket of power, under them are child divisions. Parent division examples include Elemental Division, Body Enhancement Division, Time and Space Division, Mass Division, Light Division and a few other complicated terms Mettel didn't know anything about. What was even Frequency Division even? Telekinesis was under one such parent division, Energy Force division.
"Ohhh. Energy Force division. What do they do again?"
"You can manipulate unseen forces. I am afraid any more explanation than that will be detrimental to your learning so I will refrain from giving my own perspective. You should know from one of the books you read, specifically the Introductions to Aether: Harnessing Its Power." Mettel did read that one. Basically, you have five ranks for any Tezhe in any pathway; Minor, Intermediate, Advanced, Mastered, Exalted.
To advance your Aether rank takes many years of training and learning about your Tezhe, its neighboring Child Divisions and its Parent Division to gain 'enlightenment' which in this case, would replicate that same spiral experience but on a much more profound blissful level. Some people, however, are born with a higher rank Tezhe. He'd have to ask Master Hartold about his later.
"To be clear, what you did at the outskirts is not your Tezhe yet but a manifestation of your aether's attribute of the Energy Force division. Still, I must say it's an impressive feat to be able to do this in one try—usually it takes a few days of practice to succeed. For the average person. However, you will have to get used in moving your aether to interact with the world if you wish to have that as an ability." Hartold then stood up and went behind him.
"To do this, you have to enter a state of meditation. Take deep breaths and close your eyes. Stay still." Mettel did as he was told. In fact, Litney taught him this method.
"For a rudimentary version, first perceive your Physical as a pot, a glass or a furnace. Within holds a fire or water. Whichever suits you best." Mettel imagined himself a clay pot, the kind he'd always see whenever he goes out of his house. Within holds cold water.
"That water is your aether. Now, follow along as I do this." Then Hartold shook him in a round-swaying motion. Mettel followed the movements.
"Could you feel the water moving? The fire swaying from the wind?" Mettel tried to sense whatever it was within him. He… couldn't. Even after trying for three minutes.
"Hmmm. It might be difficult for you. Let's try another method. This one is kind of a cheat but it'll do." Hartold then placed his hand on the boy's back and injected a minute amount of stark potent aether that shocked Mettel. It was a bolt of lightning chilling his spine.
"Hold onto that sensation. Peer deep into it as it interacts with your own aether. Don't let go of it." When he did as he was told, he was shocked to sense the sea of water—no, more accurately, a chunk of formless pulsing, dancing blob spread throughout his clay-pot vessel. There was one hyper-active dazzling foreign drop, its speed so fast-moving that it produced sparks. This must be Master Hartold's remnant aether. In seconds, it dispersed within his pulsing blob. He could see it in his mind's eye now.
"Good, you could perceive it." Mettel opened his eyes and turned around, exasperated.
"Why didn't you do that in the first place?"
"Hmmm? I was under the assumption you wanted to be a genius. Some wizards and sorcerers I know could do this instantly. In fact, a select few could already vaguely perceive the final step—that is, the reimaging of your body model as is and perceiving the aether as recursive electric currents flowing through it. With several major nodes, hundreds of minor nodes in addition to dozens of other components, all arranged and designed in a three-dimensional labyrinthine-like model to keep the currents in a systematic balance. All centered around your life root engine." Mettel was speechless. What words did he even heard? He couldn't understand half of it.
"You look like you just saw a ghost. Don't worry, you will understand in due time. You're under the tutelage of a great wizard. Ah, also those people are older than you, around the age of 14 or so. You have the advantage." Hartold added. Mettel didn't buy into it, though.
After that, the two continued on their travel. For the next several hours, Mettel tried hard to make his body-aether imagery to a more complex, more realistic, precise and detailed model only to give up in frustration. Hartold encouraged him by teaching him to use Telekinesis in a sustained manner. Mettel eventually raised his chances of success to 7 out of 10 attempts with his maximum weight of able to move ten kilograms.
Night approaches. They'd arrived before the town of Hesan.