As dawn broke, Zoser awoke from his sleep, the faint light seeping through the old windows casting a soft glow in the room. His muscles ached deeply, but there was something else inside him that felt stronger than ever: determination. He could sense that something was about to change, though he didn't know what yet.
He looked at the lecture schedule hanging on the opposite wall, his eyes catching a few words: "Aetherology" in the first lecture and "Ancient Languages" in the second. These subjects were more than just academic lessons to him; they were keys to understanding this world he was beginning to explore more deeply.
After breakfast at the cafeteria, he made his way to the lecture hall. Upon entering, he spotted Jibran in his usual seat.
"Good morning, Zoser!" Jibran said with a smile, and Zoser returned the greeting in kind.
They exchanged a quick conversation before Professor Sid entered, and the room fell silent, the chatter fading completely.
Professor Sid placed the books he was carrying on the front desk. He looked at his students with a serious gaze and began speaking.
"In the previous lecture, we discussed the nature and origin of the ether. Today, we will continue with a subject of great importance."
He began to write on the wooden board in large letters: "Uses of the Ether."
Curiosity flared in Zoser's heart. This was the topic he had been eagerly waiting for. What could ether really be? How could it be used?
Professor Sid took a deep breath and said, "The ether, as you know, is not just random energy. It is a vital element that can be directed for many purposes. Today, we will discuss the most important of these uses, which include the development of the soul (Ka), the mind (Ba), and the body (Shu)."
He raised his hand, pointing to the topics he was explaining.
"First, ether is absorbed from the air after the divine spark is awakened, creating spiritual energy. This energy is then passed through the energy pathways spread throughout the body until the body becomes familiar with it. Once the body is accustomed to the ether, it becomes possible to increase the efficiency of its absorption and storage."
The professor smiled and said, "The more you increase your ability to absorb and store ether, the stronger you become."
At that moment, a student raised his hand and asked, "What's the difference between ether and spiritual energy?"
Sid answered with a smile, "Great question. We can consider ether as the simpler form of energy. It can be absorbed by all living beings and then transformed into more complex forms. As for spiritual energy, it is a transformed version of ether. When ether is absorbed from the air, it is imbued with the soul's unique imprint. This imprint causes a qualitative change in the ether, making it distinct to the individual. Technically, no two types of spiritual energy are exactly the same."
The students listened attentively, and the room was filled with deep contemplation of what they had heard. Professor Sid looked at their faces and continued speaking.
"But what about the mind and body?"
At this point, murmurs began among the students as they exchanged curious glances. Sid continued, "Unlike spiritual energy, natural beings possess both mental and physical energies, though in varying degrees. Spiritual energy and ether play a crucial role in enhancing mental and physical abilities, both directly and indirectly."
Zoser raised his hand and clarified, "We can understand the direct effects of ether, but how does it affect us indirectly?"
Sid smiled again and said, "Direct effects mean that spiritual energy makes adjustments to the body, cell by cell, improving physical abilities, such as enhancing bone cells, muscles, and nerves, which increases reaction speed and endurance. As for the brain, enhancing its cells boosts cognitive abilities, such as thinking, analysis, and information storage."
He continued, "As for indirect effects, they manifest in ether's applications in other fields like medicine, chemistry, and physics. Ether can be used to create potions and elixirs that increase physical and mental abilities. There are also agricultural applications, where ether can enhance the capabilities of plants, or in animal husbandry to develop their skills."
The students were completely engrossed. But Sid didn't stop there.
"Additionally, ether can be utilized in runes and inscriptions. These specially designed symbols are used to store ether within gemstones and metals in a specific pattern, granting them unique powers and increasing their durability."
He added, "This is just a brief overview of the uses of ether. If we wanted to discuss its applications in detail, we might need a hundred years to cover everything. Therefore, its applications are taught separately in each discipline. Your colleagues in the technical departments are learning their own applications of ether, and if you wish to learn more, you can visit their department, hire private tutors, or even head to the library."
The lecture on Aetherology concluded, leaving the students with a multitude of questions and fascinating ideas.
After the Etherology lecture ended, the language teacher, Masero, entered the room with a calm smile on his face. He said, "Hello, students. In the previous lecture, we discussed the difference between traditional hieroglyphic language and Neter met , and today we will be drawing several Mitanian inscriptions to understand their meanings."
The students' eyes turned to the board where Masero began drawing the required inscriptions. "Once you become familiar with the meanings of these inscriptions, we will move on to the next step, which is learning how to use each inscription and how to activate each one after drawing it."
Masero started explaining how to write the Mitanian inscriptions, which contained complex symbols that required great precision. "Each of these inscriptions has a specific function in daily life and in the spiritual world. Some relate to natural forces, and others connect with communication with the gods."
He pointed to the first inscription on the board and said, "This inscription is called 'The Lightning Inscription', and it is used to stimulate electrical energy in the surrounding environment. It can be activated by a certain incantation or by placing it at a strategic point, such as the entrance to buildings for protection."
He then moved on to another inscription and said, "This is the 'Healing Inscription,' which is used in medicine and healing. It can be applied to the skin after writing the inscription on it, and the person will feel the flow of healing energy through their body."
Masero continued explaining the remaining inscriptions, showing how to draw each one accurately and how to activate them to achieve the desired result. The students were listening intently, trying to absorb every detail about the inscriptions and how they could be used in everyday life or special situations.
When he finished explaining, he looked at them and said, "Once you are able to draw these inscriptions correctly, we will move on to the next stage, which involves integrating these inscriptions with the etheric energies we learned about in the previous lecture. But remember, the power in these inscriptions comes from understanding their deep meaning, not just from drawing them correctly."
The students' eyes sparkled with curiosity and challenge, and everyone felt excited to begin applying what they had learned in real-life situations.
After Masero finished explaining the inscriptions and their uses, he began choosing several students to draw the inscriptions themselves. He looked around the class and smiled, saying, "Now it's time to apply what you've learned. I will choose some of you to draw the inscriptions, and you will correct any mistakes in your drawings."
He raised his hand to the first student and said, "Zoser, come on, start by drawing the 'Lightning' inscription on this board." Zoser stepped forward with steady steps, feeling a new challenge. He began drawing the inscription carefully, but he felt a bit tense as he tried to be precise.
As Zoser placed the symbols on the board, Masero looked closely and said, "Make sure the angles between the lines are equal. This will affect the inscription's power when activated." He then made a slight adjustment to the edges of the symbols. "Yes, that's better now. Remember, precision in drawing these symbols is crucial."
Masero moved on to another student sitting in the back row. He said to them, "Nora, try drawing the 'Healing' inscription. Remember that the lines must be perfectly parallel, and when the curved parts meet the straight lines, the angles should be smooth."
Masero worked on correcting small mistakes in the drawing, pointing out areas that needed some improvement. "When you're done drawing the inscription, make sure the size of the characters is appropriate. An inscription that is not drawn correctly will not work efficiently."
Masero continued choosing students one by one, guiding them with corrections and advice. He moved between the rows, standing close to the students to adjust their mistakes accurately, reflecting his extensive experience in this field.
While observing the students correct their work, he said, "Remember, drawing is only part of the process. What matters is understanding the deep meaning behind each symbol and how it affects the ether."
As time passed, the students began to master the inscriptions better. When the lecture was coming to an end, Masero said, "The lecture is over for today. I think you've gained a good understanding of the Mitanian inscriptions. But as you know, practice is key. Keep practicing, and you will become proficient in using these symbols."
The students left the room with hearts full of excitement and curiosity, knowing that they had started to discover a whole new world of power and spiritual understanding. After the lectures ended and they had lunch in the dining hall, the atmosphere at the school was filled with energy and vitality. A group of students scattered across the large courtyard, preparing for the combat training session that awaited them. Combat training was an essential part of their educational program, helping them develop their combat skills and control over the etheric energies. Zoser felt a special passion for this day, knowing that the combat training would give him an opportunity to discover more about his true abilities.
The students headed to the outdoor combat arena, located in a secluded area behind the buildings. The arena was surrounded by high stone walls, and statues of ancient heroes adorned the space. In the center of the arena, there was a large circular fighting ring surrounded by wooden benches for the students and supervisors.
The trainer, Colin, arrived at the arena. He was a strong-built man with a thick beard and sharp eyes. He had spent many years in combat training and was known for his strictness and attention to detail in combat performance. He raised his hand to silence the students and said, "Today, we will learn how to integrate the ether into combat techniques. This is not just physical training; it is a lesson on how your spiritual power can become a real force on the ground."
Zoser smiled as he noticed that today would be different. It was not just ordinary combat training, but an opportunity to integrate what they had learned about the ether with their physical skills.
Colin began distributing the students into small groups and asked them to practice basic combat techniques, such as offense and defense, but with the addition of a new element: they had to summon the etheric energy while performing each movement. While some students appeared nervous, Zoser felt a strange sense of excitement, knowing that integrating the ether with combat techniques could open up limitless doors of power for him.
Colin shouted, "Start! Work on summoning the ether, but remember, true power comes from harmony between your body and spirit."
Zoser began applying what he had learned in the Etherology lectures, trying to focus his energy into his body while performing combat movements. For the first time, he felt his body become lighter and faster. With every move, he focused on channeling the spiritual energy into his feet during the movement, avoiding blows, and transferring it into his hands while delivering strikes.
At first, it was difficult, and he failed several times, but gradually he started to improve.
When it was his turn to face one of his training partners, he felt a power he had not expected. His strikes were more precise, his movements faster, as if the ether had become part of his body.
While the combat arena witnessed fast and precise movements, Colin stood at the side, watching closely. When the round ended, he approached Zoser and smiled, saying, "You're very good, but remember, true power is not just in speed; it is in complete control of your spiritual energy."