"It seems like you have no affinity to magical elements, Yang-Yang." His Master Lorenzo Huanzang coldly remarked.
"..."
"Nevertheless, it doesn't spell the end of your path. Follow me."
The Wizard turned around and lead Yang-Yang through the corridor. Footsteps after footsteps echoed throughout the dark hallways of the Huanzang Manor. They passed by several rooms, several doors, several corners. Then they arrived to a path downstairs. The downstairs path seemed endless, only the Everlit Candles on the side walls lead the eyes of Yang-Yang to continue downwards, after his Master. After several minutes of walking towards the downward candlelit stairs, Wizard Lorenzo stopped on his tracks. In front of him was a wall. The scenery seems like a dead-end. The Wizard raised his left hand and touched the wall. It was then that mysterious symbols lit up the walls all around them. The dead-end wall opened up from the middle - sidewards to both sides. The Wizard nonchalantly continued walking forward while Yang-Yang was left dazed by the luminescent symbols. A moment later, Yang-Yang followed after his Master.
What greeted Yang-Yang's field of view was a world of books, and bookshelves, and cabinets full of strange scriptures, tomes, figures, sculptures and figurines. What really occupied the most part of the room was bookshelves. It was as if he entered a millenia old university library, there were countless bookshelves after bookshelves it seemed as if a maze or labyrinth could be likened to this place.
"Aside from elemental affinity, there are several other ways to advance in the way of magic, Yang-Yang."
"..."
"My friend who brought you back to life - Wizard Tzuru, for instance, is a Dao Wizard."
"... A Dao Wizard?" curiosity flickered through the eyes of Yang-Yang.
"Yes, a Dao Wizard."
"..."
Wizard Lorenzo turned sidewards and continued walking while seemingly looking for something, striding forwards while browsing through the bookshelves.
"Dao Wizards are extremely special. Instead of studying step by step from the bottom and accumulating knowledge and magical wisdom to attain enlightenment, they are somewhat way more blessed. They were born with a gift from a mysterious power, and from that power they start their journey in uncovering the secrets of magic."
"To explain it more clearly, they seem to have been chosen by the heavens to wield a specific power, nurture it throughout their lives, and eventually make it their own path to supremacy."
"..."
"Wizard Tzuru was a Dao Wizard of Fate, he brought you back to life at the cost of sacrificing other lives whom he had wrapped around his fingers. He did that to curry favor for me."
"... Uhm, may I ask Master why does he have to curry favor from you?"
"Well, it's because I have great potential. His fate abilities must have made it clearer to him. "
"Oh."
"Yes. Although wielding the power of Fate seems transcendental, it is not absolute. It comes with its own pros and cons. So he always have to carefully thread on the choices he make."
"... " Yang-Yang slightly nodded in understanding.
Both of them continued to walk on, bookshelves after bookshelves.
"Another type of path is the path of the Spellcasters."
"S-spellcasters?"
"Yes."
"..."
"They study the origin language of the Dragon Race - the Dragontongue. Of course it is more than just a language. I refused to thread on this path due to its complexity, high talent requirement, as well as it is way too time consuming."
"..."
"I do have a few spells which are simplified over generations and generations of spellcasting studies and history. Mostly are related to my elemental affinity."
"...then, may I ask Master what is your Wizard Path?"
"..."
"..."
"I'm a Dark Wizard. I study Darkness Elemental Magic as well as Black Magic. Black Magic is a subcategory of Wizardry which focuses on macabre and cruel forms of magic. I highly doubt it suits you so I'm figuring out which path suits you best. I don't intend to force on my beliefs and magical path on you. Wizards are meant to explore magic on their own way. I'm just here to get you started."
"... Thank you, Master."
"... "
"... "
Footsteps continued echoing through the sea of bookshelves.
"There's another Path of Magic which you may consider."
"What is it, Master?"
"Warlocks."
"W-warlocks?"
"Yes. Also known as the Bloodline Path. They extract the bloodline of powerful creatures and undergo the process of exchanging their humanity for the sake of power and magical abilities, or in their terminologies, bloodline abilities."
"..."
"Warlocks are highly valuable at wartime. They have higher output of firepower and damage dealing magic. What makes them special are the lower ranked Warlocks, most of which can win battles against other wizard paths of similar rank."
"..."
"The only downside is their potential."
"Why is it so, Master?"
"Well, at the later stages of the Warlock Path, these Bloodline Practioners encounter the same issue - the shackles of the very bloodline running through their veins."
"..."
"Unless they are extremely lucky to encounter a chance and breakthrough their bloodline shackles, they would be stuck at a bottleneck in their path towards magic and power."
"..."
"Another path you should also take into consideration is the Witchcraft Path. It is a high difficulty Wizard Path which focuses in the accumulation of magical knowledge and wisdom. They study the nature of everything under the skies and beyond, including the power behind other Wizard Paths. Most of their studies and research benefited the entire Wizard population - from the knowledge of Potion-making, Artifact-refining, Magical Biology Experiments, and even Elemental Magic, Bloodline Abilities, the list goes on."
"There are countless path and subpath in the journey of becoming a Wizard, Yang-Yang, but to get you started, I have something which I deem suitable for a newbie in magic like you."
"..."
Wizard Lorenzo stopped on his tracks and reached out his hand towards a corner of a bookshelf. A book floated out and presented itself in front of the Wizard, as if a child seeking approval and intimacy from its parent.
The book appears to be one feet long, one feet wide and five inches in thickness. On its covers are shining silver symbols which started glowing faintly after the Wizard laid his attention to the book.
"This... is a Grimoire."
"..."
Wizard Lorenzo turned to face Yang-Yang. His calm eyes met the curious gaze of Yang-Yang.
"... A Grimoire?"
"Yes. It is a product of Witchcraft. I earned it in one of my adventures when I was an Acolyte Wizard."
"... Acolyte?"
"It's the term used to refer to the lower ranks of the Wizard Power Levels Classification."
"..."
"After you successfully bind this Grimoire, you will officially become a Freshman Acolyte Wizard. Here."
Wizard Lorenzo Huanzang handed a needle that seemingly appeared out of nowhere, to Yang-Yang.
"It needs a drop of blood to activate the ownership binding."