Tadley had finally come to terms with Robert's decision to become a wizard, and he spent the weekend in his room quietly meditating to increase his storage of magic energy. While the days dragged on for him, he found a sense of peace in the solitude of his practice. As he focused on his breath and his body, he could feel his connection to the magic energy around him growing stronger. With each passing day, he felt more and more connected to the natural world and the energy that flowed through it.
In the world of Kreete, a wizard's power was determined by the amount of magic energy they could store and release. The greater the capacity of a wizard's magic energy storage chamber, the more magic energy they could direct into their spells. And the more energy they put into their spells, the more powerful the spells became.
During meditation, wizards would either focus on refilling their magic energy storage chamber in their soul or on expanding the chamber itself. Refilling the chamber meant replenishing the amount of magic energy already stored within it, while expanding the chamber meant increasing its maximum capacity. Both of these practices were important for a wizard's development, and the two processes were often intertwined.
The process of expanding the magic energy storage chamber involved repeatedly pushing magic energy into and out of the chamber. Over time, this process 'stretched' the chamber, increasing its capacity. This was a slow and often tedious process, but it was crucial. Depending on the individual's natural talent and dedication to the practice, the chamber would eventually reach the limit of its stretchability. At this point, the wizard would be said to be at the peak of a rank.
When the chamber reaches its limit, it would need a catalyst to evolve into a larger chamber. Wizards could find this catalyst in special materials or through intense practice and mediation, putting strain on their storage chambers. This strain causes a natural 'calling' for expansion, to support the body's demand for casting energy. Eventually, when the magic energy storage chamber cannot keep up with the strain, the chamber bursts, indicating that the wizard has advanced.
After the burst, the wizard's magic energy storage chamber would slowly begin to regenerate into a larger one. This rebuilding process typically took around four minutes, and when it was complete, the wizard would be considered to have completely advanced to the next level. This advancement was marked by an increase in the wizard's magic energy storage capacity, as well as an increase in their capacity to control and manipulate magic much more flexibly and for a longer amount of time. In some cases, the wizard might also gain access to new and more powerful spells.
The chirping of the birds greeted the morning sun on yet another bright and sunny summer Nyxusday. It was a perfect morning and the day had just begun. Whoever was left of the residents of Hackensaw street were slowly beginning to stir from their slumber, blinking the sleep from their eyes. All was quiet and still, save for the gentle sounds of nature... Until suddenly, a shrill ringtone pierced the air, shattering the morning calm.
With a jolt, Robert sat up in bed, disoriented by the sudden jarring ring of his phone. He had spent the whole night meditating, and had finally fallen into a deep sleep an hour before the sun appeared in the horizon. But Robert's blissful unconsciousness was now interrupted by sound of his ringtone, rudely jolting him back to wakefulness. He groped for the phone, cursing the person on the other end for interrupting his much-needed beauty sleep.
"Zack, what's wrong? Why are you calling me at the seventh hour of the god-damn day?" he growled, still half-asleep.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready to meet Oliver and me in front of your boarding school?" Zack's voice sounded from the other end of the line, his tone a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
"Oh right," Robert said, rubbing his eyes. "I'm feeling a bit groggy from all that meditation last night. Let's make it ten instead, alright?"
"You got it, boss," Zack replied, chuckling. "I'll let Oliver know about the change of plans."
"Thanks, Zack. Talk to you later," Robert said, yawning as he ended the call. He sank back down onto his bed and closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift off into a deep sleep.
Today was going to be a big day, and Robert knew he needed to be at his best. He needed to be physically and mentally prepared for the magic beast hunt.
Before he knew it, the alarm on his phone was blaring, and it was already 10. Time had flown by while he slept, and now he had to face the day ahead. He dragged himself out of bed, a bit grumpy at being woken up again. But he knew he had to get ready. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd had a familiar dream about a brilliant flash of blue light. It was an odd feeling, but he couldn't quite remember what the dream had been about. He decided to try to forget about it and go on with his day. He brushed his teeth, took a shower, and got dressed in his favorite kind of outfit: a cool blue jacket and black trousers.
He went downstairs and told his mother he was heading out to meet some friends in the neighborhood, and that he might not be home until late. She glanced at him with a knowing smile, and said, "You've got that look on your face, Robert. But I'll let you go this time."
Robert chuckled. He kissed his mother and Erica on the cheek and headed out the door.
He managed to find a taxi that took him to Solar Springs High School, and upon arrival, he found Oliver and Zack lingering by the school's black gates, clearly waiting for him.
"Hey guys," he said, grinning as he walked up to them. "I'm here."
"You're late!" Zack snapped, crossing his arms. "We've been waiting for over thirty-five minutes!"
Robert recoiled at Zack's sour expression. "Whoa, what's with the attitude?" He asked, turning to Oliver.
Oliver let out a resigned sigh. "Zack, this plan of yours isn't going to work, let's just go," he said, hailing a passing taxi.
Robert looked between the two of them, confused. "What plan? What's going on?"
"Zack's plan was to pretend to be mad at you for being late, hoping you'd offer to make it up to us by paying for our ride," Oliver explained, sliding into the taxi. "He thought it would work, but I told him it was a silly idea. Guess who's looking silly now."
Zack stormed around the taxi to the other door. "You know, you could have simply kept your dumb mouth shut," he grunted, yanking open the door and climbing inside. Robert, feeling a little sheepish, followed suit. The taxi driver eyed the three of them in the rearview mirror with a bemused expression on his face. Zack promptly started giving him directions to their destination, while Robert sank back into his seat.
"That was a uhh... thoughtful plan, but I'm short on money right now. Maybe someday I'll consider registering as an adventurer, you know, earn some gold while risking my neck," Robert mused as the taxi picked up speed.
"I was thinking the exact same thing! You have no idea how much I am in need of money," Zack exclaimed.
Robert chuckled lightly. "Believe me, I do."
Just then, Oliver's telepathic voice sounded in Robert's mind. "You know about adventurers now, huh? Thought you were a magic ignoramus," he teased. Robert rolled his eyes, smiling.
"Guys, let's put the money talk aside and focus on the task at hand. Zack, can you tell us about the information you've gathered on Horkii Rainforest?" Oliver said.
"Alright," Zack said, pulling his laptop from his space ring and placing it on his lap. "I've downloaded the best map of the rainforest I could find online. It indicates the area with the dominant type of magic beasts and their density. The map uses a colour-coded system to indicate safety levels: green areas are relatively safe, while the yellow areas have an average density of 25 low-level magic beasts per square mile. The orange areas have 55 medium-level and low-level beasts per square mile, and the red areas have... you know what, we just need to make sure we stay away from the orange, red, and black areas. Oliver mentioned he wants the Sonic owl, which is primarily found in the east of Horkii rainforest, and that part, on the map, has many areas glowing bright orange. But with your Ancestor souls, our chances of survival somewhat acceptable. So, Robert, what magic beast are you interested in? That way, I can search what part of the rainforest they're found."
Robert thought for a moment. "The Flaming fox?" he said, clearly unsure of his decision.
Zack raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you wanna go for the Flaming fox?" he asked. "They do not have an attractive bloodline, and it's extremely difficult to find one in Horkii rainforest. They're mostly found in Ston Reserve and the Flaming Valley, and both are known for their scorching heat and volcanic activity. We are definitely not going there."
"Umm..."
"How about you get a Sonic owl as well? That way, it'll be easier for us," Zack suggested, promptly understanding that Robert knew very little about magic beasts.
"No, I don't want to have the same beast as Oliver. It feels odd even thinking about it," Robert said, feeling a bit queasy at the thought. The idea of having the same magic beast as Oliver was just too weird for him to stomach.
"In that case, we'll get you a Growling Lworg," said Zack with a tone of finality, "it's a serpentine beast with Wind elemental affinity, and it can be found in Horkii rainforest. And trust me, you're gonna love it's growl - except at night, of course. It has a nice bloodline, if I do say so myself."
"You keep mentioning bloodline when we talk about magic beasts. What does it mean, exactly?" asked Robert, curious to learn more. Zack seemed to have a good grasp of magic beasts, and Robert was eager to expand his own knowledge. He wanted to understand what made certain magic beasts more desirable than others, and what role bloodline played in that.
"Alright, I'll explain it simply. The bloodline of a magic beast determines its potential for growth and advancement. Some magic beasts have a strong bloodline, which means they have remarkable control over their elemental affinities and can prgress to higher levels more easily. Others have weaker bloodlines, which means they may have more difficulty in advancing, and exhibit less affinity control." Zack continued, "Creatures with a strong bloodline, like the Sonic owl, can reach astonishing levels of advancement, like level 40, but progressing beyond that point becomes increasingly difficult due to inherent limitations within their bloodline. On the other hand, creatures with weaker bloodlines, like the Plant monsters, can only grow as far as level 10. But you gotta note, we humans are not naturally born with magic abilities; however, we can acquire them through learning, awakening and practice. As a result, our potential for advancement is less restricted and primarily depends on our dedication to training and meditation, along with access to certain resources. Nevertheless, reaching certain levels can be challenging, and we may require external aids like potions and the sorts to continue progressing. Does this make sense to you?"
Robert nodded. "I guess." He glanced at Oliver, as if asking if he had known all of that. Oliver shrugged.
The taxi turned onto a dirt road and continued at a steady pace. Zack exchanged a few words with the driver, who shook his head and veered the taxi off-road, and soon after, it came to a stop. A short distance away, a tall structure which looked like a lighthouse, except much larger and sturdier, towered above the landscape. The lighthouse-like structure was one of several that lined the boundary between Horkii rainforest and Axille. These structures stood before a tall metal wall which separated the rainforest from Axille, with a much taller and imposing one at the center of the assembly.
Located in the southwestern part of the Comset continent, Horkii rainforest was a protected nature reserve that effectively formed a barrier between the ocean and a substantial portion of Heiss City, with Axille's segment of the city sharing a border with approximately 90% of the reserve's perimeter. The rainforest was under the jurisdiction of the Heiss government, and like most nature reserves in Kreete, Horkii rainforest boasted a thriving magic ecosystem, and was renowned for its magical biodiversity. The Plant monsters were the most infamous inhabitants of this forest, considered to be one of the most troublesome magical creatures in the region. Despite its protected status, the reserve was a valuable source of wood for Heiss City, however, it was off-limits to those without proper clearance or adequate wizard training. A towering wall made of a mysterious and incredibly durable metal separated the rainforest from Axille, and consequently, from Heiss City.
To the ordinary residents of Axille, the metal wall enclosing Horkii Rainforest appeared to be constructed from a standard, robust metal alloy, and the guards stationed at the lighthouses seemed like regular soldiers armed with guns, tasked with maintaining border security. But those among them who knew a bit better were aware that the truth was much more complex. The metal wall was actually strengthed with runes, which were visible only to wizards, and the guards were actually wizards, tasked with ensuring that the magic beasts in Horkii rainforest did not breach the border into Axille. If they did, they could spread to other areas of Heiss City.
"Alright, Robs, time to pay the driver," said Zack, as they exited the taxi. Oliver rolled his eyes, perceiving Zack's frugality as extremely annoying. After all, it was only 3 gold coins; a small but necessary expense for their trip. Oliver simply took out the coins from his pocket and handed them to the driver, who thanked them and drove off.
"What's next?" asked Robert, gazing at the border wall with a curious look in his eyes.
Zack pointed at the largest lighthouse-like structure at the center. "We need to get permission from the guards at that watchtower over there," he said.
"Or we could just scale the wall," Oliver suggested. "I doubt they'd ever let a couple of teenagers like us into the rainforest."
"Oliver, those watchtowers aren't just for show," Zack said. "They'll have wizards up there constantly keeping an eye on the wall, and if we try to go over it they'll surely spot us and stop us immediately. Each watchtower is staffed by at least twenty Common wizards, five Mystic wizards, and one Legendary wizard. Their whole purpose is to keep magic beasts in the forest from entering the city, so they'll definitely see us if we try to sneak in."
Robert had to admit that Zack had a point.
"Well, what do you think we should do then?" Oliver asked, trying to come up with a solution. But before they could discuss their next move, a harsh voice called out to them.
"Hey, you three dim wits!" the voice yelled. "Get over here!"