Trinity of Magic [Progression Fantasy]

Chapter 13: [Blood manipulation].

The morning air was crisp and cool as Maximilian and Zeke made their way to the training room. The sun had not yet crested the horizon, casting a soft glow over the world. Despite the early hour, both men were awake and alert. Zeke had spent all of yesterday buried in thick tomes on blood magic theory, determined to master the arcane art. But now, as Maximilian stood before him, he knew it was time to put that knowledge into practice.

"Zeke," Maximilian said, his voice stern but kind. "From now on, we have to get up at this time every day. That way, we can train for three hours before your classes start."

Zeke nodded, determined to do whatever it took to prove himself worthy of the trust Maximilian had shown him. He had always been a bright and kind child, but the bullying he had endured at Elementium had made him a little more introverted and reclusive. Still, he had held on to the believe that with hard work and dedication, he could overcome any obstacle.

As Maximilian and Zeke stood in the training room of their house, the old mage laid out the plan for the coming weeks.

"Listen, my boy," Maximilian began, his kind eyes fixed on his young student. "From now on, our mornings will be dedicated to training in blood magic spells. After that, you'll attend your classes at the academy. And then, after lunch, I'll take you out of the school to get some combat experience against monsters."

Zeke's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why do I have to fight monsters instead of training here?" he asked.

Maximilian chuckled. "Because, my boy, the stress of actual combat puts a great deal of pressure on the mind and body. And that pressure is the best way to stimulate progress for mages. Stress is a fantastic learning aid for us, you see."

Zeke nodded, trying to wrap his head around this new way of learning. It was at this time that he realized why his blood core was about to evolve so early. The bullying by the other students, the separation from his parents and sister, the painful loss of Lilly in his life: All of those events combined had put an immense pressure on Zeke. He felt like he was suffocating each day since coming here. If stress was really as beneficial as Maximilian claimed, then Zeke wouldn't be surprised if his other cores were close to evolving too.

"And in the evenings," Maximilian continued, "you'll continue to study blood magic theory, just as you did yesterday. If everything goes according to plan, you might be able to learn the required blood spell in as little as two weeks."

Zeke nodded, steeling himself for what was to come. He knew that the path ahead would be difficult, but with Maximilian's guidance, he was confident that he could overcome any challenge.

"I'll do my best, Maximilian," he said, a determined look in his eyes.

The old mage smiled, patting Zeke on the shoulder. "I have no doubt that you will, my boy. Now, I want you to list off all the blood spells you already know."

Zeke looked confused and shook his head. "I don't know any blood spells," he said, his voice laced with frustration.

Maximilian stared at him in disbelief. "What do you mean you don't know any blood spells? You've been at the magic academy for seven weeks now. What have you learned in that time?"

Zeke sighed, overcome with a feeling of defeat. "In class, we only learn how to heal passively with blood magic," he said. "We don't really do any actual spells."

Maximilian cursed under his breath, his face contorted in anger. "This can't even be considered magic," he spat. "That teacher of yours is wasting your time and talent. We'll have to work extra hard to make up for lost time. Let's just start with the most basic spell of blood magic: [Blood manipulation]."

Zeke's eyes lit up with excitement. He had always wanted his teachers to teach him proper blood magic spells, and now that wish was finally coming true.

"[Blood manipulation] is the ability to control the flow of your own blood," Maximilian continued. "It can be used to speed up the functions of organs and muscles by increasing the blood flow, or to increase the density of your blood. It's a very useful spell to have in your arsenal, especially when combined with other blood magic spells."

Zeke nodded, taking in every word of Maximilian's lesson. He knew that mastering blood magic would not be easy, but he was determined to do whatever it took to become the best mage he could be.

For hours, Maximilian taught Zeke the intricacies of [Blood manipulation], showing him how to integrate the power of his blood attuned mana to control the flow of his blood. It was difficult work, but with each passing hour, Zeke's control became firmer, and he began to make progress.

As the three hours of training came to an end, Maximilian stood before Zeke, a proud smile spreading across his face. "Zeke," he said, his voice filled with amazement. "Your progress has been nothing short of astounding. It took me almost a week to advance my own [Fire manipulation] to your level."

Zeke beamed with pride, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. He knew that mastering blood magic would not be easy, but with Maximilian's guidance, he had made rapid progress.

"Your fast progress is a combination of your perfect blood affinity and your natural talent in mana control," Maximilian continued. "I have no doubt that if you can keep up this speed of advancement, you'll graduate from being an apprentice in no time at all."

Zeke nodded, basking in a sense of pride at his accomplishment. He knew that he still had a long way to go, but with hard work and dedication, he was confident that he could achieve anything.

"Go to your classes now," Maximilian said, patting Zeke on the shoulder. "And return for lunch. We have much more work to do."

Zeke nodded and set off for his classes, his mind racing with excitement. As he sat in class, he tried to increase the blood flow to his brain, curious to see what effect it would have. To his surprise, he found that his thinking speed increased slightly, and he felt more clear-headed than before. The material of the class seemed to come more easily to him as well, and he was making progress with his [Blood manipulation] at the same time.

As the day went on, Zeke's excitement only grew. He knew that he had a natural talent for blood magic, and with Maximilian's guidance, combined with his new learning speed, he was confident that he could achieve the goals they set for the coming weeks.

Zeke walked through the doors of his new home, his head filled with the lessons of the day. As he sat down for lunch with the old man, he couldn't wait to share his progress.

"Maximilian, you won't believe what I was able to do today!" Zeke exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "I figured out that I can use my [Blood manipulation] spell to increase my thinking speed!"

Maximilian nodded knowingly, a small smile playing on his lips. "That's impressive, Zeke. But remember, [Blood manipulation] is a complex and powerful spell. You should try to keep the enhancements to your body as focused as possible for as long as you can. And once you feel comfortable with that, you can try improving different parts of your body at the same time."

Zeke nodded, taking in Maximilian's words. He knew that mastering [Blood manipulation] would take time and dedication, but he was determined to succeed.

"Once you can freely turn on and off all the enhancements to your body at will, you will be considered to have mastered the apprentice level of [Blood manipulation]," Maximilian continued. "But don't let that be your only goal. Keep pushing yourself to learn and grow as a mage. The journey to true mastery is a never-ending one."

Zeke nodded, feeling grateful for Maximilian's guidance and support. As the end of their meal approached, Zeke found himself lost in thought, still trying to find ways to improve his skills in [Blood manipulation]. Meanwhile, Maximilian had been preparing something in another room, and now he called Zeke over to join him.

Zeke made his way over to the room, curious to see what Maximilian had been up to. When he entered, he saw that there was a set of light leather armor and a backpack on the table, as well as a staff. The staff was made of wood, but the ends on both sides were reinforced with metal.

"Put on the armor and pick up the weapon," Maximilian instructed.

Zeke obeyed, slipping on the armor and picking up the staff. It felt well-balanced in his hand, and he couldn't help but wonder why Maximilian had chosen it for him.

"Why this weapon?" Zeke asked, turning to Maximilian.

"I chose this weapon because it will complement your strengths well," Maximilian explained. "Internal magic cores, such as the blood core, passively improve the user's body over time," Maximilian said. "There are three types of body magic cores: the blood core, the bone core, and the flesh core. These cores make the body stronger and more durable by permanently nourishing the blood, bone, and flesh with a passive flow of attuned mana."

Zeke nodded, understanding dawning on him. "So that's why I'm a lot stronger than other kids my age, even with my build," he said, recalling how he had always been able to hold his own against Martin and his bully friends back in his village.

"Exactly," Maximilian confirmed. "The magic cores give you an extra edge, and as you continue to develop your skills and control over them, you'll become even stronger. But remember, it's important to balance your physical training with your magical studies. Both are crucial to becoming a well-rounded combatant."

Zeke nodded, determined not to ignore his physical training in the future. "With your increased strength, a blunt weapon like this staff will be the best choice," Maximilian explained. "And remember, the staff has a longer reach than most conventional blunt weapons, giving you an advantage against untrained foes."

Zeke had to agree with the logic behind those words, but feeling the weight of the weapon in his hands and realizing that he was going to have to fight actual monsters. A wave of nervousness washed over him, as his mind filled with images of dragons burning down villages, of nightmare creatures made from fire and darkness tossing around burning buildings like they were toys.

"What kind of monster are we going to hunt?" Zeke asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Maximilian chuckled at the look of worry on the young mage's face. "Don't worry, Zeke. We're not hunting dragons or giants. We're hunting goblins."