"He became hungry for more power...power that even his father didn't covet, at first I thought he was merely seeking dominance over the 2 other kingdoms but I was wrong he wanted to put the entire continent under his rule"
"Others find it natural that the king wanted to expand the territory but for me it was merely for greed. Bit by bit he was taking control of the central continent until he finally conquered it. Millions of people died innocents slaughtered and children were abandoned. I was horrified of what the student I taught turn up, but nobody questioned him not even the most righteous man I ever knew stop him!"
"But the central continent was just the beginning he then started to seek the eastern and the western part of the continent. I grown tired of the endless slaughter so I asked him to stop but he won't listen.....fight broke out and I almost killed him....that broke me more, more than the guilt I have for the lives that was shed during the war...I couldn't bear to kill him!"
The boy couldn't bear to watch as the old man's frail body started shaking it's as if he's trying to restrain something.
"But I couldn't just stand and do nothing....I searched the entire continent looking for someone capable of preventing this war. I searched the north, the east and the west and finally here in south"
The trembling stopped and the old man stare at the boy in front of him.
"I searched the entire continent and I found you....the holder of the red mana"
"So is that mean you want me to do the job that you couldn't do. You want me to kill the emperor and stop the empire from expanding. Something that you couldn't bear to accomplished"
"No what I want you to do is to protect something that even I couldn't protect"
"And that is?"
"Family....I'll teach you not because I want you to beat him but because I want you to protect your family and everyone that is important to you...I no longer wish to end the war all I want now is to save what is left on this continent "
"So please young one will you become my student? "
All the information was presented to him and now his answered is needed, he look at the old and wrinkled face of the man in front of him and couldn't help but be sad.
'He only has a year'
With that thought the boy's heart aches only a year of his life and yet he stills wants to save the last thing he could save.
"Okay"
The boy's voice made the old man smiled in relief he couldn't help but hug the boy.
"Thank you!...I won't let you down young one...I promise!"
'Wasn't I supposed to promise that?' with a helpless smile the boy could only raise his hands and happily return the embrace. He felt within the Mage's arms the warmth that he longed to get.
"First things first let us first introduce ourselves...My name is Erezion Von Pendragon and this student humbly greets his teacher "
"I greet you too young one ...this mage in front of you is named Kyros Lavrenti the most powerful Archmage of the entire continent of Terrainzio"
The Archmage smiled brightly while patting his chest.
"So what's next?"
"Oh? next....right! you must first learn geography"
"!?"
"Why? wasn't I supposed to learn about spells?"
The Archmage only stare at the boy looking really nostalgic then he sigh and beckon the boy to follow him.
With a little struggle the boy followed the wizard until they arrive at a huge mural.
"!?"
"This is the map of Bunag"
"Bunag?"
"Bunag is the term the people used to refer to our world. You see our world Bunag is consist of Five continents. The continent on the east, Tearach was famous for their continental archipelago which home for powerful beast and underwater resources.
The old man pointed the huge chunk of land with lots of small islands surrounding it.
"After the east is the vast ocean of atlan it serves as the border between the next continent the North, also known as the frozen continent it is also the second most biggest continent in Bunag. Nerteros the land that even sunlight had a hard time reaching. You'll be surprise if you found notable resources there most of the things you can find there are ferocious beast"
"Atlan ocean separates the northern and eastern continent while a vast mountainous ranges separates north and west continent. The western continent or Brynar, is the third largest continent on Bunag 30% of the continent are covered with vast desert and gigantic valleys while the remaining, 10% snowy lands, and 60% are known to be forest"
Kyros then pointed the south unlike north who is 100% covered in snow and glaciers the south continent isn't, only at least 40% was covered in snow while the remaining was a normal land.
"Doun the south continent as you can see it is the biggest continent and said to be the home of dragons "
"Dragons!?"
Erez remember the Pentagon hall the five dragons that said to be the guardians of Argonia and the one dragon that said to be their ancestor.
"Yes actually people all across Bunag thought it was only a myth but I know it wasn't "
"Really?"
The Archmage look at the excited and amazed reaction of the boy and begun to say.
"Yes because I met a dragon there when I was traveling Doun at first I went there wanting to prove that dragons don't exist but I was wrong
they exist they even have a kingdom of their own"
"They have!?"
With sparkling eyes Erez look at Kyros with heated curiosity. This made the old wizard feel boastful.
"Of course, they have a Queen and king and a full set of system in governing. I could still remember how advanced their magic is and how diligent they are when it comes to developing new technology"
'I wish I could've show it to you' the Archmage secretly thought.
"Amazing "
Looking at the boy's face made the old wizard even more energetic to explain.
"Now lastly our continent located southeast of Bunag, Terrainzio"
"It's big"
"Look over there Erez the southern part of Terrainzio"
"It's Acacius! and this is Legolas and Modar..."
"Indeed it is do you know Erez the south actually occupies 40% of Terrainzio without even including the endless Dark forest "
"The endless Dark forest serves as the barrier that prevents the empire from invading the south. As you already know the endless Dark forest was home for thousands of saint level beast that is why not even the empire can recklessly invade it"
"I never expected that the dark forest can be that helpful"
Few more discussion was exchange as the two begun to enjoy looking at the map that they had forgotten something important.
"...."
"...."
It was already night before they knew it.
"I will write a letter to my family so that they will know I am safe and sound"
"Okay I'll prepare a special pen and paper for you"
'After this there is no turning back now'
The boy stare at the mural looking very serious.
'For a year I will had to stay here'
Shortly after that Erez send a Letter using magic wishing for his family's well being.
"Rest for today, tomorrow we will start from the basic"
Erez nodded he was then led to his room with food and drinks to dine on.
"Eat up and have a full rest goodnight Erez"
"Ah yes goodnight as well ...um... master "
The word master suddenly makes the old mage smile melancholy although he tried to hide it but Erez was able to notice it.
"He still blames himself for what happened to his student...*sigh*.."
"I'm tired"
Erez eat as much as he want, clean himself then lazily sleeps on the bed.
"I hope tomorrow will be better"
.....
Next morning Erez finally realized how different the place they currently staying in. From the old trees and uniquely looking plants.
"Master I wasn't able to notice this yesterday but where are we?"
"Good question actually we are at the core of the endless Dark forest "
"!?"
"At the core!"
"Yes no need to worry none of those saint level beast can enter here.... well even if they could I doubt they can take three steps inside the barrier"
"Now then enough with the minor stuff let's get to the basics of magic"
"As I said mana allows Mages to manipulate nature through a spell"
Inside a laboratory like room Kyros took out a magic pen and begin writing on the air.
"Spells have five stages with five different elements. This stages categories the power and strength level of each different spells. The stages are basic spells ranging from level 0-1 spells next is beginner stage which ranges from level 2-4 spells. Intermediate stage spells ranges from level 5-8. Magister stage, spells ranges from level 9-11 and lastly Celestial stage the spells ranges from level 12-15. Each time a spell is cast a magic circle will appear each magic circle have rings and those rings indicates what level the spell is. Currently my spells are all in celestial stage making my spell level 15 with 15 rings, now for the elements. The five elements mainly consist of blue for water, red for fire, yellow for earth, green for wind and black for darkness"
"This is how a basic fire spell looks like"
The old mage raise his hand and conjure a red magic circle.
*Puff*
As soon as the basic spell was conjure a palm size fire was cast. Erez observed the magic circle attentively trying to fully understand how it works.
"For basic spells an incantation is needed to assist the student's visualization and imaging about the spell but as the student became more familiar in casting the lesser they rely in incantation when casting a spell "
"Examples of incantations is like this..... hear me element of fire gather in my palm and bring warmth to my path conjure FIRE BALL!"
*Puff*
The same palm size fire appear on the old Mage's hand.
"Isn't the incantation a bit too long?"
"That is because some students have a hard time visualizing what kind of spell they need to do...now then shall we start practicing basic spells"
"First you need to visualize the spell inside your head once you have a clear construction of the spell you must utilize your mana to calculate it's size and shape"
Erez look at the spell book and memorize the spell, he repeatedly chant it in his head so he won't made mistake.
'Okay let's do this'
Raising his hand the the boy begin to chat.
"Fire element heed my call appear on my hand and light the path that I shall took conjure FLARE!"
A small fire shoot from the boy's hand and turn into a small fireworks.
"Not bad but looking at the speed you took to cast the level 0 spell you might not need to use incantations in casting spells"
"I think so to I think I can properly visualize the spells without needing long incantations "
"As I expected then let's jump from basic to beginner...I'll show you first "
The Archmage raised his hand and made the same spell fireball but this time he didn't chant Erez saw how the fire ball became even bigger than before. Kyros moved his hand and the spell fire ball flew towards a small dummy blasting it to pieces.
"It's fast!"
"Beginner stage, spells ranges from level 2-4 in this stage mages became a little more familiar in controling mana. They can be more proficient in increasing and decreasing the spell's strength and speed just like what you saw a moment ago"
"So in basic stage they train visualisation of mages while in beginner stage they train the mage's mana control"
"Correct now then shall we practice more"