Jarek's place was close to the middle wing of the foragers' Outpost.
The inner wings had sturdy wooden doors to keep out unwanted visitors, and in the center was a courtyard where a shaft of sunlight poured down from above through the hollow mountains.
It wasn't luxurious, but compared to anything Eldros had known in both lives, it was practically comfortable.
She led the way in, pointed toward the middle room at the far side of the cave-like home, and said, "You stay there, Eldros. I'll call you when food's ready."
Without waiting for an answer, Jarek headed for the kitchen. Soon the rhythmic sound of chopping echoed through the space.
Eldros stepped into his assigned quarters—a simple room with a bed, blanket, and table. Clean. It was also dark. It suited him. Small rooms always made him feel safe.
Ignoring the bed, he sat cross-legged on the floor and began his breathing exercises.
Being a Magus meant many things, but above all, it demanded constant meditation and the careful condensation of mana into one's body, whether you followed the Magus Mystic, the Magus Primaris, or both.
Mana flowed into him in steady waves. The smell of food soon drifted from the kitchen—rich and fragrant enough to make his stomach growl—but he kept his focus on his Arcana art.
By evening, Jarek called out.
Eldros opened his eyes and went to the kitchen. The table was set with several dishes, steam rising from each.
He waited until she finished arranging the table before sitting.
And they ate in silence. Jarek ate slowly; Eldros devoured his share like a starving wolf.
After a while, she asked, "You must have a lot of questions."
Eldros stopped eating. He was instantly on guard, his eyes narrowed. "Why do you say that?"
Did she know he wasn't from this world? He tensed subtle, his left hand drifting to his disc. He might not be able to defeat her but he should be able to make his escape.
She smiled. "You have the look around you. And, you don't know anything about the Ninefold Eclipse. It's almost as if you are not used to the Magus world, and yet you are a Magus."
Eldros tensed even more and his left hand began to turn leathery. He should be able to buy time to escape.
"Don't worry, if I wanted you dead. You would be dead already. You won't even see it coming." She said calmly.
Eldros thought about it, realized it was true and then he straightened.
She nodded. "You want to know the reason why I let you join us? Because I know someone like you who is naive about the Magus world and yet was a Magus."
"What happen to them?" Eldros could already guess.
"She's dead. Perhaps this is the final favor for her. So listen closely.
"There is one thing that would always remain a constant in the Magus world. And that is gain. If there is something to gain, then Magus would go for it and take it. Doesn't matter if it was right or wrong."
Eldros resisted the urge to touch his chest where his rune lay. Instead he watched her carefully.
"And that's because the resources of advancing as a Magus isn't enough to go around. If you're not strong. You'll die."
Eldros already know this but he nodded anyway.
"I don't know the technique that you have but you should keep it hidden and..."
She talked about a lot of things but it was summarized in Eldros's head as. Be strong, always have a secret thrump card and keep your secrets to yourself.
It was something that Eldros knew, but still he nodded. What he wanted to know more about was the Arcana Arts but apparently, it's kind of forbidden to openly discuss things like that unless you are that close or studying the same Art.
Even then, people only talk about things like that on a surface level.
But he did learn some things, most especially about the world. The world is divided into five Regions. Each regions contained countless continents.
Greenhaven is located in the Western Region and it was one of the smallest continents. Apparently, there about nine Great continents and Seventy small ones.
Eldros's mind couldn't comprehend it at first, the scale was simply so big that he couldn't warp his mind around it.
Between the continents lay the Eternal Maze and under the maze was the abyss.
Eldros blinked several times and decided to start things from the low places.
"...most of the Clans and Sanctum here are branches of bigger ones in the more prominent continents."
"Like the Ninefold Eclipse?" Eldros asked.
Her face darkened immediately. "Those are dark organizations that rapidly rose in the last few decades but they are also quite powerful around here. You shouldn't piss off anyone from there. And if you must, make sure you leave no trail behind."
Eldros likes to clean up after himself so he nodded.
She leaned forward. "I want you to join us, my team. You'll earn your keep, and you'll get resources for your Arcana art."
It made sense to Eldros.
"Okay," he said with a nod.
"Good. Don't rush your Magus art. Mana's like poison—it slowy corrupt your body, you just have to take care not to make it happen faster. Slow and steady's the way."
With that, she left him to his thoughts.
Eldros stayed behind to finish the food, cleaned the kitchen afterward, and returned to his room.
He sat on the floor again, resuming his practice. Weakness had defined his first life—he wouldn't let it define this one.
This outpost wasn't like the gang-ridden gutters he'd known before. The gangs were wild dogs; here, it was a den of wolves. If he didn't grow stronger, he'd be killed long before the side effects of being a Magus could take him.
He recalled what he had heard from other foragers—cleansing potions could ease the toll of Noxium, though nothing could cure it completely. The ingredients were in ruined cities, which meant the outpost might sell them, if he had the coins.
His hand went to his chest, feeling the rune. It granted him regeneration, speed, and strength.
Even at the first star of the Initiate of the Arcana and the Hand of the Demon, he already felt stronger than the book said. Could it be the effect of the rune?
His heart began to beat fast, he couldn't wait to see how it would help him. Already, he could feel that he was on the edge of another breakthrough.
Since he was following the Magus Mystic path for now, the first star was said to grant the strength of several men.
He closed his eyes. His goal for the night was clear, reach the second star tonight.
Mana surged into him. The Noxium here was far lighter than in the ruined city, making the work easier.
The silver light in his chest pulsed, and he drew the energy in.
Time slipped by.
A series of sharp cracks echoed from within his body. Black sludge seeped from his pores as his flesh refined itself, his strength increasing.
A roar filled his mind, his senses sharpening. His eyes snapped open, silver light flickering inside.
He had reached the second star of the Initiate of the Arcana.