The sun vanished and the white moon overtook the sky.
Changes is the only thing that does not change and so the sun again overtook the moon to shine it's bright rays .
Zarian opened his eyes to start a new day . This day is something he is looking forward to . He has many questions regarding his new power " the manipulator of gravity" , but he choosed to be patient and wait for an opportunity.
Zarian got out of bed. His dark long black hair shined in the sun's rays . His face which was full of cuts was a reflection of his past life . His eyes which were sharp like a piercing sword but were also kind and warm .
Zarian came to the dining hall and as usual Ayla was there before anyone else , stuffing her face . But now, a few new guests have joined her , Infi and Lief were lending a hand to Ayla in finishing the food .
Zarian without speaking a word , sat on the dining hall and started eating the food . For he knew, that if he was even a little bit slow , everything in the table would be gone in an instant .
Lief who always had a gloomy atmosphere around him , seemed a bit bright , like someone who had found a new ray of hope . Hope which shines bright like a beacon in the abyss of darkness, Lief had found his hope .
Zarian : [ Hi, Lief . How are you feeling? ]
Those were the first words that Zarian ever said to Lief .Zarian asked him in a tone of pure concern and kindness .
Lief : [ What does it looks like ? Don't try to play buddies with me , keep your distance. I am merely in it for my own intrest ]
It was a slap in the face for Zarian .
Ayla : [ Who do you think you are , some kind of edge lord ? ]
Before Lief could respond, the door opened .
The saintess walked through the door with two guards , Laziel was not accompanying saintess this time .
Lief's expression changed when he saw the saintess. It was the expression of someone who saw a ghost .
Saintess: [ Oh my ! Looks like you are getting along pretty well ]
Ayla : [ Why do you always come when we are eating? ]
Saintess smiled at her remark .
Saintess: [ Guess it's just a coincidence]
Zarian who was waiting for this opportunity, wanted to ask a question.
Zarian: [ You said that I would meet someone today , right ? ]
Saintess: [ Oh my ! You really are impatient ,aren't you , Zarian. ]
Zarian: [ Cut the crap and answer my question]
Saintess: [ You are as cold as always. I came to take you guys there . If you have finished eating, get ready to go ]
All three heroes stood from the chair .
Saintess: [ Oh my ! Looks like all of you are eager to meet them . Well then , lets go .]
The three heroes followed the saintess and the guards to carriage.
The carriage started to move towards the Holy Temple .
The heroes saw the state of the Empire. The streets were filled with people and vendors , the people were cheerful and bright. It looked like there was not even a single sign of poverty.
The roads had no bumps , it was like travelling on glass.
It was good until Zarian saw a slave house . The slaves were not humans but rather beastmen . The hopeless eyes which were devoid of light , looked like the abyss. Their clothes were worn out and their body was covered with bruises .
The ears of beastmen were unique , some had cat ears , some had dog ears , some had bunny ears and some even had horns .
The saintess noticed the curious gaze Zarian.
The carriage finally reached the Holy Temple. The saintess ordered the two guards to lead Zarian and Ayla to the main training ground.
The saintess took Lief with her and entered the Holy Temple .
Zariand and Ayla had no choice but to follow the guards .
Zarian: [ Where are you taking us ? ]
Guard : [ To the training ground as per saintess's order ]
The guards were unfriendly, they had a cold expression on their face . Their foot steps echoed through the corridor.
The Holy Temple was a architectural masterpiece. The engravings on the wall looked like the work of someone who have transcended the very limits of humans .
The Holy Temple had a calming atmosphere to it . The whole Holy Temple was illuminated in the sun's light .
The guards suddenly stopped in front of two doors .
Guard: [ This is far as we can take you ]
Zarian and Ayal looked at the doors in front of them . They both nodded while looking at eachother and entered the doors in front of them .
Zarian walked through the door , the door locked itself . Zarian looked back in surprise.
Zarian : [ Of all things to be surprised about , I am surprised of this , huh ? ]
"So you are the one called Zarian , right ? The one who could manipulate gravity "
Zarian looked around in confusion, suddenly a bright flame appeared in front of him.The flame took the form of a human .
" So you don't remember me ? How rude for a outsider" .
Zarian looked at the human in front of him in a mixture of shock and fear. His face looked a bit familiar to him , he could not wrap his head around it . But he feels like he had seen this face before .
Zarian suddenly remembered something.
Zarian : [ Aren't you one of guards who was standing next to the Emperor during the festival? "]
" Looks like you have a pretty good memory. That's right , I am Elijah Bozelli, the captain of Crimson Petals "
Zarian: [ So you are the one I
was supposed to meet today ]
Elijah looked at Zarian with curiosity.
Elijah with his bright red hair fitting the name, " The Captain of Crimson Petals" . He had a tall stature with toned muscles. His eyes which were as greens as a high quality emerald which could cause war between nations .
Zarian: [ Why are you staring at me ? ]
Zarian choosed every single one of his words carefully. Having been the best theif of the capital, he could sense when he is in danger .
Elijah was something that Zarian have never witnessed in his old world . He had the aura of a monster , not human.
Elijah : [ So tell me about it . How much do you know about your powers ]
Zarian : [ Nothing much , I was aware that I could control gravity ]
Elijah: [ Do you what a mage and manipulator is ? ]
Zarian : [ What ? ]
Elijah looked a bit disappointed, it was as if he expected more .
Elijah : [ Well then , do you know about mana ? ]
Zarian's faced brightened as he finally got asked a question which he knows
Zarian : [ Mana means magical energy , right ? ]
Elijah : [ Well then ,it looks like you are not completely stupid ]
Elijah looked Zarian in the eyes .
Elijah : [Listen carefully, people use mana for various purposes. The common one is in battle . The people who use mana is of three types , a mage, manipulate and spirit user ]
Zarian: [ So , I am a manipulator right ?]
Elijah : [ Yeah you're right but do you know the difference? ]
Elijah paused for a moment and started again .
Elijah : [ A mage uses spells to channel magic but it is not the case for a manipulator. A manipulator can weird magic freely like a body part ]
Zarian: [ Why is that ? ]
Elijah : [ Because manipulator are people who are loved my mana . In the old times , only manipulators and spirit user were the only ones who could weild mana . But that's not the case now , we humans have found a way so that even ordinary people can weild mana with the help of spells ]
Zarian : [ But what's the main difference that sets them apart , so what if they had to use spells , the spells can be quite effective right? ]
Elijah smied at Zarian .
Elijah : [ The more I talk to you , the more I get curious about you ]
Elijah suddenly transformed his hands into a blade of flame .
Elijah: [ It is better to show then to explain isn't it ? Look closely this is what I meant when I said that you could weild it freely ]
Zarian looked at Elijah's hand in shock .
He was astonished , he have never seen something so bizzare in his life . The hands of Elijah turned into a sword of flames , a flame which was as bright as his hair . It was a sight which screamed horror and amazement.
Elijah : [ You're quite shocked , aren't you ? A mage can't handle mana as freely as this. Also a mage do not have a unique element to them ]
Zarian: [ What's a unique element? ]
Elijah : [ Well to put it simply, I can control fire and you can control gravity. Every single manipulator has a unique element which they can control freely ]
Zarian : [ So can I control gravity like you ? ]
Elijah : [ Well that would not be quite possible, as every element has unique properties. I could do it since I am strong .]
Elijah started to brag about how strong he was . Zarian looked at him in a disappointing look .
Zarian thought to himself " Great , a self obsessed freak is gonna be my teacher , what's more ? " .
Elijah : [ But first of all you need to know about mana circles and how to control them . ]
Zarian: [ What is a mana circle ? ]
Elijah: [ For god's sake , I swear the saintess is gonna have to give me some extra potions for dealing with you ]
Elijah was severely irritated with the constant questions but Zarian knew well on how to deal with people like him .
Zarian: [ I am sorry master , but you seemed so knowledgeable and strong that I can't help myself but to use this god given opportunity to the full extent.]
Elijah : [ Yeah you're precisely right , you don't have to say it out loud]
Though he tells that , his ears were red .
Elijah : [ Now listen carefully, mana circles are more like magic storages on our body . We absorb mana through out the day and store it on mana circles . Anyone can reach upto 4 th circle , but you have to put in a lot of work to achieve 5 th circle and only geniuses can achieve 6 th circle and if you achieve 7 th circle , then you're undoubtedly one of the strongest people on the kingdom]
Elijah suddenly appeared behind Zarian's back . Before Zarian could react he placed his hands on his back and forced his mana through Zarian's system .
Elijah: [ Intresting, you are a 3 rd circle without any sort of mana training. You really do have a talent ]
Zarian felt excruciating pain through his back , it was as if someone was stabbing his back with 100 knives . His whole body was screaming.
Elijah : [ Now , now , don't overreact . I just forced a little bit of my mana through you , now let's begin the actual training. You better pray to god ]