Arlen began by consulting the mages' guild in Rivenford. There, the guild's archivist explained that "Intermediate Magic" was not just an increase in power, but a deeper understanding of mana control, spell construction, and elemental manipulation. The path forward would require:
Intensive Study: Pouring over advanced grimoires and scrolls to learn how to shape and combine magical energies.
Practical Training: Practicing more complex spells under the guidance of a senior mage, focusing on spell stability and efficiency.
Mana Expansion: Meditating daily to expand his mana pool and increase spellcasting stamina. The archivist offered Arlen a place in their advanced lessons—if he could demonstrate mastery of his current spells and pass a basic aptitude test.
Learning Water Affinity, the ability to align one's magic with the element of water, required a different approach. Arlen sought out local elementalists and eventually met a gentle, enigmatic water mage by the riverside.
Natural Immersion: The mage taught him to spend time near bodies of water, meditating until he could sense the flow and energy of water all around him.
Elemental Rituals: He learned rituals involving drawing water runes and channeling mana through them, creating small currents, mists, or droplets suspended in the air.
First Spell: His practice would culminate in casting a simple water spell—such as summoning a globe of water or gently manipulating its flow—proving his affinity. The process would take weeks of patience and attunement, but the mage assured Arlen that true affinity was built on respect for the element's nature.
Stealth magic, the art of blending magical concealment with physical stealth, was both rare and highly prized among adventurers.
Shadow Practice: Arlen refined his Shadow Veil until he could move without making a sound, synchronizing his breathing and footsteps with his magical concealment.
Learning from Rogues: He sought advice from skilled rogues and scouts at the guild, mastering the arts of silent movement and evasion.
Spell Integration: The trick was to weave minor illusion and silence spells into his movements, rendering him nearly invisible and soundless even in broad daylight.
Assessment: To prove his skill, Arlen would have to pass a stealth challenge set by the guild—sneaking past warded sentries and retrieving a hidden token without being detected.
With a clear plan for each requirement, Arlen was ready to embark on a new phase of intense learning and practice. The journey to the next labyrinth would be as much about personal growth as it was about magical power, and he relished the challenge ahead.