She extended her hand, and a golden thread of mana coiled around her fingertips, pulsing like a living entity.
"The Mage profession is for those who understand the flow of mana and manipulate it into destructive or protective forces," she explained. "Unlike warriors or assassins who rely on their physical strength, Mages rely on their intellect and Magic Circles to cast spells."
With a simple motion
Flick!
The tome before them flipped open on its own, its aged pages glowing faintly as arcane runes and intricate diagrams emerged from within.
Jack and his family leaned in, their eyes tracing the shifting symbols, mesmerized by the way they pulsed in response to Ava's mana.
"This," Ava continued, pointing to an elaborate diagram of a Magic Circle, "is the foundation of all spellcasting."
The air around them grew thick with anticipation, the scent of old parchment and lingering magic intertwining into something almost sacred.
Jack swallowed hard, his fingers tightening around the edge of the book.
He could feel the power within these pages.
And he knew…
------
Ava's gaze sharpened as she tapped the ancient tome with her fingertip.
Fwoom!
A soft glow radiated from the pages, illuminating the intricate runes etched within.
"These are the most fundamental spells every Mage must master before progressing." Her voice carried the weight of experience, her golden eyes flickering with a faint magical light.
She turned the pages slowly rustling revealing inscriptions pulsating with energy, as if eager to be unleashed.
---
Mage's Magic Spells (1-Star to 3-Star) – Foundation Stage;
1. Fireball –
Fwoosh!
A sphere of flames ignites in the palm, launched forward to explode upon impact.
2. Ice Spike –
Crack!
Summons a sharp icicle that shoots forth, piercing enemies with chilling precision.
3. Lightning Bolt –
Zzzt!
Fires a crackling bolt of electricity, stunning and damaging foes in its path.
4. Aqua Jet –
Splaash!
Releases a high-pressure stream of water, forceful enough to push back or cut through obstacles.
5. Gust Blast –
Whoosh!
A sudden burst of wind erupts outward, knocking enemies off balance.
6. Rock Bullet –
Thunk!
Condenses mana into a dense stone projectile, striking with blunt force.
7. Mana Shield –
Hum!
Forms a shimmering, protective barrier of raw mana, deflecting incoming attacks.
8. Blink –
Zzt!
Instantly teleports the user a short distance, vanishing in a flicker of light.
9. Magic Missile –
Whizz!
Fires a cluster of homing magical projectiles, seeking out their targets.
10. Arcane Burst –
Boom!
A sudden pulse of arcane energy surges outward, repelling anything nearby.
---
As the final rune dimmed, the air still crackled with residual mana. Jack and his family stared at the tome, the weight of knowledge sinking in.
"These are only the first steps," Ava said, her tone firm yet encouraging. "True mastery requires more than just memorization; it demands control, precision, and a deep understanding of mana's flow."
She closed the tome with a soft thud, locking eyes with Jack.
"Are you ready to begin?"
---
Jack's mother, Emma, leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I want to learn Fireball first!" she declared with barely contained excitement.
Ava chuckled, arms crossed as she watched the enthusiasm in Emma's expression. "Fireball is one of the easiest spells to learn," she admitted, "but one of the hardest to master." Her golden eyes glowed faintly. "It requires precise mana control and unwavering focus. If your concentration wavers, the spell could misfire" she smirked slightly, "or worse, backfire."
Despite already mastering Fireball using Ava's book, Emma was eager to try it in front of Ava. Perhaps there was room for improvement, a way to refine her control under the expert's guidance.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and stilled her racing thoughts. The world around her seemed to blur as she sank into meditation, reaching for the mana within.
A gentle warmth spread through her chest, the core of her power.
Fwooom!
A faint ember flickered to life in her palm. The air rippled slightly as the flame pulsed, growing in intensity.
Ava's gaze sharpened. She said nothing, merely observing with quiet expectation.
Emma's brow furrowed in concentration. "More control," she whispered to herself, adjusting the mana flow. Slowly, the fire condensed denser, hotter, more stable. The flickering embers smoothed into a perfect sphere of blazing red-orange light.
Ava's lips curved into an approving smile. "Not bad," she remarked. "But"
Snap!
With a flick of her fingers, a thin gust of wind swept through the room. The Fireball flickered but didn't extinguish.
Emma grinned. "I kept it stable!"
Ava nodded, impressed. "Good. But there's still one thing missing: precision. A Fireball that wavers in its path is just wasted energy.''
She raised her own hand, summoning an orb of flames but smaller, more compact, burning with a deep crimson hue.
"Watch."
Whoosh!
Ava flicked her wrist, and the Fireball shot forward like a meteor, striking a target she had conjured a thin, glowing rune in the air. The explosion was controlled, the force focused precisely on impact.
Emma's eyes widened. "That's… so much smoother."
"Your turn," Ava challenged, stepping back.
Emma inhaled sharply, channeling her mana once more. This time, she focused not just on creating the Fireball, but on controlling its trajectory ensuring it was an extension of her will.
With a swift motion
Fwoosh!
The Fireball blazed forward, cutting through the air before striking the rune-marked target. The impact was slightly off-center, but noticeably more refined than before.
Ava nodded approvingly. "Better. Now, refine it until it's perfect."
Emma's heart pounded with exhilaration. She could feel that the path to mastery was right before her.
And she was ready to take the next step.
-------
The Deadly Grace of the Assassin:
Ava shifted her stance, her golden gaze settling on Jack. Her voice carried a sharp edge, fitting for the profession she was about to introduce.
"The Assassin profession is built on three core principles: Speed, Stealth, and Precision. They are warriors of the shadows, striking before their enemies even realize they're there."
Her words hung in the air like a whisper of death itself.
Jack's eyes gleamed with intrigue. He had always admired the way assassins moved like ghosts, their strikes swift and silent, their presence felt only in the aftermath of their blade.
Ava took a slow step forward
Then
Whoosh!
In an instant, she vanished.
Jack's breath hitched.
The room was silent, the air still. No movement. No sound.
Then
Shhhk!
A blade gleamed in the dim light held mere inches from Jack's neck. He hadn't even seen her move.
Ava smirked. "The first lesson of an assassin you must be faster than your enemy's senses."
She withdrew the blade, twirling it effortlessly between her fingers before it vanished back into her sleeve.
Jack's father and mother exchanged glances, visibly unsettled by her sheer speed and precision.
Jack, however, only looked more determined.
Ava's eyes gleamed as she continued, her voice carrying the weight of experience.
"These are the fundamental combat skills of an Assassin. If you truly wish to walk this path, mastering them is not a choice, it is a necessity."
She raised her hand, and the Assassin's tome flipped open on its own, revealing pages inked with eerie, flowing runes. A faint, almost whisper-like hum filled the air as if the book itself breathed secrets of the shadows.
"Each of these techniques is designed to turn you into a weapon of precision, one who kills before the enemy even knows they've been marked."
Jack's grip on the tome tightened, his pulse quickening as he read the list.
---
Assassin's Combat Skills (1-Star to 3-Star) – Foundation Stage;
1. Shadow Step – Vanish from sight in a blur of motion, reappearing a short distance away silent, unseen, untouchable.
2. Silent Kill – Strike with deadly precision; when an enemy is unaware, the damage inflicted is swift and fatal.
3. Dagger Throw – A lightning-fast projectile that pierces through weak armor with lethal efficiency.
4. Cloak of Night – Stealth mastery shroud yourself in darkness, blending seamlessly with the shadows.
5. Poisoned Blade – Coat your weapon in a toxic sheen every cut inflicts lingering agony.
6. Venomous Strike – A deadly stab that injects paralytic poison, leaving foes vulnerable.
7. Evasion Instinct – Sharpen your reflexes to the absolute limit dodge attacks before they even fully form.
8. Pressure Point Strike – A single precise hit can cripple an enemy, disrupting their movements or rendering limbs useless.
9. Lethal Backstab – Strike from behind where the enemy is most exposed for devastating damage.
10. Silent Dash – Move with ghostlike speed, closing the gap before the enemy even senses your presence.
Ava's gaze lingered on Jack for a moment, her golden eyes gleaming with quiet understanding.
"The way you reacted…" she mused, tilting her head slightly. "It's as if your instincts already align with the shadows."
Jack traced his fingers over the ancient runes, feeling an odd sense of familiarity as if the knowledge was not being learned, but remembered.
His pulse quickened. Every description, every technique it all resonated with him in a way he couldn't explain.
Ava's knowing smile deepened.
"Perhaps," she said, her voice low but certain, "the Assassin's path was always meant for you."
A sudden whisper of wind brushed past Jack, sending a shiver down his spine.
Was this fate? Or something deeper?
-------
The Bond Between Beast and Tamer;
Ava's gaze turned serious as she gestured toward the ancient tome floating beside her. With a flick of her fingers, its pages flipped open, revealing glowing inscriptions of runes and beast sigils.
Fwoosh!
A faint growl echoed from the book itself, as if the spirits of past Beast Tamers whispered their knowledge through its pages.
"The path of a Beast Tamer is unlike any other," Ava continued. "While warriors refine their bodies and mages harness mana, Beast Tamers form bonds powerful, unbreakable connections with creatures that walk this world."
James' eyes burned with determination. "Then tell me… how do I start?"
Ava smiled. "First, you must understand the basics."
She raised a hand, and golden letters shimmered in the air, forming the list of foundational Beast Tamer skills.
Beast Tamer's Skills (1-Star to 3-Star) – Foundation Stage
1. Tame Beast – Allows the taming of low-tier creatures like wolves and boars.
2. Beast Whisper – Enables telepathic communication with animals.
3. Beast Bond – Strengthens loyalty and connection with a tamed beast.
4. Beast Senses – Grants heightened senses such as smell, hearing, and night vision.
5. Basic Beast Command – Issues simple commands that creatures follow instinctively.
6. Enhanced Mount Riding – Improves riding ability and connection with mounts.
7. Pack Leader's Aura – Gains authority over wild creatures within a small radius.
8. Agile Reflexes – Improves speed and reaction time, inspired by beasts.
9. Ferocious Roar – Lets out a beast-like roar that intimidates enemies.
10. Basic Beast Enhancement – Temporarily boosts a beast's speed and strength.
James carefully studied each skill. His fingers traced the glowing words in the air as he whispered, "Taming creatures… strengthening bonds… commanding them in battle."
Ava watched him closely. "Being a Beast Tamer isn't just about control. If you treat your beasts as mere tools, they will never truly fight for you. The strongest Tamers are those who earn their creatures' trust and respect."
James took a deep breath, absorbing her words. "Then… how do I start?"
Ava's eyes glinted. "With practice."
And she waved her hand
Then
Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed from the nearby trees.
Rustle… rustle…
The atmosphere shifted. A pair of glowing silver eyes emerged from the darkness of the forest.
Grrrr…
A massive black-furred wolf stepped into the clearing. Its sleek muscles tensed, its fangs bared slightly not in aggression, but in wary curiosity.
The air grew heavy. Jack's mother instinctively prepared a spell, while Derek tightened his grip on his weapon.
But James stepped forward.
Ava raised a hand, stopping the others. "Let him try."
James inhaled, focusing his mana. Slowly, he extended his hand, channeling Beast Whisper.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then a pulse.
A silent wave of intent passed between them. Emotions, instincts, and an unspoken challenge.
The wolf's growl softened. Its ears flicked forward.
James met its piercing gaze. "I'm not your enemy… nor your master. But if you'll walk beside me, I promise we'll grow stronger together."
The beast remained still. Then, in a slow, deliberate motion, it stepped forward and lowered its head.
A connection had been made.
Ava's lips curled into a smirk. "Not bad… not bad at all."
James exhaled, then placed his hand on the wolf's head. A name surfaced in his mind, as if the creature had spoken it into his soul.
Nightfang.
The wolf let out a low, approving growl.
Jack and the others watched in awe.
James grinned. "Looks like I found my first companion."
Ava nodded. "And with this, your journey as a Beast Tamer begins."
The bond between man and beast had been forged.
-------
As Ava observed Jack's family, she could see the determination in their eyes. Each member was fully immersed in mastering their newfound skills, their movements growing sharper, their mana control more refined with each passing day.
Crackle!
A burst of flames roared to life as Emma perfected her Fireball spell, the heat radiating with newfound intensity.
Whoosh!
Jack's figure blurred as he executed Shadow Step, vanishing momentarily before reappearing behind a training dummy, his dagger striking true.
Roar!
James stood tall, his aura merging with his tamed beast, their bond strengthening with every command he issued.
Ava nodded in approval. Their progress was remarkable, but she knew this was merely the foundation.
The path of Ascendants was now within their grasp.
But true mastery could only be forged in battle.
And soon, they would have to face their first real challenge.
As Jack and his family practiced Magic Spells and Combat Skills three days and three nights passed by.
As the final night drew to a close, the once-serene clearing had transformed into a battlefield of progress. Scorch marks, shattered stones, and deep gouges in the earth bore witness to their relentless training. The flickering glow of magic still lingered in the air, the scent of burnt wood and raw mana thick around them.
Jack's movements had become sharper, his spellcasting more fluid. Emma's fire burned brighter, her control over it more precise. Jack moved like a phantom, his daggers striking unseen targets with deadly accuracy. James stood tall, a newfound confidence in his stance as he bonded deeper with his first beast companion.
-------
To Be Continued.....!!