Jacob held his right hand out, palm upward. He did not use an incantation or a physical focus. Instead, he reached for the reservoir of mana at his center and invited the ambient energy of the room to match his intent.
A small, deep-red flame flickered into existence above his palm. It was the size of a river stone and looked entirely unimpressive compared to the force the Guildmaster had just unleashed.
Jacob did not let it stay that way, though. He suggested to the flame to seek its own center. The fire quickly began to compress, pulling inward until the red shifted into a concentrated orange ball the size of a pebble.
Then, he established the rotational axes. He visualized three interlocking rings of motion spinning into eachother, around the core of the flame.
As the rotation increased in speed, the ball of fire began to brighten and then change colors to a much lighter orange. Once the spin was stabilized, the color shifted again, turning a bright yellow, which cast shadows across the office as the flame grew back to the size of a river stone.
The air around Jacob's hand began to ripple from the heat, yet he remained unburned. His own mana seemed to ignore him, so he didn't suffer any damage to his own spells.
"Good," the Guildmaster said as he observed the phenomenon, "now cast it at anything in this office, or throw it at me. It doesn't really matter."
Jacob was a bit conflicted in what to do, I'm sure the guildmaster can take a good hit, he seems quite strong. Besides, I can feel the sheer pressure of magical power coming off of his equipment; it is far beyond anything I've ever created.
Once he had steeled himself, he loosed his fireball at the guildmaster, which promptly exploded silently, shooting flames in different directions. At first, Jacob was worried that the furniture would catch fire, but the flames that touched the sofa and rug were snuffed out with a quick flare of magic from their enchantments that he had not even felt until his attack forced them to activate.
Likewise, with the guildmaster, his active enchantments quickly extinguished the flames without allowing the guildmaster to get hurt.
Once the flames cleared, Jacob could see the guildmaster smirking.
"Heh, kinda funny you decided to attack me directly. But, as you can see, I was serious about you using the attack on anything in this room. Even one of the walls is capable of stopping C-rank magic, much less your attacks."
The guildmaster leaned back against the sofa, puffing on his pipe once more. Smoke curled upward in lazy spirals that Jacob tracked with his eyes. "That density method you used is just a shortcut, but passable. Most kids your age fumble with basic sparks, but you compressed the flame and spun it up without chanting a word. Silent casting like that takes mages years to master."
Jacob lowered his hand, thinking of how he used his magic. "I figured out the need for the spin, but to get the flame to curl in on itself, I used a method that I learned from enchanting. Basically, I just ask the magic to work for me."
A nod came from the older man. "Makes no sense to me, but magic like ours is typically unique. If I explained exactly how I used mine, it would probably hurt your method rather than help it. And while your compression is technically an increase in density, it is not what mages like myself and Gerald refer to as Density."
The guildmaster set his pipe aside and stood up. He paced to the window, looking out over the bustling adventurers district below. "Density, in our terms, means increasing the potency of your personal magic, the mana stored in your core. You have to spin that up first, just like you do with a spell's core, before layering it into a magical construct."
Jacob absorbed the words, his mind racing back to the runes he etched on tools. Layers sounded like stacking enchantments without a core to bind them. "So, I need to weave my own power tighter before adding the spin?"
"Close enough." The older man turned back, his scar twisting with a grin. "But hold off on trying it. First, tell me about your healing spell. Is it mending or regeneration?"
Jacob thought for a moment. "It's mending, I think. My enchantments tend toward regeneration, but this spell just fixes the damage outright. I'm not sure why there's a difference."
The guildmaster nodded, then drew a small knife from his belt. Without hesitation, he sliced his palm open, blood welling up in a deep gash. "Show me. Use the mending one."
Jacob extended his hand, channeling his intent and inviting his magic to fix the wound to the state it was previously. The magic knit the flesh back together seamlessly, leaving no scar or trace of injury.
The older man flexed his fingers, pleasantly surprised. "Impressive. It works flawlessly without any density boost, fake or real. Perfect for combat wounds, but lousy for training unless there's a catastrophe."
He pocketed the knife. "Regeneration spells accelerate the body's own healing, letting it adapt to the stress. Muscles grow stronger, bones denser. Mending skips that, resetting everything as if nothing happened. It doesn't allow for adaptation or growth."
Jacob nodded, "Ok, I guess I need to work on a regeneration spell, but what's that got to do with increasing the density of my core?"
The guildmaster watched him closely. "You will see. Now try spinning up your own core. Start slow and coax it until it stabilizes and continues on its own. Once it runs without help, it takes manual effort to shut down."
Jacob nodded. He turned his focus inward to the familiar point of magic in his chest. He invited the core to move the way he had invited flames and air. It resisted at first, so he tried again with a gentle suggestion.
The core began to turn very slowly, as if the mana finally agreed to work with him. It picked up a steady flow and held it without needing to be pushed further.
Something else pressed against him. He could not sense it clearly, but it felt like foreign pressure shoving his own magic aside from every point in his body. This must be the ambient mana I have yet to properly sense, he thought to himself.
He opened his eyes. The guildmaster stared at him intensely. "Why do you look so serious?"
The guildmaster didn't answer, knowing that Jacob would know soon enough. Wracking pain tore through his body.
His skin burned, and his organs throbbed as if someone had kicked him hard. His muscles began to fray at the edges while his tendons began to stretch too far. His bones even began to creak and crack under the strain.
The guildmaster shouted. "Stop the spin! Shut it down now!"
Jacob reversed the invitation. The core slowed and halted. He collapsed to the floor in a pool of sweat. Every part of him ached as if a bear had mauled him nearly to death.
The guildmaster enveloped him in golden light. It took several minutes this time. Finally, Jacob sat up, feeling like he was no longer close to death. The guildmaster had already lit his pipe again, looking out of the window in his office.
The golden light remained, and Jacob began to analyze it as his faculties returned to him.
It is some sort of light spell, and it seems to be speeding up my regeneration like the runes do. I wonder if I can replicate it if I ask my magic nicely.
"Don't even think about it, not yet." The guildmaster said as he noticed the look on Jacob's face. "Casting magic now before you are fully healed might cause a regression. Let the spell work."
Then he put his pipe back down and turned to face Jacob fully.
"What you just experienced is the effect of the ambient magic invading your body. This is a problem when you lack the proper biological energy to properly resist the effects that you experienced."
Jacob nodded his head in understanding, so the guildmaster continued.
"Biological energy is increased through physical training, so I thought maybe the farmer kid would have enough to have figured out proper density on his own, but it seems you managed to learn the cheat method instead. Regardless, the laws dictate that I can only teach someone who has learned density on their own, and you technically have, so I will properly teach you when you can stand on your feet and accept me as your master."
"Wait a second," Jacob replied, "what does this master-apprentice relationship entail? Will I have to serve you or what?"
The guildmaster facepalmed, "Gah, I forgot a country bumpkin like yourself might be ignorant of the more nuanced laws of the kingdom. The apprenticeship is also governed by the kingdom, and I only really have a say in how you can train and who can teach you. You're still your own person, but you cannot learn from someone I don't approve of first, and you can't accept a new master until we mutually agree to go our separate ways."
Jacob nodded as he thought about what the guildmaster was telling him. "Then, what are you going to teach me?"
"First of all," the guild master began, "what I called a shortcut to density is only technically true, and essentially allows me to legally teach you as my apprentice. In reality, it is what we call Enhancement. It increases the power of a spell, but it takes time and concentration. Also, for most people, it includes a specific chant, but you seem to have figured out the way around that."
The guildmaster then stood up from his sofa and began to pace.
"Without increasing your base density, the spells you cast are considered to be Tier 0, and enhancing them is just a numerical additive. So, your spell just now would be called a triple-enhanced Tier 0 fireball. Some types of magic can't even be utilized at tier 0, like lightning and spatial magics. Although you may have realized as an enchanter that this is not quite the case, if you have an efficient enough method."
Jacob nodded his head in understanding, realizing just how much he had underestimated magic.
The guildmaster caused his spell to flash brightly for a second before continuing.
"Go ahead and analyze this spell. It is a tier 1 light spell because once you have sufficient density, you will be able to do more with less. This spell basically cost me nothing to cast for you, and it should be fairly simple to analyze. The light element has a regenerative healing aspect to it; you just need to get the feel for it."
Jacob looked at the spell and felt the spell with his own magical power, and started to take note of the intricacy in the spellwork and how the light element felt to him.
While he did this, the guildmaster continued his guidance.
"This light spell will allow your body to adapt to the damage it just took from spinning up your core, but it will be far from enough adaptation for you to be able to complete the first turn. That will require several months at least. During these next several months, you are going to need that regeneration spell as you push your mind and body to the limit."
Seeing how Jacob was focused on analyzing the spell but still nodding his head in response, the guildmaster continued, "I am going to send you to a boot camp we have for newly minted E-rank adventurers who need to work on their physical fitness. It is out in the wilds, but with powerful enough instructors that death is rarely ever an outcome amongst the recruits, and only when they are being stupid and refusing to hear their instructors' warnings."
That caused Jacob to raise an eyebrow, but he was still busy communing with his magic, which had just started to impart the knowledge of the spell to him. It was an interesting thing, because it was not like the magic spoke to him directly, but the knowledge he needed to know started to appear in his mind as he started realizing how the spell worked.
"Don't worry," The guildmaster said in reply to the concern on Jacob's face, "I will send one of my best to watch you specifically. He needs the merits anyway to push past the C-rank. Don't let his rank fool you either; he is more than capable of clearing B-rank gates with even a sub-optimal group."
He could see the relief on Jacob's face, so he continued once again. "The Zinthar are always a threat in the wilderness, but this close to the kingdom borders should be no problem. The only reason we have this bootcamp in the wilds is because of the life energy concentrated in the alcove we use. It is a natural treasure secured by the kingdom and guarded by my guild, so while it does attract monsters, those will be handled by our guard staff or your instructors."
That brought up a memory for Jacob.
The Zinthar. That old man said they looked like some sort of demonic elf. They are the dominant race on this world, and Gerald has mentioned that on this continent they have the largest kingdom on the other side of the wilds. I wonder what is up with the rest of this planet. They seem to have a greatly muted presence here than I was led to believe I would find.
"Done," Jacob said outloud, as he managed to produce the Tier 0 version of the regeneration spell. While he had it activated, he managed to spin it up to the third enhancement.
"Well done," the guildmaster nodded in satisfaction, seeing that his new apprentice had a bit of talent at least. "This will aid you greatly during the boot camp. I want you to push yourself as far as you can go, only taking breaks to heal your body once you have taken it past its limits. Don't worry about damage, that will help you adapt as you use regenerative magic."
Jacob nodded. "Alright, master, then when does this boot camp start?"
"Before calling me master, you need to stand up and cup your fists before bowing at the waist and saying Apprentice greets master so we can begin our formal master-apprentice relationship. I assure you, there is a reason for this."
Nodding his head, Jacob stood up and did as the guildmaster said. Once he straightened his back and uncupped his fists, a magical energy went out from Jacob and to the guildmaster, which then shot through the ceiling without causing any damage.
"And that makes it official. The kingdom will now recognize you as my apprentice, which should save you some trouble in the future since bumpkin mages are typically not well-received."
"As for your question, the boot camp will leave from here in 2-weeks so you will have some time to get your affairs in order since you will be gone for the next four months. I expect you to come back as a Tier 1 mage. You have a flight spell, right?"
Jacob just nodded his head, taking in the information. "Yes, I can fly. I'm just not sure how far or really how fast yet."
"Then," the guildmaster replied, "with the power you have demonstrated so far, I think you should be fine flying back to this city from your little village before lunch if you start after breakfast. You should be fine coming the day before we leave, 13 days from now. Get going so you can do whatever Gerald wants and also take care of your business at the blacksmith."
"I heard old man Frank has been dealing with the adventurers in the district today. I am sure you had something to do with that. Be off before he has an aneurysm. And if he does, then heal him. He provides some important services to the guild."
"Will do, master," Jacob said as he turned to leave. The door opened on its own, and as he stepped through it, he noticed another spatial distortion similar to what he felt walking through old Thom's doorway, and in an instant, he was outside the adventurers' district again with the guard that was watching the door.
I guess my new master is a bit more powerful than I thought.
He quickly made his way to Gerald's study workshop as he considered the adventure that he would soon be taking.