63 Seal of Debilitation (2/2)
After an excellent balanced breakfast of boiled eggs, bread, and apples, Gray and Selena, now dressed in their respective standard attire, went downstairs with Rarsu to the basement for the official start of Gray's lessons about magic.
As depicted by the elf's training schedule, Magic exercises are performed from 5:30 am to 6:15 am.
The exercise is actually quite simple. It involves the Mage in self-meditation to get an even better feel of his magic overall. Rarsu also explains that this significantly improves one's control in magic, especially in casting spells.
”So, how exactly is this going to work?” Gray questions as he and Rarsu stood at the familiar open area of the basement.
”Ah, yes.” Rarsu nods as he took out a small sheet of paper that has a drawing of an intricate-looking magic circle from his inventory. ”But first things, first… Terminus.”
With the chant of the last word, Rarsu suddenly lunges the paper right at Gray's chest, causing the elf to feel an extreme amount of pain from the action, evident by him screeching in utter agony as he was brought on his knees while clutching his chest.
Selena immediately approaches Gray out of concern as she supports him while looking at Rarsu accusingly with fury in her eyes.
”W-what the fuck did you do to me?!!” The elf demanded an answer.
”I simply applied a magic curse to you,” Rarsu answers calmly despite the hostility that he receives from the soul-siblings. ”The magic circle drawn on the paper is known as the \u003cSeal of Debilitation\u003e, a curse that disrupts the Mana control on a person's body.”
”And for what reason did you apply it to me!?” Gray gritted his teeth in an angered confusion. Thankfully, the pain slowly subsides with each passing second. But the effect of his Mana control being impeded is still present.
”Because my dear apprentice, the curse is going to be an integral part of your magic training,” Rarsu smirks in response, resulting Gray to tilt his head in puzzlement. ”For the next three months, you'll be under the constant stress of the seal while performing the necessary Mana control exercises. I've tampered the seal slightly to suit this training regime of yours. If you can manage to achieve a satisfactory degree of Mana control despite the constant pressure applied to you, then I'm sure you can imagine the results that will be achieved of your magic and spells once I have vanished the seal.”
”I…, I see.” Gray's eyes widen in realization at the explanation being provided to him. ”If I can refine my Mana control despite being hindered under the curse's effects, then I can achieve better control in the end, even more so without the seal, weaving them with remarkable devastation and efficiency!!”
”Correct.” Rarsu nods with approval. ”Some spells require a refine Mana control for them to work. As such, this curse, as ironic as it sounds, will only prove beneficial to you in the long run. After all, the battlefield is continuously ever-changing, filled with the dangers of the unknowns that will overwhelm the weak-minded, particularly for us Mages. In determining the victor in a Magic Warfare, one must remain stabilized despite being under the gruelling effects of pressure. Stability under pressure, that's the ultimate essence that we mages must strive to achieve at all times. The mind is like water. When it's turbulent, it's difficult to see. When it's calm, everything becomes clear.”
Gray indeed was enlightened by the statement provided to him by the lizardling as he nods enthusiastically in response. As a matter of fact, the elf felt even more determined than ever.
With Rarsu's explanation finished, Gray received a message from his system notification as it dictates the description of the curse.
DEBUFF RECEIVED: \u003cSeal of Debilitation\u003e
\u003cSeal of Debilitation\u003e - All Spells are 70% less effective and costs five times the amount of Mana. Mana Regeneration is decreased by 80%.
'C-crap.' Gray nervously thought as he eyed the curse's disastrous effects. 'The debuff sure is punishing. If a mage were to receive this in the battlefield, then no doubt it'll prove to be an annoyance for them in even casting a simple spell.'
With everything now clarified, Rarsu then proceeds to lecture Gray about the magic exercise of meditation as he instructed the elf to assume the correct sitting position.
”First, close your eyes and feel the magic flowing within you,” Rarsu instructs him. ”Like a river of calm currents, try to control the state of your Mana and flow it slowly inside your body with the direction that you wish, channelling it at the different points of your body. The knowledge of performing it is one of the key procedures in spell casting. Of course, with the curse disrupting your Mana control, then no doubt it'll be significantly more complicated.”
Despite feeling a bit sceptical, Gray merely adheres to the advice as his eyes shut down, trying to make sense at what Rarsu stated.
'Let's see, feel the magic flowing or something.' Were Gray's thoughts as he mentally focuses the state of his body inside. 'Wait, I can definitely feel something, like a strong feeling of a substance flowing like what Master mentions. So, this is it, huh.'
Gray felt his Mana at that very moment as he further attempts to control its flow. Unfortunately, with the seal applied on his body, the elf struggles to move the Mana that is flowing inside his body in the direction that he desires as he attempts to focus even more.
'What the hell!?' The elf thought in frustration as he struggles to control his Mana. 'The Mana won't even budge at all!!'
But alas, time was not on his side as Rarsu claps his hand to call the elf's attention, in preparation for the next schedule of the day.
”We'll tackle more of that exercise in the coming days,” Rarsu said as Gray was witnessed to be catching his breath profusely with sweat all over his face after the mental difficulty of the ordeal.
And with that, they proceed to the subsequent agenda of the elf's training.