Chapter 11 Stages of Magic (1/2)
The other initiates stared at Arran as if he had told them he had never seen the sun
”You don't knohat stages are?!”
Arran could not see who spoke, but the voice sounded dumbfounded From the looks on the initiates' faces, it could have been any of them
Adept Kadir turned toward the initiates ”All of you, get back to your training,” he said in a firument
Reluctantly, the initiates followed Adept Kadir's coh several of them shot curious looks at Arran It was obvious that his words had shocked the?” Arran asked Adept Kadir, feeling unco, exactly Follow me, we should talk”
Arran followed Adept Kadir to a s hall Inside were a desk and some chairs, but little else The stone walls were bare, and the room looked as if it saw little use
”What has yourthe door behind them
”Not much,” Arran replied honestly He went on to repeat what little he knew of ic, Realms, and Essence
”I see,” Adept Kadir said with a serious expression that did not suit his friendly face ”I'm afraid your master has done you a disservice”
Arran was startled at the harsh words about Master Zhao Clearly, the ht Master Zhao had failed in his duty as a teacher
”I do not knohy your master failed to explain this, but I will do it in his stead”
Arran sat up, listening attentively He understood that what Adept Kadir was about to tell hies start at the Foundation level,” Adept Kadir began ”Within the Foundation level, there are nine stages”
”Nine stages?” Ie was
Adept Kadir nodded, then continued, ”The first three stages form the initiate level, the second three form the novice level, and the final three fores ea Reale requires you to control Essence to the point where you can expel it fro hall showed, you have already reached that stage”
Arran nodded, eager to hear e,” Adept Kadir continued, ”requires you to fully control a single strand of Essence”
”Fully control a strand of Essence?” Arran asked, slightly confused ”What does that ive you a small demonstration,” Adept Kadir said
He raised his hand, then stuck out his index finger A moment later, an orb of fire the size of a er
Once the orb fullyaround his hand With another flick of his wrist, the orb suddenly fleard Arran, stopping only inches froers, the orb vanished in a blink
Arran watched in aic, the man had never shown him this kind of delicate control
”Fro, I take it you haven't reached this level of control yet,” Adept Kadir said, giving Arran an amused look
Arran shook his head Then, he asked, ”So what is the fourth stage?”
”Initiates reach the fourth stage, and become novices, once they learn to use spells,” Adept Kadir said
”But wasn't what you showed me a spell?” Arran asked
Adept Kadir shook his head ”That was just a technique”
”There's a difference?” Until now, Arran had thought the tere the same
”Techniques control raw Essence,” Adept Kadir replied ”They require constant attention and effort to maintain”
”And spells?”