We woke up early the next morning. The sunrise was beautiful too say the least. The sky was like a canvas painted with dazzling pinks and oranges.
We had a thick porridge for breakfast, sweet and a hint of lemon, before we continued our ascent.
Taking the opportunity ,I got close to the sorcerer. "Those incomprehensible words were sorcery incarnations" he said while walking on the dirt path. "Why can't I understand them?". "Cause you have mundane constitution ". "Can I change that?" I asked feigning naivety.
"Sure you can but you need a teacher or someone who can use essence ". "Do you know anyone like that,no wait what's essence?" I asked in genuine puzzlement.
"Are you serious?, only country bumpkins don't know what essence is kid." "Well that kind of hurts my pride a little. I'm a country bumpkin you see. So yeah I don't know what essence is so please explain."
"Damn really last time you said you're from the capital, coming here for work" the sorcerer muttered under his breath. 'Shit really, I didn't see that in the memories I got. Well I couldn't really hear anything so...'
"Doesn't matter, could you please explain what essence is." "Yeah,yeah umm it's a power source. It fuels abilities, spells etc. Without it everything and everyone would be mundane. The technological advancements made today wouldn't exit and humans would be at the bottom of the food chain again."
"Anything else it can do? " "Yeah lots, your sword right there is an example of two of them, runic sorcery and enhanced blacksmithing. But it's not all fun and games,if you're not careful you could go mad or even worse... become an abomination."
This was a lot to digest but the more I listened the more I felt like I made the right choice. This guy was a gold mine of knowledge and for free a that. These people really think I'm not a threat. They don't seem scared of me betraying them at all. Not that I would though.
Continuing forward I asked "Earlier you said I would need a teacher,do you have a student ? If not I'm very willing to change that."
"I'll give it some thought but thanks for the conversation." He said walking away from me.
"Okay, take your time."I said before he got too far away.
.....
For what felt like hours,we continued our climb. Taking a few breaks inbetween. Then as the sun started to disappear and with it it's light we set up camp again. We had encountered more beasts on our way but nothing I could kill on my own. I did however get better at carving out meat, and got to learn that those orbs within the beasts were condensed essence. I didn't touch those lest I go crazy.
After our dinner I went to the sorcer. "I've given it some thought and it wouldn't hurt to have an apprentice." "You won't regret this I promise." I said with sincerity.
"Know to see if you have an aptitude for essence."
"Aptitude?" "Yeah Aptitude, to see if you're capable of using essence or not." He told to sit in a lotus position and he sat down behind me,putting his hands on my back. I felt a warm feeling reverberate throughout my body before leaving not long after.
"You sure do have potential kid. I'll tell you that." He said standing up and dusting himself off. Doing the same I said ,"Does that mean I can use essence? ". Not that it mattered, if I passed this trial I would be able to regardless. All who pass there first trial gain powers befitting there peformance,so says the clans. "Yeah but you're still too weak, if you try to use any you'll lose control."
"...."
"That doesn't mean I can't teach you anything though."
He left entering his tent, not long after he came out with a bag I'd never seen before. I carried all the luggage and I didn't even recognize it.
"In here are books on a vast array of sorcery spells,techniques and runes. You can give them and the bag back when you're done."
"What's so special about the bag ?" I asked taking it from him.
"And you seem too trusting. That's not always a good trait to have."
"It's special and i need help with something that requires special solutions,and you seem easy to train."
"Well I ain't complaining. Thanks though." I said walking to my tent.
Entering my tent I took out a book from the bag. The words on on and in the book we're incomprehensible I couldn't understand. I said in pain assaulted my mind before I could read the words. They read "Essence control ", the books weren't too thick so I could roughly finish them by the time we reach the peak of the mountain.
This one in particular was about a stick is two of my fingers. It talked about the fundamentals of essence, it's restrictions, it's capabilities ,consequences and as the cover suggests ,how too control it.
Mastering essence control is a delicate art that requires patience, focus, and all that mumbo jumbo, sorcerers use various techniques like meditation, breathing exercises,to harness their essence.
However, controlling essence is a balancing act. Too much or too little can have unintended consequences. Emotional turmoil can disrupt this balance, making it harder to wield essence effectively.
The stakes are high, and the risks are real. If essence control falters, the results can be disastrous. Essence overflow or drain can cause physical harm, while prolonged misuse can lead to madness or corruption,"Think that's becoming an abomination, right.?" Despite these challenges, many are drawn to the power and potential of essence manipulation.
The stronger one gets the more Potent and more essence overall they need to fuel their abilities.
"That's a basic summary of the content It held." I said too no one in particular.
We continued our ascent after briefly checking our supplies.