Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 14 (Part 1)

Training techniques are divided into top-grade, high-grade, intermediate-grade, and low-grade based on their efficiency and stability.

The top-grade training techniques are the most secretive, passed down only to the core talents of the large magic towers. Naturally, they are never disclosed to outsiders. The ability of the large magic towers to maintain their position for centuries is attributed to these top-grade techniques.

High-grade and intermediate-grade techniques are passed down in medium and small magic towers or upper and middle-ranking noble families. These families also produce strong individuals in every generation based on these techniques.

Low-grade techniques are inherited by lower-ranking nobles or wealthy merchant families. Due to their lower quality, producing a strong individual with these techniques is challenging.

However, a truly exceptionally talented individual could become strong even with low-grade techniques.

The possibility is very low, though.

The training techniques distributed by the instructors were so low-level that calling them “grades” was laughable. To be precise, they were far below low-grade techniques.

No matter how diligently one trained with such low-level techniques, the power gathered would be minimal. It was like a speck of dust on a large desk.

Naturally, it couldn’t be measured by ordinary means.

Instead, there was a specific tool to measure such minimal magical power.

It’s called a “micro-magic power meter.” Since it doesn’t require expensive materials, it’s commonly used in magic towers or noble households.

Cory trained hard with the magic power training technique. He was so focused that his forehead was drenched with sweat.

Swish!

Rodin, who was exercising, turned his head towards Cory.

‘Huh?’

Rodin detected a speck of dust on a large desk.

A very faint magical power, so weak that even the person himself was unaware, was settled in Cory’s body.

‘So that’s magic power. It feels different from the pervasive something that fills the world.’

Though he noticed the magical power, Rodin didn’t bother to mention it.

Rodin instinctively realized that his sensing ability was not ordinary. There was no benefit in revealing such things.

‘Cory has talent in magic power. I don’t know to what extent.’

Cory, who had been struggling for a while, finally stopped the magic power training technique. His sweat-drenched face was full of disappointment.

“It felt like something was happening. Tsk.”

“How does it feel?”

“I’m not sure. It’s different from when I use the aura training technique. I think the magic power training technique suits me better.”

“Oh, should I try it too?”

Hedler, who was nearby, settled close to the training technique paper placed on the floor. Lant, also eager to try, was fidgeting.

While the three wrestled with the training techniques, Rodin focused on his exercise. He was so absorbed that he closed his eyes.

“Hoo.”

After a long workout, Rodin, drenched in sweat, placed a dictionary on the desk. Not only his legs but also his arms were trembling.

“I’m going to take a shower.”

“Oh, okay. Good job.”

He took his change of clothes and went to the shower room. As expected, there was no one there.

“Do the other rooms not shower at all?”

The third-year students had designated shower times.

Before morning exercise, right after exercise, and in the evening. It was difficult to find time to shower outside these times.

Given the overlapping time slots, he should have met another student in the shower room, but he never had.

Despite showering twice a day, he hadn’t seen anyone else, suggesting that other kids probably didn’t shower at all.

‘Hmm, training technique… should I try it?’

There was no one around.

From his experience, it seemed unlikely that someone would come in late.

‘Let’s do it.’

He had already memorized the training technique long ago.

Rodin closed his eyes and slowly breathed according to the aura training technique. Then, in a very small voice, he recited the rune words.

‘It’s ambiguous.’

About 10 minutes passed. Despite concentrating intensely on the aura training technique, he felt nothing. Opening his eyes, he found no difference from when Cory used the aura training technique.

‘Okay. I either lack talent in aura, or it’s at a very low level.’

Next, he tried the magic power training technique.

Personally, he was more hopeful about magic power than aura. The fact that he sensed the dust-like magic power gathered by Cory suggested he might have talent in magic power.

Breathing as described in the training technique, he recalled the rune words. As he softly chanted them, the surrounding mana vibrated.

The mana swirled around him and then penetrated his body. The mana that entered began to change slightly in response to the resonance of the rune words echoing through the air.

The mana in its natural state transformed into refined magic power within his body. The magic power entered through his breathing, descended to his navel, and gradually explored his body.

It then gathered around his heart, seeming ready to settle there.

“Stop.”

Rodin abruptly opened his eyes and expelled the transformed magic power from his body. The mana that had been swirling around him also quieted down.

“Hoo, I almost missed it.”

Talent measurement ranged from 1 to 99. A score of 1 indicated the lowest talent, while 99 indicated the highest.

Rodin didn’t know the exact criteria for the amount of magic power gathered during talent measurement. He would have to use the micro-magic meter tomorrow to find out what constituted a score of 1 or 99.

However, he instinctively felt that the amount of magic power that had tried to settle in his heart was quite substantial.

‘Let’s hide it. For now.’

He had resolved something when he read the history books in the library.

Don’t reveal all your abilities. If you have the strength of 2, show only 1.

To hide his abilities, it was not a good choice to accumulate magic power in his body. He needed to reduce the amount of magic power accumulating in his heart tomorrow.

‘Magic power is enough. Now, let’s see how summoning spirits works.’

He closed his eyes again and envisioned the rune words for summoning spirits in his mind. He imagined a long passage and recited the rune words.

The passage to the spirit realm didn’t physically connect this world with the spirit realm. It connected the summoner’s mind with the spirit realm, with the passage’s appearance merely projected externally.

Thus, sticking a finger or throwing an object into the visible passage wouldn’t send it to the spirit realm. The actual passage existed in the mind of the person summoning the spirit.

‘Hmm, it looks like a dot.’

He opened a passage to the spirit realm and slightly opened his eyes. A small black dot appeared before him.

‘It’s small.’

Small, but the fact that a passage had opened was significant. An open passage meant that a contract with a spirit was possible.

‘Well, I can’t deny that my talent is poor.’

Hyung_Otaku2

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