After I finished laying the minimum foundation needed for the flow of both mana and necrotic energies in my body, I continued with the most important thing for any necromancer - building a special reservoir for necrotic energies around my core.
Under Mandro's expert guidance, I channeled the energies I had collected and made them begin to swirl in a complex three-dimensional spiral around my core, occasionally touching it and gently mixing small portions of their energies. In this way, the potency of my necrotic power rose, and at the same time, my core grew stronger and faster.
The charge in the spiral was putting pressure on my core and causing it to get denser and more robust.
"This will significantly increase the quality of your core," Mandro told me.
I nodded my head and continued my work. I could already feel the improvements that were happening to me.
At any given time, the power of those two different energy centers, the core and the spiral, could be directed to different points in my body, thus improving all of its key functions. As a result, I would be faster, stronger and especially more durable. I would no longer be that ordinary person who could die when simply impaled by some thin rapier. Every single organ in my body was strengthened and fortified. But most importantly, I could channel massive amounts of energy out of my body and use it in battle.
"It works both ways, young student," my teacher reminded me. "In addition to being able to direct a large amount of energy outward, you will also be able to direct a large amount of energy inward into your body. And that is very valuable to a necromancer."
And so, gradually, my skill of absorbing vital and magical energy from my living and dead opponents changed to Necromancy.
But here I saw the first downside of my change. The complex spiral around my core would not be able to allow me to directly absorb the life energy of living beings as before. Instead, I had to first absorb a large amount of mana from the dead and then use my spiral to purify it and atune it to my body. Only then could it be used for healing.
The process was slower and not as powerful as before, but the mana I could absorb after a battle was a whole 300 percent higher! Furthermore, there was a completely new energy reservoir in my body. With its help, I would be able to enrich the mana I used, and thus my spells would be at least 30 to 50% stronger!
And the mana enriched with necrotic energies would become more potent, allowing me to summon even more powerful creatures, as well as keep them longer in this dimension.
My core, consolidated with the help of the spiral, could absorb more mana and along with my energy channel levels, my total mana capacity increased by a full 50%.
Also, the rate at which I absorbed the free ambient mana from nature increased by 50%.
Mandro explained to me how the different types of healing skills would have a much lesser effect on me, or sometimes wouldn't even work at all. Alchemical potions, too, would have a reduced effect, unless they were specifically designed.
This was a very dangerous limitation, because if I got into a tough fight, against some boss for example, I wouldn't be able to heal unless there were freshly dead corpses around. Something I couldn't always count on.
Mandro gave me a scroll which described the diagram and formation for summoning several interesting creatures whose energy was very compatible with my necrotic body and which I could kill and assimilate to heal myself if needed. It was going to cost me a lot of time and mana, but it was better than nothing.
Then Mandro showed me the various changes in my body and began to train me how to better absorb the mana of the dead as well as the souls of weaker beings.
He explained to me how to begin to develop my second magical reservoir and how to begin to merge the necrotic energies with my core energies.
Also, he reassured my worries that these changes would not hinder my development as a magician. The goal was to build a tool that could process and use an additional type of energy, something that could only expand my capabilities.
As a result of the neurotic energies circulating in my body, my body became somehow denser and heavier. Mandro explained that this would make me more resistant to cold and puncture wounds. In addition, my sensations of pain would diminish greatly.
At the end of the process, even my blood changed its composition and so, absorbing mana from the dead could directly infuse life energy into my blood. This changed my resistance to various types of poisons.
Many of the poisons that would have worked on me before had lost or diminished their effect, but on the other hand, I was being warned about a new kind of poisons specifically targeted at my new blood.
"Don't rush to worry," Mandro reassured me, "You won't encounter powerful poisons specifically aimed at necromancers on the tutorial island."
That didn't reassure me much.
"Your most important acquisition is this second necrotic energy reservoir. With its help, you'll have access to a whole new kind of magic and skills." the necromancer continued "For now, though, it's still small and fragile. Your task is to build it up and strengthen it over the coming weeks. As well as fill it with more energy. Only then will I be able to teach you how to use it in battle."
I listened to my teacher's voice, trying to remember all his instructions.
"You have to absorb the souls of various small creatures," Mandro continued. "Their pure energy will be very useful in building up your necrotic powers. When you've successfully absorbed the souls of 100 small creatures or their equivalent, you'll find yourself back here so I can help you grow your powers further."
"What do you mean? Don't I have to pay for training?" I asked.
"You can always pay in currency units to train with me. But reaching certain milestones automatically qualifies you for a special training session."
"Special training session? That's definitely something new." I thought to myself.
"Is there any way I could get special training in my other abilities?" I asked shamelessly.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Mandro clicked his tongue and looked me in the eye.
"I can't comment on other instructors' policies. Soon many among you will find out about these options and you will discover more. It is up to each of you Humans how you use them."
"That's interesting," I thought, thinking about the many possibilities this opened up.
After I finished the ritual, I slept for 20 whole hours! However, I woke up tired and felt my body felt strange. Mandro said that this was a natural response to the many changes in my body and gave me various instructions and more time to recover, then, letar on put me through various physical workouts.
The next day, the fifth since I got here, after another morning workout I finally felt a little better.
"Come, let me show you how to use your necrotic powers."
Mandro took me to a clearing in the middle of a large cemetery. I could feel the strong energies here, and I immediately moved towards them.
Mandro, however, gave me no time and seated me beside a large altar, beside which was a table with various scrolls and writing instruments.
"Let's start with capturing little souls and absorbing them first. After that, we will proceed with the reviving of little beings and their control. And then using the necrotic energies in battle."
Mandro made a series of magic signs and summoned a special spirit construct. It resembled the behavior and feeling of little souls, but unlike them, I could not absorb it.
After practicing for a few hours with the construct, we gradually moved on to small spirit fragments, and then to the smallest living souls. Mandro guided me on how to sense the souls and attack them. How to keep them in one place and how to draw them to me. How to use my new necromancer senses and powers and necrotic energy.
The weaker souls I could simply attract to myself with my new senses, but the stronger ones I had to attack with the help of non-narcotic energies and my spirit power.
Necrotic energies were relatively easy to manage. They were a lot like mana, and for that I had a firm foundation to stand on. However, harnessing my spirit power was something new, though my skill in meditation and mysticism helped somewhat in that aspect.
"Why did you choose the skill of Meditation and Mysticism, Meridin?" asked Mandro.
"I thought that with its help, I could develop my Mana Cultivation better. Besides, I assumed I would have to summon beings with strong mana abilities. I wanted to strengthen my psyche and mental defenses. All in all, it's a good skill that aids in the development of both my fighting spells and my summoning."
Mandro smiled, "Now it will also help with your necromancy." "With its help, you'll be able to develop and strengthen your soul and mental powers. There are even special schools of magic entirely focused on using soul powers as weapons. I think you made a good choice."
Four of your five skills help each other. Like I said, meditation helps necromancy, mana manipulation, and summoning.
On the other hand, necromancy gives you access to more energys, which aids your summoning, spellcasting, and general mana manipulation, and even somewhat increases the potential of your spiritual abilities.
Mana Manipulation is a general skill, perhaps the most important for the new adventures in towers. Mana can increase your power in a multitude of amazing ways and is useful for any class. For that, it's better control is universally useful.
Summoning also helps your skills. Your connection to your familiar increases your mana regeneration, and working with magical creatures improves your control. The various creatures you can summon can greatly aid your necromancy, and someday your mysticism. A well-developed summoning skill will give you access to different planes of existence, something crucial to your mysticism skills.
The only thing I don't understand is why the hell did you pick up this strange skill of shadow merging and light manipulation?
I thought for a moment and recalled my thoughts and motivation. I recalled the knowledge I had when I started and my state of mind.
"I didn't know where I was going to end up. I didn't know how dangerous the tutorial island and the world of the towers in general would be. I wanted to have one skill that would protect my life. Isn't it easier to hide safely in the shadows while your summons deal with your opponents? Or to better secure a peaceful meditation? Or why not approach undetected before using your fighting spells?"
"You're really right about needing defensive skills, Meridin. It's commendable that you've thought that. But can't you be invisible all the time? Wouldn't having someone see through your defenses neutralize them? I think it's a good idea to work on developing some skills to make your body significantly more durable. But otherwise you're right, your shadow fusion and light manipulation skill increases both your attack and defense. It can be very useful in the tower world. Like I said, you made a good choice in the beginning. Besides, by your strong soul powers, large quantities of mana, and even your necrotic energies can greatly improve the development and potency of your last skill."
Mandro then proceeded to train me in the use of my psychic powers and the control of my necrotic energies.
And so, two weeks passed imperceptibly. My strength grew, as did my necrotic reservoir.
"Meridin, your magical core is at the edge of your capabilities. It's time to improve it. You'll waste some of your time here, but there's nothing that can be done. Come, let us find you a suitable place."
Surprised, I followed my teacher and before long we found ourselves on one of the many small islands hidden in the magical mists. Mandro made me sit comfortably and drew a simple formation around me.
"After your training here and successfully absorbing the energies from the battle, your core is filled with energy. This scroll will show you how to use it to remove the imperfections from your core."
With those words, Mandro handed me an ancient-looking scroll made of reddish animal hide. I opened it and set to studying the instructions carefully. In a few places I asked for clarification, but Mandro just shook his head and made me focus over the diagrams there.
After about half an hour, I felt ready and under the watchful eye of the old necromancer, I began to attack the imperfections in my core.
My Magic Core was small, maybe about one inch in diameter, uneven in shape and color. However, it held all my magical energy, enabling me to achieve miracles in this new world.
Little by little, under the pressure of my magic spiral's energies and influence, the walls started to become more even and the colors more clean. My core began to clean up its imperfections.
On several occasions Mandro nudged me in a certain direction with his power, or pointed out things I had missed, for which I was eternally grateful.
The procedure was extremely difficult and lengthy. It took me somewhere around ten hours and brought me to complete physical and mental exhaustion. My magical reserves were also completely depleted and when I came out of the foramination I simply fell asleep on the spot.
***
At that moment, the tower spirit appeared near me and turned to Mandro.
"What do you think of this specimen, old friend?"
"I am very much pleased. I think I understand why you chose to bet on him. But on the other hand these "homo-sapiens" are a rather fragile race. Their physical powers are exceptionally weak. Their instincts are stunted, and despite their high potential, I don't think they'll perform particularly well in the game."
"I hope you're not right, Mandro. But then again, not everyone can be a winner."
"Whatever the future holds, the Earthlings' future certainly won't be easy. There are many hardships awaiting them for which they have not been prepared in centuries."
"That's what we're here for, to prepare them. That's why we give them these skills, so they can face the difficulties. No, Mandro. Humans, like other races, will tap into the magical powers of the universe and learn to use their new powers. They will take a new path and change their destiny. Some will go much further than others, but the direction of all will be the right direction."
"Haha, another idealist. If only it were that easy."
"Do the little races, living in ignorance on the edge of the galaxy, who lost their resources before they were even born have any other chances?"
"Maybe they do, maybe they don't. Only time will tell."
****