With a final pat on the shoulder, Favner did something Mythra would never forget. His hand moved through the air with the finesse of a seasoned harvester plucking a grape from the vine. The golden ring on his pinkie emitted a luminous, molten-orange glow, imbuing the room with an enchanting aura. Faint whispers, akin to echoes from a distant plane, drifted through the air, prompting Mythra to whirl around in search of their mysterious source. But as swiftly as they emerged, they dissolved into silence, leaving him with a sense of wonder. The ring resumed its customary golden sheen, and pinched between the dwarf's fingers dangled a delicate silver chain necklace, its centerpiece: a modestly sized ruby pendant intriguingly shaped like an inverted pyramid, with a line demarcating its apex.

The dwarf gazed at the necklace fondly, a hint of reluctance in his eyes as if parting with it caused his heart some pain. Nevertheless, he gently placed it around Mythra's neck, fastening it with a wry smile playing on his lips.

"It's customary for a master to bestow a gift upon his disciple before commencing," he explained. "So, allow me to present you with this token before we begin."

Sitting down next to Mythra's legs on the bed, Favner mumbled to himself, "Alright, where do I start, hmm? What power am I offering you? As fair a place as any."

Turning to Mythra, he began to lecture, "Lad, there are many paths to the divine in this world, but as old as I am, I have only ever learned how to follow one," he held up his pointer finger, "and that is Tantra." A glimmer of golden light sparked into existence, coating the finger like a liquid flame. A small smile of satisfaction tugged at the corners of his mouth as he couldn't help but notice the awe in Mythra's expression. With a shake of his finger, the power dispersed, bringing Mythra back from his stupor.

Mythra was curious, "Was... was that Tantra?" Favner patted his legs. "Be patient Lad, I'll get to that." He reached down to the floor, retrieving the flask he'd set aside, and took another gulp of its contents. "Ah, that's good stuff. Where was I? Right, first, let me explain a little of the structure of this world to you."

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"This world is created from four types of energy: qi, prana, mana, and pneuma. Qi is the world's essence, the external energy of nature. I've never mastered qi myself, but I've heard tales of those who can. They can shatter mountains with a fist, manipulate objects with a gesture, turn words into weapons, and even transmute their bodies into the elements. Qi users are as diverse as they are dangerous, but harnessing qi is an agonizing practice. It's the world's energy, not meant to be constrained, yet some fools still attempt to wield it."

Favner shook his head with disdain. "Their methods vary—some are slow, some are painful, some have dire consequences. It all depends on the skill of the practitioner and the art they use. Despite its risks, it remains one of the easiest paths to follow without innate talent. But reaching the divine always demands some level of risk; you'll come to understand that soon enough." Favner nodded, affirming the wisdom of his own words.

"Pneuma is the energy of the gods. I know precious little about it, except that it's something they covet, and have an insatiable appetite to acquire. Entire nations have fallen to ruin in their relentless pursuit of pneuma. It's an energy beyond mortal reach unless one dares to challenge the gods on equal footing—a feat I certainly do not dare to attempt." He waved his hand in front of his face dismissing the notion.

"Prana is the energy of the body, the innate vital force that every person or being is born with. Some people refer to it as 'bloodline', as it forms the essence of one's physical existence. Your prana reserves are determined at birth; the only way to use and strengthen them is to refine them. Deplete your prana, and death is certain without exception."

Favner's gaze turned downcast and sullen. "We dwarves have a saying: 'Prana is akin to steel. Too much tempering and it'll break too much use and it'll dull but swing wildly and it will shatter.' Many have perished due to a lack of control. Still, prana has its advantages: unparalleled strength, toughness, speed, endurance, and heightened senses. Your body becomes the most dangerous weapon imaginable. Engaging a prana user in close quarters ensures death for anyone but a god or another prana user." He smirked with pride.

"Finally, there's mana. Mana is the energy of the mind and soul. With mana, you can influence and manipulate the world's qi without containing it. Your strengthened soul allows you to interact with the world on a higher level and see the unseen. Mana users are as rare as a good harvest in bad soil, but the elves churn out more of 'em than a hare's litter." He rolled his eyes, "Damn tree barnacles."

Favner stood up and stretched, letting out a yawn. "I won't be teaching you how to use any of these energy forms. Well, not any of them as a standalone. Instead, I'll teach you something I've only ever heard of passed down in my family line. I'll teach you how to merge your body and soul into one, weaving your prana and mana together to create a new energy called chakra. That, Lad, is Tantra, and as far as I know, there are only two users of it left in this world. You will be the third."