The next day Merlin got up at his normal time and managed to do his chores with no problem. He thought about going out to do endurance training. However still feeling the a slight twinge of pain and decided against it.
Going back into his room he sat down on his bed once more and looked once more at his skill screen looking at Mana Sight.
Not sure what to do he activated it and for a moment nothing happened then he blinked once. The world all of a sudden shifted as everything seemed to shift into various colors of gray and silver.
Looking around he noticed how everything seemed to be made of of gold and silver colors with the gold being the more dominant one. In some cases there would only a tiny sliver of silver circle the golden color.
Looking down at himself, Merlin gasped in surprise. Unlike some items he was entirely silver with a sliver of gold around the edges.
Enraptured by the sights he spent his time looking at everything around him in fascination. Hearing a sound he looks towards the door to see Mary (AN: cookies to those who remember her!). Looking at her she was full of gold and silver. To Merlin it seemed like it was two thirds of gold with only a third of her a silver color. Comparing the two colors the gold color was richer and deeper being more vibrant and alive. The silver color in comparison was dull and darker making it seem more like a lifeless gray.
Comparing her color to his own his gold lining was more like a dull bronze just sitting there with like it was there for just appearances. His silver on the other hand was MOVING, forming intricate and delicate patterns. It appeared with an almost glowing color as it pulsed and had various shades as it shifted through the different possible colors of silver and gray each more unique than the last.
“HEY! You listening Merlin?”
Shaking his head and blinking rapidly he deactivated Mana Sight, and the world once again returning to its normal colors.
“Sorry Mary, I was using a skill. What were you saying?”
“I was saying that it is lunch time and Arwen sent me to get you. Now are you sure you are alright, Arwen is still a little worried.”
“I feel like I could run downstairs with and only barely be out of breath.”
Mary who was about to respond to Merlin paused before bursting out in laughter. Waving her for Merlin to follow Mary left the room and headed downstairs. With a smile on his face Merlin followed after her.
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After lunch Merlin returned to his room and used Mana Sight once more. This time instead of just looking he tried activating Mana Manipulation once more. This time he clearly saw what was happening.
At first he tried to manipulate mana in other objects however after a few tries with just seeing the the silver parts just sort of twitch or move a little faster inside their own objects.
Eventually he tried using it on himself.
His silver which was flowing smoothly and gracefully earlier seemed to halt. There were parts that still moved around however the impression the rest gave him was a group of guards or an army lining up in ranks before a fight.
From there he tried to move them and he watched as it shifted and churned, but overall nothing happened. Sighing Merlin stopped using Mana Manipulation and just kept looking around. Occasionally he would get close to something and try to look at it in detail. However by the end of the day Merlin had no real progress and figured it would have to wait until tomorrow with Austin.
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Waking up the next day, Merlin went through his routine before sitting near the front steps to the orphanage as he waited for Austin to come from his place in town. As he waited he turned on Mana Sight to look at the world around him to pass the time. One thing he noticed was that unless he really focused only the silver color he kept seeing would be in focus. Often times the gold color would be fain or even nonexistent with the only indication being an empty space that should not occur in a living thing.
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He soon noticed Austin’s approach as he was a bright silver color that dwarfed his own luster to a point. Deactivating the skill he ran to Austin who was leisurely approaching.
Seeing him approach Austin wore a small smile he made small talk with Merlin as they both entered the orphanage.
Settling down in the now empty lunch table Austin had Merlin sit down so he could talk about the skills Merlin learned. Pulling out some papers Austin began to tell Merlin what he had found.
“Well starting off simple, I confirmed my thoughts on Mana Manipulation. It is actually one of the high tier skills a Mage can learn as it allows more variety in their attacks without new spells. With so few spells, we need all we can get. It was actually learned first by the highest level mage ever, who managed to reach level 82 and was a High Novice in Fire Magic. However that was only near the end of his lifespan and in an attempt to cross the level boundary and extend his life he went out in the wilderness and was never found again. Before you get your hopes up this happened almost 500 years ago so even the oldest people alive now would not have even been born.”
Looking towards Merlin to see the confused expression on his face Austin sighed before motioning Merlin to ask his questions.
“What do you mean by level boundary? And how would that affect how old you would live? Also who are the oldest and why are they able to get so old?”
Firing out these questions in rapid fire Austin almost felt like his head was spinning from them he went to answer the questions.
“In a sense the answer to all your questions are the same.”
“The level boundary I refer to is the one that stops people from going to level 99 to 100. When people reach level 100 their class undergoes an advancement and specializes in what they trained for, taking into account skill levels and base class. There a deep divide between the two. With often times seeing an almost doubling in power between the two levels. That jump in power rejuvenates the body often allowing for some to live to well past 200 years. The amount of time they get varies depending on their age when the advance and race with humans typically being on the shorter end.”
Taking a moment to pause he had Merlin get him something to drink before continuing.
“There is another level divide at level 199 to 200. From what I have heard there is another doubling in power and class advancement to suite your personality. I have not seen a person who has reached that high as we are in a less dangerous area where low levels can get by. So, I can not guarantee everything I said. As for how long they live I am not entirely sure, however it is not a huge increase compared to the earlier advancement.”
Taking a look at Merlin to see if he had anymore questions what Austin found was the boy sitting there in thought, like he was processing everything he had just heard and seeing if it benefits him in anyway. Smacking the table lightly to get Merlin’s attention once more he started talking again.
“Now if we can continue on with what I am here for. For the Mana Sight skill I hit a dead end. No one I knew had heard of it. None the records I accessed had it written down. That said it is not like no one ever had it. The Mage’s Guild just does not have record of it. There might be one place that does, however I will not likely go there in my lifetime. Before you ask only those with high positions within the kingdoms and those in the church have access to it. It is the the Ancestral Library.”
Hearing that name Merlin began to remember the lessons he had with Arwen for class on history.
All of the current kingdoms surrounded the place in which the original members of the species were placed by the gods. That place is the Ancestral Grounds. It is there that the true powerhouses of the sentient races reside. The Ancestral Grounds also hold the church’s headquarters along with the library mentioned containing the entirety of knowledge of the combined races.
However, the true reason it is called the Ancestral Grounds is that no matter what race they must obey the leaders of their races that inhabit the grounds. The leaders here are not chosen by blood or any mortal reason. There are appointed by the church through the commands of the gods. To anyone in race their words are absolute as they are the true leaders appointed by the gods.
Like any leader they can not be everywhere. Thus, the kingdoms arose around the grounds to govern the land they had settled as the races expanded outward. Those in the Ancestral Grounds largely let the local rulers be. However, when it came to rebellions and monster outbreaks, the local rulers did not dare take the lead.
*cough* *cough*
Hearing the cough, Merlin looked back towards Austin breaking out of his recollection once more with an embarrassed smile on his face.
“Since we do not have access to those records we will do what we can with testing it out in various scenarios. However, before we do that I would like to at least you be at Middle Initiate in all magic categories so you have an idea of what you are doing. For now let us review your Water Magic and go onto Wind Magic if we have the time.”
Nodding in agreement Merlin left with Austin towards the archery range where he would practice for the next four years.