The next morning Savani was in a small group of fellow apprentices in the main hall of the tower. In front of them on a raised podium made of bone was a man who looked half mummified. His skin was grey and gaunt. His eyes were sunk into his head and flickered with a strange blue glow. This mans hair was fine and the color of dried hay. However despite his weak appearance the air he portrayed was filled with might and danger. This man was Sage Lance.
Sage Lance looked over the crowd of apprentices gathered before him. Inwardly he wondered how many would actually last a year as well as if there were any seedlings actually worthy of transcending. So few truely did. Amongst the various organizations it would be lucky to have one apprentice transend to a Sage in a group made of 500 individuals let alone the thirty or forty in front of him. Slowly he opened his mouth and began to recite the speech he had been giving every time new apprentices finished their month of basic training.
"Congratulations on you all for finally becoming true apprentices. This marks the beginning of your journey to power and truth. As of this moment you are all on your own. You may use the towers resources only if you pay for it. You may pay by either trading in resources, agreeing to help with research experiments, or by earning contribution points by doing tower missions. You will be given one basic spell module to study and master as well as a basic meditation technique. If you wish for more spell modules or higher grade techniques you will have to earn them. Just like everything else in life. If you want true power and true wisdom you must earn it yourself! Welcome to the world of Sages where truth and power reign above all. Work hard....for your own sakes."
With that he waved his hands and a shroud of darkness descended before disapearing. In the place of the stage was 6 tables each with an undead behind it. On each table was a sign stating one of the basic elements.
Savani quickly got into the line that was labeled Darkness. When he got in front of the undead creature it took from under the table a crystal ball and a scroll with some spells written on it.
Negative energy blast. Description: A blast of negative energy can be shot in the form of a wave from the wielders palm to a target. Distance 30 feet.
Acid Shot. Descritption: Creates an acidic ball with immense corrosive properties that can be shot at single target. Distance 60 feet.
Ghostly sounds. Description: Creates screams and cries in a designated area. Sound has mild hypnotic effect to attract attention. Distance 120 feet.
Chill touch. Descrition: Make a hand out of negative energy that deals necrotic damage to creature touched. Range 100 feet
Negative energy weapon. Description: Create a weapon out of negative energy that deals necrotic damage. Melee spell.
Looking over the spell list in his hands Savani began to think. After staring at the list he eventually chose Acid Shot. The reason was simple. Some of the monsters outside were undead in nature, which made them resistent to necrotic type damage. Besides that the only other spell, Ghostly Sound, was only good for distractions. There was no way for Savani to defend himself with such a spell. Acid Shot was the only spell that could be used on both magical creatures and undead amongst the spells given.
After pointing to the spell he chose the undead reaches under the desk and places a scroll next to the crystal ball placed previously. Picking both up Savani quickly returns to his room locking the door behind him.
Savani took the spell scroll and crystal orb and placed them at his desk. "Finally I can start my journey."
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Reaching forward, Savani grabbed the crystal orb and placed it on his forhead. He stimulated his spirit in the way he was taught to and gently connected it with the orb. Once it connected his mind began to throb as he felt his conciousness fading ever so slightly.
[A data trancference has been initiated. Proceed with transfer?] The chips voice sounded in his mind.
"Proceed!" At Savani's command, the throbbing in his brain got worse and his conciousness faded even further as information flooded his mind. Pictures and stances flowed into his memories as words and paragraphs explaining energy absorbtion and refinement appeared out of nowhere.
After some time Savani sat up groaning, the lingering pain of the transference still causing his head to throb in pain.
[Elementary Meditation Technique has been added to archive. Folder for meditation techniques has been added to Memory. To refine technique to better suit your constitution please gain more knowledge on the Darkness and Space elements.]
Focusing through his newfound headache the information that the chip told him made him estatic. Since the Meditation Technique was only a basic version the chip could upgrade and customize it!
"Chip create long term project of improving and refining meditation technique and create folders based on the knowledge of the Elements prioritizing Darkness and Space as well as a folder on Magic in general and how it functions."
[Confirmed. Creating folders on Elements and Magic. Transfering all current knowledge into respective folders from memories.]
Savani felt his head throb once more as memories over his life in this new world flashed past his eyes. Once it was done the neutral voice of the chip resounded in his mind yet again. [Knowledge extraction complete.]
"Good. Auto extract any knowledge in real time from now on. Have you formulated an appropriate path of advancement?"
[According to modules learned the most suitable path is that of Blood Refinement.]
Curiously Savani asked, " What made you come to this concusion?"
[Elemental Baptization would cause user to loose one element in favor of strengthening the other. As host wishes to keep both elements this path is unsuitable for you. Body Modification would require a constant influx of resources and modification to the body. As the host does not have access to higher forms of knowledge the host cannot perfectly plan a road that would lead to the peak as the host wishes. Soul Transference would transfer the hosts soul to an unfamiliar body and leave the host weak, forced to regrow in strength and leave their humanity behind. This method can only be done once so if the host is unable to find a strong enough creature to transfer to this method is seen as a last resort. Therefore only Bloodline Refinement is left as valid option.]
Looking at the chips logic Savani conceeded it did make sense. Having both Darkness and Space means that he could be far stronger and more versetile than others of the same grade. Of course the trade off is that he would need far more knowledge and spells which means spending more money and resources. Because of that Savani didn't also want to spend money on modifying his body, especially when modifying it in a way that would support his Space affinity would most definitely not be cheap. And as much of an introvert Savani was, he still didn't want to throw away his hummanity, at least not at this stage of his development.
"Do you have any reccomendations on how to proceed?"
[It is reccomended that the host learn both the art of Alchemy as well as Necromancy. Alchemy can be used to generate income while also giving the host knowledge on how to refine bloodlines. Necromancy will give the host knowledge of anatomy as well as increasing the hosts power base and understand of the Darkness element.]
"Which do you reccomend learing first?"
[Host should learn the art of Necromancy first. It will allow user to create undead minions to protect the host as well as gather ingredients needed to learn and practice Alchemy.]
Looking at the chips reccomendation Savani began to think. Currently he only had one spell, Acid Shot. While good for long range, the downside was that Savani would have to rely on others to protect him in battle. But from what he learned of this world Savani would need to be as self sufficient as possible. History was full of Sages that were supposedly friends for years only to turn on each other when the benifits were too good to pass up. That, along with his natural unease of people in general cultivated between both his past life and his current one, made trusting his safety to others just felt wrong and foolish.
However, with an undead he wouldn't need to worry about that. The undead could be a shield while he flung Acid Shot from behind!