Graelish observed Elias and Art for a moment in silence.
His gaze was hard to decipher, but it seemed like the look of someone examining the atmosphere.
At last, he spoke with simplicity:
"I'm going to teach you a few things."
He didn't elaborate, and didn't seem willing to give unnecessary explanations.
Elias sighed. Deep down, he felt relieved that Graelish didn't go into detail.
He still didn't feel ready to deal with the judgment or confrontations that might come with the revelation.
Art, on the other hand, oblivious to the silent tension between the two, simply assumed Graelish would teach Elias a few necromancy tricks.
He didn't imagine Elias was, in fact, a necromancer.
There was an innocence in the way Art saw the world, as if there were no conspiracies, and everything was as clear and naked as it appeared on the surface.
Suddenly, Art approached a stone pillar that supported part of the castle's ceiling.
Without warning, as if driven by an inexplicable impulse or uncontrollable energy, he punched it.
Elias and Graelish watched, expecting the dry sound of bones colliding with stone.
What should have resulted in a bruised and bleeding fist ended unexpectedly. The wall shattered into pieces, as if struck by a battering ram.
Dust spread through the air, and the fragments of the pillar flew in different directions.
Elias widened his eyes, surprised, and commented with a tone of curiosity mixed with disbelief:
"Do you have super strength because you're a warrior, or is that some power from your class?"
Art, with a similarly surprised expression on his face, looked at his own fist as if also trying to understand what had just happened.
Reading the information on the panel, he replied:
"That's called vital force. It's a common power among close-combat classes."
Elias tilted his head, interested, and asked:
"And how does it work?"
Art thought for a moment before answering. He wasn't exactly a scholar, but he knew enough about his own energy to try explaining.
"I guess you could say it works like mana. I can use it to strengthen myself and perform superhuman feats. But if you're wondering... no, I can't cast spells."
Graelish, who had been silently observing until then, approached with a keen and intrigued look.
His voice came out calm, almost like that of a scientist evaluating a new kind of phenomenon.
"Do you feel this vital force like mana? Does it concentrate in the solar plexus or is the sensation different?"
The comment caught Elias' attention, and he looked at Graelish with mild surprise.
"Mana concentrates in the solar plexus?"
Graelish nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on the two."Yes. When the concentration of mana increases in the body, it can be felt in the solar plexus, like a pressure, a heat, sometimes even a vibration."
Art closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath and trying to feel any different nuance in his body.
After a few seconds of introspection, he opened them again and answered with moderate conviction:
"It feels like a flow... something that runs through the whole body."
"Interesting," Elias remarked thoughtfully, as if storing that information for future use.
Graelish then turned to Elias, his sharp eyes focused like blades.
"Let's practice, you and me. Art, feel free to explore your powers on your own for now. Later on, I'll help you."
Art nodded casually, still examining the remains of the pillar he had destroyed. Elias, on the other hand, followed Graelish to a larger room in the back of the castle.
The space was ideal for training: firm ground, high ceiling, stone walls with ancient combat marks, and an atmosphere that exuded seriousness.
"You've got a great training setup here," Elias noted, observing the environment attentively.
"Yes. I invested a lot in this castle. It has everything I need," Graelish replied, his voice low and firm.
"Before I became a necromancer, I trained hard and was a competent warrior. But since I became a ghoul, this room's been unused."
"I see," Elias replied with a nod.
"Alright, let's begin," said Graelish, taking on a more serious posture. "My first question: why are you hiding from Art that you're a necromancer? The miasma you exude is unmistakable. Any necromancer would recognize that aura."
Elias fell silent for a moment, considering the words carefully. He knew he couldn't lie to someone like Graelish.
At last, he replied:
"From what I've speculated and observed, necromancers are outcasts in this world. Hiding it is a form of self-preservation."
Graelish didn't argue immediately. His gaze was reflective, and after a few seconds, he offered an alternative point of view:
"But Art isn't from this world either, is he?"
Not wanting to delve deeper into the conversation, Elias looked away. He didn't want to discuss it.
Sensing the resistance, Graelish decided to start the mentorship, changing the subject naturally.
"You learned the spells from the grimoire through your panel, didn't you? I want you to cast them one by one. I'll comment on each, and I want to observe the power of this panel. It fascinates me."
"Can't you just explain and demonstrate?" Elias asked, with slight hesitation.
"I can. But humans learn best through two main senses: vision and direct experience. My method combines both."
"Then, starting... cast Spark."
Elias focused on the panel, locating the spell among the elemental options available.
Skill: Spark
Description: Creates a small fire burst in front of you, useful for lighting torches or dealing light damage to enemies.
Instinctively, he knew how to cast it, one of the bonuses of panel-based learning. It was as if the knowledge had been embedded into his consciousness.
"Spark," he murmured in thought.
A small fireball formed in the palm of his hand. The flame flickered gently, radiating a soft heat.Graelish's eyes gleamed with interest.
He crossed his arms and commented:
"Very good. Now let's work on control. Channel your mana through the spell and try to increase the size of the flame. Don't worry, as long as you maintain control, it won't harm you."
Elias closed his eyes, trying to visualize the mana concentrated in his solar plexus. Graelish began to guide him with a calm and precise voice:
"Take a deep breath... and focus on your solar plexus. Don't worry, mana isn't something foreign. It's an extension of you, part of the totality of what makes you who you are."
Sensing that Elias was relaxed, Graelish proceeded with calm firmness:
"Synchronize your breathing with the mana. Feel the warmth it emits. Now, concentrate that warmth in your palm."
Elias followed the instructions precisely. It was as if the two were in sync. When Graelish sensed the right moment, he gave the next command:
"Now, release fragments of that warmth into the spell. Visualize the flame growing, expanding."
Taking a deep breath, Elias channeled the energy flow.
The flame in his hand grew larger, intense and vibrant. When he felt it was enough, he opened his eyes.
The fireball was now the size of an adult's fist. Instinctively, he turned his body in a fluid motion and launched it toward a stone pillar, as if throwing a quick jab into the air.
FOOSH!
The blazing sphere flew and hit the pillar with precision. The impact left a dark, scorched mark, and the smell of burning quickly filled the room.
The grimoire contained only a few spells, all elemental. But each one was impressive on its own.
It was as if they waited to be fully understood only at the moment of execution.
"You'll understand better once you cast them," said Graelish, arms crossed and eyes sharp. "Now, try Wind Gust."
Elias took a deep breath, fixing his gaze on the panel. He felt something light and unstable inside him, like an inner breeze trying to escape. He cast:
"Wind Gust."
A current of air shot out abruptly from his hand, pushing a wooden chair into the corner of the room.
Elias felt the air spiraling around his arm, as if it had become a living extension of himself.
"Interesting..." he commented, intrigued. "
This spell seems to respond to intention... more than strength."
Graelish nodded. "Wind is fickle. It responds better when guided with subtlety and decisiveness. It teaches control, too much force scatters it, hesitation dissolves it."
"You can use it both offensively and defensively. It has versatile properties."
"With more practice, you can even manipulate air resistance to increase your speed."Elias nodded respectfully, and moved on to the next spell.
"Let's test Healing Dew now."
He positioned his hands as if to gather something from the air, focusing on a feeling of freshness and renewal.
Slowly, translucent droplets began to form, floating above his palms.
Upon touching them, a slight relief spread through his fingers, like a breath of life.
"This... is different," murmured Elias. "It's like the mana wants to comfort, not attack.""Healing magic teaches empathy," said Graelish. "You don't impose your will. You offer. True healing only comes from a genuine intention to protect."
"Each element has its traits. Understanding them is fundamental."
Elias agreed and moved on to the next spell.
"Now something more direct. Cast Boulder."
His aura shifted. He stiffened his body, and his mana became denser, heavier. Extending his arm, a stone emerged in his hand, dense and firm like lead.
"Boulder!"
He hurled the stone with force, hitting a vase at the back of the room, which shattered into a thousand pieces.
"This spell... requires firmness and focus," he said. "As if I needed to anchor the mana before releasing it."
"Exactly," replied Graelish. "Earth magic teaches stability. It's mastery of the body, of clear intent. Here, hesitation is weakness."
"Now try Mist."
Elias closed his eyes for a moment and thought of concealment, of mystery. He felt the mana cool around him and exhaled slowly.
"Mist."
A dense, milky fog formed around his body, obscuring vision. The sounds around him became muffled, as if the world had gone silent for a moment.
"This... spell seems to come from a deeper place," he whispered. "As if the whole world were whispering with me."
"Mist teaches introspection," said Graelish, appearing from within it like a shadow. "It's the art of hiding, of protecting... and of deceiving. The power to be seen, or not, when you wish."
"Now, to finish, use Electric Touch."
Elias inhaled, channeling mana quickly and tensely. He felt the energy surge through his arm, zigzagging to the palm of his hand. He stretched out his arm toward the wall.
ZZZZZZT!
A sharp crackle filled the air. A faint scent of ozone spread through the room.
"This spell... is instinctive. Almost wild."
Graelish smiled. "Electricity teaches reaction. It's raw power that demands reflex and precision. A fraction of a second changes everything."
Elias took a step back and took a deep breath. Each spell had revealed something new about himself, about mana, and about the world.
"Now I understand," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Magic isn't just power... it's expression. Each element teaches something different."
Graelish observed him with piercing eyes, as if seeing beyond him:
"You learn quickly, Elias. But this is only the beginning."