Paths To Take.

Trajaan had no need to know of his Elemental Affinities or talents. His Custodian's Path Meditation Technique was of the neutral element. The Inate spells he would get at each of the ranks were yet to be determined.

According to the information in his mind, the spells would be custom created for him as he went through his journey. For the moment he went through the memories of the 20 knights his Apollonian Spear granted him.

The 20 used the same Knight's Breathing Technique. It was called the Iron Body Technique. It was meant to give the Knight the hardness of Iron, but that was obviously worthless. His Spear cut through them like butter.

And their Secret Techniques merely burnt up their life's span for power meant to be used as a trump card.

'Crude.'

Just as he was deep in thought he looked next to him where he saw Leylin return from the tent.

"Fang. I see you have gotten your results."

Fang Ming or Leylin took a deep breath before he spoke.

"How do you know?"

Trajaan pointed at Leylin's head.

"As I said, I read your soul. That A.I chip in your soul truly is a marvel of technology. Make use of it and you will certainly find a path to becoming a Magus. And I could use a Scientist like yourself."

Now Leylin felt that he could work with Trajaan.

"It would be my honor. I could use a fellow intellectual in this barbaric world."

Trajaan smirked under his helmet.

"Barbaric? This is nothing. You can stick with me for the moment."

"Thank you."

Both of them strolled aimlessly around the camp and saw all sorts of interesting tents with strange shapes and sizes. Some were like giant mushrooms, where a small fan-shaped door opened in the middle. One used some sort of strange horned devil skull, where the acolytes would walk into the tent through the devil's ferocious mouth.

Under the various academy names, there were details such as specialization areas, and famous Magi, for the acolytes to consider. Trajaan looked around as his eyes scanned through the names.

"You need Dark and Shadow, so I recommend Abyssal Bone Forest Academy. From what I can see they are the best for you."

Leylin's own A.I chip also told him the same thing. With that, Trajaan led Leylin toward the tent of the Academy. They reached it in about 10 minutes and reached a tent that was constructed with numerous white bones. The words on top were arranged to form a sentence.

"The Abyssal Bone Forest Academy welcomes you!"

Trajaan titled his head.

"Does not seem like it."

These big words were all written in red and dripping blood, which scared many of the surrounding acolytes away, and seeing this made Leylin rather speechless as well.

"Why would they construct such a scary-looking scene? To frighten people? They could have at least done it after signing the contract; otherwise, all the acolytes will be scared away!"

Trajaan grunted at his reaction.

"It's a test. The ones scared away are of no use. Come boy."

Leylin shook his head and walked into the tent of white bone with Trajaan. As they entered, a cold aura that reeked of blood engulfed them which made Leylin's hair stand on ends.

"He he he...After waiting for long, finally, two come!"

Trajaan looked at the ground as he noticed the soul and avoided stepping on the bones. Poor Leylin did not though.

"Where are you? Who is speaking?"

Leylin was shocked when he heard the voice.

"Excuse me! You are stepping on my hand!"

The voice traveling from beneath Leylin's feet, made him jump in fright. Only then did he realize his shoes were stepping on a withered palm. Leylin hurriedly jumped away,

"Sorry, Sir!"

Trajaan stayed silent near the entrance.

"No worries, but could you move your feet? They are stepping on my right leg now!"

Leylin then realized that the ground inside the tent was uneven and there were many dried bones littered about, and earlier he had unsuspectingly stepped on some. As Leylin moved backward, the few dried bones of hands and legs began to assemble into a skeletal figure.

Taking a closer look, there was a faint layer of skin on top of this skeleton which had covered the bones, and on the skull where the eyes were, two green lights flickered faintly, which was extremely terrifying.

Leylin gulped and hurriedly apologized.

"I'm sorry Sir!"

The skeleton waved him off.

"No matter!"

The white bony teeth clacked and produced a human voice:

"Let me introduce myself, I am a professor of the Shadow and Dark elements. You can call me Dorotte!"

Leylin bowed once again and brown-nosed the Lich.

"My most respected Sir Dorotte."

Trajaan scoffed at this shameless guy.

"I am Trajaan Valdor, the master of the boy."

Dorotee looked at him and felt his power. It was above his by-leagues.

"Now what would a magus of your caliber want with me? If the boy has a master why come here."

Trajaan shook his head.

"You are mistaken. I am no magus, but I am on the path to becoming one."

Dorotee did not know what to do.

"If you are not a Magus, but have this much power I am not sure we can teach you anything."

"It does not matter. Will you take him or not? I am merely going to follow along."

Dorotee sighed.

"Fine, but the boy has to pay. I would not make someone of your caliber pay."

Leylin spoke up.

"Before that, I wish to see the rules set by the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy!"

"Alright!"

Dorotte took out a dusty sheet of sheepskin paper from behind and handed it over to Leylin. According to the ancient agreement, after choosing the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, you are receiving the right to partake in the basic lessons of the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, a set of elementary meditation techniques, 5 years of residence, lodging, and food free of charge.

We also allow you to use magic crystals as remuneration, to exchange for knowledge from the professors..."

Dorotte spoke nonstop while Leylin read rapidly and compared the information constantly presented by the A.I. Chip.

He discovered that what Dorotte said was the exact same as the information on the sheepskin paper. In terms of basic hospitality, it was pretty similar among the various academies.

Trajaan read it all with a glance as he felt that was fine. He needed a place to conduct his Warp Research and this sounded like the perfect place for him.

"I have understood the basic terms now, may I know what kind of payment is needed to enter the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy?"

"Thirteen magic crystals or an item identical in value!"

"I will use this item to exchange!"

Leylin made up his mind and withdrew the Magus ring hanging around his neck.

"You seem to have an interesting toy!"

The green flame in Dorotte's eyes flashed. The bony white hand took the ring and placed it in its palm, and then took out an item similar to a magnifying glass and inspected it.

"Mn...It is indeed rather interesting, I haven't seen these patterns in a long time! A low-grade magic artifact! It looks like it was created in our Abyssal Bone Forest Academy and there is a carved inscription of a hastening spell formation, but it is broken. It's worth fifteen magic crystals!

Now! Newbie, are you willing to mortgage this ring for your school fees? Once you have decided, sign the ancient contract of our Abyssal Bone Forest Academy!"

Dorotte said, with an accentuated tone.

"I accept!"

Leylin's resolute voice sounded.

"Good! I hereby declare that the contract is formed! Hand over your form to me!"

Trajaan was immune to it as Dorote would not be able to bind him as he was stronger. After receiving Leylin's form, Dorotte laughed,

"Shadow and Dark element affinity, no wonder you chose our academy. In this Death Beach, we are the most outstanding! As for Trajaan, why did you join?"

"Same reason. I am also interested in soul research. And my people have a knack for it."

"Well, you came to the right place. I hereby announce that you two have been accepted and won't need an entry test! Take this card! Go back and rest. Tomorrow we will proceed with our journey back to the school!"

Dorotte took out something that resembled a metal card. Leylin received it and saw that the number '9' was written on it. Trajaan got the number 10 though.

"It is over just like this? Don't we have to sign a contract or something?"

Leylin asked casually.

"Ha ha ha...Never once was there someone who dared to deceive a Magus!"

Dorotte sniggered, and it gave Leylin the chills.

"Then I will leave first, Sir!"

Leylin bowed and walked out of the tent following Trajaan who left. They went to the area behind the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy tent. Behind the recruitment area of these academies, there were rows of wooden huts erected, and in the middle, youths of both genders were walking in and out of them. They seemed to be there as the temporary residence for acolytes.

No one wanted to approach because of Trajaan, but one built up the nerve to speak to Leylin.

"Hey! Nice to meet you, are you new here?"

The wooden door that was numbered '6' opened and an acolyte with red hair and blue eyes walked out from it and greeted Leylin.

"Hi! I am Leylin!"

Trajaan lied for convenicen.

"I am just hoping along for the ride. Don't mind me."He walked away and sat outside hut 10. He could not enter it anyway which left Leylin to talk with the boy. Trajaan closed his eyes as he once again delved into his Meditation.

He fused Mana and Warp Energy and began to construct the next 24 Mind Runes. The Runes rapidly formed in his mind and in just 20 minutes, he finished forming them. The Runes instantly smashed into each other to form the Second glowing Golden Purple Rune.

He instantly felt his mind become even clearer, and once more his soul in the warp burned even brighter drawing the attention of more Daemons. When his soul got stronger, so did his body.

Perfect Gene Craft, along with the powers of Accolyte Runes was quickly forming a monster. Trajaan simply calmed his mind and meditated for hours to simply stabilize himself. Very soon he would finish forming his Third set of Runes, but that would come later.

For the moment, Trajaan dived into the Warp and he instantly could feel how badly the Chaos Gods wanted him. He was their door into a whole new world that they could use. Or better yet, he could be the key for them to win the Great Game against their rivals.

As Trajaan glanced all around at the many Daemons around him, they began to whisper their promises. All of them were lies, and Trajaan knew just two Warp beings he would be willing to make a pact with.

Vashtorr the Arkifane, and Khorne. Both of them would not back stab you as Vashtorr would give clear terms. And Khorne was a bit trickier, but nothing he could not figure out. For the moment Trajaan returned to real space once he got what he wanted.