8 The Academic

We when downstairs and had a hot stew, it was made of some meat, bones, vegetables and little sal. It's not as good as the one from home, but it was way better than past yesterday's meat that we bought to celebrate.

"The food in the capital is awful, it would be great if we find someone that likes to cook. I could teach him some stuff. I was not particularly good back then, but I was better than this. Someone that could control fire temperature would be the best option."

I know Odon was talking about his past life, I don't particularly understand what's the relation with fire temperature an food. I mean, isn't it the same food? How can the temperature affect its flavor? is not like fire add more ingredients to food. So I try asking Odon about it, I soon regret. I have no idea what he is talking about.

"... and so that's the key to it. Fire discompose food molecules, different molecules discompose at different temperatures. So if you control fire you can control the flavor. You may understand it better if you compare half cook and well cook meat. ..."

Like that he talks for almost an hour. Of course, we didn't just sit to talk, after we finish the food we keep talking on our way to the academic. He didn't mention it before but he dislikes so much the food here that he want's to start a business out of it. But I know from my conversation with Alvar (guard), that almost any fire user will be enlisted in the army. Unless his skill is weak or costly. In the end, he admit that is food business is only a nice dream, but we will stick to the plan for starting a business depending on the ability of our future companions.

Odon only stops talking about food and business when we arrive at the academic. He didn't usually talk so much, could it be related to the deal I did with him this morning? But this trend of thoughts was quickly interrupted by Odon comment.

"We should separate, for now, try asking food vendor, old peoples, cleaners or anyone that is usually around here but isn't important. Garder as much information about the academic and the exam."

"Shouldn't it be better just to go in and ask?"

"I was thinking about that, but by the way the inn owner talk about this place, it is likely an elitist academic. I would be surprised if they don throw us out of the academic if we try going in to ask questions. Either way, if we later found out that they don't discriminate against poor peoples that are curious we can go in and ask."

"OK, I will go to look for peoples with secrets that aren't too evil." When I was almost about to go away Odon stop me for a second.

"Unn... eh... Blisse if you happen to find young kids that are been abuse but are no evil themselves, look for me, they will be potential companions."

I feel that he wanted to say something else, anyway since my skill is passive is not like it will be extra work. And like that, I went looking for elders that may have the information we want. Soon I found an old lady or I should call her an ex-soldier. Her dream shows her killing peoples on a battlefield. I know soldiers learn from Alval that soldiers are more discipline than guards. The main reasons for their discipline are: worse punishment, more rules, and a higher salary.

"Excuse me, madam, are you busy?" I try to at as polite as possible, trying to show that she is important. At less from my point of view.

"Not really, what do you want kid?" Her answer was blunt.

"I just got to the capital, and notice many peoples talking about the academic. I wanted to enroll but no one took me seriously."

"You are lucky that they didn't beat. With how poor you look I'm surprised that you haven't starved to death."

"Is so expensive to enroll? Should I better apply to the army?"

"You? In the army? If they didn't force join it is unlikely that you will make it unless you are a genius cultivator...."

As soon as I mention the army she loses her toggle and starts talking a lot. She even bought a few snacks for me while talking. We sit under a big tree not to far away from the academic. The area is like a small jungle, but with pretty trees only. Also, I notice a few peoples picking the fallen leaf.

She talks a lot, I learn that the place we are sitting in a park and is the biggest in the capital. She also made fun of me because I wanted to go to the academic but didn't know how to read the clock. Every here and there they are buildings with clocks on them. They are used to organize peoples schedule. Even if you don't know how to read them or are not paying attention, they make noise every hour so you aren't late for an appointment.

She didn't talk much about the academic. After all, she didn't when there. But she talks a lot about the army, cultivation and one of her's granddaughters.

I learn that the army and the academic has a lot in common. The main difference has been the cultivation. They are 2 types of cultivation that she knows of.

The one she practices, body cultivation, the one consisted of upgrading the body using mana. They are 9 know levels to this. Any civilian can easily practice level 1, it is a breathing exercise that slowly accumulates mana in the lungs and the heart. She gives me some introduction to this and we practice for one hour. It looks like she comes every day to this park to practice because it helps keep her healthy.

The second level is needed to be a guard. Unlike the first level where you let mana go naturally inside your body. The second level force the mana on your lungs and heart move to your blood vessels, making your muscles a lot stronger and your body heals faster.

After you enchanted your muscles, skin and internal organs, you can try going for the 3rd level. This one can't be taught, but they are some versions on sale for commoners. In this one you should take the mana inside your body through your acupuncture points on your body, I only understood that you take energy through your skin.

As for the 4th level, she only knows that you are supose to form a core. But she didn't know much about it. She only broke to the 3rd level after she retires from the army. She also mentions that an average person can live for 100 years. and hitting the 3rd level will ensure you to hit the 100. If you want to live more you have to get to the 4th level, where you will be able to live an extra 10 years.

As for the academic, she only mentions it briefly while mentioning the other cultivation type, magic cultivation. This one allows you to manipulate the external mana and do incredibles attacks, fireball, firewalls, create water, thunder, even healing others is possible. But this path forbids you from accumulating mana in your body, at less until the 3rd level, because it can cause alterations on the spells. Her unit comander was a mage of the 3rd level, that's why she knew this. He usually complains about how weak his body was, how his lifespan was not improved and how much money he had to spend. One ocation he mentions that he had spent over 5000 gold coins to get to his level.