55 Chapter 55

The last trick wasnt a combat lesson. It was something which wasnt mentioned in the books.

The common notion was that magic power hit the peak when you reach adulthood. It was true. It stopped growing by itself at that point in time.

But the mages at the border observed a phenomenon. The ones who were always pushed to the extreme, who emptied their magical power reserve time and time again noticed a increase in their magical power limit. It was difficult to increase power that way because it was painful, but people who desired it went through it nevertheless.

Normal spells would require a lot of time for Aaron to empty his magic power. Best way would be for him to open gates over the longest distance he could and lift up the heaviest objects he could. Only that could put him under enough strain. But it was long process. It wasnt something which could be achieved in a short amount of time.

One thing Aaron asked Thunder king was about a space mage ability to cast an attacking spell. The ways he could attack right now were roundabout. There was no direct attack spells.

"I haven't seen any space mage use one. Even elementalists find it hard. Surprised?"

He fired a small bolt at a wall.

"You see that bolt? It isnt a direct attacking spell as to say. I created a bolt of lighting with magic power and released it, once released it isnt magical in nature anymore. If I could induce lightning in a person standing still. That would be true direct attack spell. Right?"

"But its almost unheard of. Only the most powerful mages in history had been able to able to directly cast a spell on a person. A person's will is very diificult to overcome. "

"If you are connected to a magical spell, the moment it touches some other person, it will cease to exist. Hence when people cast an attacking spell. They create it and then release it breaking off their own connection to it. "

"So if you are thinking of shrinking the space around me to squash me, you are still far away from it. Remember mages have stronger will than normal people anyways. "

"But again, just so that I said that I haven't seen a space mage use a attack spell, doesnt mean you cant do that. Dont let other people constrain you. "

Aaron thought about what he said. He was always restricted by what he was taught. He had been like he was on earth. He took whatever he was taught in school or read in books as absolute truth. It was correct upto a certain degree as well. That was the truth as percieved by the people at that point of time.

But what was absolute truth? No one knew. Truth changed as your understanding grew.

People were sure earth flat. They were even sure earth was the centre of universe. But was it true just because people believed it to be? To be constrained by what others believe was not the right way to go ahead, specially on this world which had magic. Science on earth would fail to explain it altogether.

Aaron decided he would start experimenting on his own. He had created one new spell by his own effort in the first place. He would continue to do so and not worry about people containing the limit of what he could or could not do.

Aaron continued to practice all the new tricks he had learned. He tried to think new ways to utilize what he had learned.

He had been getting better at 'sensing' things too. He also now knew the advantage a space mage had. Other mages could only get a feel of things around them. But Aaron as a space mage could almost see around him with his eyes closed. He had also increased the distance he could 'see'.

The two months were up. It was time Thunder king explained what he wanted.

"The desolate area is a large stretch of area. My chance of success of actually crossing it successfully is low. I plan on using you to increase that possibility. "

"I want to use your gates to travel a certain distance in the desolate area. That would shorten my journey by a lot and increase my chances."

"Dont worry, I only plan on taking you to the point where the mages were able to successfully return from. I wont take you into the true danger zone. "

"I could have travelled on foot too. But it would take me a long time on foot. You cant use horses in the desolate lands. They get difficult to control as you go forward. Going on foot is dangerous. I

If we can use your gates, it would be simpler and much safer. You can simply leave using your gates after I am done. "

This made sense to Aaron. Travelling by gates was fast and safe. No wonder Thunder king wanted his help.

"I will be leaving for a couple of days. I have some business to finish. Chances are I might not return from this. "

Aaron didn't ask what his business was.

Thunder king returned two days later at the evening. He had his normal meal and went to bed at his normal time. He didnt look like a man who was about to undertake such a journey.

They left early that morning.

According to thunder king, if they took carriages, it would take 3 months to reach the border from here. Aaron did it in 4 days. He could have pushed himself, but he wasnt in a hurry.

The border was a city in itself. It housed many common people along with the mages. They were the ones who did the cooking, construction and other miscellaneous activities. There were also the family of some mages. Mostly which were started at the border itself. The most important difference here was that the people living here werent allowed to leave and only under special circumstances they were allowed to do so. Beyond the city laid a wall. A wall which had no ends. "This is what protects the humans from the beasts. It is manned 24x7 by mages and common guards alike. It runs for about 2500 km to the sea on both sides. We were lucky to find a narrow stretch of land to build the wall. "

2500 was narrow? Maybe it was in consideration to the size of a planet.

The wall was at a height of about 10 metres and 3 metres wide.

"Can you take us directly on the other side of the wall?"

"No. I haven't seen that place. We could end up getting stuck in the wall. "

"Okay. Take us up on the wall. But quickly leave thereafter. I dont want to hurt the border mages."

Luckily no one saw them. As per thunder king there were 13 divisons in all who protected the border.

The 3rd division was the top most with most battle merits. The section of the wall they manned was also where most beasts appeared.

Thunder king took Aaron deeper into the desolate land. It was truly a grim land. There was no signs of vegetation. It was Rocky place full of dust and no sense of direction. Aaron noted down each coordinate he opened the gates at. He would need it to go back.

It was at night when they were resting did he encounter his first beast.

It was an overgrown lizard. The size of a komodo dragon on earth. And it could actually breath fire. A dragon? Was it somehow responsible for thkse myths on earth?

Thunder king fired bolts after bolts of magic. Aaron could see the defense of the creature. It refused to go down. It finally went down after 30 strikes from the Thunder king.

"That was the fire lizard. Low attack power and low movement speed. High on defense. An easier target if you may say. "

He slept again after he killed it. Like it was a daily routine. Maybe it was some time ago.

It could withstand 30 strikes from the strongest mage? Although probably not his most powerful ones, but just how strong were these beasts?

Next morning Aaron could see a brownish silhouette of a mountain range far off in the distance.

"That's the direction we need to go. Keep on going in that direction. "

Aaron kept on going that direction.

He had no idea how much distance he had covered. He found that stopping for a minute or so between two gates was the best approach to travel long distances. Continous gates tired him out faster.

Two days later in the morning Thunder king had a pensive expression on his face.

"This is where I will take my leave. "

He took out an silver amulet and handed it over to Aaron.

"I promised you a reward that day and here it is. It contains rations for about 6 months. Daily necessities. Some weapons and mage stones. "

Rations for 6 months? It would take him only a few days to leave the desolate land.

Sure he would need some rations. But not that much. What is it about.

"Lastly, I am sorry. I lied to you. You wont be able to leave the desolate area."