16 A Trip with Master

James was extremely disappointed when he learned about magus training. Magus training sounded much simpler than knight training on the surface. However, the difficulty was significantly higher. Magus training was the exact same process for every single stage and involved two steps.

First, a magus must control mana to engrave a spell matrix onto their magic-core. A spell matrix is used to control the mana in the magic-core to cast spells. It consists of various runes and was extremely similar to high-level mathematics. The matrix was the formula. You input the mana into the correct formula and then get the relevant results. Carving a spell matrix requires a thorough understanding of the spell matrix and a very high level of mana control. Once the matrix is successfully carved then the magus can cast the spell instantly as long as he has enough mana.

Once a matrix is carved, the magus must absorb mana into the magic-core to continue training. This is done through meditation and requires much longer periods of time than knight training. As the magic-core absorbs mana it slowly grows. A magus needs to grow their magic-core until the spell matrix becomes completely covered by a new layer of the magic-core. This signifies a breakthrough in rank. Then the magus can carve a new spell on the new layer of the magic-core.

This process is repeated for all 9 levels of magus training. This means that a magus can carve a maximum of 9 spell matrixes on their magic-core. Each new layer of the magic-core is stronger than the previous layer and has more surface area than before. This allows the magus to engrave more powerful and more complicated spells as they rank up.

If a magus fails in engraving a spell matrix then the consequences can be dire. The best-case scenario is the magus doesn't gain a new spell for that layer. In bad cases, the magus-core cracks and can no longer absorb mana to grow larger. In the worst cases, the magic-core breaks and the magus dies. It is far more common for magi to die than knights during training.

James rested for the night. Then he headed for old man Skeletons place early in the morning. He entered the castle and walked down the long hallway towards the throne room. He entered the room and his eyes widened in shock!

"Yeah! Yeah! Take it! You love this old bone, don't you slut!"

"Master! More!"

James stared in disgust at the scene he wouldn't wish for even his worst enemies to see. Three old man Skeletons were having sex with a blue-haired maid. It was like watching three grotesque ghouls haunt a young maiden. James gagged and couldn't help but mutter to himself, "It's like a horror movie. Not even the porn producers on Earth could find such an ugly bastard for their videos!"

James turned around preparing to walk out when he heard a voice, "Oh, Yale! Ugh. Just give me a few minutes. Just doing my daily workout. Oh, right! I'm your master so sex education should be included. Little blue, what do you think of letting Yale join in? Or should I call for little red?"

A soft voice spoke, "Master, I think he would like little white?"

James screamed, "I'm good! Master I'll wait outside the throne room!" He hurriedly ran away and found a place to sit outside the throne room. He couldn't get the images out of his head. "That was the most disturbing thing I have ever fucking seen. Is master a lich? He was completely skin and bone! God, he was uglier than Voldemort!"

Several minutes passed. Then three Skeletons walked out of the throne room. They were still completely nude… Two of the skeletons turned into black shadows and merged into the middle Skeletons body. Then a black magus robe appeared out of nowhere on his body.

James stood up and complained, "Master! As an exalted magus shouldn't you have some shame?! Where is your pride? Do you even have any face left?!"

Skeleton placed an arm on James shoulder and chuckled, "Listen kid. I have lived for over 400 years. The older you get the less you care about these minor things. As for pride? Your damn right I'm proud! Your master sleeps with different maids every day! Each one more beautiful than the last! Gahaha! How could I not be proud?! As for face? I couldn't give two shits about it! I can do whatever the fuck I want at my level! Even if I walked into the king's castle buck ass naked the most they could do is chase me out! Maybe you'll understand if you ever reach my level. Gahahaha!"

James mouth hung open in surprise. 'To think master was such a shameless pervert! Should I start calling him Master Roshi?'

(Note from author: Going to start occasionally using ' ' to indicate James inner thoughts like the above sentence)

Skeleton grabbed James by the scruff of his collar and dragged him out of the castle. Black wings appeared on his back. He flew into the sky and headed higher up the mountain. Several minutes later they landed in front of a large, deep hole. The hole went straight down into the ground with perfectly straight walls. It was pitch black the whole way down.

"Mm. This is a good place to start. It's been a while since I've got to have fun breaking a new disciple." Skeleton threw James to the ground near the pit and sat down across from him. James looked at his master with questioning eyes and a confused face.

Skeleton put on a serious face and spoke, "I have had 72 disciples in my life. I have continuously reflected on my past mistakes and perfected my training system for them over several centuries. As a result, I have had a total of 5 disciples that have managed to reach the 9th stage as either magi or knights, but not both. I have had a single disciple reach the 9th stage in both. He is currently working to become a deity. My remaining disciples are either dead, missing, mediocre, or still young."

Skeleton stared into James eyes with a sharp look, "Boy. You know I've reached the 9th stage as a magus, right?"

James nodded in agreement.

"I reached the 9th stage as a magus over two-hundred years ago. However, I am only a 4th grade knight!"

James should have been surprised by the revelation. However, after seeing Skeletons thin body he thought it was normal for Skeleton to not have high accomplishments as a knight. Most knights had extremely robust bodies!

Skeleton saw that James was listening carefully, so he continued, "I hated knight training when I was young. It was much easier to for me to train as a magus. All I had to do was meditate and study spell matrixes. Most magi end up favoring one path over the other. Some prefer the knight path due to the speed of training and the strong body. Others prefer the magus path due to the ease of training and the joy of learning spells. As a result of this, most 9th grade magus are shitty knights and most of the 9th grade knights who can train as magi are shitty magi. Do you know why Yale?"

James shook his head, "Can't you just train in the techniques later? I don't see why it should matter master."

Skeleton nodded, "Most magi think the same thing. Even some of the other 9th grade magi here share your thoughts. As they preferred one path to begin with, they just think they're not talented in the other path!" Skeleton snorted in disdain, "They're fucking idiots! I was great at knight training as a youth. I just didn't like doing it! The reason we can't make any progress in techniques of the other path is because our bodies are completely out of balance!"

Skeleton waved his hand in the air and a flask of wine appeared. He chugged it while some dripped down his chin. "I will be stuck at the 4th level as a knight forever! This is because any mana I absorb into my body is automatically taken into my magic-core. My body can't compete with the strength of my 9th grade magic-core! My disciples that have become 9th grade knights have the opposite problem. Whenever they try to train their magic-cores, their much stronger bodies forcefully absorb the mana. One of them was only 2 grades behind as a magus. However, he was unable to train any farther as a magus once he became an 8th grade knight. He will forever be stuck at the 6th grade as a magus. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you boy?"

James nodded, "You're saying I must always keep my body and magic-core in sync if I want to reach the peak of both paths? This seems rather obvious after you've said it though? Do the other magi really not know?"

Skeleton laughed, "Never overestimate the intelligence of others. Many have realized this truth. After all, we have a long history and many other experts study this problem as well. However, most experts don't care! Once you reach the peak of either path, you become incredibly strong! Most of these morons encourage their disciples to focus on a single path so they can progress faster than their peers! They're morons! Trash! They ruin their disciple's futures without even realizing it!"

Skeleton took another big swig of wine, "As your master, I hereby require you to always keep your magus and knight levels in sync! If you reach the 2nd level as a magus, then you are not to train at all as a magus until you reach the 2nd level as a knight! Same goes for vise-versa. Your peers will all surpass you! You'll be abhorred as a fool with no talent! Then, several hundred years from now, everyone of your generation will hit a wall! As long as you don't die then you'll slowly catch up to them and surpass them all."

Skeleton smiled and started laughing madly, "Haha! They will roar in jealousy for not having chosen your path! Hahahahaa! Then! You will walk on the path of deities! You will transcend past those fools that laughed at you! They will be nothing more than ants that can be crushed at your whim! Gahahaha!"

James stared at his master laughing like a madman. He could feel the sorrow and resentment in his voice. The sorrow from being unable to grow past his current level. "Master. So, you're saying only those that have reached the peak in both paths can become deities?"

Skeleton slowly calmed down and smiled, "That is correct. Do you know why I take so many disciples? It was all for raising a deity! So far only one of my disciples has met the threshold. He stands a very high chance of breaking through before I die. A magus cannot live past 500 years. I only have about 80 years left. However, it is known among experts that deities can take deceased souls into their holy kingdoms! For example, all believers of the Elder Dragon will enter his holy kingdom upon death. That includes both ordinary beings and experts. As a 9th grade magus, I would be welcomed into many deity's kingdoms. However, I'm not willing! They would gain complete control over my soul! Therefore, I raise disciples in hope of raising a deity I can trust wholeheartedly when I die."

James felt overwhelmed by all this information. He felt like all he had done lately was learn. Knight techniques, magus techniques, the path to become a deity, and now souls entering holy kingdoms? 'Wait... What happens to nonbelievers? I don't believe in much of anything and even if I did it would be a god from Earth.' James questioned, "Master. What happens to the nonbelievers that die?"

Skeleton chuckled, "It depends. In my case I would be offered spots in multiple holy kingdoms due to my strength. If I refused, then… I'm not sure. This has been studied before. When ordinary nonbelievers die then their souls travel deep into the magus plane. Same goes for experts that refuse to join a holy kingdom. As far as I know, nobody really knows what happens. Perhaps some strong deities know, but that is all far beyond me.

Skeleton clapped his hands together, "Okay! Time for training! Hand me your interdimensional pouch." James nodded and handed it over. Skeleton rummaged through the bag, "Eh? You're really poor? Did you blow all your money on prostitutes and wine? Good! Disciples of mine should know how to have a good time without worrying about worldly possessions! Now let's see here…"

James was completely speechless. He thought to himself, 'Can you not put words in my mouth old man!? Do you think everyone is like you? Plus, you live in a giant castle? The carpets have gold trim! You live surrounded by worldly possessions?!'

Skeleton dumped all the contents of the bag on the floor. Water, wine, food, and common necessities fell to the floor. He then waved his hand, causing hundreds of black magic-cores to pour into the bag. Then he sent three books into the bag and tossed it back to James.

"I gave you 1,000 magic-cores and three spell matrixes. I've determined those three spells to be the best level 1 spells a dark magus can train in. Choose one of them. They're not as strong as other level 1 spells, but they provide much better benefits in the long-term. Unfortunately, they are all extremely difficult to train in. However, if you succeed, then you will become much better at mana control. This will make your future knight training much easier and safer. Those magic-cores should be enough to last you about two weeks."

James looked at his master in confusion. "I understand master, but why did you dump out all of my supplies?"

Skeleton beamed happily, "It's just like my abusive father always told me! There's no better motivation than starvation in your training! I'll be back in two weeks to check up on you. Good luck and enjoy your trip!"

"Trip? Aghhhh!" James could feel the air rushing past his body. His master had pushed him into the deep black hole behind him…