Assimilation phase

Alan and Gelina looked over at Arsh with disappointed faces. Arsh wanted to protest against their claim, but he had to just suck it up. Alan surely wasn't going to back down that easily.

"You don't know anything about the Assimilation phase?"

Alan asked facepalming himself. With enough strength to make the sound echo through the forest, he looked over to Arsh with an irritated expression.

"Did you live under a rock for your whole life ?….. Oh! yeah, you did. But, it was rather living under fog, No?"

Looking at Alan now, Arsh was sure he was back to his annoying self again. Which was more disappointing in itself.

He sighed, ignoring his mentor's snarky remarks, turning his head to Gelina for an answer. Completely giving up on getting an answer out of his mentor.

Gelina looked at them with an amused expression for a few seconds, before suddenly reciting out of nowhere.

"....Magic is the building block of the cosmos. As you probably already know, it has several characteristics and affinities. It has the capability to do miracles, but at the same time it has several limitations"

Miss Gelina stated in a monotone. As she was reciting something directly out of a book. Which was probably what it was.

"Every being in this world is capable of magic, we are made that way. They just need insight on how to use and replicate properties of nature…. Believe me when I say this, however easy that sounds in theory. It is very difficult to find your affinity by yourself."

"Getting insight is the sure way to use magic and evolve it to its highest potential.....But there is still no being powerful enough to wield magic to full of its capabilities. 

"We lesser beings are just created like that….And of course, there are exceptions to it, like Gods and Monarchs for instance. Who does not only control magic, they have enough power to even mold the natural laws to some extent."

"Monarchs?"

Interrupted by the sudden mumbling of Arsh. Gelina stopped explaining and looked over to Arsh with doubt in her eyes.

Arsh had never heard anything about the so-called Monarchs. Not even from Alan. If they were powerful enough to be on par with gods. Why were there no traces of them present in the world?

".....The 5 Monarchs are top of the hierarchy along with the 6 gods. They are also divinities, Children of Endless, the rulers of the demon race…..Now, Coming back to the topic at hand ...."

'....She changed the topic again'

Noticing how hard Gelina was trying to change the topic. He just decided to go along with it for now. Looking at Alan's serious face, he was sure he knew about them too. He could get his answers at a later time.

"Our bodies are not capable of wielding magic to its full potential, not from birth at least. So...we build our body slowly, block by block. Trying to be able to use magic to its full capacity."

Arsh nodded, finally understanding how the blocks of magic and phases were connected. 

But, there was still the problem left. How was someone supposed to differentiate between them? 

"With every complete block. Our insight on magic along with our essence reserves increases drastically….We call the blocks the 'Assimilation phase'."

"Every being capable of using magic is called an awakened. There are 7 Assimilation phases possible for every awakened being. We had named them for ease of use."

"1st phase- Awakened

 2nd phase- Blessed

 3rd phase- Scalar

 4th phase- Master

 5th phase- Demigod

 6th phase- Uncharted"

"They are the different names, we use to differentiate between a being in the first and sixth phase"

As he had guessed there was a different way to differentiate between phases. He had no prior knowledge whatsoever about magic blocks and the ways to call them. 

But, there was still a thing that was pinching him inside of his head. The numbers didn't match up.

"Wait! You said there were 7 phases, right? Then why did you only count up to 6 phases?"

Arsh again interrupted from the other side. He was sure she said there were 7 phases before.

"....I worked for the most influential people on this planet. But, I never heard about the existence of 7 phases. No human had ever reached the 6th phase, much less 7. What exactly are you talking about grandma?"

Alan replied from the side, his eyes wary, gleaming with a dark aura.

Miss Gelina shot Alan an irritated glance and went silent, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face.

"....It is true for the griffins too. No one has surpassed the 6th phase yet... But… according to the legends of my countries…there is a 7th phase present. That is the only thing I can tell you for now. I am sorry."

Alan scoffed from the opposite side.

"That's why we call it 'Legends'"

Arsh looked at them with a confused gaze. Again, there were a lot of new intakes. He was sitting in silence, looking at them bickering yet again.

Standing up, Arsh suddenly asked his mentor warily.

"So…. What is my assimilation phase?"

The moment Arsh asked the question. Alan looked at him sullenly, a deep frown etched on his face.

"Don't get too full of yourself. You are still in the 1st phase, god knows how. It took me years just to find my attribute and to be awakened. You have no insights, and you are still capable of copying magic. To the point, you don't know your affinity."

'...What did I ever do to this fucker?'

Arsh looked at his mentor with disappointment and irritation. He was so done with his cutting replies. Turning to Miss Gelina, he asked again in a serious tone.

"How can I achieve the next phase? Is there any special way to do it? Or any possible way to increase my current phase?"

Gelina eyed him for a few moments, her eyes trembling slightly. But, enough for Arsh to take notice of.

"....It mostly depends upon the understanding of your magical affinity. If you have complete insight possible at your current phase and affinity, you will be able to ascend to the next phase automatically."

"But In your case…..How do I say this? I don't really know. I have never seen any affinity like yours before."

'....Shit! So, I have to figure it out myself. There are no shortcuts present.'

Arsh had somewhat already predicted this outcome. But, it was disappointing nonetheless.

Previously, whenever he had asked Alan for insight into different characteristics of magic trying to match it with his attribute. It never worked out. 

He was different somehow…. From magic to his void soul tomb. His affinity never reacted from its space. However much insight he gained of other affinities. 

Trying to apply the same insight to his own body. But like every other time, it was completely futile…. As there was no possible way to imagine NOTHING. At least not any he was aware of.

"As your phase increases with time. Your body will also be going to develop along with it…. With every ascension in your phase, you will be able to store more essence in your body, and if you are lucky enough you could use multiple affinities."

Miss Gelina finished her explanation and stood still in silence. Letting her words sink deep into Arsh's mind. There was too much information to dissect.

Arsh looked at Gelina from the corner of his eyes. The way she was trying to hide the most important parts of the conversation. It gave her explanation that much less credibility.

But, considering how Alan didn't interfere in between the explanation. It should also contain some truth to it. 

Arsh's eyes followed Alan to get some kind of confirmation. To his surprise, Alan was yawning on the side of the river, both of his hands stretched up in the air.  

Arsh sighed to himself. He could never understand what goes through his mentor's mind. He was just too random to keep track of.

"..…." 

All of them were quiet for some time looking at the flowing river, and hearing the rusting wind through the forest. Sitting beside each other in silence, with no particular emotions on their faces.

'....This feels awkward.'

Arsh shifted uncomfortably between both of them. Looking for a moment to get away from them. To run away from the strangely awkward environment.

"Hey, Arsh! Lunch is ready. Come here quickly, and ask for Alan and Miss Gelina to come too."

Joey shouted from a little far away. 

Arsh instantly stood up from his spot, letting out a sigh of relief. He signaled with his hands for the other two to follow.

'Thank God!'

All three of them reached the camp and took a seat near the fire. Miss Gelina had already reverted to her cat from sitting alone with Alan on the other side of the fire.

Arsh decided to leave them alone for now. His eyes darting in between the band of adventurers.

"...You guys decided? What are you guys planning to do after leaving the northern continent?"

Looking at the adventurers expectedly, Arsh hummed in a low voice.