: Professions

Kayda processed the words that he had said and felt completely clueless. She had heard of mana users and professions before, she probably even heard of some types of mana users at some point in time but found the knowledge completely unnecessary and therefore tossed the knowledge aside.

With her head bowed, she looked to the side a little avoiding Gerrin's scrutinizing gaze.

She wouldn't trust a benefactor but she also wouldn't be disrespectful. And right now, learning this spell would be a great benefit to her. So knowing that her knowledge to learn this spell was below that of an average person, slightly hurt her pride.

Seeing her turn her head in an attempt to avoid the question made Gerrin's lip twitch.

Why did his captain stick him with this task? He wasn't just teaching her a spell, but was teaching her the average curriculum!

Taking in a deep breath, he walked over to the cleanly cut tree trunk and sat down. His large build overshadowed Kayda.

"There are five different types of mana users. The rune users, summoners, elementalists, and the augmentaters." Holding up his hand, he showed four claws, or fingers.

Kayda sat down in front of him like an obedient student.

"That's only four." Gerrin was interrupted before he could start speaking again.

When Kayda had introduced herself earlier, he hadn't noticed, but this time, when Kayda spoke, he could hear her peculiar accent. It was unlike any accent he had heard before. It was almost a mix of Zedrulian and Ealapean's accent. Elegant and clear were the words he would use to describe it.

With a sigh, he continues. "The last one. Well, it's the manipulator. It's an extinct practice as very few to none have the aptitude for it. It's a mana user who has the talent for manipulating raw mana. What you did before, that was something similar but instead of raw mana, you used your own filtered mana. With enough practice in mana control, any mana user can utilize their own mana to do that. Mana manipulators on the other hand, can wield and control the mana around them, not in them, bending it to their will. Be it elementalists, rune users or summoners, they would be rendered powerless in the face of an experienced user. And such a power has never before been used by humans."

Gerrin gave a sad smile at that moment. "Only demons, mana beasts and beings like you and me have been known to wield such a power. And because of that, people fear it." Looking off to the distance, Gerrin seemed to be somewhere else entirely.

"The last known mana manipulator was the great dragon Pride. One of the original seven and the last dragon alive before his kind went extinct along with the practice." Coming back to his senses, Gerrin grinned.

"But that was centuries ago. A time way before me and you."

Patting his thigh, he continued. "Now, back to the main four. Rune users. The rune users can be placed in two categories, like the other professions which each have their own categories. For rune users, there are spell casters and enchanters. Spell casters use mana formed runes to bring their words to life. Chanting spells to form a reaction. For example, if a spell caster were to recite a spell for fireball, a ball of fire would appear. This would only work if it is spoken in rune tongue."

Pausing, as if struggling to put it in a simpler terms, he waved his hand. "Clouse is a spell caster I believe. But at the same time, he could also be an enchanter."

Putting his hand on his chin, his face wrinkled up in consideration before he finally sighed as if he couldn't be bothered to think about such a troublesome person. "Either way, he's a no good playboy. No point learning from him. So putting that aside, let's continue. Now enchanters on the other hand, have the ability to inscribe runes into objects, allowing anyone to pour mana into the runes allowing them to be activated. For instance, the mana stone in the bathroom is inscribed with runes and is an elemental stone."

Kayda's face darkened at his words. The bath, did Clouse tell him she didn't know how to use it? He really is a troublesome person.

Gerrin, not noticing, continued on with his lecture. "Which would bring me to the next profession, the elementalist. Elementalists are a bit more uncommon then the other three professions. They are able to differentiate between the elements mixed in with the mana. Which is more difficult as it sounds."

Shifting in his 'seat', he continued. "There are four elements. Fire, water, earth and wind. And there are three sub elements. Metal, lighting and ice. Of course, there are also the two pillar elements light and darkness but only a select few are able to utilize them. Each of these elements make up mana. Mana can be used by anyone, but it takes a rare talent to be able to separate one element front the rest of the mana. It's like trying to separate one specific drop of water from the ocean."

"Elementalists have an element that they work with. An element they can sense and use. Since each element has a different mana signature, elementalists can only tap into a signature that they, well, are compatible with. And they can use that element at will depending on how well they can tap into it. Summoners are similar but instead of mana, they use the power of the spirits. Relying on them instead of their own mana. And Augmentaters are usually associated with dwarfs or blacksmiths as they are people who can fuse mana into objects, unlike enchanters who add features with ruins that need mana to activate."

As if thinking of something, he reached for his hand. Pulling out a large axe from the spatial ring on his finger, he set it in his hands and displayed it to Kayda.

It was larger than Kayda's entire body, and was made entirely of black metal and an excellently crafted handle made of metal and leather to look like wood.

The axe had a red shimmering air around it. With a red gem at the eye of the head, it emitted a heat that Kayda could feel where she sat.

"This axe was infused with mana and a fire crystal for more 'flare'" Gerrin looked at his axe and grinned.

Standing up, he spun the axe in his hand.

The blade producing a blaze of flames as he spun it, causing a heat to wash over the entire area.

Once he stopped, Gerrin smiled proudly, giving a nice view of his fangs as he stood with pride with the axe in his hand.

"This is the kind of thing augmentation can do."