The bloody gate

Maximus did not delay and wanted to use the remainder of this day as the first training session. He asked them to try to sense the mana in the air, except for Mira and Dante, the others did not even understand what it meant.

'Sit on the floor in a circle.'

The students sat down at the request of Maximus, who passed by them one by one. He put his thumb on their forehead, and then quietly injected a portion of mana into their brains. A warm water sensation permeates through the skin, giving a sense of comfort.

He then asked them if they had felt the mana he had injected into them, and this time they understood what mana was. They did not recognize it because it was their first time, like trying a new type of fruit for the first time. You cannot predict how it will taste even if someone describes it to you; it is a feeling that someone can only perceive through experience.

After helping them in the first step they were able to understand what was required, mana is everywhere around them but they don't realize it just as we don't realize that we are surrounded by air from everywhere or as fish are unable to perceive the water around it. As an essential part of the milieu, its existence is gradually forgotten.

The concentration lasted for hours until each one of them could sense the mana around them, a feeling that was superficial nonetheless. That was more than enough as a start as their skills will improve rapidly as the training progresses.

'Stand up. We'll move on to the next stage.' Everyone quickly stood up to listen to the request.

'What is the number written on top of my hand?'

Maximus stretched out his left palm in front of him and using the purest form of mana formed a number, which was initially the number one.

'What do you see?'

Everyone said at once, 'Number one.'

'And now?'

'Number two.'

The operation continued until the number eight. The results of this test depend on the last number you can see, just as hearing tests are based on a similar principle. Their results were as follows:

-Mira and Dante: Six.

-Orion and Eric: Four.

-Aliana, Tai Min and Yoon Hwa: Three.

'Have you asked yourselves what this test is?'

Mira quickly replied like a bookworm after raising her hand.

'Isn't this a mana sensibility test?'

'That's right. The point of it is to know the level of ability to detect magic and control it precisely, simply illustrates the extreme possibilities of mana control. Except for you, Mira and Dante, everyone did well. For the first attempt, the average person only reaches the second level and the geniuses might reach the fifth level. '

'What about us?'

Mira asked why he excluded her from the results.

'The reason is that you had experience dealing with mana before, otherwise it would have been your result as Eric.'

'Even this much is good enough.'

The pride of the genius witch overwhelmed Mira's mind for a moment as she excelled in this test until Orion gave her a tap on her forehead.

'This is not the time for witch’s pride, girl.'

'Can't you let it pass even once? You are going to be a boring old man with that behavior.'

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Maximus clapped and smiled, while saying: 'The first phase of the training has been successfully completed. There are three stages left to complete in the remainder of the first week.'

A smile fell on everyone's faces except Dante, who knew what was going on in their minds.

"We passed the first test. We will never accept failure."

Maximus gave each of them a card as well as a key to both: Dante and Aliana, because they were the eldest of each gender. The cards were divided into two categories: red for girls and green for boys. The cards of each color carried the same number, obviously symbolizing the number of the room in which they will stay in and this card has the function of a key. The key’s function is similar to that of the card but is able to deactivate cards. In other words, when the door is locked with the key, the cards will not be able to open it, acting as an additional mean of security in case the card is lost or damaged.

"You don't have to ask about anything we've seen before."

They did not ask about their uses, but Maximus told them anyway.

'The cards are similar to the card you used before, and the key is an additional means of security and has the ability to turn off the cards' function.'

'Clear, Master.'

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Everyone spent the rest of the evening and split into two groups to walk around the academy wanting to explore it. The tour began with the collective training grounds, a field of compacted soil with a vast area divided into four sections: the wooden puppet section for training close-range weapons, the shooting section at different distances on targets 20, 30 and 50 meters away, the magic throwing section where magicians attack thick rock slabs reinforced with mana as a target and the last and largest section dedicated to physical exercises.

They then went to the library, the access was exclusively limited for those who had a card and were fortunate to have received one like it.

A very large room, 40 meters long, 30 meters wide and two floors high, a luxurious library containing all kinds of books that many aspire to look at. Everyone dispersed and all went to the department he wanted, Mira was the most excited to see the magic books she had always dreamed of. Each of them set out to look for a book to read.

.........

Two hours have passed and each one satisfied his curiosity and eight o'clock had arrived. It is when the library closes.

'It was a fun read. I'll be back tomorrow when I have free time.'

After leaving the library building and heading to the dormitory, the comrades passed a dazzling garden, although it was dark, its beauty did not detract from anything. In the center of the garden there was a marble fountain and carved with floral motifs with a column holding a lotus flower at the top, from which water flows. Respectable and high-quality wooden benches are located throughout the garden, an ideal place to read and rest.

They continued to advance towards the dormitory and when they got there, everyone entered the building. At its entrance, the hallway was divided into two parts: the right for boys and the left for girls. Each of them went to his respective room. A luxurious room in every sense of the word, something that ordinary people do not even dream of. A large room like the rooms of the nobles has four beds in its corners in addition to a closet and a table near each bed. Two windows and a balcony between them, with some magic lamps hanging on the walls.

Each dormitory has its own facilities; it was a similar experience to a prestigious hotel with all the luxuries of life.

After so many events as well as starting training, everyone got tired and got ready for bed.

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Meanwhile, Maximus was visiting an old friend and capable teacher. He also is the current headmaster of the Academy. He knocked on the door before entering and then walked into the office. He did not recognize him at first, his appearance and age have changed a lot, but he recognized him, a friend can recognize his friend, even after an absence of years, so what about a friendship and fellowship that lasted for nearly twenty years.

Maximus took a seat, the director sat opposite him, and the two enjoyed their time while drinking tea and chatting...

'How are you doing, Academy headmaster?'

'I’m doing great; there have been several talents who have joined the academy in the last years. Many of them have potential to reach a level above the fifth-rank.'

'Great news. I think some will reach the sixth or even seventh-rank!!'

'Your appearance has changed drastically since our last meeting. Is there something wrong with you??'

'A lot happened. A lot of things but I can't explain them now so I hope you support me later when I explain them.'

'You were in the sixth circle two years ago. How did you get to eighth one so quickly?'

The headmaster was surprised how much his friend had changed since they last met nearly two years ago.

'I'll explain it to you later; it has something to do with the former reason.'

'What made you visit our prestigious academy? I heard from reception that you had booked a large private training room. I hope you don't think about practicing in it, it cannot withstand your attacks.'

The two smiled spontaneously, Maximus sipped a sip of tea and then answered.

'I have seven students I am currently coaching and I don't have a suitable place, so I decided to visit this place and meet an old comrade.'

'So then, take your time and do whatever you want then. Consider the Academy as your home, friend.'

Here ended the discussion between Maximus and his friend Albus, the eight circles magician and the wizard of dusk.

.........

Maximus left the office and then moved to his house, no matter how well adapted a person is, the house is always an irreplaceable place. A smile was clearly seen on Maximus' face.

"Talent is something that doesn't change. The plan won't be delayed, there's no need to rush, but we won't be complacent either."

The reason for accelerating the plan is the possibility that the future he knows is constantly changing, disaster may come a year or two earlier, or who knows? It may come up to five years earlier. Inaction and procrastination are not an option.

-------------------------

Early in the morning, the future heroes prepared themselves for day two of training. At seven, everyone was waiting for Maximus in front of the training room. A moment later, he arrived and was amazed at their determination.

'What is with this enthusiasm? Do you want to train to that extent?'

'Why don't we get excited? We progressed in one day what may take us a month to learn on our own, we will not be lazy.'

'It seems that you have read a few books and learned about some things! Keep it up.'

Both Dante and Aliana smiled at the others, the enthusiasm of the little ones is definitely fantastic.

Everyone entered the training room successively and waited for instructions from Maximus, who had just begun to explain today's training.

'The second phase of the training will take place over two days. Called mana absorption, the goal of this stage is to learn how to absorb mana either from air or from a magic stone. This is the most important stage in training so do your best. '

'Understood.'

Maximus took out of his pocket seven ropes of one meter each. They were asked to grasp the other end of the rope and sit within half a circle in front of him, the heavenly magician sat down and proceeded to explain the training.

'You see the rope, I injected half of it with mana, try to pull the mana until it reaches your hand. It sounds simple but it's not.'

The sarcastic expression on Maximus' face explained the difficulty without even needing words.

Each one of them has noticed that half the length of the rope on Maximus' side was surrounded by a fixed blue halo that resembled a pipe that enveloped the rope, the mana and they had to pull it until it reached them.

The training started and they tried to pull the mana but...

"What is this!! Mana doesn't move as if it's a rock."

All of them kept trying repeatedly but nothing worked.

.........

'It moved a bit!!'

The little witch Mira managed to move it for a few centimeters but her face swelled and reddened as if it was about to explode. In a moment of exhaustion, she lost her focus and then the mana returned to the middle as if nothing had happened.

The heavenly magician laughed at her and then said:

'You thought it was easy, if you lose focus it will go back to the beginning.'

Shocking features appeared on everyone's face except Dante who understood the significance of this training. Learning how to master the mana was not the only goal; patience was the hidden lesson behind this training. If you have the determination to learn, it makes no sense if you are not patient.

Three hours passed and Dante was the first to succeed, followed by Mira half an hour later, then Orion and Eric... With great difficulty, the rest completed their test in six hours.

'Impressive results for everyone, each of you had good results considering your combat specialty. Now what do you think of this test?'

Orion spoke first: 'It's a tough test honestly, but success dispels all the fatigue.'

Eric next: 'I had trouble concentrating or I would have done a little better.'

Tai Min, Aliana and Yoon Hwa then said the same thing: 'On the contrary, we had no problem concentrating but the mana only budged with great difficulty.'

'Right!! You understand the significance of the test. This test complements the mana sensitivity test, the higher your sensitivity, the better you will control mana. However, this is not enough because concentration and patience are integral parts of precise control and this is the goal behind today's test. Didn't you ask yourselves why the test was so difficult?'

There was silence and no one spoke, none of them had the answer to this question, as it was their first day without even previous experience.

Maximus cut the silence and answered: 'This is the expert's qualification test to reach five circles/stars or seven steps. Remember, passing this test does not mean you are equivalent to the fifth circle/star level, but it does mean you have mana proficiency to a degree similar to them.'

A cry of joy broke the calm, success quickly means that the rest of the day is a rest but it will not be as they thought...