Just a couple of days ago,

Zach was stripped from the team. He would have to train with Solomon for a while to be ready to fully be integrated into the mage world.

He may have had the System, but he was still only a C-rank mage. The System would let him level up his rank, making him the first human in history capable of raising not only his rank but also his mana output.

Zach and Roe said their goodbyes.

Zach went on with Solomon. It was kind of funny, as both parties started with opposite masters. Now they were trading for the other’s master.

They had no hand in the decision, but it still held, of course.

"Go get ready," Solomon ordered Zach.

"When you are, we leave. Oh, and don’t pack anything. You won’t be needing those," Solomon said.

Zach just nodded. He was going to do as instructed. He was way too hyped. He was finally going to command the System. He was finally going to become more than a simple C-rank mage.

The System was powerful and all, but all that was irrelevant if he didn’t have the mana reserves to boot. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

He simply had his bath. He called his elder brother. He had lost his folks a while back; now it was just him and his brother.

His brother urged him to come by and visit. He told his brother he couldn’t.

His brother and he never got to celebrate his awakening of the System, and if things didn’t go well, then they might never get to.

Zach sobbed over the phone.

"It’s going to be fine, big bro," he said.

"And don’t worry. I’ll have lots of stories to share later," Zach said as he terminated the call.

He was high on emotions, both positive and some negative ones.

When he came out of his room, he noticed Solomon was already waiting for him in the compound.

He just approached Solomon.

"Thank you for accepting to train me, Master," Zach said with a simple bow.

Solomon didn’t respond verbally. He just smiled. It was a nice sight.

They both immediately warped.

They were now in a pocket dimension, one only accessible by Solomon. Merlin could probably find his way around it if he really wanted to.

"Okay, so we’ll be here for about a month."

"I already told you you’ll be free to head out after that month."

"Well, a month here isn’t one outside."

"To the outside world, you’ll probably just be gone a couple of days," Solomon continued.

"So how come you can’t give me a certain amount of time?"

"It’s your little universe, isn’t it?" Zach asked.

"I was told you don’t ask as many questions as the other one."

"Fine, that’s not an issue. I’ll still give you a response."

"This is no small pocket. It’s all-encompassing."

"Time here is a subject of those inside. How well you do during this training could either accelerate or decelerate the flow of time with respect to the outside world."

"This is no simple spell. It’s rather intricate stuff."

"You ready?" Solomon asked.

"Yeah, sure," Zach replied.

"Okay, your first move will drain you, but it doesn’t matter. We have to start from somewhere."

"Come on over," he said, signaling him with a hand motion.

Zach responded in kind. They were now face to face. Solomon was much taller. His figure was actually somewhat imposing.

"Okay, make contact and create another talent," Solomon said, handing his hand over for Zach to perform an addition.

"You sure?" Zach asked.

Solomon only stretched his hand even further.

Zach initiated the new talent.

The System interface began the stabilization.

Just then, Zach went unconscious.

Solomon knew this was going to be the result.

Stabilization required both mages to have somewhat similar mana pools.

Solomon was heavily dampening his reserves.

He even went as far as compartmentalizing some of his mana. Zach still couldn’t handle it.

This was the first phase in helping Zach improve his reserves.

His body would be forced to get used to mana of much higher purity and saturation.

Now that he had the System, it was possible. He just needed to put in the work.

Six hours later, Zach regained consciousness.

"What... what happened?" he said in a muffled tone. Solomon could barely make out what he said.

Solomon didn’t respond. He just reached out his hand.

Zach was on the floor. He assumed Solomon was lending him a hand to get up.

Solomon was not.

Both hands made contact, and Zach was out of it again.

This process would continue for what could be days. It definitely felt like it until Zach finally realized what was happening.

Solomon’s mana was too much to stabilize with his. It’s not like coming to the realization solved the problem.

He still didn’t know what to do.

The cycle continued for a while. Make contact, go unconscious, then wake up, make contact...

He would ask Solomon for tips or hints, and he would get none. The few times Solomon would even respond, he would say something very vague, and Zach, well, Zach wasn’t a fan.

They had spent almost a week doing just this.

The worst part was that the sense and flow of time was starting to seriously affect Zach.

Something came over him, and he straight up attacked Solomon.

His attack obviously didn’t do anything, but Solomon clapped.

"So it took you that long."

They were not on the same page, though.

"Of course you would attack me. You need me to use mana. Once I expend enough of it, then you can have your way. That’s smart. You’re getting the hang of it."

Solomon was mistaken.

Zach wasn’t Roe. He wouldn’t think to such an extreme. He was just lashing out.

It wasn’t some reaction to realizing what move to play.

"Okay, as a reward, I’ll separate even more of my reserves to make things even easier."

Solomon had reduced his active reserves even more.

Zach made contact, and this time stabilization began again.

10%.

15%.

Zach was pretty hopeful.

25%.

He would only get more hopeful with each rising number.

40%.

46%.

49%.

Solomon himself was getting hopeful.

At this point, however, Zach was sure it would work.

61%.

Zach passed out.

Again.