The Ascendant Wizard-Chapter 121 - Understanding the Matrix

The silence left behind by the boy's execution lingered for a long time; no one knew what to say, no one wanted to make a sound out of fear of being next.

Everyone stared at the floor, the walls, their own hands, anything but the blood-flecked frost scattered near the front of the classroom. Ren looked ready to faint, and Liri's entire body trembled. Even Elara, who rarely showed a weak side to herself, had gone pale.

Morena simply breathed slowly, steadying her thoughts.

Death was not new to her. She had seen worse scenes, far more grotesque, far more personal. But this was different; this was a Wizard killing an apprentice for nothing more than insubordination and incompetence.

A Wizard reminding everyone exactly where they stood.

Finally, Varra brushed a hand through the air. A cold wind swept across the floor, gathering the ice powder into a neat pile which she moved aside with another gesture.

The floor was left spotless, almost unsettlingly so, then she faced the class again.

"Now that distractions are dealt with, we continue."

It was as if she had not murdered someone moments ago.

Morena noticed the subtle lesson in that alone.

A Wizard could kill without hesitation, then resume teaching as though nothing happened. It was not cruelty; it was simply the world they lived in.

Varra waited until the room had adjusted and everyone's eyes were fixed on her.

"Since you have all now sensed elemental energy, we begin your true training. Understanding the Matrix."

She lifted her hand, and a holographic sphere of translucent mana formed above her palm, humming softly as symbols glowed within it.

"This is a basic visualization of a Matrix. Every apprentice will eventually form one. It exists in the mind, not in the flesh. It is your core, your reservoir, your foundation. Without it, you are nothing more than a child pretending to be a Wizard."

The sphere slowly rotated.

Most of the class leaned forward, their fear momentarily overshadowed by curiosity.

Morena paid close attention. Her Matrix was forming slowly but steadily, but seeing this model gave her context she didn't have before.

"A Matrix is formed in stages. Three levels for an apprentice. Low, medium, and high. These are not ranks, only steps in your refinement."

The sphere was split into three layers, each a different shade of blue.

"Low-level apprentices have weak stability. Their Matrix drinks mana like a thirsty beast but leaks it as quickly as they take it. Their progress is slow because the Matrix is immature."

She tapped the outermost layer.

"Most of you will spend your early time here."

Ren shrank slightly.

"Medium-level apprentices begin to compress the Matrix. They can refine elemental energy more efficiently and suffer less mental strain. Most apprentices stabilize here after a few months of proper training."

Varra touched the middle layer.

"High-level apprentices are those whose Matrix is nearly complete. Their minds are stable, their mana flow is smooth, and the Matrix holds its form strongly."

She pointed to the core.

"Only when the Matrix reaches full clarity, full shape, and full stability do you leave the apprentice stage entirely."

A student near the front raised a shaky hand.

Varra nodded.

"Does that mean we become Wizards when our Matrix is complete?"

"Yes. That is the first and lowest Wizard rank."

She lifted her hand again, and the sphere changed. Lines connected outward from the Matrix like branches.

"There are ten recorded ranks of Wizards."

She paused for a second when she said that, allowing the people to react accordingly.

"According to legend, at least. The first rank begins when your Matrix is complete. The second is when you expand it into a refined core. The third is when your mana becomes dense enough."

She let the sphere shrink.

"But no one has seen a Wizard above the sixth rank in thousands of years. Even the sixth rank is a myth to most."

Elara raised her hand.

"Have you seen one?"

Varra's eyebrow lifted slightly.

"There are only three confirmed sixth ranks alive. And no, I have not seen them in person. They do not involve themselves with petty matters."

Her tone made it clear that this level of power was beyond their comprehension.

The entire class absorbed the information in silence.

Morena processed it differently. Three living Wizards at a level the world considered legendary; an entire system of power that stretched far beyond anything she had imagined.

And she was only at the step before becoming a true apprentice.

Varra continued.

"Once your Matrix is stable enough, you will begin forming spell circles around it."

She snapped her fingers, and a ring of symbols wrapped around the glowing Matrix, forming a halo of complex shapes.

"This is how spells are constructed. Not merely drawn or memorized, but formed directly around your Matrix. The stronger your Matrix, the more spell circles you can stabilize."

She gestured toward the sphere.

"Apprentices can form up to six. Two per sub-rank. Two at low apprentice, two at medium apprentice, and two at high apprentice. Anything beyond that is dangerous."

Morena took note of this; her method might allow her to reach a low-rank apprentice faster than most, meaning she would need to start looking into spells soon.

"Once you become a proper Wizard, you may form up to three per rank. These vary widely depending on affinity, talent, and method."

A hand rose timidly.

It was Liri.

"Yes?"

Liri spoke softly.

"Do spells have ranks too... as Wizard ranks?"

A few whispers followed her question.

Varra nodded.

"They do. But we will discuss spell rankings in the next class. You are not ready to cast anything yet. For now, your only concern is forming the Matrix. Without it, even the simplest spell will kill you."

Ren's shoulders tensed at the word kill.

Varra continued without saying more on the matter.

"Common errors during Matrix formation will be your greatest enemy in the coming months. You must understand them now."

She raised four fingers.

"First. Over-absorption of elemental energy. If you try to force too much energy into your Matrix, you will rupture it. You will die."

Varra raised a second finger.

"Second. Emotional instability during meditation. Fear, anger, panic, and obsession without control will distort your Matrix. Many apprentices break their minds like this."

Morena thought back to the mental test she had taken the first day.

Seven out of ten.

She understood exactly why that test existed.

"Third, improper breathing patterns. The method is designed to regulate your flow of energy. Ignoring it damages your mind. But for now, you don't need to worry about that as long as you follow the method you were given."

She raised the last finger.

"Fourth. Mixing incompatible meditation methods. Apprentices who steal or buy unknown methods often destroy themselves trying to combine them."

It seems almost as if that was directed towards Morena, with how specific it was. But Morena knew she had no way of telling if she had another method or not.

Varra clasped her hands behind her back.

"Now for tips."

A ripple of surprise moved across the room.

"One. Focus on consistency. Ten minutes of proper meditation is better than an hour of sloppy effort."

She glanced at Ren when she said this.

"Two. Meditation immediately before sleep helps the Matrix settle more easily."

Morena noted that as well; she had already noticed it felt easier at night.

"Three. Do not compare your progress with others. Affinity, talent, and aptitude all influence how quickly you absorb energy. Some of you will form your Matrix in weeks. Others will need months."

She paused.

"Comparing yourselves will lead only to frustration and failure, which will then hinder your progress."

Varra gave a short nod.

"Good. Now, open your books. We will go over other details in finer focus."

The next hour of class was slower.

Varra walked them through several things related to the Matrix: its history, how stable it should be, how mana reacted to it, how much mana it should absorb normally, how many spells it commonly holds, and abnormalities.

And much more.

Eventually, the class shifted to note-taking, diagrams, and slow practice. By the time Varra dismissed them, everyone's mental energy was drained, and they were all tired from the day.

She tapped the desk as if bored and waved them off.

"Class dismissed. When you leave this room, understand one thing clearly. You are no longer children learning something new. You are apprentices walking a path that kills more people than it raises. While I will not be giving you a task this time, work seriously, or be removed."

She walked out, leaving behind a room full of tense, silent students.

Ren leaned forward, whispering shakily.

"I miss the old man."

Elara sighed.

"I do not. But I understand him a lot more now."

Morena nodded her head and said a simple goodbye to them. She wanted to get back to her room as soon as possible and meditate; she could feel her energy increasing and Matrix getting closer to forming.

She wanted to do it as soon as possible, maybe within the week.