Warrior Training System-Chapter 273: Paths to become a mage

After securing control over Babet, Cassian and his team moved to the next village. News of the monster wave had spread quickly, and most villages had already been evacuated. The only people left to rescue were those who had fled from deeper settlements and, for various reasons, had become stranded here.

Most of them were either injured or burdened by wounded companions, making them too slow to escape the initial wave of monsters. Meanwhile, the higher-ranked warriors—including Third and Fourth Circle warriors—and mages, such as Pyraxis and Solvaris, the mage equivalents of those warrior ranks, had taken charge of the more dangerous battles ahead.

Cassian was amazed by these mages. He didn't know much about how they cultivated their power—unlike Circle Warriors, whose progression he had a clear understanding of.

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In his own path, he knew that upon reaching the Second Rung, his domain would become tangible enough to manipulate the mana within it. This would also significantly expand its range—far beyond the mere inch around his body he could currently manage. Right now, his limited domain only provided minor resistance to mana-infused attacks, but that would change as he advanced.

Additionally, he would develop a new ability—either one that manifested automatically, as had happened before, or one he could consciously shape based on his fighting techniques and will.

As for mages, his knowledge was limited. He knew they possessed a Mana Heart, which they formed upon reaching their first rank, known as Emberling. The name stemmed from the initial state of their Mana Heart—nothing more than a faint ember, visible only to the mage themselves.

There were rumors that high-ranking warriors could perceive a mage's Mana Heart when they stepped into their domain. But for now, Cassian was still at the lowest rank, leaving him to simply ponder over such possibilities.

Since he had a mage around—one who, from what he could tell, seemed to respect him after the past few hours of fighting together—Cassian decided to break the boredom. They had been running through the jungle for nearly an hour without encountering anything, and the monotony was getting to him.

"So, Wanni, when did you become a mage?" he asked.

Wanni and the others were following closely behind. If Cassian had been running at full speed, they wouldn't have been able to keep up, but he held back for two reasons. First, he was bored—it was frustrating not to move at his full pace when he knew he could. Second, his team needed him nearby in case they ran into enemies they couldn't handle on their own.

It frustrated him—looking after these mortals felt like babysitting—but he understood why. As a newly awakened Circle Warrior, his chances of reaching the Second Circle anytime soon were slim. That was why he had been assigned to these warrior candidates, who at least had a real shot at breaking through. From what he had seen, all four were skilled with their chosen weapons; they just needed a strong push toward whatever principle fueled their will.

Flying near him on a blob of water, Wanni spoke up. "It'll be a year next month..."

Like Cassian, her main job was to make sure none of them sustained crippling injuries—injuries that could prevent them from ever becoming Circle Warriors. It was a fate Cassian himself could have faced if he hadn't developed his healing ability.

"So, what's the next step? How does an Emberling become an Igniscent?" Cassian asked, prompting Wanni to pause in thought.

"Well, there are many ways a mage can advance their mana heart," she said. Then, with a smile, she continued, "For example, I specialize in water-based magic. By deepening my understanding of its mysteries—like mastering its healing properties—I became a mage. I can continue down this path to advance further.

Another method is called spell crafting. It's trickier because a mage has to create entirely new spells—ones that could almost be considered miracles. Fortunately, in the early ranks, it's simpler; a mage only needs to refine existing spells, improving their efficiency or function. But this path has a massive hurdle. The spells required to break through to the higher ranks are so complex that, at a certain point, they need to performfeats like resurrecting a dead being or something close to it."

Cassian was impressed by these spell crafters. Remembering that Katherine was working on a spell herself, he asked, "Can any mage of that type become a Grand Mage?" while making a mental note to ask Katherine about the path she was following to reach that level.

"Yeah, some..." Wanni nodded with a smile but didn't mention any specific names. Instead, she continued her explanation with enthusiasm. "I chose a more traditional path, a simple yet difficult one called Elemental Attunement. Mages who follow this path specialize in a single element, advancing by deepening their understanding of its properties and mysteries—unlocking its full potential.

"For water, that includes ice, mist, and other forms, but I focused more on its nurturing aspect and elemental fusion."

Cassian hadn't realized there were multiple ways for mages to advance in rank. For warriors, he only knew of one—a will strong enough to force the world to yield.

"I can guess the healing part, but what is Elemental Fusion?" he asked.

Wanni's smile widened, almost to the point of madness. "It's the fusion of two elements—water and another. Many have successfully fused water with elements like earth, wind, electricity, and even heat since they share some level of compatibility. But I want to fuse water with memories, making it alive in a sense. Imagine a healing potion that grows on its own, adapting and evolving..."

Cassian chuckled at her enthusiasm, nodding. "I don't quite understand that, but I hope you succeed."

"I do too..." Wanni nodded with a smile.

Cassian glanced back at the others trailing a few meters behind them, running as fast as they could. He wasn't giving them much leeway, but thanks to their years of training, they could keep going for a couple more hours.

For now, though, they were just minutes away from their destination. The village ahead was already visible, and to their surprise, it was far more intact than the last one. But that wasn't all—at the entrance, they could see people locked in battle against the beasts.