"Although your talent is stronger than mine, my dual talent of master mage and apprentice knight is still considerable," Oliver said, a playful yet confident grin spreading across his face.
As Max mulled over his words, Oliver made his move. His fist shot forward, a bolt of lightning, aiming right at Max's chest. The punch, however, carried a weight beyond physical strength, a force Max hadn't felt before from his friend. A force that resonated with a sort of magical presence.
Max's instincts kicked in. He leaned back, avoiding the punch by a hair's breadth, his eyes widening in astonishment. "You've awakened too?" he said, his tone a mixture of surprise and delight. "Congratulations, Oliver!"
Oliver's response was a simple shrug, accompanied by a smirk. "Thanks, Max. Now let's see what you've got!"
The friendly spar resumed, the two young men moving around the field like a dance. But this dance was punctuated by sudden surges of strength and speed, powerful punches and high-flying kicks. It was clear to Max that Oliver was not the same. He was stronger, faster, and more confident in his movements.
During the fight, Oliver made no attempt to hide his newfound abilities. His fists ignited into flames, throwing fireballs at Max. His movements, swift and fluid, carried an ethereal grace that suggested the influence of wind.
"So, fire and wind," Max observed aloud, narrowly dodging a flaming punch and a gust of wind that followed in its wake. "That's an impressive combination."
Oliver simply laughed, spinning and launching another fiery attack. "I've always had a flair for the dramatic, haven't I?"
Oliver's fiery fists and gusty movements kept Max on his toes, pushing him to anticipate and counter every attack. Max, in return, responded with equally agile moves, his own abilities glowing brightly.
An air slice here, a fireball dodge there, the two friends parried and attacked in synchrony, their powers flaring in the morning sunlight. The scent of burning grass wafted in the air as Oliver's fireballs singed the ground. Max's air slices were met with gusty wind deflects, sending leaves swirling in mini cyclones around the field.
Finally, spotting an opening, Max decided to press his advantage. He concentrated on his energy, gathering it within himself before releasing it all at once. With a swift movement, he struck Oliver's chest with an open palm. The shockwave of energy sent Oliver skidding back a few meters, landing on his back with a thud.
Max rushed over to his friend, extending a hand to help him up. "You okay?" he asked, concern replacing the heat of the fight.
"Yeah, I'm good," Oliver responded, accepting Max's hand and pulling himself to his feet. He brushed off the dirt from his clothes, his chest heaving slightly from the exertion.
"You fought well, Oliver," Max praised, clapping him on the shoulder. "But I noticed that your body is not much stronger compared to before. Why is that?"
Oliver sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, it's because I haven't yet awakened the knight talent. My mage talent awakened first, as it is stronger. But I can feel it... the knight talent is there, just waiting for the right moment to awaken."
Max nodded understandingly. "The process of awakening is different for everyone. But knowing you, I'm sure it'll happen sooner rather than later. Just remember, Oliver, our talents do not define us. It's how we use them that matters."
Oliver grinned, a spark of determination flickering in his eyes. "You're right, Max. And the next time we spar, you'll see a fully awakened Oliver Dresdan."
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden clapping sound. Both young men turned to see Viscount Dresdan, Oliver's father, slowly approaching them with an approving smile on his face.
"Bravo, boys," he said, his voice carrying the weight of years of experience and wisdom. "That was quite the display. But remember, you both still have a lot to learn."
Max and Oliver bowed their heads in respect, acknowledging the Viscount's wisdom. Despite their talents, they were still young, their powers still raw and untamed. They had yet to fully comprehend the depth and potential of their abilities.
"Thank you, sir," Max replied. Oliver nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting a deep respect for his father.
Viscount Dresdan's gaze softened as he looked at his son and his friend. He clapped his hands together once more, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Enough of this, for now," he said, "The outside is too cold for my old bones. Let's move this conversation inside, shall we? Breakfast is ready."
A few weeks passed in a blur of training and studying. Under the guidance of Viscount Dresdan, Max honed his abilities, pushing them to be stronger and executed faster. Each day was full of training, as he sparred with Oliver almost daily, their friendly competitions helping both of them to refine their techniques and control their powers.
Due to constant fights that pushed him to his physical limits, Oliver has awakened his knight talent as well and now stood at stage one of both stages.
Max's mage and knight have been developing steadily in tandem. The last push that he needed to breakthrough and reach second stage was after Viscount pointed out that he was using an unnecessarily large amount of mana to cast simple spells. This helped Max improve him mana conservation during spell casting and attacks, as he started using only the necessary amount for each spell.
On that very night, a significant transformation occurred. Max sank into a deep, meditative state, immersing himself in the pool of mana within him. The energy flowed, mingling with his being, and with the culmination of his focus and determination, he achieved a breakthrough. He reached the second stages of novice as both a mage and a knight.
His mana capacity expanded by approximately 10%, marking a noticeable improvement in his magical prowess. Concurrently, his physical body underwent a metamorphosis. His flesh fortified, growing capable of withstanding the increased power he now harbored within him. It was an essential transformation, a primary step in the cultivation of the knight system.
The novice stage is the cornerstone of development, laying the foundation for what is to come. It is during this stage that the knight's body adapts and strengthens to accommodate the growing power within. It is a harmonious synergy of magical and physical advancement, a process of continual refinement.
The first phase is the fortification of flesh. As mana is absorbed, it permeates the flesh, transforming it from a mere vessel to a fortified shell, capable of bearing the knight's growing might.
Following the fortification of flesh is the reinforcement of the viscera - the internal organs nestled within the main body cavity. The knight guides the mana during the breakthrough, allowing it to soak into the viscera. The organs are thus reinforced, capable of withstanding significant impacts and falls without rupture.
Next comes the muscular enhancement. The muscles evolve, becoming more flexible and lean, their composition changing to be almost devoid of fat. This muscular advancement results in an increase in physical strength and endurance, thereby accommodating the increasing demands.
The final stage in the physical transformation of the novice stage is the strengthening of the bones. The knight channels mana into the bones, imbuing them with a profound strength and resilience. The greater the amount of mana guided into the bones, the more robust they become. Yet, this stage is also the most challenging, the intense pain a testament to the transformative power of mana.
Throughout each phase of this transformation, the knight is not only growing in power but also developing a deeper understanding and control of their mana. This detailed and nuanced process ensures that the knight's body can keep pace with their increasing strength, setting the stage for their continued growth on the path of knighthood.
With the end of winter break, Max returned to the junior academy, a structure as imposing and familiar as ever in the heart of the city. Amid the chatter of reunited classmates and the renewed fervor for learning, Max felt an awkward pang of sadness.
The academy hallways echoed with laughter and tales of cozy family times during the break. Yet, Max found himself swallowed by a sense of isolation, his own holiday having been vastly different. His parents' absence was a shadow that loomed over him, their unfound status tainting his experiences and casting a stark contrast to the cheerful family stories shared by his classmates.