Rise of Tyrus

Throughout his days in the manor, Fiona made it explicitly clear that he was free to roam around. At first, he found the idea ridiculous, but he gradually grew accustomed to the lack of supervision. Nowadays, Tyrus would spend some mornings wandering aimlessly.

Besides exploring the library and dining area, Tyrus ventured into uncharted territory - the storerooms and the grand hall. The grand hall, though impressive in size, lacked any notable features. In contrast, the storerooms overflowed with an abundance of sacks, barrels, and even a rack of bottles. When Tyrus stepped into the room, a pungent yet stale aroma permeated the air, tickling his nose. He took a quick look around and left, off to do better things.

Tyrus avoided entering places he deemed off-limits, like the bedrooms, kitchen, or any room that looked like Selena would visit frequently. Instead, he went wherever he pleased and explored the manor to his heart's content, until he reached a room that was his reward for all the exploring he had done.

A door made of dark wood stood before him, designed with markings and patterns that were simple yet captivating. Two small, curved windows framed the entrance, giving a narrow view of a spacious room in the shape of a dome.

Tyrus grabbed the handle and pushed open the door, entering as a cold draft rushed through the air. True to expectations, the room was expansive, with a lofty ceiling that was upheld by a carefully arranged collection of columns crafted from reddish stone. No signs of any windows or any other doors leading to another room. All that remained was a tiled floor and some training dummies similar to the ones behind the guild.

"I bet my entire sack of coin that this is a training room and not a storage one. Why else would those dummies be here?"

If an indoor training room was available the entire time, then how come Igneal put a pause to their sparring sessions? Either Igneal liked the outdoors, which seemed unlikely, or he was unaware it existed in the first place.

"Not like that matters. What does matter is that I now have a place to practice magic to my hearts content."

Outside was not an option because of the snow, and neither the library because of the books. Setting fire to the place because of carelessness would obviously be bad for everyone, especially for Fiona and Selena. To allow a kid to stay in their home, and as a gesture of good will, he set their home ablaze. Knowing Selena, she'd probably set him on fire just to make things even.

Or even worse: force him to serve under her until he completely pays back the damages! Tyrus can already imagine the type of tasks she'd set him out to do. It'd make saving Ivy from the rock spiders pale in comparison to whatever Selena has cooked up in that crazy head of hers.

Tyrus shivered. "I-I should stop thinking about Selena and focus on training. I should count myself lucky we haven't crossed paths yet."

Tyrus moved his feet toward the middle of the room, his footsteps somehow not echoing throughout the expanse. Once there, he stopped in front of one of the training dummies.

It was a tall, humanoid figure with no face and intact limbs, save for its legs. The figure wasn't fashioned out of bundled straw, but wood that had scorch marks all over its surface. Embedded within its chest was a cavity housing a gray cube. One good look at it and Tyrus could immediately tell there was mana pulsing through the cube.

"These marks don't look new. Someone must've used it some time ago, but who? The only people I can think of are Igneal and Fiona, the only ones who use fire magic."

Tyrus paced around the dummy, inspecting its features. He didn't recognize the wood the dummy was made of. It was a type he had never seen before, a rich color that reminded him of autumn leaves. And what was up with that cube? What purpose did it serve to stuff an item of magic in its chest?

"Ah, whatever. I can ask Fiona next time. It should be fine to use magic on it if it can withstand flames. Aside from the scorch marks, it doesn't look like the wood is deteriorating. I wonder how it reacts to lightning..."

Tyrus took five steps back and aimed at the dummy. A rush of mana coursed through his body, traveling through his arm and out his palms as a Lightning Bolt crackled to life. It shot through the air in a straight line, colliding against the wooden chest. Tyrus watched in satisfaction as the sphere's arcs traced along the dummy's torso.

Then something weird happened. The color of the sphere changed from cloudy gray to a light green. A beep emanated from the dummy, and the cube changed back to its regular color.

Tyrus squinted his eyes, confused about what had just happened. He summoned Lightning Bolt and released it. The same events followed suit, and the dummy beeped.

"It turns green after I use magic, beeps, and turns gray? What does that mean?"

He tried something different, a Thunder Stun. He released the spell, and the orb changed to the same color again before turning to its usual self. Without missing a beat, he used Lightning Snare, and the cube was colored the same.

Finally, Tyrus summoned a singular Lightning Bolt, crackling with the same power as Dual Shot. As he focused his will, his hair prickled and stood on end, reacting to the surge of energy. The room was bathed in a vibrant, dazzling blue light, casting long shadows on the walls. With a forceful gesture, he propelled the spell forward, causing it to collide with the dummy's torso.

The impact sent lashing arcs dancing across the wooden surface. The sound of crackling ensued, reverberating through the room, only to be overshadowed by an even louder beep. In response, the cube flashed a brilliant hue of yellow, adding a burst of vivid color to the already stirring display.

Tyrus had finally become certain about something: the color changes on the dummy showed the amount of damage it had sustained from spells. The intensity of a spell determined the color change. However, what he remained uncertain about was the precise level of power required for the color to shift to green or yellow. There was a strong chance that other colors were present, patiently waiting for the correct amount of mana to activate them.

This place was absolutely perfect for Tyrus to train his magic. It didn't surprise him at all that Selena, being a branch leader of the Explorer Guild and a manor owner, had something like this in her home. Clearly, she must be quite wealthy to have a room specifically designed to test a sorcerer's magical abilities, with the results displayed through a dummy's cube.

"This room is amazing. I can go all out without worrying about breaking anything. But, it's weird how there aren't any windows here. I can see myself losing track of time here."

Now that he thought about it, was he even allowed to use the room? Although Fiona mentioned he was welcome to explore, that didn't necessarily imply he could freely utilize anything he came across. Unlike the library, which she had explicitly allowed him to use along with his own room, this particular room might have different rules. Its appearance conveyed a sense of uniqueness and specialness, after all.

"I'll ask her next time. If it's a room I shouldn't be in, I'll just say it was an accident and won't come back."

With that settled, Tyrus faced the training dummy, chin in hand. His primary affinity was the first element he'd start with, then fire the next day, light afterward, and finally dark. Then he'd start all over again with lightning and repeat the process. For how long, Tyrus hadn't a clue.

He didn't really expect to be staying this long at Selena's manor. As the days go by, he was getting uncomfortable, worried that he was extending his stay. Then again, it was winter time, and he really didn't feel like heading out until the weather improved or had some important task to do. Until then, he'll take advantage of what was given and practice his magic.

"Alright, let's begin," Tyrus said, rolling his shoulders as he pondered what to do next.

Before, Dual Shot was a spell that sapped most, if not, all of his mana. Some time later, it would take two Dual Shots, and now he could use around three or four before reaching the limit. If his assumption was correct, increasing his magic power would increase the amount of spells he could cast before he exhausted his mana heart. But there was something else he was itching to find out.

Tyrus held both arms out, pointed toward the training dummy. He concentrated, emitting mana from his heart and into his arms. He then pictured a Lightning Bolt forming in front of him, but this time, using around three-fourths of his total mana. Just enough to not succumb to mana deficiency, yet hold sufficient power to overwhelm the dummy.

Blue sparks danced at the ends of his fingertips, and the air sizzled. A small, cloudy orb the size of a fist crackled to life, the same familiar shade of lightning he always used. It grew until it was the size of a large melon.

A single droplet of sweat trickled down his cheek, while his arm muscles throbbed with exhaustion from the surge of mana coursing through them. It was a new sensation for him, having to harness and release such a massive amount of mana all at once. Yet, he remained determined, clenching his teeth tightly as he concentrated his unwavering resolve into the sphere.

The sphere surged ahead, soaring through the air before colliding with the training dummy. Tyrus dropped to a single knee, his head throbbing intensely, while witnessing his spell erupt into a flurry of crackling arcs. As he watched, the cube's color flickered, now tinged with a deep yellow hue, reminiscent of amber or honey.

"A... darker color appeared this time, almost orange this time," he muttered. "That means my strongest attack almost reached the next stage, right?"

The surrounding space spun like whirlpools, his thoughts hazy and indiscernible. Thankfully, the sickening feeling didn't last long when he proceeded to meditate to replenish his mana heart. Afterward, his vision slowly returned, the world regaining its clarity and color, and the pounding in his head faded away.

For the most part, Tyrus was getting the hang of the training dummy's functions. So far, the color ranges from gray, green, yellow, and orange. The stronger the magic, the darker the color becomes, and that was assuming there weren't any colors between them he missed.

His strongest spell was on the cusp of reaching orange, while the other spells warranted a light green. There was a clear difference of power between them, and that didn't surprise him in the least. Thunder Stun and Lightning Snare weren't meant to inflict damage, but to immobilize a target. They were support spells, not offensive spells.

Tyrus had a particular idea on how to train his lightning affinity in the meantime, and it was something he did regularly: sustained lightning.

Typically, he would take a seat and let the lightning flow from his palms until he reached a suitable stopping point. Afterward, he would engage in meditation to replenish his mana heart and then start the process again. This not only heightened his overall magical power but also expanded the capacity of his mana heart. He was aware of this because of his knowledge from the Sorcerer Plane—and common sense.

To become a powerful sorcerer, one required both the strength for combat and a big reserve of mana. It was quite apparent, really. It would be impossible for someone to achieve such a status without possessing either attribute, otherwise, that sorcerer would find themselves trapped in a sea of their own weakness. So here Tyrus was, practicing magic while taking into account the most effective method he knew of at the moment.

With a clear plan in mind, Tyrus remained firmly seated, his palms facing upwards, as he allowed his natural affinity to flow unrestricted. The chamber suddenly illuminated with bursts of vibrant blue as the elemental energy gracefully snaked its way around him, first enveloping his palms, then his arms, and finally his torso.

As he flexed his fingers, the lightning obediently responded, swirling around him in tightly controlled currents that resonated harmoniously with the rhythm of his heartbeat. There was no strain, no sense of resistance from the element—only the comforting hum of power coursing through his veins, akin to a second skin. The longer he held it, a slight pull to his heart grew stronger, a sensation that was typical when spending his mana.

"When I use lightning like this, it's calm. But when it leaves my hand, the arcs are unsteady. Does that mean my body is needed to keep the mana stable, but shaky when released outside?"

Tyrus pondered this revelation as he felt his mana heart being drained. Before he felt the effects of mana deficiency, he slowly retracted his mana, the lightning gradually fading from view. When the last traces had disappeared, a small, yet noticeable headache emerged. He took a deep breath and focused on his mana heart, guiding his will toward its center as he absorbed the surrounding mana.

Since he was meditating in a closed room, the amount of mana was noticeably lesser than outdoors, but it was still enough to replenish his heart, though at a much slower pace. When he was finished, he repeated the cycle, using the same method from before, with the goal of holding the element for as long as possible. He did this for hours on end, making sure to exit the room at times to check the time.

Attempting to train Thunder Stun without a living target would ultimately be dumb, as it merely restrained opponents. Considering that the training dummy lacked life from the start, casting the spell on it would be akin to expecting a rock to perform backflips upon command.

Lightning Snare was a different story. Because the spell was just arcs of lightning being treated as ropes to snare targets, the spell was a great choice for him to practice on the training dummy. There were a few ideas Tyrus had in mind about how to develop the spell.

Tyrus walked up to the training dummy and stretched an arm out. He imagined arcs of lighting serving as ropes to be released from his hand. Four thin arcs appeared, lashing out in a frenzy. With a simple gesture, the arcs flew forward, coiling around the wooden surface until all four had wrapped themselves around the torso.

Feeling content, Tyrus took a few steps back, and instantly, the spell began to flicker. As he moved further away, the lights grew fainter. Taking a few steps forward, the lights brightened again. Tyrus kept moving backward until he felt his connection with the spell break. The lightning arcs fizzled and vanished, transforming back into tiny sparks in his palms.

"So, distance and strength play a role in Lightning Snare's effectiveness. Around ten steps should be the limit."

For Lightning Snare, not only did he have to increase the strength of the lightning arcs for tougher opponents, but he had to keep in mind the distance as well. So many factors to think of for each spell in his lightning affinity, and many more waiting from the other elements. That is until he developed them to where he could come up with unique spells of his own.

There was much work to be done...