DensityGodbyToraAKR

Chapter 22 - Get That Bag

Added 2023-05-04 15:36:48 +0000 UTC

Jiran shot to his feet in surprise before dropping into a low combat stance.

"Decent reflexes child, but unnecessary. My name is Lenton Filibree and I am no threat to you. You may resume your seat.

“I have three questions, and you shall answer them truthfully. If I deem your responses adequate, I will agree to strike a bargain of mentorship with you."

Jiran breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed Samris’s calm demeanor and then bowed to the elderly man in respect.

I've never even seen someone with so much white hair and wrinkles. With the way mana extends life at higher tiers, this guy must be ancient.

How did he make himself invisible? Maybe he bent light around himself? That's so cool!

He must be the tutor Samris told me about. If I want all my questions answered, I better impress him. Everyone knows you can't get a better magical teacher than an ancient whitened wizard!

Questions, right. Time to focus up.

Let's nail this interview and bag us a wizard!

Jiran's focus sharpened like he was in a life-or-death fight with a beast.

"As you say, Elder Filibree," Sitting down as instructed, Jiran patiently waited for the elder to speak again.

"Elder? That's quite the tongue you've got calling a young man like myself Elder. No manners, no manners at all.

“Tell me, boy, why do children have no manners?"

Uhh, what? How does this have anything to do with learning magic?

Wait! Is this the standard old man on the mountain cliche where he’s probing my personality because he doesn't want to impart his OP techniques onto someone who would misuse them?

Shivers raced up Jiran’s spine at the thought. His eyes closed as he entered deep thought and the two adults shared a look that spoke volumes.

Children can have manners, I just showed him proper manners. At least they would be considered proper in the Empire. Is that the trick? Manners depend on where you are and who you're talking to. If I had known he doesn't like being called an old fart, I wouldn't have said it.

"Ignorance," Jiran said with confidence.

"Ignorance is a logical response. Surely you can do better than that.

“Tell me, child. What is the meaning of life?"

Here we go again, seriously what kind of questions are these!? Scholars, poets, and philosophers have all been arguing since the dawn of civilization about the meaning of life. How can he expect me to know that?

He wants me to do better than a logical response? What’s he trying to get out of me?

Jiran, with furrowed brows, fell into deep thought in front of the two men.

Samris smirked at the old man, for once enjoying being a spectator as Jiran shattered expectations one after another.

What do I know about life?

All life is cellular, all life evolves, and all life is defined by death. I doubt he’s looking for a biology lesson, I need to dig deeper.

Life, especially on Madra, is brutal. The empire only exists because nothing has killed it yet. The emperors protect us from beasts with indomitable might. The village was protected by Skandor and now Feylon is protected by Samris. Without those protections, Madra, life, would devour us in days.

The empire is an insignificant speck compared to the all-encompassing might of life and death.

What's the point of it all? Power is needed to survive every day. Fighting increases your power, but eventually, something stronger will come along and devour you to feed its own growth. Life is just a never-ending cycle of conflict.

That’s as good an answer as any.

"The meaning of life is to struggle, anything else is death," Jiran spoke with certainty.

"Ohh, surprising for one so young to come to such a dark conclusion.

“Life in the Finlest Empire is certainly not easy. Villages are wiped out regularly by beasts and bandits. Never a year has passed without a settlement being lost somewhere within the empire's domain.

“A good answer though, very good. To give up is indeed to accept death for yourself and those around you. To protect others, one must rail against the wilds. Plants, animals, insects, the very air, oceans, and ground are all in eternal conflict."

"Last question Jiran, what is the true nature of density?"

Jiran almost laughed out loud.

Such an easy question saved for the finale?

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

"Hah! What makes you think some cheeky brat like you can discover the truth of density? Sure, you're clever and creative. I can see in your eyes that you won't give up. But I've seen the look of a man possessed with passion plenty of times.

“They always fail," Lenton looked down at Jiran with finality, as if his words were as immutable as an emperor's power.

He’s trying to see if I’ll back down under pressure. If I appear anything other than confident, he’s going to walk out that door, I can feel it.

"What could be more exciting than discovering the truth about our world? So that's exactly what I'm going to do," Jiran remained resolute.

“Confidence and ignorance are inseparable brothers. Do you honestly expect to survive on some fanciful quest for the truth where all others before you have paved the road with naught but their bones?”

“Master Filibree, that’s four questions. Does this mean you have agreed to teach me?” Jiran’s feigned innocence was lost on no one.

“Look at the sack on this one, Little Sammy. Trying to bait me of all people.”

The old man rose to his full height, and an aura of incredible power flexed around him. Jiran’s stomach flipped sickeningly as the walls and ceiling distorted.

“I can see right through you, child. Your emotions, your lies, your secrets, nothing can remain hidden from my eyes!” His voice echoed creepily inside the now far too-small room.

Lightning struck just outside the manor, causing a flash of light and a deafening boom of thunder that pushed Jiran painfully into his seat. He gulped nervously, looking up at the man who appeared as nothing more than Raiden himself.

"Enough games, Jiran.

“I'll teach you, and in return, I’ll use you to unveil the truths that darken my own path.

“You will help me, or die trying. Are you willing to put your life on the line for a chance to unveil your own secrets?"

"Yes, whatever it takes, Master. I will never stop until I know the truth," Jiran stood and bowed once more.

Success. Jiran used Bullshitting 101! It's super effective!

When Jiran rose, Lenton’s face was once more an unreadable mask of wrinkles topped off with a frown that appeared to be his resting facade.

“Then the contract is struck. Now, show me exactly what you think you did out there in the densoon, then we'll go test it."

Several minutes later a boy and an old man sat outside in the dirt arguing.

"I'm telling you it works. I'm doing it right in front of you. How can you say it's impossible?" Jiran said, quickly growing annoyed.

"Because it is impossible! I'll explain it so even a child can understand, maybe then you will see the fallacy in your words.

"To match the direction and fluctuations of the densoon wave, one must first perceive said density. In your case Jiran, you perceive the density around your hand using the senses of that hand and the mana attached to it,” Jiran nodded, following along with the white-haired elder.

"Once perceived, that information must reach your head. Then, inside that thick skull of yours, you understand what your hand has perceived. Only then, can you tell the mana on your hand how to match its surroundings.

"Under normal ambient density conditions, that would be simple, however, this is chaotic density, which fluctuates unpredictably. Multiple. Times. Per. Second.

"What you are trying to convince me of, is that you are skipping several, or all, of the necessary steps required.

"Explain to me, exactly how that is possible?!"

By the end of his rant, the old man was yelling with his finger in Jiran’s face. Jiran was ecstatic, for the first time since unlocking his mana, he was having a proper discussion about how the magical energy was supposed to function.

https://imgur.com/aFlPZPl

“I honestly don’t know how I’m doing it. It's like all my thoughts fade away and I’m only experiencing the present moment. Then I just know how the density is going to move and position my coating to match.

“Maybe that knowledge is related to my Unique skill,” Jiran blinked and was shocked to see another letter had been revealed.

“I got another letter!” He exclaimed while writing the skills name in the dirt for his new master to see.

Fo$esi%h(

“Interesting, your conclusion seems valid. However, we must run several more tests to determine the accuracy of your statements.”

“Of equal importance is your preparation for the ascent to the second tier. There is a technique that is claimed to be impossible to acquire before the second tier as it has never been done before. You will acquire this technique before I allow you to ascend.”

Jiran froze, his eyes widening in shock before he sputtered out a response.

“W-what?! You want me to do something that’s never been done before, just so I can tier up?”

“Obviously, if you cannot even take a single step down the path of impossibility then how can you ever reach a point of being useful to me? The path we must walk is unforged by those who came before us. For they failed and died.”

“The task should be simple for you. Speak with your mana, and hear its voice in return. When you discover the technique, I will provide significant assistance to your tiering.”

“I’ll do it,” Jiran agreed without a second thought.

Whatever he deems as significant assistance is probably something well beyond what I could even imagine. It’s just a technique to communicate with mana, how hard could it be?

“Excellent, after your morning routine you will find three books in the library that will point you in the right direction.

“Do not be misled by the teachings of others. Everything we know comes from a place of ignorance. Not one person can claim to know the truth, so how can they claim anything at all?

“I will not provide you with further assistance in your task, so don’t bother asking. Stand on your own two feet and push forward through the boundaries of impossibility.”

Before Jiran could respond, the old man was gone as if he had never existed.

That was intense. It all happened so fast.

Crap! I didn’t get a chance to ask a single question. I need to step up my game. That old bastard is seriously crafty. He got a lot out of me and I barely got anything in return.

Hopefully, the books he mentioned have some decent information in them. Most of what I’ve read so far has been laughably ridiculous.

Jiran cleaned himself before finding the dinner Sharaal left for him. He found sleep elusive as excitement for the future left him tossing and turning in his dark room. The rattling of his window was a constant reminder of his success that did nothing to help his errant thoughts.

Closing his eyes, Jiran read his status repeatedly, hoping to use the words and numbers as a flimsy replacement for counting sheep.

NAME Jiran of Feylon

RACE Human

AGE 8

WEIGHT 37.97 kg > 51.40 kg

STATUS Healthy

TIER 1

GROWTH 55.6% > 100%

MANA 1

CONCENTRATION 1

STRENGTH 13.5 > 19.9

AGILITY 14.1 > 19.9