My Very Own Training Arc
After that strange encounter, we began flying on Timmy again.
My master had not spoken after the event, and I wondered how bad it was.
Well, I guess it would be something like scouting out a top prospect athlete, only for some rival coach to try and steal him.
'It's a little more serious than that, I guess.'
I got over the SSS rank weapon encounter quickly, considering that I had never even been able to lay hands on it, it's not like I felt some attachment.
And I did not think my master was lying, it would be insane if such a weapon was freely given without any kind of catch.
We continued flying for a few hours, and after a while, the tundra fog cleared.
I stared in awe.
It was a pitch black fortress, probably larger than the imperial palace back in the empire.
The towers within the fortress easily eclipsed the tallest tundra glaciers.
As we descended, I saw hundreds, probably thousands of people moving and working dilligently.
Although we were not close enough for me to make it out, I could guess that those 'people' were undead.
Thwoom!
Timmy landed in a clearing in the center of the fortress.
As we descened, my master looked down at me and spoke.
"This is my Necropolis. Back in the day, there were a few others, but now this is the only one in the world. So in a sense, it's the Necropolis."
He clearly took some pride in it.
Unfortunately, I found it unsettling.
I was no stranger to death, but that didn't mean I was comfortable around an army of skeletons.
A small legion of undead knights had gathered in the clearing, with a skeleton in robes at the forefront.
He was staring at me, and I felt discomfort as I could not read the emotions of a skeleton.
I stood a little closer to my master.
"Heh, don't worry, they won't bite you."
'I don't know about that.'
I did not speak my thoughts aloud, though.
"I greet the master."
The robed skeleton kneeled, and the hundred knights standing behind him following in suit.
Just looking at their armor, I knew it was of high quality.
They all wore the same jet black armor with a purple finish.
It was surely quite ominous.
"Good to see you too, Larry. I trust everything has been kept in shape around here?"
The undead mage, now identified as Larry, responded with a monotone voice.
"Yes, master, we humble servants have done our best during your absence."
"That's good, have a room prepared for the boy, he's my disciple, so treat him well."
At that, the flames in Larry's eyes seemed to flare in surprise, but he nodded his head silently.
We entered the fortress proper and I marvelled at the interior.
The exterior was full of black bricks and purple flame torches that were able to burn hot in the midst of the snow, but the interior was fairly luxurious.
It was maybe a step down from the interior back at the estate, but considering it was in the middle of nowhere, this level of quality was insane.
"I've been working on this place for a while, so it's not bad at all, right?"
"Right."
I idly agreed whilst continuing my observations.
The walls were gilded with gold and weapons were displayed proudly across them.
Observing a few, they were all A rank.
Okay, perhaps it was on par with the Notoria estate.
My master was unusually talkative, perhaps in a good mood since he was able to show off his home to his disciple.
We sat down on sofas opposing each other, and I naturally asked the obvious question after my initial excitement died down.
"What kind of training do you have in store for me? And... till what point do you plan on training me?"
I had been with master for about three months, and I would turn fourteen in another.
I was also on the verge of reaching the third layer, so I had begun to wonder.
Surely he didn't intend on teaching me till I became an archmage, or something crazy like that?
I wanted to become powerful, but I also wanted to enjoy my life.
"The training... it'll be broken into three parts."
I listened eagerly, as he was not the kind of person who would repeat himself.
"The first part will be improving your body. Obviously, you aren't a martial artist, but I have elixirs that should supplement the process."
I nodded my head in agreement.
My body was still stuck on stage one, mid, after months of training.
I knew increasing it to the level of my magic would be difficult, probably impossible right now, but I wanted to increase it nevertheless.
Even my reflex had increased to stage one high after defeating that serpent.
"As for magic, we'll obviously get you up to layer three so you can begin practicing with your element, hopefully taking you to layer four within a year."
One again, I nodded.
Breaking through to the third layer was a given, and reaching the fourth layer within a year was also fine.
"Then, well, I guess it isn't really training, but I'll have to place an advanced cloaking spell on you."
"What?"
I wasn't sure what exactly he meant by that, did he intend to hide me?
"When I initially approached you, it was because I could see the depth of your mana whenever you casted a spell, anyone else at or even a little below my level would be able to do the same.
So in other words, I'll be working on a way to mask that, so that someone more nefarious than me doesn't end up picking you apart."
His nonchalant comment about me being picked apart made me sweat.
Anyway, I could understand what he meant now.
Out of all three, that was probably the most important thing, but it seemed he would handle it himself.
"As for how long I'll train you... who knows? I took you in on a whim, after all."
I wasn't particularly dissatisfied at his lack of answer, well aware that he wouldn't throw me out without warning.
Right now, I still felt far too weak to even think about returning home.
I knew my master's training would be brutal, but I was eager to grow stronger, so I asked simply.
"When can I start?"
LOG 18 - NECROPOLIS
A city of the dead. In ancient times where dark mages moved more freely, these cities were traditionally made by wiping out kingdoms and converting every one of their residents into undead. In the current age, there is only one true Necropolis remaining, currently being operated by Lich King Xerxes in the deep north.
