The Mysterious Black Magician

One other girl was very happy and excited at the sight of Kiko. It was Kesha, Almina's friend.

Kiko went to his group of friends without causing trouble for him. No matter the reason, Yman was still wary of Kiko.

A person might change but not in a day or two. Maybe he was plotting something while in the hospital? Yman was not sure. But one thing he believes, those rages from yesterday might alleviate as time went by but would never pop like a bubble.

On the contrary, Yman had to remain. Almina went back sitting on the ground while fuming deep inside. She could not believe it, that Kiko was also late, but the elder just let him go because he had just recovered. While Yman with the same reason 'of just recovered' from being fainted awhile ago had to remain and go on the stage. She thought that the elder was too biased.

Contrary to Almina's expectation though. Yman had become the elder's demonstration assistant.

'Sigh. I thought the elder would reprimand him. But it looks like he just wanted his help.' Almina sighed in relief.

Yman went on stage and stood a little behind the elder, waiting for what the elder wanted him to do.

Not only Almina that sighed in relief. Bob, Keremi, and also Chloe did too. And also Yman himself.

Seeing their mortal hateful person on stage, the other trainees, mostly those trainees who already had a bad impression towards him, had their faces twisted in sour expressions. He was like a stain in a perfect portrait from their eyes.

*Flip!* The elder flipped a page of the book and said, "Okay, let's proceed to our lectures. Since we only have little more time left. Let's directly go into the topic." After he said this, he glanced at the person standing behind at his left side like a stone statue.

"Ahem. Mr....? Ah, sorry what is your name again??—" the elder asked as he glanced at Yman.

"Yman Tal —"

"Ah, Mr. Coolman. Right, Mr. Coolman, under the table there is something in there. Take it and bring it here. So that all our friends here can see the demonstration."

Yman wondered if the elder did it on purpose about calling him with that name. However, he could not disagree. And should not make the elder angry! This elder was a level 25 magicians! One flick of his finger will put a stop on his age!

He was just wondering why his name had always been replaced by other names. Even a deity from someone he knew did too. He could only force a dry laugh to his name's fate.

"Yes. Elder." He nodded obediently and followed what the elder instructed him like a puppy.

Yman peeked under the table while the elder continued his lecture to the trainees. He saw a box under and some training gadgets.

"Oh, I forgot to say, just leave the box there and take the things inside it!" The elder suddenly notified. Yman sighed in relief when the elder mentioned it. He really was puzzled about which one should he take.

When he opened the box, he saw a bulb as big as a ball of basketball. Together with a 12 VOLT 40 AH battery. Yman wondered what the elder planned to do with this old model battery.

Anyhow, he must do what the elder instructed him. He took the bulb together with the old model battery and let the now empty box under the table.

The battery was slightly heavy but as a magician who trained his body every day and with a 1% breakthrough to his limiter, this weight was nothing to him. Just like lifting a fist-size stone.

The other trainee was as puzzled as him when they noticed the things he was carrying. They knitted their brows and whispered to the person beside them.

Almina for some reason felt so proud of him. Even though what he did was just simple things only. She was sending a warm smile at him without him knowing.

He placed down the battery. Next, he was placing the bulb on a single pedestal stool where a bulb socket could be seen on top facing the sky. After tightening the bulb on its socket, he then dragged it in the middle of the stage so that everyone was able to see.

Yman extended the wire towards the battery and waited for the elder's next instruction. The elder nodded his head, seemingly glad at his help.

"I know most of you still have no idea how mana works inside our body. Now, look at this..." said the elder as he pointed on the bulb.

All the trainee's eyes were focused on the bulb. They were wondering how this bulb represents magician's mana. They originally thought that the elder would test them again using the bulb to light it through mana like the first-day test. But it looks like it was different from that time.

"To further increase your understanding of mana. Let me show you the simplest... and easiest to understand demonstration." Said the elder in normal volume as he walked beside the bulb.

Yman was on his knee in front of the battery, holding the wire as he was waiting for the elder's next instruction. He also was excited to learn about this demonstration. Probably, he could guess a little now of why the elder was using the bulb as an example.

The trainee's murmurs together with their puzzled expressions enveloped the whole training grounds.

After the elder signaled at him, Yman connected the red wire on the positive and then the black wire on negative.

Next second, the bulb lit up and was glowing brightly.

"Isn't this a familiar sight? Can any of you relate to this bulb?" Suddenly questioned by the elder.

Yman smiled. Looks like he was right after all. This demonstration is indeed a familiar sight.

Most of the trainees were having 'aha' expressions surfacing on their faces after seeing the bulb lit up.

It was truly a familiar sight for both of them. It was the same sight when they did resonance with their deity.

The murmurs increase but this time most of them with an understanding look on their faces.

The Elder laughed lightly and nodded his head.

"Looks like you already got my point. That's good. This is how mana works in our bodies. Every one of you has your own mana within, from the energy released by your Hollow Cell. Because of how destructive this cell, it was given a scientific name as -e. Or negative energy. Whereas, the energy releases from the Gram Metal was given a scientific name of +e or positive energy. This Gram Metal was what used to create the deity's core..."

The elder glanced around him and saw that everyone was silently listening to him. He smiled and continued his lecture.

Just like what happened to the bulb after its wire was connected to the power source which was the battery, the bulb lit up brightly. The same thing happened when a magician used resonance with their deity. The magician's body would light up like what happened to the bulb.

Then the elder instructed Yman once again. To lower the power output by pulling down the lever that could be seen on the battery.

Once he pulled the lever down, the bright glow of the bulb suddenly sunk until it dim.

"That's how you control your mana. By lowering your mana pressure. You will be able to minimize the use of it. That glowingly bright mana was just excess. After all, we are not lamps. We are magicians. So we don't need those glowing bright things as long as there's no reason to use it. For you to become a genuine magician. You must learn first how to conserve your mana. Control it! Then after that. You will be surprised by how easy to manipulate your element that you have the affinity with..."

Before ending his words the elder inhaled. Then he opened his mouth again.

"Before we end this lecture today, I will give you your first assignment. Since I will be seeing you next week, that time you must already know how to conserve your mana. If you are still having a hard time understanding how mana works. The library is open twenty-four/seven. You are free to RESEARCH.....Now see you next week."

Before the elder left the stage. "Oh, Mr. Coolman, thank you for your help." Said the elder while tapping Yman's shoulder.

Yman felt a sack of gravel landing on his shoulder. But he had to endure it, if not, he would be laughable.

"I-I'm glad to be of help, Elder Sir." He replied somehow.

"Mhm. I hope the next time we meet you can also control your mana. But don't think about it too much." He said before he left.

Yman was puzzled by the elder's last line. |Don't think about it too much...?| He repeated his words in his mind. |Why was the elder said that?|

After the lecture ended. He was instructed once more to help clean the stage. And bring those pieces of equipment to the storeroom. Yman did what the elder said.

He carried back the battery and bulb and placed it inside the box again. Then he carried it towards the storeroom. It was located near the library. The 10th room from the entrance. Whereas the library was in the 12 rooms from the entrance.

When Yman went back on the stage to get the other stuff, he noticed someone at his back. He looked at his back and saw — the girl Almina Amulet?!!!

Standing about three steps away from him.

He was quite surprised.