Chapter 60 - Practise

Layton found himself in a serene meadow, there was a certain power in the meadow that calmed down people's anxious minds, this was why Layton had not started to freak out after being sent to an unfamiliar place and not seeing Solace around, instead, he saw an old figure holding a white staff dressed in spotless white robe feeding grains to the animal around.

The old man had a long flowing white beard that made up for the lack of hair on his bald head, the old man beckoned to Layton and Layton involuntarily followed the man who was walking to a quaint little hut hidden in the midst of some trees.

The next few seconds were like a lucid dream Layton followed the man into the house and was sipping from a wooden cup a serving of steaming golden liquid.

"How is it?" the old man asked with a proud smile obviously waiting for Layton to praise his creation.

"Refreshing" Layton managed to spit out as he was still engrossed in the wonderful feeling, the golden liquid had melted in his mouth spreading all around his body and he felt like a layer of dust that covered his soul and body were cleared giving a particular refreshing feeling that originated from the depths of his soul.

"Although slight there is always an after effect to staying connected to a plane will for some time." The old man nodded and commented while observing Layton's condition.

cc"Hooww?" Layton stuttered with a little panic and vigilance in his tone thinking that this mysterious mind might possess the ability to read his memories silently or he had been following him since he used the dimensional eroder and entered with him into the avatar plane.

Seeing Layton getting worked up the old man waved his palm releasing a stream of light that gave a calming aura and then replied "It is just a little trick, reading the stories the photons emitted from your body has witnessed."

Hearing the mysterious man explanation and feeling the absence of malice Layton finally asked the question that had been bothering him. "who are you?"

"You can call me Makarov; I am solace's teacher." Layton was surprised he didn't expect this old man to be Solace's teacher, he had always thought Solace was self-taught.

"Where is Solace?" Layton asked with curiosity wondering where his mentor who had just broken through had run off to.

"He is out on a mission, and probably won't be back in a short time, Makarov stated and then continued in a soothing but majestic voice.

"While he is out I will be responsible for teaching you properly, I am sure my apprentice hasn't taught you a lot of basic knowledge, Let's start with something essential you should understand at your level."

"Although we are all called wizards and are members of the wizard world civilization in fact not everyone practices the system you are using right now," Makarov said while gesturing to himself indicating he was not practising the same system as Layton.

"The system just emerged about 100,000 years ago in an attempt to unify the chaotic practice system of the wizard world and in some places, there are still some other old practice systems in use. I am sure you have a general view of the current practice system, tell me what you think about it."

Hearing Makarov request Layton calmed down and started thinking about the practice system Solace had explained to him, first a rune is inscribed to temper the illusory soul and make it turn to mist becoming a level one wizard, then a second rune is inscribed to temper the mist turning it to liquid to form a sea becoming a second level wizard and then to break through to the 3rd level your spirit needs to congeal and become solid, solace did not clearly explain how to break through to level 3 but explained that there are numerous ways to breakthrough and only the best way that fits him was best.

"The new system makes it easier to grow to high levels with little or no bottlenecks and mistakes that could destroy one's future, from the first to the third level it goes through all the stages of matter this makes it easier from practitioners to be able to analyze most material changes in the world." Layton stated explaining the little insights he understood from the arrangement of the wizard practice.

"Yes although you could see the hidden meaning don't ignore the obvious, the first level exposes you to extraordinary energy or power, the second makes you have your own domain, a feat which in most lower civilizations is a very difficult thing to achieve, the 3rd level makes you beyond mortal becoming very close to the level of gods, it could be called a demigod."

Hearing this Layton was amazed he was amazed at how grand the wizard world's practice system was, he remembered in a lot of fantasy works having a field or domain was a high end thing that could not be met by everyone only geniuses and those who had great luck could achieve but here as long you become a level 2 wizard a field was already guaranteed, and according to Makarov level 3 was already close to the level of gods and according to the sparse knowledge Layton had he knew there was still at least level 6 powerhouses walking around, he couldn't even begin to imagine what sort of power and abilities those powerhouses possessed.

"What's the specific way to break through to level 3?" Layton couldn't help but ask curiously,

"First lay a good foundation and know more about the world, after you become a level 2 wizard we will discuss and plan about your level 3 breakthrough, you must be tired let me take you to your room.." Makarov said not giving Layton the chance to ask any more questions as he led Layton through the surprisingly spacious hut.