Chapter 54: Breathing Exercises

Leon and Charles met up at dinner. Their conversation was dominated by their plans to go south. Charles had wanted to head west, then take a barge down the Naga river all the way to the capital. Leon shot that idea down just by bringing up the price of such an endeavor, making Charles pat his own coin pouch in dejection. Leon suggested that they simply follow the Julian Road all the way there. It would take them several weeks on foot, but it would be much cheaper, especially since Leon had no intention of staying at any inns. Charles wasnt too thrilled with that idea, but the weight of his coin pouchor lack thereofprevented him from voicing any concerns at the sleeping arrangements.

Next came the issue of food. Charles, realizing that Leon was far more adept at planning long traveling excursions, deferred to him. So, Leon figured that they would only need about a hundred silvers to buy travel rations for the both of them to last a week, more than enough time to reach the next city on the road. There, they would buy enough rations to reach the city after that, and they should be able to reach the capital from there without stopping for food again.

Water wouldnt be a problem. Leon planned to buy a dozen sheets of spell paper along with the food, to write water runes upon. He wasnt good enough at inscribing runes for this to allow them to bathe, but they would have plenty of water for their journey.

With their route planned and logistics figured out, the two went back to their rooms to pack. Leon moved all of his books and maps into his leather bag, while all his clothes and the two days of food he still had went into his pack. Charles didnt arrive in Teira with much, and he had sold some of it during his more desperate times, which left him with little more a few hundred silvers and about five days of clothing, so he packed very quickly.

Both men went to sleep early and rose early as well. They got themselves cleaned up, then met for breakfast. They didnt speak much and finished quickly. They then grabbed their things, returned their room keys to the innkeeper, and left.

There werent many places open that sold food, but Charles knew one that serviced travelers and was consequently open at dawn. Due to Charles not having much money, Leon bought all the food theyd need, while Charles used the abundant space in his own pack to carry most of it.

With all that taken care of, the two made their way to the main road and began their journey south.

They walked in relative silence. Leon was being his usual quiet self, but Charles was more than a little nervous, and now that he was leaving Teira, he was starting to hesitate a little. He kept walking, though.

The two left the slums, continuing all the way to the palace estate. Leon was eager to get past this place, as he could see that the guards around the posts had doubled since he had seen them last. They appeared very on edge and were glaring at anyone who lingered too long to stare. Leon and Charles hurried past, though Charles was a little too wrapped up making himself commit to his choice to notice Leons anxiety.

Fortunately, no one stopped them. The two men made it past the diamond-shaped estate, through the central district, and entered the southern district. This place was beautiful, with trees, flowers, and gardens, all awash with color. There werent many stores here, as this was where the nobles built their manors and palaces. And those manors and palaces certainly were things to behold, all painted marble, glittering silver, and shiny polished stone. The road was flanked with grand marble statues and many more triumphal arches, as well as very stressed looking guards.

Leon and Charles stayed buried in the throngs of people moving here and there. Leon was very uncomfortable being surrounded by so many people, but since they were traveling through noble estates now, there wasnt much he could do about it. There were side roads, but hardly anyone used those, and he didnt want to be seen by the guards. It was unlikely he would be identified, as he didnt think the guard who saw him back in the palace ruins had gotten that good of a look, and he had changed his hair and clothes since then, but he wasnt about to take chances.

Despite Leons anxiety and Charles hesitation, the rest of the day was unremarkable. By dusk, they had made it about thirty miles out of the city. It had taken a little while to leave the sprawling estates of the southern district, but Leon felt that they had made good time.

As the sun began to set, the two made camp. It wasnt much to speak of, Leon simply made a small fire with what few sticks and weeds he could find and they slept with their heads resting on their packs. They did, of course, go about a thousand feet off the road, to make sure no one would try and steal their things, but there were hardly any trees this side of Teira. The land was too rocky, and where there was dirt, it was too thin to let much of anything but grass and weeds to grow.

So, the two settled in for the night behind an outcropping of rocks that would conceal them from the road.

Hey, Charles. They hadnt spoken much all day, so Charles was a little surprised when Leon spoke up.

Whats up?

Theres something Id like to talk about

Yeah?

Ive heard the Knight Academy only accepts first-tier mages and up, aged sixteen to twenty.

Thats right. We both fit that criteria, so why bring it up now?

Im a little concerned, because to my eyes, your foundation looks a little shaky. If you continue on and enroll in the Academy as you are now, youll likely have a tough time of it

Charles frowned, and looked a little hurt and offended at Leons words, but he knew Leon was right. He didnt have anyone to train and instruct him as he grew up, so it was a minor miracle that he achieved the first-tier of magic at all. He was about to half-heartedly defend himself, but Leon continued, cutting him off just before he began to speak.

If you want, I could show you a thing or two that could help.

Charles was a little stunned, but he responded, Yes, please, any pointers you could give me would be great!

Not pointers, specifically, more like a way of breathing.

Like a breathing exercise that the nobles practice? How do you know such techniques? Arent you from the Northern Vales?

Look, Charles, I may have grown up in the Vales, but Im no Valeman. You shouldve realized that after my visit to that Heavens Eye Tower.

True, that was a little eyebrow-raising

Anyways, I can tell that youve received little to no instruction with regards to magic, but you should know what makes a first-tier mage, right?

Yeah, lungs can absorb magic from the air.

Thats a fairly simple way to look at it. My father taught me that humans cant use magic naturally, but their bodies will adapt given time. Entering the first-tier means that your lungs have adapted and magic can enter your blood. However, adaptation is not a yes or no thing. There are infinite degrees of adaptation, and the nobles have the time and money to figure out ways to maximize this process.

Charles was fascinated. He didnt make a single noise while Leon spoke, because all of this was new information to him. The majority of commoners wouldnt know the specifics of magic use unless they lived close to a city or magical guild, and the mining town Charles grew up in was far too out of the way for him to pick up on these details.

Your lungs have adapted well enough to allow magic to enter your blood, but it doesnt appear to be that much.

How can you tell?

Its a little hard to describe, but your aura seems a little thin. Im a third-tier mage, which means Im sensitive enough to the magic in the air to know that youre exhaling far too much of it to be absorbing a lot. In fact, compared to most of the first-tier guards I saw back in Teira, I would estimate youre absorbing about half as much as you should be. Trying to advance up the tiers of magic with such a weak foundation is like trying to build on sand. Not impossible, but prohibitively difficult.

And this breathing technique will help?VSit no(v)3lb/!n(.)cm for new ovl

Yes, but youll have to work at it. I wont force you to do anything, but I would recommend a few hours of meditation while performing these breathing exercises every night. This wont cover all of that ground by the time we reach the capital, but Im guessing that after a few months, youll make up that difference, and be able to concentrate on ascending to the second-tier much easier, possibly within the next year or two.

Charles was a little stunned. As a commoner, he never thought he would reach the second-tier before he turned thirty, if ever, and the third-tier was unthinkable! If he was honest with himself, he was going along with Leon to enroll in the Knight Academy more as a way keep himself fed for a few more months while moving to the capital, where there ought to be more opportunities for him. He never expected that he would even be able to graduate! But, if what Leon was saying was true, then it just might be possible.

Please, I welcome any insight you may have!

Alright then. What you need to do sounds fairly easy but maintaining it for hours can be a very hard thing to do, so do your best. First, I find it easier to sit up. My father said it doesnt really matter how you relax, as long as you actually relax, but I find that laying down can lead to sleep far too easily. So, I sit up when I meditate.

Charles immediately sat up, following Leons instructions.

Alright, now breathe slowly. Inhale and exhale with purpose, dont just let your body breathe naturally. After you inhale, hold it for just a second, then exhale. Inhale, hold, then exhale.

Charles closed his eyes and breathed.

Good. After a while, you should feel a warmth in your chest. This is your lungs absorbing the magic in the air. A little while later, that warmth will spread throughout your body, after the magic is fused with your blood. Over the next few weeks, you should slowly increase the amount of time that you hold your breath, and your lungs will grow more efficient at absorbing magic.

Is there anything more to it? Is it just that simple?

Yes. Well, it is for you.

What is that supposed to mean?

There are some techniques in manipulating mana that might help others, but for someone like you who is just reinforcing their own foundation, the breathing exercises will do just fine. Besides, anything I might show you could create some bad habits for when youre learning your chosen element.

I see Charles didnt quite understand, but he took Leon at his word that the breathing exercises will be all he needs. So, he sat and controlled his breathing. Leon watched Charles for a little while before drifting off to sleep.

When they woke up the next morning, Charles felt incredible. He was bursting with energy and felt like he could run all the way to the capital before lunch.

Youve absorbed more magic than your body is used to, so its no surprise youre feeling good, Leon remarked dryly

Wow! This is amazing! If all the nobles have been doing that for years, no wonder they grow so fast!

And with some diligence, youll be just as strong as them.

Ha ha! Thank you, buddy! Charles spoke directly from the heart. Leon wasnt what anyone would call friendly, but in less than a week, hed saved Charles from those thugs, helped him come to a decision about his future, and even given him such a powerful gift!

Leon was a little embarrassed at Charles abject gratitude and his face turned a little red. Charles almost looked like he was about to run over and give him a hug, but he abstained, much to Leons relief.

The two happily ate breakfast, despite it being nothing but a few chunks of dried meat, then set back off on their journey south.

Chapter end