A couple of days had passed since Kron had mentioned the others joining the next assessment for Pagna Academy. They had one every year, meant for those who had turned sixteen.
However, technically, anyone who was already a Stage 1 Pagna warrior could apply, especially those with a recommendation, and that recommendation had come from Elder Yon and Kron.
Either one of them seemed to have a connection to the academy, but judging by their words, it was also clear that the help would only go so far. They were on their own from there.
Right now, the three of them were traveling via a carriage, heading to the Pagna Academy. Sitting in the back, both Safa and Simyon were reading books in their hands, and as they went over a large bump, Simyon nearly went flying out of the carriage along with the book.
"Man, this stuff, how are we meant to learn it just from reading? We don't even have time to practice any of this stuff?" Simyon complained. "I mean, I'm grateful that the Red Brigade Clan was willing to share their skill books with us even though we aren't members, but aren't we at a big disadvantage?"
Raze knew why Simyon believed this. Even the Red Brigade Clan members had been learning a wide variety of skills to be used with their cultivation powers. Although they were all 1st stage Pagna warriors, the only skill they all knew was the two-step shift, while others knew a wide range of skills they could use. Hence, they were clearly at a disadvantage in this whole thing.
"Ah man, I can see it already, we'll be treated as laughingstocks, the no-names, with no skills, no talent, and no love."
The last comment raised an eyebrow from Safa. She felt like the matters were unrelated.
"Hey," Raze said. "We do have a name, remember it."
"Sorry," Simyon replied. He knew that Raze was serious about the name thing from before, but it was hard to change habits. Nearly their whole life, they had been told that they were practically nothing. "Hey, are you going to try to learn any of these techniques in here by any chance?"
Raze had a flick through the books, and he had actually tested one of the skills, but when combining the Qi energy he had obtained in his body and the Red Clan skills, it didn't feel as if it was at its full potential. It was somewhat like casting a wind-type magic spell using dark magic.
In some cases, it could work, but the effectiveness or the design of the spell to be used wasn't for that purpose, causing it to be less than subpar.
'Is this what Kron talked about? How different Qi energy can be used to profit from all types of martial arts, but skills were designed with a specific type of Qi energy in mind? So if the type of Qi energy I have isn't dark, then what is it?'
Raze had managed to do some research. There were multiple Qi gathering techniques, not just those that belonged to the Dark, Light, and Demonic factions. There were also what were known as neutral techniques.
However, even within the factions, there were cultivation techniques that could cross borders, allowing effectiveness in maybe light and dark skills, but the number of skills available for these were next to none.
At the same time, with the Light faction and Dark faction feeling as if they were polar opposites, there would be many who would attack the other just for using skills or energy that were similar.
"Light fighting dark, what type of childish thing is this?" Raze said out loud without thinking about it. "I don't want to waste my time on techniques that aren't the best for me. I would suggest for both of you to do the same as well. Simyon, you have a strong body, so try to find skills that would bring out this more.
Safa, we don't know if you will be skilled in the bow, the blade, the spear, or your hands. I would figure this out first before you try to learn skills."
Simyon was biting his tongue; he wanted to ask something but was stopping himself from doing so. Instead, he decided to place his head down and continue to read the book. Although he had no time to practice, at least he could visualize.
"Go on," Raze said. "What did you want to ask?"
"You could tell?" Simyon replied.
"Well, with all the sighing, and opening your mouth, closing it, and looking away, I think I would have to have been blind not to know."
Closing the book, Simyon wanted to make it clear that he thought this was quite important.
"I will only ask this once, and then I'll never bother you again after this, I promise," Simyon asked. "About Mag-"
"No," Raze replied straight away. "The more you know, the more you will want to learn and then rely on it. It will be harder for you to improve as a warrior, and besides, it is a dangerous thing. I would rather you not get involved in any of that. Just think about it, if you knew how to use both, then you would have to study both as well, and you're having much trouble just studying this as it is."
The sound of the horses screaming was followed by the carriage coming to a sudden stop. The three of them jolted, nearly falling on top of each other.
"What the, are we here?" Simyon asked.
Safa was shaking her head. The journey was a long one, and although they had been traveling for a while now, they still had a few hours before they would reach their destination.
Peeking out the window, she could see that they were still in the middle of the forest.
This was when Simyon decided to stick his head out of the window; he could see their driver running right past the window as if he was trying to break a world record. Something had startled him.