"Mastery of the path, in its most literal sense, allows a mage to perform higher-tier magic and combine two or more houses to unleash more potent and destructive spells. There are intricacies involved, which we will delve into when the time is right. Let me explain how the Mastery of the path works."

Ittya nodded, listening intently,

"Luminance is stored within our spine. Through meditation or the consumption of specific resources, we can increase the capacity of our luminance pool. Do you follow so far?"

"Yes," Ittya replied, making a mental note of the possibility to increase her luminance pool. She had been concerned about its diminished state after enduring the torment of the Heishin Altar.

"Mastery of the path, in the most literal sense, allows a mage to perform higher-tier magic by assimilating two or more houses. It enables the use of more complex and destructive spells. However, there are intricacies involved that we will discuss in detail as we encounter them. Allow me to explain how mastery of the path works," Gisella began, and Ittya nodded, attentive and curious.

"Luminance is stored within our spines. We can increase the amount of Luminance we can hold through meditation or by consuming specific resources. Do you understand so far?" Gisella asked, making sure Ittya was following along.

"Yes," Ittya replied, making a mental note that there were ways to increase her luminance pool. She had been concerned about its reduced capacity after enduring the tortures of the Heishin Altar.

"But if it were that simple, anyone with enough wealth to purchase resources would always be the strongest. The world cannot function in such an imbalanced manner. That is why we encounter a natural limitation, a higher ceiling of Luminance. Beyond this threshold, we need a deeper understanding of the houses, ourselves, and the celestial bodies we follow in order to ascend to the next stage. By doing so, we extend our threshold and continue the process of cultivation," Gisella explained, gesturing with her hand to form a smoky representation of a human spine.

Gisella gestured with her hand, conjuring a smoky form of a human spine to illustrate her explanation.

"The human spine is made up of 33 individual bones called vertebrae. Each one is a separate vessel to hold the Luminance. Out of the 33, the four smallest form the tailbone, which holds the least amount of Luminance that even non-mages possess," Gisella explained, as if waiting for Ittya to ask something obvious.

"What happens if a mage in the heat of battle uses even that?" Ittya asked, Gisella’s expression told her it was not a very bright question.

"No, a human never really taps into that part. It is disconnected from our sensory perception. Only a handful of specific spells can forcefully tap into those reserves, and every spell results in death. There are no exceptions," Gisella replied.

"It's a desperate last attempt, then," Ittya remarked.

"Yes. After that, there are five sacrum fused vertebrae. That is all a human needs to be born with in order to have a future as a mage. When all 33 vertebrae are filled with the flow of Luminance, you are ready to ascend to the next stage. During the process of ascendance, we condense our Luminance into the sacrum again, emptying the other parts. And the process repeats. The system we follow has nine stages of mastery. You are currently in the first stage, known as Neophyte. After that comes Cognoscenti, which will be your goal. However, the path to reaching that stage will come after you have learned the basics of spellcasting."

"Am I learning spellcasting right now? Wouldn't that take a lot of time? Shouldn't we first leave for a better settlement with food, without morbid beasts all around?"

"Yes, you will learn now and practice for the rest of the day. Sleep, and we will leave at dawn. The destination is something we should discuss first. I doubt that after spellcasting, you will be capable of talking," her teacher said with a smile that sent shivers down Ittya's spine. She gulped, wondering what kind of training her master was referring to.

Gisella settled back on the sofa, the cushions were not the most comfortable Ittya had ever sat on, but they were bearable.

"How much do you know about our current location? This place doesn't hold any records regarding the cursed forest or any other documentation. It makes me wonder if they cleared all the records along with the documentation of the tests conducted on the altar," Gisella pondered.

"What kind of test?" Ittya asked, feeling lost and trying to catch up.

"Do you believe that something of this caliber could have been created without years of tweaking and recreating circles? And analyzing the results from every change until they arrived at the perfect circle that held you, even if it does have flaws. Most likely, they didn't even notice those flaws," Gisella explained.

"I think we should discuss where to go," Ittya suggested.

"You're right," Gisella agreed.

"I do know something about this place. I'm not sure if it's correct or not, but we are in the Cursed Forest of Youling. The Youling clan used to inhabit the entirety of the Youling forest. They were a vassal state of the Vritra Imperium, where I come from. A long time ago, they performed some kind of forbidden ritual that caused the Youling forest to transform into the cursed forest. As a result, they were exiled from our nation. I've heard rumors that they have become bloodthirsty savages," Ittya shared.

"For someone who seems lacking in many areas, you certainly know a lot about this place. Why?" Gisella inquired.

"My caretaker always talked about this topic, and even the teachers at the academy mentioned it," Ittya replied.

"This forest is indeed cursed, that much is confirmed. What do you know about the Youling clan? And on another note, have you ever seen a map detailing the territory around your kingdom?" Gisella inquired.

"No, but if we go west from here, we will arrive at the Youling clan's settlement. And to the east would be my home," Ittya replied, although not sounding very confident.

"Are you sure?" Gisella pressed.

"Yes," Ittya answered, but her tone betrayed her lack of certainty.

"Any particular reason?" Gisella probed further.

"The sun sets in that direction from my home. The sun sets where the Shadow Clan hides. I was always told," Ittya explained.

"Interesting. So we go east?" Gisella summarized.

"Yes, I believe there is still one person in that kingdom whom I can trust. Or at least, I would like to believe so," Ittya admitted.

"Who is that person? I mean, how much power do they have in the Imperium?" Gisella questioned.

"I don't know. But she must hold a very high status, for she came to meet me once every month. She didn't talk much about anything. We would have dinner together, and then she would leave. I asked her once why she came to my house, and her answer was, 'I must see the well-being of my Queen.' I still remember that she didn't have fake eyes like everyone else. There was only one other person who could do meet me, and he held the status in court to sentence me here," Ittya shared her recollections.

"Hmm... now the story is getting interesting," Gisella commented as if she was reading a story. "Still, you know nothing about her, and considering the size of your kingdom, finding a single person will most likely be impossible. We should first consider visiting the Youling clan."

"What? Why? They are the enemy," Ittya protested.

"Are they? Even if they are, both sides are our enemies. We are uncertain about one side being the enemy, but your kingdom definitely is. And what about any other places on the border of this forest?" Gisella challenged.

"I don't know," Ittya admitted.

"Then we go to the Youling clan. Even if they are the enemy, they hold no grudge against you. If you want to reclaim your kingdom, you must learn to persuade others to join your cause. Yes, this will be your first task. You need to understand the conflict between the Youling clan and your kingdom and convince them to aid you," Gisella stated calmly.

"I know this is never going to happen, but if this is what you think I must do..." Ittya reluctantly agreed.

"One weak person alone can never bring a kingdom to its knees. You must reclaim your kingdom, and to do that, you must have strong supporters around you. Commanders to lead your army, advisers for the court, and ritualists for the nation. And you must have trusted individuals by your side. Without them, there is only so far you can go. For now, we will go to the Youling clan to seek aid. Of course, they will have the upper hand in the negotiation. A promise of a seat in the royal court should suffice. If that fails, we will think of something else," Gisella explained.

"I will have to negotiate? I thought my master would be well-versed in these kinds of things," Ittya expressed her concern.

"It is you who must work to take back your kingdom, dear. I desire no part in any tiring process... should you impress me, I might help you once. I have only given you one offer, and that is to learn from me," Gisella replied, tapping her forehead. Ittya felt her head becoming heavy, as if a weight was placed upon her.

"Then I shall do it. To the Youling clan we go. But what if they kill us on the spot?" Ittya asked, her worry evident.

"That is something we should have an alternative plan for. Hence, I will teach you spellcasting, or Illumination, as the Radiance would call it," Gisella revealed.

She stood up, walked around, and positioned herself right behind Ittya. Ittya remained standing, following Gisella's gesture to stay still.

"I have a feeling this will not feel good," Ittya commented.

"No, dear. This will feel very, so very painful. But I trust that you have the tolerance level to learn it. The other option would take at least a month for you to cast a spell, and we don't have that much time," Gisella explained.

Ittya nodded, feeling a mixture of anxiety and determination. "What should I do?" she asked,

"Close your eyes. Clear your mind of all thoughts. Imagine an empty space. Stay perfectly still, no matter what you feel," Gisella instructed, her voice sounding distant as if speaking from a distance. She placed her palm on Ittya's ears, creating a sense of confinement. Then, her thumbs pressed against Ittya's temples.

"It is a pain that I must inflict upon you. Do you agree to bear it and not blame me for whatever you feel?" Gisella asked, seeking Ittya's consent.

Ittya hesitated for a moment, unsure of what she was agreeing to. It felt unnatural, even otherworldly. But she understood that it was a necessary part of learning spellcraft. "Yes," Ittya replied, her voice containing a hint of uncertainty. She chose not to ask for an explanation, believing it to be unimportant in the context of learning the spell.

"Very well," Gisella whispered. "Follow my words."

Ittya felt a cold sensation from Gisella's hand. She tried to imagine a vast space, but struggled to determine what kind of space it should be. Gisella continued guiding her, "Imagine a garden, vast as far as your eyes can see. There is a path clearing through the grass on either side. As you walk along the path, you see no destination. The high sun shines directly above your head."

Ittya immersed herself in the visualization, trying her best to follow Gisella's instructions.