Ren pondered every line deeply while looking at the status page. Then he asked, System, the talents and skills part I understand, but what is 'innate magic'?
[Wizards can do magic, but there are some wizards with special magical abilities, which cannot be mimicked by spells. These abilities are called Innate Magic. Innate magic can be due to bloodline, or something the wizard is born with, or acquired by rituals, etc.]
[The Animagus transformation ability is an Innate Magic, acquired with the Animagus Ritual. Parseltongue is an Innate Magic, passed down in some bloodlines like Slytherin's. Even the Dumbledore family's natural affinity with phoenixes, though not an ability, is a kind of bloodline Innate Magic.]
[Is that a clear enough explanation, host?]
Yeah, I understand now, system. Now, can you tell me how I have those two skills?
[Due to your Eternal Zen talent, your mind is at the peak of what a mind can be. The extreme danger that you were put under during your ceremony forced you to unlock the latent potential of your mind, leading to expanded senses and accelerated thought.]
[These two were listed under skills in the system because you can access these states at will now, though they will exhaust you mentally as you use them.]
Very well. I believe these skills will help me a lot in the future. Alright then, open the starter pack, system. I am excited to see what I get.
[Opening starter pack, host!]
[Gains are the following - Firstly, Talent : Magic evolved to Talent : Buddha Core, and secondly, gained Talent : Comprehension]
[Please check status for descriptions]
Open status.
--
Host : Ren Alaric, Still Depths
Talents : Buddha Core, Eternal Zen, Comprehension
Skills : Greater Sense, Mind Speed
Innate Magic : None
-
Talent : Buddha Core
Type : Bloodline/Spiritual
Description : You have extremely high levels of magic power, which means powerful spells, and near-unlimited magical stamina. And your magic power has a powerful affinity with righteousness, light, wisdom and strength.
-
Talent : Comprehension
Type : Mental
Description : The talent to comprehend any technique, subject, spell, etc. at a glance. The intricacies of knowledge are your playground.
--
Wow, this is overpowered.
---
Ren stood before Elder Jingjun, the martial arts instructor of the Quiet Palm Monastery. They were in the training grounds of the monastery, surrounded by numerous monks doing their daily exercises, practicing techniques, or sparring.
The Monastery Of The Quiet Palm was a Shaolin monastery, so the monks here were practitioners of not only compassion and tranquility, but also discipline and strength. Shaolin monks were famous around the world for their martial arts. And now as Ren was an official monk of the monastery, he was starting his training in those martial arts.
"Jingyuan, today you will start learning the Shaolin martial arts" said Elder Jingjun in his deep, serious voice. "But before that, you need to know what this entire system is based on. I want you to never forget what I say next, as this knowledge is the foundation and the essence of the art of the warrior monks."
Ren nodded seriously.
"Very well. The first thing you need to know is that monks do not practice martial arts for fighting. It is, to an extent, a form of self-defense, but more importantly, martial arts are physical meditation for us. Every breath, every form, every punch, every movement of martial arts is at its essence, a way for us to temper out mind and our body."
"So remember this, Jingyuan. Whenever you fight, or whenever you practice a technique, you are to be as calm as you are during you meditation, and every movement should have a purpose that aligns with your path and you heart. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Good. Now there are three pillars of the Shaolin martial arts. First, Stillness, which means that the mind should be, in all situations, as calm as still waters. Second, Skill, which means every movement must come from a specific internal intention, and should be externally executed in the most optimal way to fulfill that intention. And third, Knowledge, which means that you should be fully aware of what is in your body, and how to best improve it, and how to best use it."
"We practice stillness by meditating, either in a relaxed state or while holding a stance. We practice skills by learning them, then executing them, then executing them in the most unfavorable scenarios possible. And we have the knowledge of our muscles, bones, tendons and joints, and the knowledge of medicine to heal, stimulate and help grow our body."
"And most importantly, you must have discipline. Every single day the sun rises, you must rise and practice as well. You will calmly face all pain and grow from it. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Elder."
And thus, Ren's training began.
At first, he was not allowed to learn martial arts. Instead, he was to condition his body. His daily exercises started at dawn. They included running down and up the monastery mountain with buckets of water, then holding different stances for increasing periods of time. After that, he would do various weighted and non-weighted exercises to strengthen his body. Then there were different balance and movement exercises.
The entire routine ended as the sun went down, after which Ren would soak in a medicinal bath to relieve soreness, and get the best benefit from the day's efforts. After that
And as night would fall, Ren would sit down at his usual spot in the prayer hall to meditate for the entire night.
And like this, Ren performed this routine every day for the next one year.