"Wow," Kurt murmured, his voice barely a whisper, as the implications of what he was reading sank in. The knowledge he had uncovered in the library had taken a long turn, revealing the intricate and demanding process by which nobles learned to wield Astra.
He learned that the journey to becoming an Astra wielder was a long and arduous one, beginning with years of rigorous physical training. Nobles underwent grueling exercises, pushing their bodies to their limits, building strength and endurance. This, he discovered, was not merely a matter of tradition or discipline; it was a necessity. The raw power of the divine weapons was immense, and only those with exceptional physical fortitude could hope to withstand the strain.
But physical strength alone was not enough. The true key to wielding Astra weapons lay in what the texts called the "core." Every human possessed a core, a wellspring of inner energy that, when properly unlocked, could channel the power of the gods.
The most crucial step in a noble's training was the unlocking of this core. This was not something that could be achieved through self-study or willpower alone. It required a master, a skilled and experienced Astra wielder, to guide the student, to unlock the pathways, the channels, that connected their core to the divine energy.
The texts explained that the skill and power of the master directly influenced the potential of the student. A powerful and skillful master could unlock more channels within a student's core, allowing them to draw upon a greater amount of energy and wield more potent Astra weapons. A weak or unskilled master, on the other hand, could leave a student with limited potential, forever restricted in their ability to access the full power of the gods.
However, the texts also offered a glimmer of hope. It was possible, though incredibly difficult, for an individual whose core had been unlocked by a weak master to unlock the remaining channels on their own, through years of dedicated training and unwavering discipline. It was a path fraught with peril, requiring an almost superhuman level of focus and determination, but it was not impossible.
Kurt's mind raced. He finally understood why he could summon the weapons but not control them. His core was locked, dormant. He had somehow bypassed the first step, the summoning itself, but he lacked the fundamental connection to the power source.
He also understood the social chasm that separated him from his goal. Only nobles had access to Astra masters. Only they were deemed worthy of receiving this sacred knowledge, this divine gift.
"So," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of frustration and grim determination. "I need a master. But only nobles get masters."
The unfairness of it all, the sheer impossibility of his situation, threatened to crush his spirit. But the fire that had been ignited within him, the burning desire to understand his origins and his powers, refused to be extinguished.
He had to find a way. He had to find a master. Even if it meant defying the laws of Eldoria, even if it meant facing the wrath of the nobility, he would find a way to unlock his core and claim his destiny.