Just like that for the next few days Kleos was learning about the different applications of magic and how it worked. The most important thing that he found out was that mana hearts could reach new stages; rather, they had the ability to unlock new layers.
The way to it, as Adam had mentioned, was as effective as it was dumb; all he had to do was kill and absorb the hearts of monsters. With enough monsters absorbed, his heart would overload and create a new, more dense layer. The highest achievable layer was nine. Nine layers of mana, which expanded from the heart. But each layer took more and more hearts to be able to expand. The thing was that all humans had a different limit of hearts they could absorb before their heart would overload and create a new layer, as well as a different multiplication level (the amount of which each layer would increase by). For example if the first layer were to be 100, the second might've needed 200, 300, or even 400. Though usually the multiplication level would rarely even be 2. And would most likely sit at around 1.7.
Which is quite the weird number. There are no patterns in this world. It's quite imperfect if you ask me. Though I wonder what mine is. The average first layer requires around 100-200 hearts. I feel like mine will be more since I am of the royal bloodline; those people usually have a lot of talent. Also, I've consumed around 50 hearts total, some of which have been yellow hearts, so that means double points. If I had to guess, I'm around 70. Which is apparently dangerous. And I might go boom.
The other thing Kleos had done was patrol at night with the village's hunter. Though there had been barely any progress done there. Since the old guy would just take out his bow every once in a while to shoot at the monsters trying to attack the town. Which was quite a rare occurrence. Around once a night.
It was quite underwhelming since Kleos, while he was now somewhat capable of holding a bow. The old hunter was not teaching him at all. Barely even paying attention to Kleos.
Still, Kleos wasn't one to complain and still waited for some guidance from the hunter. Though that never arrived throughout the whole week. And tonight wasn't going to be any different.
"Hey, finish that history book you're reading and stop dazing off into the distance." "Yelled Adam from the kitchen, where all kinds of noises were currently going off, like sizzling and a few curse words from what Kleos could only assume were because of the hot oil splashing on the cook.
"You aren't even looking at me. How do you know that I was dazing off into the distance?" Replied Kleos while moving his head towards the direction of Adam and back into the book with his eyes squinted a little bit and his mouth agape.
"I don't have to be looking at you to know what you are up to, brat. I also have ears and can hear the difference in your breathing patterns. It changes when you start reading."
"HUH? What do you mean my breathing changes? What kind of ears do you have?"
"The good kind. Now stop sassing around and finish reading. Then Imma feed you, and you are gonna go and do your nightly patrols."
Soon enough, with a lot of determination to finish the chapter quickly of his 'stupid history book,' he was at the dinner table consuming a salad with eggs. While Adam was eating a steak.
Adam was punishing Kleos for staring into the distance too much. Which Kleos had a few things to say about. But there wasn't much he could do except whine. Which did not in fact work on Adam.
After a while Kleos was running towards his meeting place with the old hunter. He was gonna be late, and knowing the damned hunter, he was going to berate Kleos and like Kleos a lot less. Which would not have been in his favor.
"Ha, sorry I'm late. How are you doing, sir?"
"You're late. Don't you understand what it means to be punctual? I'm only doing this because of your dad. Since he's a good person, but you suck quite a lot, don't you?"
Kleos had been hearing this hunter berate him the whole week. And his inner adult was holding him back from bursting out and was still trying to respect his elder. But even adults have a time where they break and begin to cross lines. But to be entirely honest, the old man had crossed multiple lines already. So Kleos was indeed not wrong.
"YOU FUCKING OLD MAN, I am only late by three goddamn minutes. So why the hell do you have to be such a FUUUCKING dick? You say you're doing this because of Adam, but it seems you don't respect him either. Since ALL you do is just fucking yapp about how you are doing him a favor. Like, dude, you don't even teach me anything. NO favor is being done."
Kleos was planning on continuing his yelling, but the old man seemed to be sweating and in genuine fear. That's when he realized that he had accidentally released his mana, all of which was containing his killing intent.
What the hell is this? Asked the old hunter in his mind how a child is able to release such killing intent. It almost feels like I'm about to be shot straight through the heart. Or have I already been shot? This child? Just how many people has he killed? How many souls have been given away to this being?
Before the old hunter realized it, he was on the ground, and Kleos was looking genuinely concerned straight at him.
Old man, are you ok?