Chapter 5: The Beginning Of Magic (2)
Chapter 5: The Beginning Of Magic (2)
Chapter 5: The Beginning Of Magic (2)
He frolicked without a care in the world.
Despite his mental age exceeding 30, he played with the innocence of a child.
It appeared that as his body regressed in age, so did his mind.
Nevertheless, he gained much from this experience.
The world, as seen through a childs eyes, held a freedom beyond anyone elses imagination.
The sensation of grass against his skin, the wind caressing his cheek.
Every action he took filled his heart with joy, and everything he saw delighted him.
It was as if he was reclaiming something he had lost in his weary existence.
His mother watched him silently from her chair.
This joyful time lasted half a day.
Upon returning home with his mother, Ray immediately channeled the mana within his body.
Clean.
Shortly after the incantation, his sweaty body was in peak condition.
His Mana Road was exceptionally broad and robust, allowing him to expel waste products at will.
Ray himself was unaware, but the Clean spell was something only a 3-circle user could typically use.
However, his Mana Road, unusually wide for a human, defied common sense.
As an exceptional case, free from the constraints of circles, he could perform such feats.
This is incredibly handy. But what happens if I use it when Im not dirty? Clean.
Mana enveloped his body once more, but no significant changes were evident.
Ill need to investigate this further.
Understanding his own power was a crucial matter.
The systematic knowledge and experiences would serve as invaluable data for him when using more advanced spells.
After all, isnt it said that when knowledge and skill combine, one becomes a master?
When it comes to acquiring such knowledge, theres nothing better than a mentor to guide you.
Of course, it has to be mom.
When Ray considered choosing such a mentor, he thought of Saein without a second thought.
When Ray asked Saein to teach him magic, she was thrilled.
She nodded her head in agreement with a smile.
Pre-study is a very good habit. First, magic is like this, Fire.
As Saein spoke, she flicked her fingers.
A small flame appeared on top of her fingers.
She looked proudly at her son, expecting him to be amazed, but Ray didnt show any particular reaction.
That was because he could do it too.
Huh? Youre not surprised? Look, fire, fire.
Instead, Saein was the one who was surprised.
The only magic Ray knew was the healing magic he used.
That was why she deliberately chose a visually impressive fire spell, but Ray didnt blink an eye.
Oh, its fire.
Pretending to be amazed while awkwardly clapping, he felt a slight disconnect.
However, Saein quickly adapted.
Its strange. My son has always been strange.
She muttered softly as she continued to explain.
Magic is about converting mana, using an incantation, and then performing a small gesture that acts as the trigger.
But when it comes to converting mana, it feels like its going to disintegrate at any moment if I try to convert it in a different way. Whats wrong?
Saein tilted her head at Rays question.
It was as if he was asking questions about the part where he got stuck while using magic.
But no matter how you looked at it, her son had just turned three years old.
The idea that he could use magic was far too exaggerated.
Hmm Using a different method of conversion?
For instance, with the fire spell I just used, there are three conversions involved, right? Heating the mana, drawing in the mana to be combusted, and applying friction. If you use a single conversion instead of three, it shortens the casting time and simplifies the process. But when you try to do that, the mana just disperses.
Saeins mouth dropped open at Rays relentless stream of words.
The topic Ray was discussing was often debated in magical academies.
But since it was practically impossible, it remained an idealistic theory.
Saein scratched her head at this overly high-level conversation with a three-year-old.
How could she explain this? The questions were those of a young child, but they were as complicated and challenging as debating with a scholar.
Frankly, she didnt know the answer.
But she had just begun teaching him magic, and answering I dont know from the start would hurt her pride as a teacher.
I cant let that happen. The first words from a teacher cant be I dont know!
Reducing three phenomena to one is impossible. Hmm But if you could bundle the three phenomena together and then stabilize it, maybe it would be possible?
Her answer ended in a question because she was unsure herself.
Even the royal courts chief sorcerer, considered the best in the kingdom, snorted at this impossible idealistic theory.
Hmm Stabilize it
Ray fell deep in thought at Saeins answer, which was basically an admission of not knowing.
If you add one attribute to the completed shape of the mana that has gone through the three conversions, would that work?
This realization was possible thanks to his modern-day memories.
For example, hot gas particles and the energy released when fire burns are different.
If you can stabilize the shape of the mana that has gone through the three conversions
Ray moved the mana and spread his hands wide.
Fwoosh-
Flames erupted from Rays outstretched hand.
Saein was extremely surprised to see that.
Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest seeing Ray using magic.
But what surprised her even more was the fact that she didnt know until the magic manifested.
Usually, before magic manifests, you can feel the flow and nature of the mana.
So, during battle, a magicians top priority is to scatter the mana here and there to hide what kind of magic is manifesting.
Hiding the manifesting magic is so sacred that it can be considered a secret tradition of noble families.
But Saein, who was sensitive enough to see through the secret traditions of those noble families to some extent, didnt notice the magic until it happened.
In a real battle, that could have meant death.
Saein couldnt suppress the shiver that ran down her spine.
Her son wasnt peculiar.
All the actions she had previously found strange were merely her misinterpretations.
Ray is a prodigy.