Chapitre 16: Mana

Eden's bare foot dipped into the cool lake, sending a shiver up his spine. The vastness of the water stretched before him, the gentle lapping of the waves against his foot a quiet reminder of how small he was in this world.

He closed his eyes beneath the blindfold, took a deep breath, and let his thoughts drift. What is mana?

According to Mysty; Mana is fuel to magic, but that explanation had never truly made sense to him. Yet there was something deep inside him, something aching to understand, to feel it, to grasp this new world at its very core.

"I can do it" Eden mutters, Without another thought, Eden took a step forward—and another—until the water rose to his chest. He paused, steadying his breath, then let himself sink.

The cold was immediate, wrapping around him like a thousand icy fingers, numbing his skin yet oddly comforting, like a whisper coaxing him to let go. He floated there, suspended in the darkness, the weight of the water pressing against him, pulling him deeper into the silence. He couldn't see, couldn't hear. He was completely alone.

And in that stillness, something stirred.

At first, it was so faint he almost didn't notice—a delicate thread woven into the air. But as Eden relaxed, letting his mind drift, he began to feel it more. It was like air, but heavier, more alive. It had a pulse, a rhythm, a deep hum that resonated around him.

This is mana, he realized, though he struggled to find words for the sensation. It was something he felt more than understood—vast, ancient, and beyond simple description. In the depths of the lake, surrounded by silence, he felt the mana flowing around him, through him, as though he were part of something much larger than himself.

A sense of peace settled over him. After days of struggle, of searching for something he couldn't even name, he had finally found it. This world, this life—it was alive with mana, and now, so was he. He was connected to it, his breath and the world around him one.

With newfound purpose, Eden pushed himself upward. His arms cut through the water as he swam back toward the surface, his heart racing with a strange excitement.

Breaking through the surface, he gasped for air, the cool breeze kissing his skin. The lake rippled around him, the world suddenly bright and alive again.

He felt... accomplished. After two whole days of searching, he had found what he needed.

But his journey was far from over. Standing on solid ground, he refocused, trying to sense the mana in the air. It was subtler here, lighter, almost like it drifted with the breeze. Compared to the dense, tangible flow of mana in the lake, the air's mana felt like a faint whisper, a delicate presence that teased his senses. It took more effort to grasp, to hold onto it.

So water has a higher density of mana than land, he thought, marveling at the contrast. The lake had felt so alive, so different, and now he understood why.

With a spark of curiosity, Eden reached down and pulled the magic book from the ground. Flipping to the next page, he eagerly scanned the instructions.

The text was simple but profound:

If you can start sensing mana, then congratulations—you have the potential to become a mage.

Eden felt a flicker of pride. He had come this far, but the next words made him pause.

Next, you should keep this in mind: everyone has a mana capacity. Think of it like a bowl full of water. Each time you use mana, you're draining the water from the bowl. If you use too much mana, you risk fainting. And if you absorb too much at once, your mana core might be damaged.

The warning was clear, and Eden made a mental note. Mana wasn't limitless. It was a resource, one to be used with caution.

He continued reading, his fingers tracing the faded ink on the page.

Now, you should learn basic magic, starting with water bending. It's a simple skill but requires a high level of focus. Begin by releasing your mana into the water around you, then attempt to control that water.

Eden's gaze shifted back to the lake. His first lesson in magic was right before him.

He extended his hand toward the water, taking a slow, steadying breath. Release the mana, he thought, willing the energy within him to flow outward, to connect with the water. At first, nothing happened. The surface remained still, unaffected by his attempts.

But Eden didn't give up. He focused harder, reaching deep into that strange feeling of energy he'd sensed underwater. Slowly, he felt something shift—a faint current of mana moving from within him, weaving into the water.

The surface rippled in response.

For a moment, Eden's heart leapt. He'd done it. He'd made the connection. But as he tried to push further, to move the water, he ran into a new problem.

The water simply... sat there. It shimmered softly, but it didn't obey him. Eden pushed harder, extending more mana, but the water resisted, as though refusing to be controlled.

I can sense it, but I can't control it, Eden thought with growing frustration. The book made it sound simple.

Another troubling thought crossed his mind—one he had overlooked in his excitement. How do I refill my mana? He could feel it in the world around him, but it was distant, elusive. He had no idea how to draw it in, to replenish his strength.

He stared at the rippling water, both amazed and humbled. This wasn't going to be easy. The road to mastering magic stretched far ahead of him, and right now, he was only at the very beginning.

But with a deep breath, he clenched his fists, a quiet resolve hardening within him. He would figure this out, no matter how long it took. For now, he would practice, trying to understand the flow of mana, hoping that in time, control—and the knowledge to replenish it—would come. He had to start somewhere.

Eden tightened his grip around the book, his eyes bright with determination. This was his journey. He wouldn't stop now.

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