The explanation on mana was long and cumbersome. Tiring even. Topics such as magic circles, different usage methods, element manipulation and creation, flow, absorption through minerals and plants and living beings flew by faster than Kumi would have liked.
At present all she needed to know about was absorption and flow so Ayaka had skimmed over a few small and complicated parts.
Mana is an all-encompassing phenomenon. More dense in some places compared to others. More volatile, more deadly and more efficient as well. mana had many properties that distinguished it from any other source of energy and power such as its abundance and the amount of concrete information on it.
Although mana is something that exists almost everywhere, there is not much known about it. Where it comes from and what are its limits are two questions that are still being debated. It undoubtedly has a connection to the System that every living being possesses but the strength of that connection is unknown.
If there were a place with no mana, would creatures born there have a System? Would creatures that thrive off mana survive there and for how long? Would they lose their abilities, System related or not? What causes the different densities of mana in different locations? Is it related to the planet and surrounding stars or something else?
Mana is a topic many study but one that has yet to be mastered.
Now, explaining all this to Kumi is unmistakably a hard task since she is, at the end of the day, viewed as a child.
Ayaka did not understand that quite well.
"So those are the main theories about mana. There are some that mention mythical creatures and the effect they might have on mana because of their sheer might and power. Creatures like Dragons, Unicorns, Phoenixes and so on. But no human has documented a sighting of any of these creatures or similarly powerful ones in the last two decades."
'Hmm. Yes. Good story. Great lore there Ayaka. I've been holding this pink ball of mana for 40 minutes.'
"So moving on from most mana-related theories, let us now talk about practical uses such as the monster core you are holding."
'Yes. That would be nice... Took you long enough didn't it?'
Kumi commented in her mind as she looked from the weirdly talkative Ayaka to the orb in her hands.
"Now first try to learn what mana feels like. It's different for most people on how to learn it but it isn't very difficult so I'll give you some time on your own before giving a hint or two."
Kumi glanced at her before closing her eyes and concentrating.
"Learning on your own is much more effective than getting the answer from an outside source. Even if it is much more frustrating. Focus on yourself first."
'Already doing that chief.'
Kumi focused on her idea of mana.
'A source of energy as abundant as air. A liquid gas flow that gives and takes. A thing to be manipulated. A source of power. Mana.'
She focused on each part of her body, every now and then getting a glimpse of something moving. A feeling.
'Similar to air. Carried by blood?'
She thought as she started focusing on her inner organs.
'No. Not carried by blood. Different. Its response time is faster.'
Moving from her lungs to her heart. A small feeling escaped from her in a mere.
'Faster.'
Back to her organs. She missed it again.
'Faster.'
Following the feeling, she reached her brain where she could finally feel it in its entirety.
'Ah. So similar to a nervous system but also different. I don't feel like it's connected to the brain. It doesn't take orders from there. It's not based on choice and control. It's more... Primal. An Instinct.'
She opened her eyes slightly as she could feel the mana inside her move. A blurry mist that she could barely make out in its entirety.
'Now that I'm focusing on it, it seems a lot slower. Huh. I guess it's the same as breathing. Focus on it and you'll need to do it manually.'
Kumi looked at Ayaka.
"Done? Already."
Kumi looked back at the orb.
'It's similar. No nervous system or any place where the mana can flow directly through. It's entirely free... just stuck? It's blurry.'
The feel of the orb in her hands was strange. It wasn't like a living being at all. More like just an existence. Like air.
"I'll take it that you feel it? Hmm. Alright. Let's move on to core absorption. I briefly mentioned it a while ago but cores have a small chance to increase properties. The Pink Core should help with you're Arcane if you are lucky, it should give a helpful hand in feeling mana."
Ayaka said, the words Pink Core sounding as if Kumi could forget the names of colours at any moment.
'Right.'
"Try to feel how mana moves through your body. Try to insert the mana from the core into the flow. Not all at once but slowly, like a constant flow, a river."
Following the instructions, Ayaka laid out along with some instinctual interference on her part, the mana in the orb was absorbed at a fast rate. Extremely fast even. The orb turned to dust in her hands, the dust then disappearing into the air, leaving nothing left.
"Oi!"
Ayaka yelled as she grabbed Kumi's hand and checked something.
"Okay. You're luckily alive... I said not to absorb it all at once!"
"didn't."
"What?"
"Did it on instinct."
After a moment, Kumi could hear Ayaka click her tongue and mutter quietly.
"Lucky races damn. Humans take like an hour or two for one weak orb, not even mentioning human kids."
Letting out a sigh, Ayaka asked.
"Well? Get any Property Increases?"
"Mmm. No?"
"Well, it's fine. Even a minor increase in each stat would probably be enough for now. Move on to the next one. I'll give you another exercise after you absorb every Arcane core. Okay?"
Ayaka asked as she handed Kumi another core.
Kumi nodded and took the core before concentrating on absorption.
...
Another pile of dust turned to nothing as mana from the core intertwined with the flow of Kumi's innate mana.
'Another one chews the dust.'
Kumi sighed in her head as she reached for the next one, concentrating on the mana inside of herself and inside of the orbs around her.
'It's less blurry.'
She thought as she patted down her clothes from the new pile of dust that was clinging to her.
A bubble appeared.
'Damn, Finally.'
She thought as the only group of orbs left at this point being the Agility cores. Kumi read the info bubble.
{Minor Increase In Endurance Property Gained}
'Last one too. Lucky Kumi over here aren't I? If only I could find what the difference was between regular cores and property-increasing cores, it would be so much more efficient~'
She thought as she looked over her Properties.
'Righty.'
{Name: Kumi
Gender: Female
Race: Angelic Devil
Rank: Mortal
Level: 1
Titles: Dragon Slayer, Demon Slayer, Hero Slayer, Empress's Heir, Calamity Killer, Celestial Lotus Host, Potential Shatterer
Potential: Z±
Properties:
Vigour: E- (100%)
Mana: F+ (100%)
Strength: F+
Agility: F+
Mind: F+
Endurance: E
Arcane: E-
Elements: Lightning, Curse, Rot
Passive Skills:
High Regeneration Level Max;
Free Footwork Level Max;
Brutal Strength Level Max;
Dragon Heart Level Max;
Growth Acceleration Level Max;
Highest Holy Blessing Level Max;
Highest Demonic Blessing Level Max;
Heavenly Demonic Pressure Level Max;
Unknown Level 2;
Caution Level 2;
Stamina Use Reduction Level 2;
Deep Sleep Level 1;
Training Level 2
Resistance Skills:
Time Magic Resistance Level 4;
Weakening Magic Resistance Level 4;
Space Magic Resistance Level 3;
Pain Resistance Level 4;
Heat Resistance Level 3;
Shock Resistance Level 4;
Water Magic Resistance Level 3;
Cold Resistance Level 3;
Bleeding Resistance Level 1;
Mana Loss Resistance Level 3;
Stamina Loss Resistance Level 2;
Health Loss Resistance Level 1
Active Skills:
Empress's Soul Sword Level 1;
Slash Level 1;
Elemental Power Increase Level 1;
Unreadable Illusion Level 2;
Preparation Level 1;
Preparatory Item Creation Level 2
Personality:
'Endurance has progressed nicely. If memory doesn't lie then Endurance increases physical defence, stamina, senses and some debuff resistances.'
Kumi stood up and walked to Ayaka before nudging on her sleeve.
The resting Ayaka opened her eyes before moving away a few metres and asking.
"You've completely absorbed the Endurance Cores now, yes?"
Receiving a silent nod, Ayaka got ready to spar after reminding Kumi of what to do after.
"Don't forget to document your results and fully read that book you have."
Kumi nodded as she closely observed Ayaka. This entire training session had been continuing for quite a while as Kumi took her time to learn and grow on her own.
Ayaka disappeared from her location and the light spar again. Kumi put up a good fight but as she learned how Ayaka fought, Ayaka learned how Kumi fought.
Sitting on the ground and slightly out of breath, Kumi did not have a single scar on her face thanks to her quick decisions and incredible prediction abilities and skill usage.
This didn't stop her from getting out of breath. Ayaka was a deadly individual. If she wanted to, she could easily kill Kumi without breaking much of a sweat. Luckily she is working as a simple maid.
Kumi was taking deep breaths as she haphazardly wrote down the results of the sparring session.
She took another loss but didn't take any damage during the fight. This wasn't the first time she hadn't received any damage during the fight. In fact, she couldn't take damage because Ayaka was holding back so Kumi could learn a crucial skill.
Kumi moved on to the other side of the room where a few wooden dolls stood.
She was working on her knife-wielding abilities.
'During all this, only a few skills have levelled up. Training, Caution and Stamina Use Reduction. I haven't been using many of my active skills like Slash since it doesn't work well with knives and I have no idea how to use magic at this point. The best I could maybe do is reinforce my body with mana a little but I lack the Skills and skills to even try.'
Kumi said as she looked over at her Property bubble before glancing at Ayaka.
'If I had an ability to learn a lot faster or an innate talent skill this would be over so much quicker. I could go back to that nice hill and work on my crafting. Maybe go get some good food from Raymond?'
She thought as she focused back on the wooden doll while twirling her knife in her hand. A finely carved wooden straight knife that has a hole drilled at the bottom of the handle.
'Ayaka uses her knife attacks like...'
Kumi tried to copy her slightly without even noticing her own actions. Possibly because Ayaka has left an impression. Or perhaps because she seems to be quite proficient in knives.
'... she went easy and slow when sparring with me but the movements should stay the same no matter the speed.'
Kumi thought as she knew how much practice Ayaka must have put into training to get to that level of strength.
Kumi swung her knife lightly but steadily. She didn't wield it like a sword but more like a short rapier. She wielded it almost like Ayaka.
'I wonder if there are skills for using knives too?'
Kumi thought as she finished and placed down her knife.
'Should be done with this for now. Back to reading it is.'
Kumi thought as she continued her long, long training course.
After quite a bit of time, she had fully absorbed all cores, the new skills had yet to manifest but Kumi felt that she was close, close to getting all the skills Ayaka wanted her to have and maybe more. At least some skills levelled up though.
Kumi's Properties were currently like this after a few lucky Agility core absorptions.
{Name: Kumi
Gender: Female
Race: Angelic Devil
Rank: Mortal
Level: 1
Titles: Dragon Slayer, Demon Slayer, Hero Slayer, Empress's Heir, Calamity Killer, Celestial Lotus Host, Potential Shatterer
Potential: Z±
Properties:
Vigour: E- (100%)
Mana: F+ (100%)
Strength: F+
Agility: E+
Mind: F+
Endurance: E
Arcane: E-
Elements: Lightning, Curse, Rot
Passive Skills:
High Regeneration Level Max;
Free Footwork Level Max;
Brutal Strength Level Max;
Dragon Heart Level Max;
Growth Acceleration Level Max;
Highest Holy Blessing Level Max;
Highest Demonic Blessing Level Max;
Heavenly Demonic Pressure Level Max;
Unknown Level 2;
Caution Level 2;
Stamina Use Reduction Level 3;
Deep Sleep Level 2;
Training Level 3
Resistance Skills:
Time Magic Resistance Level 5;
Weakening Magic Resistance Level 4;
Space Magic Resistance Level 3;
Pain Resistance Level 4;
Heat Resistance Level 3;
Shock Resistance Level 4;
Water Magic Resistance Level 3;
Cold Resistance Level 3;
Bleeding Resistance Level 1;
Mana Loss Resistance Level 3;
Stamina Loss Resistance Level 2;
Health Loss Resistance Level 1
Active Skills:
Empress's Soul Sword Level 1;
Slash Level 2;
Elemental Power Increase Level 1;
Unreadable Illusion Level 2;
Preparation Level 2;
Preparatory Item Creation Level 2
Personality:
Kumi was far from satisfied with her current strength. Even after an entire Major increase in Agility, she could barely keep up with Ayaka as she started to hold back less and less as time went by.
Kumi sighed in her head while finishing the book she was supposed to read, closing it and putting it aside.
'I wonder if those skills could even help with the sparring. Still seems hopeless.'
She thought as she stood up and made her way to the almost entirely smashed wooden dolls.
Glancing at Ayaka who was resting while leaning against the wall like always, Kumi thought.
'I think I understand her knife attacks and movements a little better. Might as well test them.'
She thought as she reached the dolls and picked up her knife before delivering a deadly and fast diagonal Slash.