"th- this can't be possible how can something like this be so wrong!" Donald spoke with a fearful tone, he had once been so exited that this world had magic I mean who wouldn't! it was a world filled with all sorts of creatures and sights to throw magic on top of all the things he had seen so far was insane. all he wanted to do was give his all for the sake of his dearest ducks who had given him this second chance but now he was distraught. He fell backwards onto his butt the realization too much for him, his dreams of grandur were shattered, why would he want to use this 'magic' when it was so flawed and destructive at its base level" please tell me it isn't true that magic isn't some parlor trick!" he cried out to the Duck god who stood before him.
[so you have realized it haven't you] The duck spoke the massive grin that cut his gilded beak in a warped fashion never leaving his face as it spoke.[this world's very concept of magic is flawed, down to the very way they cast rings around their hearts. it's inefficient the very so called 'elemental mana' in the air they use to cast their spells is not even real mana at all!] the out of place smile never left the duck as Donald stared up in disbelief."is this what you were trying to show me? even if I try to gain strength I'll just end up killing myself in the process..." He looked defeated the impurities from the mana were stacking up within the broad shouldered mages body. his mana circuits running from his heart and elemental rings, had a certain thinness to them. they were not blocked but the impurities lined the mana channels his circuits slowly wearing down as they expanded to accompany a mages growing mana rings. normally the film of vile byproduct was not noticed as the mana channels expanded in tandem with the mage's magic resistor. no one noticed it being a fraction of a fraction smaller when it had just grown larger but the effects were noticeable from an outside perspective." So no matter how I try I'll end up like everyone else drawing in tainted mana and slowly killing myself and deteriorating till I just colapse!?" he exclaimed the sinking truth of reality sinking in, the duck was right what's the point of such abilities if it kills you before you find the power you actually came there looking for.[Young one I showed you their misfortune but even with the impurities and waste clogging up their system that would not explain why they cannot surpass teir 10 does it not. the impurities sure are a problem but you are still missing the crucial flaw of the way they cast magic] the ducks words made sense even if they hindered the path to strength if one had enough talent, or managed to somehow expunge the byproduct impurities from the elemental mana they should still be able to continue and expand more rings."even with all the impurities and degrading from the elemental mana that still doesn't explain the limit of 10 rings?" Donald spoke taking his eyes away from the great magic circle before him.[ you are correct to assume that that Is not the reason for it, it's hard to explain so why don't I just show you.]with flutter of fethers a model of a mages heart appeared before him, a single ring surrounding it.[ now these mages use this archaic system because it had it's own advantages aswell.] As he spoke the model whirled to life the ring spinning as anotherslowly formed perpendicular to the first both spinning still.[by surrounding the rings around the heart they avoid the need to strengthen it to withstand the pressure of mana within the body] slowly an outline of a person appeared around the heard countless blue lines flowing in patterns throughout the body.[mages form mana circuits in their body's to utilize mana these circuits contain vast amounts of energy and therefore need to be constantly reinforced and expanded as one grows as a mage.] the duck slowly highlited out the channels watching as they slowly increased in size and their linings seemed to compress, the pressure within them increasing as a third and then a fourth ring were placed around the models heart.[ instead of reinforcing the body to contain the pressure of mana it is much easier to just seal the mana in a tube with no way to harm the rest of the body, it's simple enough right?] the model slowly shifted as a vein on the right arm burst as the number of rings quickly rose to five and then six.[Mana running wild throughout the body can be catastrophic if one does not have the strength to withstand mana's inate desire to be one with itself, the high pressure of mana inside a mage wants to equalize with the air causing it to shread through the body to do so.] The models arm quickly ruptured, exploding before quickly reforming as if nothing had ever happened.[ so why even involve the heart at all if it's so dangerous you may ask? well here's the problem, mana circuits run in tandem with veins and blood vessel's it's how the body Naturally moves nutrients and energy but that means all that energy ends up whelling up right in the heart causing it to pop like a balloon.] a second vistage appeared next to the first model the mana swelling straight into the heart and with a bearly audible pop it burst causing a chain reaction across the mana veins till the image fizzled out.[not a pretty sight so to counteract this mage form their 'elemental rings' around their heart based on what affinities they Naturally have a resistance to allowing them to better withstand the impurities that mana brings. the mana flows into the ring and circles around the heart like a cage of sorts. it holds the mana and releases it out in a flow, it essentially redirects the mana around the heart but here's where the problem lies. after a certain point of density mana will stop trying to spread out and will eventually be pulled towards itself like a gravitational attraction.]slowly the model formed its eighth ring the space between the rings growing smaller and smaller. they almost scraped one another their grip around the heart tightening.[and the 9th rin is where things become threatening, the mana density becomes so condensed within the rings that they cannot hold it all, the excess forming a small lump within the hearts center, while not instantly fatal this is where the major flaw of this magic path comes to light.] The 9th ring quickly took form within the model the heart acting erratically before a small been welled up from inside the heart drawing in mana from the leaking rings.[ this Is the start of mana crystallization but it's better to just watch what happens next.] As the duck spoke a 10th ring suddenly fell into place upon the model, the system that was functioning without much issue before suddenly swelled. pressure building up in the mana veins forcing more and more mana throughout the model's body driving it towards the rings that surrounded the heart. the rings compressed, compacted tightly around the heart starting to place it in a vice grip threatening to crush it.[as a mage reaches 10 rings they don't instantly die, but in the path of progressing and refining their magic they will cross a certain threshold, the mana density becomes too much and full mana crystallization will occur. tiny crystals of mana will begin forming inside the hearts 'cage' slowly impaling the heart and transforming it into crystalline mana.] Tiny projections formed within the heart staring into it with microscopic cuts, the places infected with mana destabilizing the hearts flesh, till it was almost completely crystal.[then comes the colapse, at the peak of ring 10 when they try to breakthrough, the heart can no longer resist the crushing stranglehold of the rings and is colapses like a black hole.] the mana gushed into the model its heart turning solid before the rings became tighter and tighter before an audible snap was heard. the rings suddenly pulled together crushing the heart like a thousand rubber bands cutting through a watermelon, the crystal heart shattered, forming a rough ball of mana shards the model now 'dead'[ this is the true horrorfying fate that lies for each and every mage, their heart crushed by the very thing they formed to protect it from the mana] The duck had a melancholic tone as he spoke Donald aswell had his head hung low a saddened look on his face."So that's it huh that's as far as I can go? forgive me Arieta I don't think I can make good on my promise to make you strong. not when you will have to die like... like this." He gestured at the now 'dead' model infront of him.[I never said that this was the only option now did I?] The duck spoke confusing words" wait then why would you show me this then if you were just going to give me a better way!"Donald exclaimed a small ember of hope reignited within him but the duck's actions confused him, why go to such lengths to show him this.[I also never said that, a different path, possibly but a better path is not how I would describe it. this method has stood for so long for a reason its easy it utilized the tainted mana on the planet and makes it functional for the mages. this other path is by Far more difficult, the dangers of preforming it incorrectly even more severe than a simple wild magic surge, even a single slip up on your path to the peak of magic could kill you if you are not strong enough to withstand it. so I wonder what will you chose?]