I take a deep breath, focusing on my inner self. The witch's words echo in my head.
"Mana is this world's greatest currency, it's everywhere. From the highest mountains, to the deepest oceans—you can find it almost everywhere. Unlike the common gold or money that one can use to exchange for goods or services, mana can be used in exchange for, what is essentially, miracles. With the proper guidance and insight, one could potentially make anything that their mind desires—as long as they meet the requirements."
She willed mana in the air, letting me observe it not with my eyes but with my other senses.
Vivid green mana flowed and converged in a single point, then exploded into streams that caused a brief gust of air. The wind felt cool on my skin.
"That is one would call a spell, one of the ways to utilize mana more efficiently than just manipulating it directly. Magicians use it to produce varying effects, depending on the input and the construction lf the spell itself."
She willed the mana away, a burst of her own mana pulsating out of her like a ripple. In a few seconds, traces of the spell was gone. The atmospheric mana retuned to it's previous, mundane state.
I watch the behavior of the atmospheric mana especially, trying to gain some kind of insight as to what the witch just did. Sadly, that kind of knowledge was still beyond my capabilities.
"Magicians are typically born with two or more spells already accessible to them. The most common of these are: 「Reinforcement」, 「Conjuration」, and 「Imbuement」. The first enhances the body and/or mind's performance, the second allows for the manipulation of mana outside the body, the third focuses more on the infusion of mana into objects. There are also those born with rare, powerful spells or ones with high utility. These kinds of magicians are rare, and most of have seals in imbedded in their Cores to prevent the dangerous backlash that their spells could do. At least until they're strong enough to endure it."
My mind sinks into deeper concentration.
"Now, onto one of the, if not, most important aspects of spells—the cost." Her voice turned serious. "As you can see, one needs to pay the ample amount of mana just to cast one spell, this also includes backlash and recoil that one would normally suffer when casting spells for too long or using spells that are too powerful for the magician. While spells in the 「Conjuration」 variety typically cost more mana to cast, the same could not be said to 「Reinforcement」. 「Reinforcement」, by it's nature, generally don't cost that much in terms of mana consumption. While this is an overwhelming advantage for magicians with talent in 「Reinforcement」, it doesn't immediately mean that they are superior. This is because of one deciding factor: Adaptability."
I focus deeper within myself, trying to reach my Core.
"While spells of the reinforcement variety are normally simple and easy to use, they typically can't be used for anything more than simple body strengthening and heightened senses. This results in the magician becoming predictable, making them more susceptible to attacks that are outside of their range. This is why magicians with 「Reinforcement」 spells seek to train their body more than their mind, trying to seek insight into their own aptitudes."
My mind slowly sinks deeper, trying to breach the outer layer of the abyss. I was not just laying in my bed all day during the past month.
While the witch was distracted on something downstairs or out on some kind of hunt that she refused to detail, I was meditating, trying to focus on the Core of my nature, my mana. To be honest, the results have been less than satisfactory. I only managed to reach my Core two times, one was my first attempt and the other more successful one was suddenly interrupted when the witch suddenly burst into the room, breaking my concentration.
The witch continued.
"Magicians born with 「Conjuration」 are different however, focusing more on the imaginary. The formation of spells and behavior of mana is valuable to further the development of spells. Gaining insight is difficult, normally taking years just to develop one spell. That's why magicians of this spell typically focuses more on the application rather than the power of it. Tweaking and adjusting the spell that they were born with to better suit their needs. This normally results in the specialization of the mage. Once the magician feels that they have reached the peak at which they can use their inborn spell, then they move on into the development of a new spell. And the cycle continues."
The deeper I sink, the more the abyss resists.
"Then, there's 「Imbuement」. Most magicians will learn this spell sooner rather than later in their lifetimes—earlier for magicians with 「Reinforcement」 This spell typically cannot be used on it's own, requiring other spells to work. Magicians born with this spell typically go on to become artificers later in life, pursuing wealth rather than power."
My mind slowly penetrates the outer layer of the abyss.
The witch's words echo.
"We also have our center or Cores. All magicians have them, though most aren't even aware of their existence. Most magicians never find out what their Core is. It is only through constant training, meditation, and vast insight that people reach their Core, though there are cases when people reach their Core through mysterious circumstances. These people are exceedingly rare, almost a myth, really. Reaching their Core is considered the highest honor that a magician could attain."
Almost there…
"Once a magician reaches their Core, it is said that their power increases by leaps and bounds. Some magicians gain insight to their spells, finding out how to better improve them. Others receive a vast increase of mana. Most of all, Cores themselves reflect the owner's nature. Some take the form of a lush forest, an infinitely stretching sea, it really depends on the magician…"
The witch's voice fades, and I find myself in an ever-expanding darkness.