Andrew exited the meditation. He did a long exhale as exhaustion crept upon him. His eyelids slowly started to drop as he couldn't keep them open even if he wanted to.
Yet, a gloved hand appeared on his shoulder and the moment it touched his shoulder a new-found vigor coursed through Andrew's body. He was instantly jolted awake!
Andrew turned around to look at the masked person with a grateful look in his eyes. Shadow Crow just simply nodded as Andrew's health was their priority for now.
"It looks like you succeed" Shadow Crow commented as they kept their hand on Andrew's shoulder. Shadow Crow inspected every nook and cranny in Andrew's body, yet they failed to find anything out of ordinary.
"Do you feel different?" Shadow Crow asked as they had already scanned Andrew's body hundreds of times.
Hearing the question, Andrew deeply concentrated as utter silence reigned over the room. With his demonic senses he could even listen to his blood flow. When he concentrated on his body's overall state, he found nothing out of ordinary, everything worked the same as before.
Andrew shook his head as Shadow Crow became doubtful whether Andrew truly managed to fulfill the set criteria.
"When you were in the world of nothingness, did you feel any different?" Shadow Crow asked as their full focus shifted to Andrew's mind's eye.
"I saw something. It felt like a dream, like a hidden memory in the deepest part of my subconsciousness. I saw a blinding light and a being who was most likely my progenitor announce my success" Andrew honestly replied as lying to Shadow Crow served no purpose.
"A bloodline memory!" Shadow Crow exclaimed.
"Then, without a doubt, you truly managed to fulfill the requirements which were set by your progenitor. You should now be able to comprehend mana!" Shadow Crow said as an air of elation appeared around them.
The next moment, Shadow Crow looked at Andrew with a steeling gaze.
"Now, you should remember that you became able to step on the path of magic because of my help. In case you succeed in the future, I expect you to serve under my wing" Shadow Crow coldly stated as they influenced the surrounding mana which would make any mortal experience extreme dread.
"To be sure that you will not betray the promise we will sign a soul contract" Shadow Crow said as another box appeared in their hand.
From there, they took out a transparent sphere. It was the size of a baseball as it had mysterious air to it.
'Soul Contract. A contract can be signed by using the energy signature of the living being. It requires specific inputs of mana to be signed by two or more parties. Soul Contracts are housed by mana conductors.
Mana conductors are objects that are used for long-distance connections. They can be linked to anything as long as it has an energy signature.
They are generally used for soul contracts as they will have a connection to the contractors and can enforce punishments when the conditions were violated.
The efficiency of soul contracts depends on mana conductors. The higher the grade of mana conductor the farther the range of connection between users, the higher the degree of punishment enforcement and the general safety from other mages.
If a mage is on a higher existential level and subsequently wields a higher grade of mana they can easily manipulate the mana which is connected to the conductor. The stronger mage can simply nullify the contract or turn it again the weaker contractor by editing the contract's contents.
That's why the mana conductor which the soul contract is situated in, should be of a higher grade than mana that contractors wield' Andrew narrated in his mind as he had already anticipated such an outcome. After all, Shadow Crow can't just let it go with a verbal promise as it had no actual power, but soul contract was different as the mana conductor itself will enforce it! Of course, the mana conductor should be stronger than any contractors for its punishments to have an actual meaning.
Shadow Crow lightly tapped on the transparent sphere.
Suddenly, the sphere flew out of the box and floated right in between them.
"Do you know how to place your energy signature?" Shadow Crow asked Andrew.
"Yes, I do" Andrew replied.
Shadow Crow nodded as the sphere flew towards Andrew.
"If you want to check the rules, just put on your hand on it" Shadow Crow said.
Andrew simply nodded as he put his hand on the transparent sphere.
As soon as he touched the sphere, information started to flow into his brain. There was a variety of conditions and most of them were quite harmless. There wasn't anything that would force Andrew to go to extreme lengths, like killing himself or worse.
It was like a hired subordinate and a boss relationship. Andrew carefully read through each clause. Although, the contents were quite harmless, the contract itself was packed with countless clauses and conditions. Making it impossible to cheat the contract.
After a couple of dozen minutes Andrew finished analyzing all the information as he confirmed that this contract was relatively harmless to him.
It was more like an invitation to an organization rather that a strict and forceful contract.
Then Andrew entered Shallow Immersion state as he could still feel the physical world. He semi-shifted into the world of nothingness as he started to intensely think about leaving his energy signature in the soul contract.
The mind's eye in his brain trembled as energy waves rippled outwards as they came in contact with the mana conductor and dissipated shortly after.
"Done" Andrew said as he pushed the floating sphere towards Shadow Crow. Shadow Crow took the sphere in their hand as they looked for abnormalities and found none.
Pleased with that, Shadow Crow just simply thought about their intent to imprint their energy signature without the need to semi-enter into the world of nothingness.
Dark energy flashed for the briefest of moments, even Andrew, someone who was standing just a couple of meters away didn't notice it.
The mana contractor was designed to hold just one contract with the signatures of 2 contractors. As soon as the last signature was imprinted the mana conductor dissolved into nothingness as a projection of clauses and conditions appeared.
There was a last icon of confirmation. Both Andrew and Shadow Crow just had to mentally confirm for a contract to set into the act.
Soon the projection dissolved too as the room became pitch black once again.
"It was nice to have business with you, Andrew. I hope you will meet my expectations in the future as I want to befriend those talented and capable" Shadow Crow stated with a pleased androgynous tone.
"It was my pleasure" Andrew replied with a slight bow.
"Then, let's meet once again when the world basks in your glory" Shadow Crow said those words as their figure disappeared the moment after.
Andrew stood there contemplating a couple of things.
'Finally, the gateways are open!' Andrew exclaimed in his mind as he couldn't wait to get back to meditation.
___
A week later.
A figure sat in a lotus position in an all-year-long dark room. His futures were devilish as he had blood-red robes toned on him. His breathing was irregular as he was in a state of deep meditation.
Andrew was deeply engrossed in his meditation as he actually started to feel the mana.
Mana was colorless, formless...
It was basically intangible!
This unique force existed but couldn't be felt by mortals no matter how.
With each second, Andrew learned more things about mana. This energy made everything, it was everything, yet at the same time, it wasn't energy.
It felt like something indescribable, something that can't be understood by simple minds.
The more Andrew comprehended mana, the more he wanted to explore it even further.
He had a couple of hypotheses regarding what mana might actually be.
He speculated it to be the most important component of existence. The force that governed everything and anything.
The force that allowed things to progress further beyond their original limits!
The grades of mana were structured like stairs. The first step was achieved when a being comprehends low-level 1-grade mana. It's the first stair that builds the foundation for the next.
The Evolutionary Realms could be regarded as stairs!
Each realm and phase in order of ascension gave a higher understanding of mana.
Unknown Andrew, his theory was extremely close to the truth.
Truly, the Evolutionary Realms prepared living beings to understand a higher state and form of mana.
Andrew wholeheartedly studied mana as he could feel some changes in the world of nothingness. Before, it was empty and had no aspects of life in it, but now it was different!
One of the fundamental aspects of life appeared...
Space!
Andrew didn't feel lost in this place anymore and he didn't lose himself either.
The more he dived into the understanding of mana, the more he obtained control over this mysterious space!