When a magician awakened their powers, the mana in their body would be like blood flowing through their veins, nothing too difficult to understand. When they reached the 2nd stage, the mana flow around the body would give rise to small essences around it, known as Magic Triangles.
A level 1 Acolyte was nothing more than a magician with one of these triangles formed. In contrast, a level 5 Acolyte was someone with five of these essences.
When the five triangles came together at the end of the 2nd stage, they formed the Mana Vortex, which would give rise to the River of Mana at the end of the 3rd stage. From the river of mana, one's mortal body and magical soul would be separated.
Only then would one be freed from mortality and be able to perform completely abnormal feats for humans, no longer depending on food, rest, or ordinary mortal things.
Their powers would also increase greatly!