Continuing the lesson, Gion explained, "The mana training scriptures inherited by the collateral lines all share their roots in the inferior Red Flame Formula."
Over the long three hundred years since the first collateral line had split off, the Red Flame Formula inherited by each collateral line had gone through various improvements. By now, the mana training scriptures inherited by the oldest collateral houses bore almost no resemblance to their original form.
However, the modified versions of the Red Flame Formula still could not reach the full power of the White Flame Formula. Even after such a long period of development, the knock-offs still couldn't overcome the original. The combined wisdom and effort of entire lines of descendants couldn't compete with that of the Great Vermouth.
The Lionheart clan's direct line was well aware of this fact. As such, they hadn't altered the White Flame Formula to be in any way different from its original form because there was no need to make any changes in the first place. What reason was there to add to something that was already perfect?
"You will be learning the White Flame Formula," said Gion.
Distracted from staring blankly into Gion's flame as he had been so far, Eugene nodded eagerly at these words. Although the name, White Flame Formula, was unfamiliar to him, he couldn't be more familiar with its appearance. It was a sight that had caused him to feel frustration more than a few times in his past life.
Until the very end, Hamel hadn't been able to surpass the power of these flames.
'...Haaah,' Eugene sighed to himself.
He could feel the echoes of bitterness lingering from his past. However, this did nothing to cool the burning excitement in his heart.
Gion continued, "Of course, you won't be able to learn it right away. You'll need to be able to sense mana first—"
"I can already feel it," urged on by his excitement, Eugene didn't have the patience to keep listening until the end and instead chose to interrupt Gion.
"...Huh?" Gion grunted in confusion.
"I said that I can already feel the mana," Eugene repeated.
Gion was speechless as he stared at Eugene for a moment, his eyes blinking in disbelief. Then he burst out laughing at the absurd claim.
"That's just an illusion," Gion corrected Eugene.
He understood how Eugene could have come to make such a mistake. Once you got too absorbed into something, it was easy for strange delusions to arise in your head.
"It's true," Eugene insisted.
"...Hm…," Gion hummed as he wondered how he should convince Eugene that he was mistaken.
After a few moments of contemplation, Gion gently prodded his mana. Then, according to Gion's will, an intangible wisp of mana moved and hovered at Eugene's side.
When Eugene remained silent, Gion smiled and said, "See. It's too early for you to—"
"It's here," Eugene said, pointing to his left thigh. "The mana has gathered in this location."
"...," Gion's face froze as he was struck dumb.
No way, it couldn't be. Gion moved his mana once more. This time, instead of focusing it in one place, he dispersed it. A light stream of mana curled around Eugene's body.
"Here, over there, up, and now down. How long do you want me to keep this up?" Eugene asked as his hand kept moving around to follow the flow of mana.
Each time he got it correct, Gion's jaw dropped even further. Eventually, Gion took a few steps back and shook his head violently.
"...This is unbelievable," Gion muttered in shock.
But perhaps this was just a sign that Eugene's five senses were unusually developed. Gion changed the movements of the mana. Instead of allowing it to touch Eugene's body directly, he had the mana move further away.
"Over there."
But even with that, Eugene was able to point in the direction of the mana without any hesitation.
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Gion was struck by a dizzying sense of vertigo. Was this even possible? A thirteen-year-old kid who had yet to train his mana, who had never received any training to develop his sense for mana, was able to feel the mana as soon he tried?
"..." Gion tried to speak, but words failed him.
They hadn't even gotten to the part where Gion was going to flow mana directly into Eugene's body! Eugene had learned how to sense mana all on his own. If Eugene had been able to sense mana after ten days with his assistance, Gion would have already called that quick. But Eugene was so fast that it was unbelievable.
"...Haha," Gion finally broke out of his stupor and walked over to Eugene while shaking his head. "...Although these words might seem a little rude, how great would it have been if you were born to the main family."
"I've been adopted into it, haven't I?" Eugene asked.
"Adopted…. You're right. That's good enough," Gion agreed with a wry smile.
Gion sat down in front of Eugene and held his hands so that their arms formed a circle.
"...If you can already feel the mana, then we can begin right away. From now on, just focus on what is happening inside your body without getting distracted," Gion told Eugene seriously.
"Yes, sir," said Eugene obediently.
Gion began transmitting the White Flame Formula. Eugene closed his eyes and turned his concentration inwards. Soon, mana began flowing into his body through Gion's hands. The mana leaped across the points where their hands were joined and then scattered into numerous branches within Eugene's body.
His body had never before taken in any mana. However, Eugene's body seemed to be able to absorb mana 'well,' to an almost unbelievable extent. This fact surprised Gion once again.
Gion muttered to himself, 'He's a genius…. No, this is….'
Gion's eyes wavered. He adjusted the flow of mana that he was sending into Eugene to be a little stronger. He was going to teach Eugene how to breathe in mana, not the Physical technique equivalent. Gion led Eugene into becoming conscious of the mana that was in the air he breathed in and then helped him memorize how to flow this mana through his body according to a set pattern, thus forming the mana breathing cycle.
Eugene concentrated on feeling how the mana was flowing within his body. As the mana spread throughout his body, it formed a center at his heart. The mana converged around his heart and then settled into the blood vessels connected to the heart.
Mana began flowing back out along with his blood. Although they flowed together, the movement of his mana didn't completely follow the circulation system of his blood.
'...He's a monster,' Gion finished his earlier thought.
Gion slowly cut off the flow of mana that he was infusing into Eugene. However, the circulation of mana within Eugene's body didn't stop, following the withdrawal of Gion's mana. This showed that Eugene was already able to independently adjust the flow of mana within his own body. He was even making sure not to rush, going slowly so that his body had time to get used to it. Gion couldn't help but feel even further surprised that Eugene was able to accomplish this much.
"...Make sure not to stop breathing," Gion eventually managed to squeeze out in a shaking voice. "Imagine that you're breathing in the leyline's mana with each breath you take. Yes, like that…. Take the mana you've breathed in, and guide it to follow the circulation path set by the White Flame Formula. Back now… back to the heart."
Eugene's face showed no response. He was concentrating all his attention on memorizing the flow of mana. Then, as he breathed in more mana, he guided this inhaled mana into his heart.
Gion was no longer holding Eugene's hands. Unable to close his gaping mouth, he stood up and took a few steps back.
"...That's right… you're doing… very well," the words that slowly fell from his lips seemed ridiculous to Gion.
Doing well? How were these words enough to describe what was happening? It was just that he didn't know what else he could say, forcing him to babble something inane like that.
With each breath he took, Eugene was sending ripples through the rich mana of the leyline. Since Eugene had just initiated his mana, there was a tight limit to the amount of mana his body could accept. Or at least, that was how it should have been. However, Eugene was currently in the middle of breaking that piece of common sense into pieces.
'This is insane.'
Gion wasn't the only one feeling astonished. Eugene was also surprised by the performance of this body that he had been reincarnated into. Because he had the memories of his past life, sensing mana wasn't difficult for him. That applied to forming the mana breathing cycle as well.
However, even with all that, his body was absorbing mana with surprising ease. It was to the extent where he could feel the mana stored within his body increasing significantly with each breath. Of course, even a small increase would seem significant when he didn't have any mana in his body in the first place. Still, no matter how good his sensitivity to mana was, it was a fact that his mana absorption rate exceeded all expectations.
'...But it looks like I still have limits,' Eugene finally realized.
There was an inevitable end to the amount of mana that this young body could absorb. After being immersed in concentration for quite some time, Eugene opened his mouth and released a long sigh as he opened his eyes. His whole body felt sticky from being drenched in sweat.
"...Haha," Eugene laughed in satisfaction.