Xenovia's heart raced as she frantically searched for the missing mana stone, her grip tightening around her brother's hand. She turned to Sam, her anxiety clear in her eyes.
"Sam, what happened to the mana stone?" she asked urgently.
However, Sam seemed lost in his own world, his thoughts consumed by memories of mastering his very first spell, a fireball born from his growing mastery of the fire element.
In his mind, he replayed the moment he had finally grasped the essence of casting a fireball – the quintessential spell for any fire elemental mage. The concept was simple: compact fire into a ball and unleash it as a potent projectile against adversaries.
Each elemental affinity had its counterpart. Wind elemental mages wielded Wind Blast, a fierce gust of compressed wind to sweep away foes. Water elemental mages, meanwhile, harnessed the Water Sphere, mirroring the principles of their fellow mages.
These foundational spells were the stepping stones for any aspiring mage, enabling them to conjure and cast instinctively, without external assistance. They formed the bedrock upon which more advanced magical arts were built.
Yet, as spells, skills, and abilities converged in the realm of magic, distinctions needed clarification.
Skills were specific learned behaviors or competencies that allowed individuals to perform actions fueled by mana or other energies. They were honed through education, training, practice, and experience. Skills developed and refined over time through dedicated effort.
Abilities, in contrast, were inherent or innate talents that individuals possessed. Often emerging from birth or early life, these natural gifts provided the foundation upon which skills were constructed. Abilities were sometimes hereditary and set the stage for an individual's magical journey.
Spells, however, were more intricate, often necessitating the use of magic circles. Elemental and non-elemental mages alike employed spells, though non-elemental mages required the circles to replicate the effects of their elemental counterparts.
Crafting spells using magic circles demanded a significant mana investment. Non-elemental mages, lacking elemental cores for storing mana, held a more limited reserve compared to elemental mages. This discrepancy resulted in elemental mages outperforming their non-elemental counterparts.
This dynamic was why elemental mages commanded reverence and demand, holding a higher status.
Returning to the present, Sam was in the midst of developing his first water elemental spell – the Water Sphere.
"Guess what, everyone? I absorbed it!" Sam announced with a grin, urging their attention.
Xenovia's brow furrowed, confusion etched across her face. Sam, finding her bewilderment endearing, patted her head affectionately. Yet, Xenovia's expression shifted to annoyance at his gesture.
Mana stones formed over decades as substantial mana accumulated in a single location. Consequently, they contained multiple elemental mana types.
"Remember that mana stones can house more than one elemental mana?" Sam inquired, addressing the group.
The elemental mana contained within a mana stone was influenced by numerous factors, with environmental conditions playing a pivotal role.
"Yes, we know," the group responded.
Yuna, herself a supernatural scientist, showed particular interest in the discussion.
"Well, this mana stone has fire, wind, and water elements," Sam counted off on his fingers.
"Absorbed it? What does that mean?" Yuna questioned, her curiosity piqued. Sam nodded, acknowledging her inquiry.
Ordinarily, discerning the types and quantities of mana within a stone necessitated various experiments. However, elemental dominance could often be deduced through color observation.
Wide-eyed, Yuna struggled to ascertain the exact elemental proportions within a mana stone. Each intelligent being perceived themselves as unique, their entire worldview built upon that premise.
Even something as seemingly straightforward as measurement units posed philosophical quandaries. To most, one plus one equaled two. Yet, if one drop of water merged with another, it simply formed a larger drop. The distinction arose from the measurement units employed.
Yet, the essence remained: one plus one equaled two, satisfyingly so.
In a similar vein, gauging mana proportions within a stone posed challenges. Energy forms like Qi and life energy were elusive to both heroes and mages.
"Do you recall my ability's analysis function?" Sam inquired.
"Of course," Yuna responded, though the finer details remained elusive.
"I absorbed the mana, leading to significant enhancements in my fire and wind elemental cores," Sam paused, locking eyes with his audience. "And now, I've gained another elemental affinity – water."
Confusion rippled through the listeners. Sam had expected as much.
"What do you mean? Mages can't simply acquire new elemental affinities," Anos exclaimed, rising from his seat. "Those are inherent traits, not acquired."
True, some mages possessed multiple elemental affinities from birth, like Sam himself – wind and fire. However, progress in each affinity wasn't necessarily equal.
"Allow me to demonstrate," Sam proposed, raising his hand to shoulder height.
He visualized energy coalescing into a single point. Drawing from his fireball experience, he molded the concept into a water ball. Water elemental mana coursed through his veins, materializing a water sphere on his palm.
Ding!
[Learned Spell: Water Sphere]
A small blue magic circle formed above his hand, generating a basketball-sized water sphere. Sam aimed and launched it at a nearby tree, splitting it with a resounding crash.
Silence blanketed the scene.
Eventually, his grandfathers were the first to break the quietude. "Keep this ability a secret. Revealing such power could invite trouble."
"People might covet your power, seeking control," his mother, Yuna, added solemnly.
"Unless you're strong enough to fend off those who'd exploit you, be cautious when unveiling this ability," Jenna advised, her concern evident.
Opportunists and researchers might covet such abilities for personal gain or scientific curiosity. Depending on intentions, these encounters could lead to collaboration or conflict.
But before that, Sam had his priorities.
"A serial killer still roams free."
[The Evolution System]
[Host: Sam Verninne/Tatsuya (Mortal)]
[Titles: The Miracle Child]
[Race: Half Mage, Half Hero (Unique)]
[Class: Magic Swordsman (Unique)]
[Mana Cultivation: Epic]
[Magic Comprehension: 1st Circle (perfected)]
[Origin Core(s): 3 (97%)]
[Physique: None]
[Stats:
Strength: 50
Agility: 50
Spirit: 50
Stamina: 50
Heroic Energy: 50 (5000)
Origin Mana: 3 (300)
Stat Points: 0]
[Affinities: Wind (5%), Fire (5%), Water (3%)]
[Bloodlines: Verninne (Mage Bloodline), Tatsuya (Hero Bloodline)]
[Skills: Dance of Swords (Breath of Life), Mana Sense, Speed, Heroic Sense, Influence (Unique)]
[Abilities: Devour (Unique)]
[Spells: Wind Blast, Wind Blade, Concealment, Transmission, Silence, Lumos, Heal, Barrier, Fireball, Water Sphere]