Seeing the Tome, Nathan's eyes started gleaming with excitement, "This is what I came to the library for today, let's get to it before someone comes."
Jumping down from the excitement, he quickly blew away the little dust on the book and opened it right away.
The pages are intricated with stylish words written with quill and ink, with of illustrations made with brush and paint and descriptions of basics in analogy and detail.
As Nathan unfurled pages, breathing voice into the words, "this Tome seems to be saying of an existence of an omnipresent force coursing through every living and non-living object of this world, a force they named 'Mana', while some places naturally have more mana than the other places."
With each line, his excitement rises by a level as he mutters while smiling, "It's just like some magic web novel."
Tracing the lines further to the next page, he continued "Now let's get to the basics of it, hmmm... it seems to be saying that for one to learn and harness mana, one needs to learn to sense, circulate and harbor it within one's core according to one's will, then the one can start on the path of the magic."
His excitement of learning the magic came with some sadness, as he further read that The path to mastering magic was not an unobstructed road.
The art of sensing mana, a fundamental step, presented itself as a formidable challenge.
The book elucidated the range of experiences that beginners grappled with. Some, like prodigious mages, could attune to mana within mere days, while others—a majority—faced the arduous journey of months or even years and still couldn't be successful.
Amidst the words of the tome, his heart resonated with a triad of emotions: he felt a mix of curiosity, excitement, a touch of seriousness about what lay ahead on this path.
Shaking his head a little, removing the thoughts of failure, he continued to read aloud "For treading the path of a Mage or Aura Knight, one must first attune themselves to the mana residing within their own body—an amount that every living being borns with."
His imagination of knights and mages ran wild in his mind, continuing with "Through the intricate pathways known as mana vessels, one must circulate this essence, weaving its currents through the very core of their being. With each circuit, the mana must be drawn inward, pooled within the heart itself, thus birthing a 'mana heart.' "
As Nathan vocalized the words, imagining the process described in the text.
"And once the mana heart is born, the path to forming a mana circle unfurls. Through a method known as 'mana breathing,' ambient mana from the surrounding environment can be absorbed and stored within. This mana is then woven into a circle that envelops the heart—a mark of a fledgling mage's initiation into the art."
Nathan's eyes gleamed with understanding, his mind visualizing the intricate process as if he were living it in real-time.
"The journey doesn't halt here, however. The number of circles spun determines a mage's class—each circle adding to their power, efficiency, and reservoir of stored mana. Progressing from first class to the ninth, each level signifies an ascent in mastery and their standing in the society."
he paused for a second settling the information obtained, with a mixture of anticipation and determination in his heart, he continued reading knowing one day these would be drawn around his heart.
"Upon mastering these fundamental steps, one can start learning the existing magic spells and researching magic spells made by altering the existing and making new magic theories, spanning from a spectrum of spells classified in different types of elements and number of classes according to the number circles drawn., For reference see the basic 1st circle theory magic: Mana Bomb."
Seeing the theory in equation-like form, Nathan smiled relieved by seeing something familiar which he is good in which was maths, while muttering "Huh, these are not very difficult once you know the values and symbols, energy released from the mana bomb, Energy density at any point within the explosion, Pressure generated by the explosion at contact."
Nathan continued his exploration of the book, diving into the intricate web of magical attributes that this world held.
"The tapestry of magic is woven with diverse threads, each an attribute dictating its essence and form. Among these, the quintessential elements of fire, water, wind, and earth form the foundation
Nathan's thoughts were interwoven with the words as he read aloud, painting a vivid picture of him conjuring the different elemental spells.
"Yet, this world is adorned with two more rarities, magic born from the deepest shadows and the radiant light. Dark magic, the province of demons, and light magic, the realm of holy beasts and the saints and priests of the temples, but sometimes there are other rare people compatible with these since birth."
He continued reading, completely immersed, unaware of his surroundings as the minutes continued going.
"The intricacies of magic extend further, birthing attributes that arise from the fusion or distillation of primary elements. Lightning, an embodiment of water and wind, casts its electrifying brilliance. Ice, a marriage of Air and water, conjures crystalline splendor."
Nathan paused, absorbing the richness of this magical ecosystem. Imagining the wonders properties of different attributes, each holding its own potential to shape and reshape the world.
As Nathan read the basics of the magic and mana, he reached halfway through the book, continuing with the basics and process of aura.
His finger traced down the page. "And here," Nathan whispered to himself, "the Basics of aura."
Nathan's reading journey delved into the depths of aura, a counterpart to magic, yet uniquely its own.
"Similar to mana, the fabric of aura weaves itself through this world, a potent power harnessed by warriors and soldiers discovered by the knight king. It stands as a refined embodiment of mana, achieved through the formation of an 'Aura Core' within the dantian region beneath the stomach."
As he spoke, Nathan imagined the focal point of this energy—a core pulsating with potential, nestled within the very core of a warrior.
"Much like magic, aura too adheres to a hierarchy of classes, categorized by the 'core stars' around Aura Core. These stars are the markers of progression, guiding one from the first-class aura users to the ninth class."
"The path of mastery is segmented into five stages. One must first attune to the presence of mana, akin to feeling the raw energy. Circulating this energy through the body comes next—a practice akin to the art of mana circulation."
Nathan visualized the process—the energy coursing like a river within the confines of a warrior's form.
"Then comes the refinement—drawing upon ambient mana from the surroundings, infusing it within one's essence. This refined energy is stored within the Aura Core, a repository of power."
His fingers traced imaginary lines, outlining the formation of this core within his mind.
"And finally, the apex—a manifestation of aura. Just as mages cast spells bending the rules of the world, warriors channel their aura through their body into their chosen weapon bending the limits and laws of one's flesh body."
"It's a reflection of one's affinity with their chosen armament and can even manifest elemental attributes in their aura at higher stages."
Nathan's thoughts danced between images of wielding a sword wreathed in flames, or a spear crackling with lightning.
"In the kingdom of Valdyr, the military forces are steeped in aura teachings, an emblem of their strength. Even among the royal family, the art of aura is honed, save for some who tread the path of magic instead like the royal magicians or magic tower's mage. The divide between magic and aura isn't only rooted in compatibility but also in their conflicting natures."
His voice carried a touch of seriousness as he went on, "If one were to practice both things at the same time, they will try to undermine the other until one triumphs over the other, an ongoing conflict fought within the core of the person practicing them."
Nathan's voice resonated with the realization that this world's magic and aura were two sides of a coin. At that moment, he didn't know that he could walk on both paths simultaneously, mastering each in its own turn.
Standing at the crossroads, he was poised to journey along these distinct paths, unaware of the potential to weave them together into a harmonious whole.
As Nathan slowly reached the end, his concentration was interrupted by a presence that silently entered the room.
A soft smile curved his mother's lips as she settled into a seat behind him, her eyes sparkling with a mix of affection and amusement.
"Nathan, my dear, I knew I would find you here, ever since you learned to walk on your own you always sneak in here"