In this world, knowledge of magic was widespread. Initially, only a significant portion of the population possessed the profound gift of magic.
Those who awaken their talents are theoretically categorized as Awakened or Mage aspirants, or gifted individuals, while those who don't are termed Dormant. However, there are many more details to this well-known fact.
Magical talent varies among individuals; one clear sign of this is that some people awaken before others
. Those who do so in this world are considered geniuses and exceptionally gifted. The determining factor is the average age limit of awakening, which, in this case, is around 12 years old.
Those who awaken later are are generally considered less talented.
The first thing I learned from the book is that Magical Talents aren't fixed.
This implies that those who awaken later still have the potential to become more powerful than those who awakened earlier. All they have lost is time to cultivate their Mana.
Mana is the mythical fuel and energy behind magical phenomena. It exists everywhere, even in the air we breathe and the space we move through.
This energy is also omnipresent in the human body, and as such, over centuries and millennia, all living creatures on this world require Mana to live. Its particles are akin to certain atoms and molecules necessary for oxygen to be breathable.
Further research and rumors suggest that the world was born from Mana.
But what was Mana born of?
In any case, for every great Magic, Mana is at the very beginning.
The way Mana influences the awakening of magical 'Talent' is as follows: As previously mentioned, Mana exists in the air, atmosphere, and every single living being on the planet Especially humans.
During the early stages of growth of a human child, Mana is constantly absorbed into the body through various means, such as simply breathing.
Over the years, accumulated Mana slowly condenses inside the body, gradually increasing and eventually forming a new and distinct organ.
Those with this fully developed Organ are theoretically categorized as Mages, indicating that they have awakened magical talent.
This Organ came to be known as a Mana Core or Source, or Mana Center.
A Mana Core is the result of mass accumulation of Mana in one location inside the body over many years. After prolonged accumulation, the Mana forms a thick spherical membrane and specialized tissues within the body, creating a completely new organ.
This lengthy process is referred to as the Dormant stage, which typically lasts for around 12 years in a child.
When the Mana Core is fully formed, individuals awaken their ability to use Magic, a stage referred to as the Awakening stage. The Mana Core serves as the center of Mana for a Mage, generating and passively accumulating Mana inside the human body. The capacity of one's Mana Center, known as the Mana pool, can be influenced by various factors.
In summary, in this world, Magic is widespread, but only a gifted few can awaken their abilities and talents to use Magic. This occurs when a specific organ called the Mana Core is fully formed inside the body during the Dormant stage, which typically lasts around 12 years for most individuals, and even less for a select few.
As I reflected on the extensive knowledge I had amassed from the book over the past few days, I gazed ahead with determination.
Utilizing magic necessitated a core within the body to contain and produce Mana. Typically, a Mana Core reached full formation at the age of 12, though the timeline could vary depending on individual aptitude and potential.
Consider Lana, for instance...
...I didn't even want to think what that made me.
My awareness of my magical abilities dawned at the age of three.
"Quite far off from 12!"
Could it be possible that I possessed a Mana Core even at such a tender age?
Initially, that was my assumption. However, after delving deeper into my research, I formulated several speculative theories, all of which remain unconfirmed.
What if my Mana Core was underdeveloped? The Mana Core is responsible for housing the Mana pool, which represents one's capacity for magical power within the body. Typically, it takes years for this organ to fully mature. But if, by some chance, it forms much earlier than usual, what repercussions might arise?
The likelihood of an imbalance in the body seems plausible.
"I truly am different. Though I've long been aware of that fact..."
Nonetheless, these musings remain mere conjectures. With my limited knowledge and resources, I can only speculate.
Forming a Mana Core represented just the initial phase in mastering magic.
During the Dormant stage, the Mana Core gradually developed over years, while the Awakening stage marked its full formation, accompanied by the emergence of Talents.
But my exploration didn't halt there.
Next came the third Stage, which I fondly referred to as the Cultivation Stage.
This entails the refinement of Mana within one's body and Center. Upon forming the Mana Center, the body immediately gains the ability to produce and store Mana safely. This Mana becomes the resource for performing magic and Spells, albeit a more intricate process than it appears.
The Cultivation Stage, unlike the initial two stages, extends throughout the remainder of one's life. Moreover, it subdivides into multiple sub-stages influenced by numerous factors beyond my comprehension.
Among the myriad stages within the Cultivation process, one of the primary and pivotal components emerges.
Mana Control.
And that was precisely what I was about to begin.
***
Meet up chapter to make up for yesterday. Another will be on it's way if I can finish on time.