He then looked curiously at Williams, "Williams, you too...!?" Both Alan and Williams were stunned hearing this. "No, no, no, I have not yet invoked it, Guild Master," Williams clarified.
Stan shook his head, "No, my child, I think you have already invoked it, but you have yet to notice it. If not, you will do it soon... very soon."
Alan was ecstatic, while Williams looked shocked.
"Alan, keep an eye on Williams, and Williams, try to keep track of what you are doing. If you feel that there is something wrong or if you feel you're doing something much more than usual, then let me know immediately." Both of them nodded in agreement.
"Guild Master, Master Steve mentioned the term 'Mana' once. I vaguely recall him referring to it as a new term for Magical Affinity. Is that correct?" Alan inquired.
"That's true. Magical affinity, internal energy, magical ability, or simply magic—all are now termed as 'Mana.' The word 'Mana' has been in use for almost 30 years. It's easy to say," Stan explained.
Alan nodded in agreement.
"Alan, what type of Mana have you invoked?" Alan looked at Williams once, then took a deep breath before answering. He knew it was better to be truthful to the Guild Master, as he might assist Alan in uncovering his full potential.
"I have metal crafting," Alan said, pausing. Stan opened his mouth to speak, but Alan continued, "And healing ability."
"What!?" The Guild Master got up from his seat in shock. Alan nodded in confirmation. "And Master Steve told me I might develop multiple affinities."
"Come with me." Stan took Alan's hand and almost dragged him, with Williams tagging along.
He led them to a strong room that looked like a treasure room. After unlocking it, Stan took them inside and closed the door behind.
While walking inside, Stan asked, "Alan, have you used both affinities by any chance?"
"Yes, Guild Master. I... I forged a sword for myself with Master Steve's guidance."
Stan was about to take out a box from a shelf but froze in his action. He turned to look at Alan's face, finding him serious. Then he took the box and placed it onto a table.
"And when was it that you crafted the sword?"
"Almost a month ago, Guild Master."
"Hmmm... What about your healing ability?" Stan asked again.
"It happened a few days ago. My cousin was hurt badly, and I used it accidentally to heal her and unknowingly healed my scars also" Alan explained.
Stan listened in silence and then opened the box, taking out an orb similar to what Master Steve had, but a bit bigger.
"Williams, come here. I want to know if you had already invoked your affinity first."
Williams walked nervously. "Put your hand on it and try to imagine pushing your thoughts into this ball through your hands. It might take some time, but don't stop thinking until I ask you to," Stan instructed, to which Williams nodded.
For a minute, two minutes, almost ten minutes had passed, and Alan began to think that Williams had not yet invoked his ability when a pale golden light started to emerge. Initially flickering like a candle, the golden hue gradually strengthened, and a steady golden light emanated from the orb.
"That's enough, lad," the Guildmaster placed his hand on Williams's shoulder, patting him happily. "Good... Very good indeed," Stan started smiling.
"Williams, you've invoked your affinity, but you need to start controlling your mana flow and improve the mana strength. It will happen gradually as you grow. Don't worry, lad," Stan reassured Williams, beaming happily.
"Alan, come here, lad. If you've already used your mana to create a weapon, I believe you know how to control the flow of your energy. Now try to put as much Mana as you can into this crystal ball," Stan called Alan forward.
Alan patted Williams on his back, who was wiping the sweat on his brow from the back of his sleeves.
Alan placed his hands on the orb and started pouring his mana into it. The orb instantly began to glow, and Stan observed multiple colors intertwining, creating a thick, multicolored net. Stan was speechless to see so many colors at once. "Remarkable. Truly remarkable," he mused.
As Alan increased his mana flow, the crystal orb started cracking. Stan hurriedly shook Alan, "That's enough, lad, that's enough."
Alan stopped his mana flow and looked at Stan puzzled, then at the orb. He withdrew his hand as if it had touched molten metal.
Thin cracks could be seen all over the crystal orb.