"Anyone who experience [awakening] can control mana and mold its properties to anything they like. The problem is, it depends on their affinity to what extent its output will be and the efficiency of the spell arts that they are using."
"That was how you saw my split the earth despite my specialization in steel, and steel's properties is closer to earth. For example, the spells will be much harder for me to use if I cast a water ball spell or another element that is far from my attribute."
"Let me demonstrate."
Horace gestured and weaved his arms in an attempt to create a tornado spell. The mana in the air followed his will, and the atmosphere beckoned his call as it created a tornado. His long beard and clothes was ruffled by the sudden manifestation of a tornado.
He did create a tornado capable of destruction of many cities; only if it weren't the size of a small rock.
Kyrian watched his master make a small tornado, finally understanding how affinities work. He used his Eyes of Divinity to see how such a spell was made and glimpsed at the inner workings of mana.
He saw how a large mana pool leaking from his master's mana core flowed like a river along his mana circuits until it surged outward from his body. As soon as the mana was severed from his body, its robust connection slowly became weaker, and a small percentage of his original mana was left to manifest a tornado.
"If I force myself to create a tornado from my mana, then my connection with mana will weaken."
"Instead, I can do this."
Horace summoned large sheets of metals, and forced them to vibrate its particles inside to generate heat. Then, he summoned more sheets of metals and cooled them by manipulating its metallic properties.
He motioned his hands to move to steel in a circular motion and made them faster and faster until mortal eyes couldn't see them. As they moved faster and faster, the steel plates generated wind, and the cold and hot plates exacerbated the formation of a tornado.
In this instance, a tornado of great proportions materialized in the skies of Ziront.
Kyrian waved his hands to tell his master that he had already proved his point. The clouds were in disarray and the destruction it wrought below them became visible. With the prowess of his eyes, he could see the terror of such spell.
"An invasion!"
"Someone from the Mistral family is attacking the estate! Quick, contact the patriarch!"
"Zemof Guards, contain the tornado!"
The housemaids in the estate panicked, and the butlers issued an emergency evacuation. Various crops and trees were uprooted in this exhibition of their patriarch.
"Oops."
It was obvious that Horace got carried away. He wanted to impress his disciple but he didn't consider the damage he could have done. Or maybe, he knew the damage but was confident in his ability to restore everything back to normal.
"What do you mean oops? Can't you see how much mess you made!?" Kyrian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"I can bring it all back, don't you worry."
Horace beckoned his steel puppets to restore the damage he had done. The steel puppets saluted him, and immediately flew towards the trees and various structures that was damaged. The puppets helped those that were affected, and in less than five minutes, everything was back to normal.
"See? Nothing happened." A mischievous grin took shape in his face.
It was times like this that Kyrian wondered whose mind was more mature between them. A four-year-old kid, or a being who had lived for hundreds of years. It must have been the result of being too intelligent and innovative.
Ah, eccentric was the word he was looking for. He dreaded the day that he might become too eccentric when he gets older.
"The damage aside, you can create a tornado by using creativity. Instead of forcing a tornado to manifest using my mana high in steel affinity, I'm going to use a steel mana based ability to make a tornado."
"In some talented mages, they can even do the opposite of what their element could do. For example, the Elden House of Undine can use their water element to burn their enemies by accelerating the water particles inside their enemies, resulting in a cooked foe."
The boy shuddered at the possibility of his blood boiling inside him, and he thought how overpowered it was.
"Don't worry, there are countless ways to counter the blood boil spell, but for mortals and untrained mages like you, it's an instant death."
Before Kyrian could ask his master to teach him how to protect himself, Horace continued to speak.
"There are countless ways to manipulate mana, and a true mage is one who embraces their unique ideas without fear of ridicule from others."
Kyrian reflected on his master's words as he saw how silly it was to look at two spinning metal sheets that was used to create a tornado. It may not have been the traditional way mages cast tornadoes, but through creativity and a little bit of ingenuity, his master was able to do it.
"Now that I demonstrated the possibilities of magic, it's your turn. Using the [Steel Emperor] arts, allow the mana particles in the surroundings to move inside your core and let it circulate in your mana circuits. Create a sword from your innate mana."
Kyrian followed his instructions but he got impatient and the slow movement of his mana. Instead, he copied how his master used the steel emperor using his Eyes of Divinity. The mana flowed unobstructed, and in an instant, he felt the essence of steel permeating his body. He could feel the hardness and its sharpness being forged in his body.
The boy followed his master's movement in creating steel from the mana surrounding him.
Conventionally, mages at lower ranks use the mana they absorbed in their bodies and mana circuits instead of using ambient mana since their power is not enough to control it.
Kyrian's attempt to manipulate the ambient mana resulted in disaster as the surrounding mana didn't follow his will to materialize steel elements.
As a result, it exploded into different directions as soot and ashes covered Kyrian's face.
"I know you're talented, Kyrian. But there are steps to be followed in-"
'I know that I'm talented. I know that myself.'
There was a saying in the Eastern Continent, Iavrin, that said, 'Pride is the mother of all sins,' and in this instance, Kyrian must be its direct descendant.
'Limit Break!' Kyrian forced his innate talent to manifest and the flow of mana within his circuits went berserk. His innate mana forced the ambient mana to compel it according to his will despite being in rank 2.
In a blink of an eye, fifty sharp swords of different lengths appeared out of nowhere.
His mana core showed cracks in his careless display of power, and the mana circuits that seemed to be forged from the steel of gods displayed traces of damage.
The physical pain that Kyrian is experiencing at the moment made him forget where he was, what he was doing, or any other sensation. It was like his skin was being ripped apart whole, while his insides were being blended by a sadistic demon.
His thoughts were drowned in life-ending pain that encompassed his whole body.
Kyrian's innate talent may have forced him to go beyond his limits, but it came with a price.
A price born from pride.
Horace hurriedly took a potion from his spatial ring, and forced it inside Kyrian's mouth.
"You're too impatient, boy. You should have known better than that. I know that you want to get stronger as soon as possible, but without having the necessary foundation, you will find yourself ruined."
"Take this as a lesson for your impulsiveness."
Kyrian's consciousness slowly faded as he heard his masters words and the horrendous pain was overpowered by high potency the liquid.
—
"Hey Liam, did you hear the news about Lord Zemof?" a teenage boy around the age of fourteen nudged his friend while they were eating inside a luxurious restaurant in Zara, a city in the state of Ziront.
"What is it, Albert? Did he make a new invention that nearly destroyed his mansion? Or did he make a new discovery that changed the way we look at the world? Tell me something I don't already know." A tall teenager with a brushed up hair, and looks that will make you turn your head twice in his direction answered sarcastically.
Liam took a bite of his food as he nonchalantly dismissed his friend about the news of Lord Zemof - a master he had aspired to have but refused him without taking a second glance at him.
"No, not that! He announced that he now has an official disciple! Lord Zemof said that he's the most talented human that the world had ever seen. I know that his eccentricity is an established fact, but another is that he never lied when he makes a public announcement."
Liam nearly choked on his food as he heard the news.
"I wonder what kind of disciple he accepted. Did he get a steel affinity higher than yours, Liam?" Another boy of their age asked, as if wanting to instigate a fight.
"Shut up, Mark. Nobody wants to hear cripples speak when mages are having a proper discussion." Without a proper rebuttal, Liam attacked Mark where it hurts.
Mark rose from his chair, ready to brawl, when suddenly the main door of the restaurant burst open.