Mana is magical energy, floating around all of us but some can control it. While they don't have complete control over it but all they have is partial effect.
Using that effect to draw mana inside their body, one forms a core and mana veins to effective utilise mana.
Atleast that's how the first generation did it.
Later generation inheritably acquired tendency to form core and veins by natural awakening, althought that is not absolute.
Majority, Atleast sixty percent of humanity still remains unawakened.
" That's old, I mean thousand year old book. It only include data about humans and not asura races and beast races.
After thousand years not only mana density but general cultivator population must have increased as well." Alena looked through what eren was reading.
It was book about cultivation world and its history. Ofcourse in practical usage, this knowledge meant nothing but upon Alena's insistence he decided read it atleast once.
As he expected, it was disappointing but Alena sure brought a new topic, something that eren didn't knew.
" What's asura races?" He asked, although he had some guesses.
" You don't know?" Eren shook his head.
" In this world exist different race beside humans, such as vampire, dragon, phoenix and elf.
What makes them different is their physical characteristics as well as there elemental affinity.
Now you don't even know elemental magic is right?" She asked, as if getting tired already from talking about it.
Eren shook his head in denial.
" How much do you know about cultivation?" She didn't knew which book he read first. There were atleast hundred if not more for only magic and cultivation in her collection.
Eren was free to read his pick, Upon proper planning he started reading about cultivation before anything.
Why? Simple because that was necessary right now.
So he knew the basics she was asking for.
"I know how core and mana veins come, next is actual process of cultivation.
To inhale mana, process it and exhale it out. This procedure is to strengthen body and core.
Cultivation is divided into seven realm starting with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, cyan and violet. With red being the lowest and violet being the highest realm.
From start with red core, one cultivate and continues this throughout the life to reach the upper realm and with each realm higher, physical prowess and control over mana increases significantly.
That's the process to attain mana and becoming proficient in it but it can only useful with the practicality.
But I haven't read about that yet." Eren didn't dwell on much details or philosophy he read and explained as simply as he could.
" Quite good for a week worth of study.
Next is actual casting magic using mana as source energy.
Apparently this is the most trickiest part.
Magic is classified into two groups, elemental and Mana magic.
Elemental magic is the most commonest type.
As the name suggest cultivator can caste elemental magic.
Fire, water, wind and earth is basic and most commonly seen elements. Higher elements is ice, gravity, sound and lightning, which is not so common.
But alongside these groups resides another group of people who're unique, their element are like Metal, Magma, poison, dimond and much more. But they are very rare.
Next is Mana magic, which is direct way for spells.
For elemental magic one needs affinity towards certain element to cast it but Mana magic is available to all.
Slave magic, necromancy, beast taming, spirit taming, mana manifestation and ghost taming. You'll learn those in detail later." She saw some weird question mark floating over his head and asked,
" What?"
" Are spirits and ghosts real?" Alena almost laughed hearing his question.
" At the end of the day, you're a child. Are you scared of ghosts?" She teased him, And why not. From her perspective most childrens were scared of ghosts.
" No, just curious. I thought they were just stories.
There were lost of things that didn't make sense yet I heard rumors that made me believe otherwise." He doubted existence of ghosts and spirits but knowing that they weren't just stories made him sort of excited.
" What kind of rumors?"
" We're getting off the topic here?"
" And?" Her response made it pretty clear she didn't care, Eren sighed and spoke.
" I heard that spirits and ghosts are elusive, they only appear at night, also can pass thought anything and can posses objects or peoples."
" Half right half wrong.
Spirits and ghosts both are just remnants of soul left after their death, difference is spirits are pure and gentle, which is why they're highly sensitive to mana.
And ghosts are volatile, destructive and insane blob of remanant soul. There is high chance of becoming spirit or ghost depending upon the moment of your death.
Usually monsters, who lack verstality of emotion becomes spirits. While us emotionally advanced, capable of emotion such as hatred, anger and lust, and only cultivators becomes ghosts."
" You said monsters and cultivators but not animals and unawakend?" he asked.
" Exactly because monsters and cultivators posses power to influence mana.
What remains after death is soul that slowly Withers away but if core still intact into dead corpse, it could supplement nourishment till soul becomes independent in the outerworld.
But At the end of the day, depending upon whether soul is pure or evil, spirit or ghost will come in existence." She explained in much details, satisfying his curiosity.
" But are they still same person?"
" No, As I said what remains when they actually becomes spirits or ghosts is just remantant of their soul and everything else is already vanished."
" And if we destroy mana core then there won't be any spirit or ghosts, right?" He asked.
" That's right."
" And they are ethereal and can't be touched."
" Yes, But They can use magic and can be killed by magic. And rumour about their appearance only on night is just a rumour." She slightly laughed watching him validating all his doubts.
" We really did get off the topic, didn't we?" He said, changing the topic from the embarassment.
He really forgot in heat of excitement.
" So Mana magic?"
" Weren't you having fun talking about ghosts and stuff?, come on eren." She teased him, gretly pleased with herself.
" So what?, I can't waste my time chatting at late night 3." He rebuked with flushed face.
" Hey We have all the time in the world to learn, it's nice to chat once in a while." She said genuinely enjoying this peaceful conversation.
" Once in a while?, From last two nights we're hardly discussing over something important.
Last night you were asking what my type was? And before that what other dishes I can make?" Eren was really mad due to more than few reasons.
Ever since Alena found a wisp of attachment with eren since her breakthrough, her demenour changed. She was no longer that distant and neglecting monster.
She wanted to dwell in this attachment more, she desired Eren's company more and more. Of course she had selfish reason but it was more than that.
But naive eren remained aloof to her gestures, in a way he was dealing with his own problems
He had made a choice to trust someone again. That was Alena but fear of being alone again terrified him.
" So you don't want to be with me?, But you said you'll be with for life." Alena teared up, his voice shaky and obviously laced with fake sadness.
" That's not what I said, Stop making it weird.
What I wanted to say that don't take me as a toy that can be played around till you get bored." Obviously eren knew she was just joking but it was getting on his nerve.
She had bad habit of twisting his word into something he felt embarassing about, he didn't like it but Alena sure enjoyed maessing with him.
" You monster, You promised to be with me for eternity and now you just want to leave after toying with me."
" Stop making false accusation."
" You filthy beast after you did all sort of things with me."
" Hey-" Eren nearly fell on his knees upon her overly exaggerated manner of speech and unbelievable plot twist.
" No I won't let you go."
"...." Fine veins twitched on Eren's face.
" Admitting defeat already." She laughed as all the pitiful and sad persona acting disappeared.
" Of Course." Eren said, calming his angry head.
" Aunt sera tought me to be respectful towards elders, especially if they're virgin." He purposely spoke virgin in slow and loud tone.
" How dare you?"
" That mean you are virgin, can't find yourself male fox. Want me to set you up." Alena's fox eyes twiched at his remark.
She took him for child and got played. Truly mortifying thing was him treating her as a monster.
" So I'm just a fox monster in your eyes." Her voice down, that really hurt.
" I was just joking." Eren felt guilty of going overboard, instant that he regretted speaking.
" So was i sucker." That was what she was waiting for, Eren fell right into it.
" Hey-"
" Hahaha..."
" Stop, stop.. Virgin fox."