The days following the overheard conversation between Selena and Elara were filled with an anxious tension that even young Zephyron could not ignore.
Though his infant body was still fragile and incapable of direct action, the soul within him, merged with that of Lucian, was keenly aware of the dangers lurking in the shadows of the palace.
The looming threats were unsettling, but Zeph made a conscious decision not to let fear consume him. He knew that in his current state, he was helpless.
Trusting in Elara's power, especially after witnessing her fireball, he chose instead to focus on what he could control—learning magic.
Zeph, with the help of Lucian and ROSE, began to search through databases, looking for any documentation or information related to magic.
What they found was a mixture of mythical stories, recorded accounts of magicians, and a plethora of fantasy novels. None of it was reliable, and there was no direct connection between the magic in his current world and the myths from Lucian's reality.
But one fact stood out—the fantasy novels were the only sources that described anything close to what Zeph had seen. The novels frequently mentioned fireballs, mana, and magical cores, things the other documents lacked.
"Fantasy novels, though exaggerated, seem to contain the most useful depictions of magic," Lucian remarked in the mental space where they could communicate.
ROSE agreed, adding that the detailed descriptions of mana absorption and magical core development in these stories could provide a starting point.
Excited by the potential of these discoveries, Zeph set his focus on the concept of mana—the lifeblood of all magical activities in this world. Based on the novels, mana existed both in the air and within one's body, but the key to becoming a mage was to first sense it.
Zeph's journey began there.
He closed his eyes, allowing Lucian's suggestions to guide him as he attempted to sense the mana in the air. Hours passed, and despite his best efforts, nothing worked. Lucian and ROSE were equally perplexed.
They tried different methods, pulling from various fantasy stories: imagining mana like the wind, like water flowing around him, but each attempt failed. Frustrated, they turned their attention inward.
"What if the mana is already within your body?" ROSE suggested. "Perhaps it's not something you pull from outside, but something that exists in all living things."
Zeph latched onto this idea, and, after another series of trials, finally felt a breakthrough. He concentrated deeply, picturing his body as a vessel filled with energy.
Slowly, like tiny specks of dust glittering in a dark room, he sensed something—mana particles. His heart raced with excitement. The particles were faint, but they were there, floating within his body.
"I can feel them!" Zeph's mental voice was filled with elation. Lucian and ROSE watched eagerly as he continued to focus, trying to manipulate the particles.
At first, they barely moved, resisting his will like water trying to flow uphill. But with persistence, he eventually succeeded. The particles swirled inside him, moving under the guidance of his thoughts.
"Now, to form a core," Lucian murmured. But their path was still unclear. The fantasy novels spoke of a mana core, a concentrated source of energy within the body, but the method for creating one varied greatly from story to story.
Some tales suggested the core was something one was born with, while others claimed it was developed through intense training and meditation.
After several days of testing different methods, nothing seemed to work. Zeph couldn't find any trace of a core within himself.
Lucian proposed more extreme methods, some from more fantastical stories where characters absorbed mana from dangerous creatures or even through rituals. But a baby wasn't capable of complex rituals or catching beasts.
The frustration was growing when ROSE proposed a new theory.
"What if the development of the mana core is influenced by the soul?" ROSE's voice was thoughtful. "The magical system in this world might be tied to the soul itself, and since Zeph's soul isn't natural—perhaps that's why we're having trouble forming a core."
This theory intrigued Lucian. Together, they began experimenting with various meditation techniques.
They theorized that by diverting mana particles toward the soul, they might induce a resonance that could lead to the core's formation.
It was an untested idea, but Zeph, determined as ever, was eager to try.
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