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Chapter 11 - Chapter Eleven: New Horizons

After the formation of the soul core, the connection between Zeph and Lucian had deepened in ways neither of them had anticipated. With the formation of their soul cores, their once limited interactions—mere thoughts passed back and forth like notes in a silent room—had evolved into something far more profound.

Now, they could sense each other's emotions, feel the ebb and flow of energy within their souls, and even share the subtle shifts in their mental states. It was as though their souls had become entangled, their existences intricately intertwined.

Zeph was still adjusting to this new dynamic. Sometimes it was overwhelming to feel Lucian's sharp bursts of curiosity or his moments of deep contemplation.

Lucian, too, could sense Zeph's moods, his growing frustrations, and his excitement when they made a breakthrough. There was a certain comfort in it, knowing that they weren't alone in this journey, that someone else was experiencing the same highs and lows, though Lucian's calmness often contrasted with Zeph's youthful emotions.

Zeph's focus was back on his mana core, which he could feel pulsing steadily within him. Unlike the soul core, which sat passively in his being, the mana core was alive with energy, drawing mana from the environment and circulating it through his body.

It was a constant process, like a river flowing endlessly, pulling energy in and then channeling it through him. His body had grown accustomed to the sensation, the tingling flow of mana through his veins. He found it strangely soothing, like the rhythmic beating of a heart.

Yet despite this newfound ability, a sense of frustration loomed over him. As much as he wanted to sense the mana in the outside world, beyond his physical form, he simply couldn't.

Every time he tried, he hit a wall, his awareness confined to the limits of his own body. It was as though he were trapped in a small bubble, unable to extend his reach. Each failed attempt gnawed at him, deepening his sense of inadequacy.

"Why can't I do it?" he thought to himself, though Lucian felt the frustration ripple through their connection.

"Give it time, Zeph," Lucian replied in his usual measured tone. "You're still adjusting to this. It's not something that will come overnight."

But the words, however logical, didn't soothe the disappointment gnawing at Zeph. He wanted to explore more, to stretch his abilities to their limits, but for now, all he could do was study the mana within his body and hope that in time, his senses would expand beyond.

He focused inward again, tuning into the core of mana energy within him. He could see it—or rather, feel it—in his mind's eye: a dense, swirling orb of energy deep inside him.

The color of the core was dark red, something that had puzzled him from the start. What did it mean? Why red? And why did the mana particles flowing through him come in different colors—blue, green, and brown?

Zeph couldn't make sense of it. He had no knowledge of what these colors signified or if they had any special properties.

But if there was one thing he had learned from Lucian, it was that observation was key. Even without understanding, he could gather information and patterns, and eventually, pieces of the puzzle would fall into place.

He decided to focus on manipulating the mana particles again. It had become easier since the formation of his mana core.

Before, it had taken all his willpower just to move the mana within him, like trying to push a boulder uphill. But now, the energy flowed more naturally, and manipulating the particles was starting to feel as simple as forming a thought.

Lucian had suggested that imagination and willpower were crucial in controlling mana, an idea they had pulled from various fantasy novels during their research.

Zeph had laughed at first, thinking it too simple, but as it turned out, Lucian was right. When he concentrated on the mana particles, he found that envisioning their movement in his mind made it easier to control them.

This time, as he focused on the particles within him, he noticed something intriguing: the blue ones responded far more readily than the others. He could move them with ease, almost without effort. The green and brown particles, on the other hand, resisted slightly, requiring more focus and concentration to shift.

"Interesting," Zeph murmured. He pushed the blue particles around, testing their responsiveness.

They swirled through his body like a gentle breeze, flowing where he directed them with barely a thought. It was strange, but satisfying.

"I think I've figured something out," Zeph communicated to Lucian and ROSE. "The blue mana... it moves much faster than the others. I don't have to push it as hard, and it feels natural, like it's supposed to move this way."

"Fascinating," Lucian replied, his interest piqued. Zeph could sense the surge of curiosity on the other side of their connection.

"That could indicate different properties for the mana particles. Maybe each color has a unique function or affinity. The blue particles might be more aligned with certain types of magic, like air or water, depending on how mana works in this world."

Zeph nodded, though he was unsure. "I'm still not sure what the colors mean. I've only noticed these three—blue, green, and brown. But why? And what do they do?"

ROSE, as usual, chimed in with her pragmatic analysis. "Without further data, it's impossible to draw concrete conclusions. However, based on the observed patterns, it's likely that these colors represent different elemental properties or aspects of magic. You should continue experimenting with each type to gather more information."

Zeph agreed, though his body was beginning to tire. He had been at this for hours, testing the limits of his mana control, and the effort was starting to take its toll. His mana core, though full of energy, had drained his mental stamina.

He pushed a few more blue particles through his body, watching as they danced lightly, then tried to force the brown and green ones to move as well. They were sluggish, resisting his will. The harder he pushed, the more exhausted he became.

"I think that's enough for today," Zeph said with a heavy sigh.

"You've done well," Lucian encouraged him. "You've made significant progress today. Don't push yourself too hard—rest is just as important as practice."

As he laid back in his cradle, the weight of sleep began to press down on him. His mana core hummed softly within him, still absorbing the energy from his surroundings, but he allowed his mind to drift. 

"I'll need to try again tomorrow," Zeph thought as his eyelids fluttered shut. His final thought before he fell asleep was of the mana particles, swirling inside him like tiny fragments of potential, waiting for him to unlock their secrets.