After that, Catlin continued her explanation, telling him of more information that will be useful in the future. Or so she thought.
In truth, Ardent planned on practicing when he could, as his Mana control is decent enough.
'But, will it cause anything to happen?' he asked in his head. Mana Core creation mean someone manage to become a Mage. The chances of something to happen is possible, which will lead to a lot of questioning.
'Plus, other Mage might sense my Mana Core.' that is also why he was hesitating over the fact of creating his Mana Core so soon.
However, if he did not do so, his advantage of being able to use Mana in such a young age would be diminished.
"I have to train to hide my Mana Core and not get seen by the village's Mages." he said to himself before planning his little escapades.
-x-
The night of the third day of his lesson with Catlin, Ardent decided to make his Mana Core. One of the reason is him asking Catlin if other Mages could detect Mana Core of other Mages.
While the answer is yes, she also tell him that it is possible to hide the fact one is a Mage by practicing enough Mana control to the point one can hide the existence of their Mana Core.
He planned on doing that, but before that, he need to create his Mana Core and practice hiding his Mana.
Ardent smiled, excited over the prospect of finally able to use spells.
-x-
"This should be far enough." Ardent said to himself. He decided to head towards a nearby lake. While the spot is beautiful in the day, in the night, it seem to be eerie, with the darkness making it even creepier.
'Hopefully the adults are scared of this place.'
Ardent quickly find a spot on a large tree. Sitting on the top, he control the Mana in the surrounding area, before moving it inside of him.
It cause the Mana inside of him to swirl with the outside Mana, creating a maelstrom inside of him. He could feel his Mana combined with the one inside, slowly assimilating the outside Mana as his own.
As he continue absorbing the outside Mana, Ardent replayed what he learned from Catlin, on how to create a Mana Core.
"First, move the Mana to the center of your body. Then, continue keeping it there while observing the reaction inside. It will take a long time, but slowly, the Mana inside will congealed, turning into a swirling Mana Sphere.
When it become a Mana Sphere, you need to keep it that way and wait. Wait for when the Mana Sphere to reach a point of balance, where the Mana Sphere seem to harmonize with the outside Mana.
Once that happen, control the Mana and make it so it will crystallize. Once it crystallize, that means it finally become a Mana Core."
Everything Catlin said to him was put on repeat in his brain, as he followed her instruction. One she learned from her father.
Slowly, a Mana Sphere form, somewhere inside of him. He could tell it was not inside of him, as he would feel something. The only thing he can say about it is it should be in a dimension inside his body, or something like that.
He pushed the inquisitive thought away for the moment and instead focused on the more important stuff. Namely waiting for the equilibrium to be reach.
As his Mana Sphere interact with the outside Mana, he could tell some of it reflexively reacted to it, pushing it away.
Despite wanting to control the Mana Sphere to somehow made it more ... receptive, he could tell doing it that way will lead to his ruin.
So, he waited, and waited, and waited, until finally, his Mana Sphere reach the point of equilibrium. It reacted to the outside Mana but did not lash out, instead absorbing it before expelling it back.
'Now, time for the hard part.' Catlin had always emphasize on the crystallization, saying it is the hardest and what will make someone's a Mage or not. He had been dreaming of becoming a Mage for a long time, well, two years but that is still long, so failure is not permitted.
He could feel the Mana Sphere undergoing its transformation, slowly turning from a swirling Sphere of Mana into an orb of crystallize Mana.
By the time he finished, he was certain hours had passed by him before he finally opened his eyes. Moving his limbs, he could feel himself being sore and stiff from the long period of sitting very still and not moving.
"At least it is done." he said to himself. He could feel the Mana Core, with the Mana inside it being calm and not volatile as Mana Sphere.
"Sweet!" Ardent could not control his excitement. He always want to be able to use magic when he learn it was possible. It was only now, after two years of living his life as Ardent, did he finally achieve his dream.
But, as much as he want to practice, he need to conceal his Mana Core. Taking another deep breath, Alros control his Mana, draining it and not storing it in his Mana Core.
As long as he make sure his Mana did not look much different compared to other children, then no one will suspect a thing. He could not be completely sure if he succeed, but he need to at least try and pray for the best.
Once his preparation was done, Ardent let out a sigh, trying to calm his heart.
"I did everything I can do. Now, to see if it work."
-x-
Ardent returned to his house, doing his best to not be found by his parents. Thankfully, they still asleep, which he plan on doing. But, with the presence of his Mana Core and his remaining excitement, it was hard to do so.
"I need to sleep." finally, his shut eyes allowed his mind to drift into the Realm of Unc-
"Wake up!" never in his life Ardent wish to harm his parents, but there always be a first time for everything.