"Another year pass. My Mana control should be in decent enough. Though it would not be until I am 12 that I can even hope to start a proper magic training." Ardent mused to himself.
The lack of Mage in the rural area in general, not just the village made them a previous commodity. After all, each Mage is equivalent to a group of trained Warrior, increasing the defensive capability of the village and making the village even more protected from any outside threat, whether there are bandits or wild beasts.
Even if some guards can use Mana, the ability to attack from a distance, with spells that can bombard an area made many consider Mages to be better.
In fact, he decided to learn of the Technique some guards can use to use Mana. Though, they called it Aura, or so Frank told him.
By controlling their Mana, they could coat their body with Aura, improving their physical ability. Of course, the improvement greatly depends on the capability of the Aura user. The better they are in using Aura, the better their physical attribute.
However, he did not plan on going through such route. Namely, because being a Mage is better and he could achieve the dream of his childhood before reality set in.
"I wonder where Catlin is. She should be here for a rendezvous." Ardent looked around. Both child had decided to met up in the area, hoping to spoke to one another. However, she was late for some reason. Which is weird as she usually arrive first between the two of them.
As he wondered if she had an accident or not allow to meet him, a voice come yelling from behind,
"Ardent!" he turned to see the blonde running towards him, stopping next to him before gasping for air.
"Catlin, what happened, and what is in your hand?" Ardent asked, looking at the smaller blonde first before his attention was caught on the book in her hand.
"Oh this. This is a book about magic. I get it from my father, plus some notes I made so I can tell you all about what my father teach me." Catlin said enthusiastically.
Ardent's eyes widened with delight. His main block of learning magic, his lack of tutor or knowledge of magic in general, and it was solved by the cute blonde in front of him.
The moment he thought of it, he had to stop himself from slapping himself. Only screaming the mantra 'I am not a pedo!' repeatedly in his head.
"You father will not get mad for teaching it to others." he decided to ask. He did not want his friend, and maybe something more in the future getting into trouble for him.
"No. Besides, me teaching others can help him find potential Mage. After all, maybe teaching some early on will increase the chance of them able to learn magic." Ardent nodded before looking back at the book.
Seeing this, Catlin had a smug smile before saying in a pompous tone, "Let me teach you everything about magic, my foolish student."
Ardent rolled his eyes extravagantly, so she could see him doing it. Catlin pouted in return, before crossing her arms.
"So you don't want me to teach you." she said with a pout, her head turned to the side.
Seeing her pouting, Ardent decided to act with her, "Of course I do, my wise Master. This foolish student is just shocked by your kindness."
Catlin giggled before covering her mouth and replying, "But of course. This Master is the most generous person in the entire world."
"Yes, and the generous Master will teach thus foolish student everything then."
"Why of course. Isn't it the job of a teacher to teach the students?"
"Yes, this student bow down to the superior knowledge of the Master."
As Ardent bow down, Catlin could not hold it any more and laughed loudly, her hands on her stomach. Ardent keep a calm facade, for 20 seconds before following suit.
Both children rolled on the ground, laughing at their hammy acting.
"... I think we should get back to what we about to do." Catlin reminded him. Ardent nodded as he watched his friend opening the book.
"The first thing you need to know about magic is Mana control. You need to be able to manipulate Mana to a certain degree. However, because we cannot control Mana because of being young, we just learn the theory."
Ardent nodded, though he knew his Mana control had reach to a high a level. Or so he thinks.
"The first thing about magic is it require a Mana Core. A Mage can create their Mana Core by accumulating Mana into their body, before turning it into a Mana Core. Only then can they hope to use magic." she explained.
'So that's why I cannot do anything close to resembling spells.' Ardent thought to himself. He always wondered what he might be missing and was glad he befriended, and maybe something more with Catlin.
"When the Mana Core is formed, someone can be considered a Mage Apprentice. That's when they can use spell. But the spell they use will be of Mana Attribute, or No-attribute spell. The thing they can do is just simple blast of Mana and weak barrier. Enough to shield one self against rock throws by children by will break when someone struck you with a sword, or stabbing you with a spear." Catlin told him.
Ardent continue nodding while summarizing the detail in his head, 'So, it practically beginner level spell. Not exactly the most useful, maybe even the most useless but can still be good."
"Someone can be consider a true Mage, when they en- engrave a Magic Circle on their Mana Core." Catlin explained.
"Huh, how can someone engrave something in their Mana Core. Isn't it will be deep inside?" Ardent asked in confusion. Though, he do have some idea from all the game he played but it is better to act like a complete novice he should be.
"I don't understand it either, but apparently you will understand when you become a Mage. Father said that you can engrave a Magic Circle on your Mana Core, only of your attribute."
"Attribute?" another word he could think of some connotation with magic but must pretend not to.
"Yeah, things like the elements. Water, Fire, Earth. Things like that. No one's attributes can be predicted, so you have to find it yourself.
Of course, being able to use magic spell not of Mana Attribute is not the end. They will only be consider a 1st Circle Mage." she continued her explanation.
"1st Circle Mage?" a term he truly did not understand.
"Father said Circle is how Mage tell different between the o-output of their spell. The higher, the stronger. So, a 2nd Circle Mage will be able to use a stronger spell than 1st Circle Mage." Ardent could only hum, unable to add anything as he only learned of this information.
Something Catlin knew by how smug she was. However, even with her smug smile, Catlin continued her explanation,
"Of course, 2nd Circle Mage, while can use stronger spell, is not necessarily stronger than 1st Circle Mage. If the 1st Circle Mage is more experienced, he can took down a less experienced 2nd Circle Mage. But, if both have the same experience and understanding, the battle will no doubt won by 2nd Circle Mage."