Astranor picked up the vial, holding for inspection. A satisfied look crossed his face; the liquid was still potent. He handed it to Mammon, who accepted it with utmost care, as if holding a fragile relic.
"That's FrostFlower Sap," Astranor explained. "It has the unique ability to cool and numb any part of the body suffering from injuries or internal pain."
"Really?" Mammon asked, inspecting the shimmering, silvery-blue liquid.
"Yes," Astranor continued. "It's not just a pain reliever, it actively heals damaged tissue. Pour a little over your head. It works faster that way."
Mammon nodded and uncorked the vial. The liquid was thick and slightly slimy, sticking to his fingers as he tilted a small amount onto his scalp. It slowly seeped in, spreading across his head. Almost immediately, a soothing, cool sensation washed over him, like stepping into a serene mountain stream.
"So good," he murmured, closing his eyes. "It feels like being in a calm stream of cool water."
"Yeah, yeah, I told you it would," Astranor said with a slight smirk. "Now, let's get to the heart of it. Tell me what exactly happened in your mind?"
Mammon waited for the last traces of the liquid to absorb before pulling up a chair. Astranor, with a casual flick of his fingers, conjured a sturdy chair out of thin air and sat across from him, his expression one of quiet curiosity.
"Well," Mammon began, "I followed what you told me to do and managed to reach my mind."
"Seriously?" Astranor's brow arched. "You actually reached your mind space?"
"Yes. It was this vast, white void, and..."
"Spare me the aesthetics," Astranor interrupted with a wave of his hand. "I know what a mind space looks like. Skip to the important parts."
"Okay," Mammon said, leaning forward. "There was a prison in the distance, and I felt drawn to it. When I got there, I found a runic lock with a handprint on it and chains wrapped around the prison bars. I was curious, so I placed my hand on the lock. It glowed, and the chains started breaking one by one."
"A prison?" Astranor's eyes narrowed, a flicker of unease or perhaps concern briefly shadowing his gaze.
"Yes. Inside, I found thousands of particles, all glowing and moving toward a specific point. I followed them and found this cluster of light."
Astranor's gaze sharpened. "A cluster of particles?" he murmured, almost to himself.
"Yeah," Mammon continued. "I touched it, and that's when the sharp pain in my head began."
Astranor's expression shifted subtly as if pieces of a puzzle were clicking into place. The absence of mana, the beast attacks, Mammon's extraordinary resolve, and now the prison and particles, it all painted a picture Astranor couldn't ignore.
"Is that all?" Astranor asked, his tone unreadable.
"No, there's more," Mammon said, recounting how he had reshaped the white void into a small, vibrant world and the energy cluster had settled within a glowing tree.
Astranor leaned back, visibly processing the information. A hint of surprise flickered across his usually composed face.
"You formed a world in your mind space?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "That's… impressive. Only the most gifted mages, with years of training and mastery over their mana, can accomplish such a feat. You're not ordinary, Mammon. Far from it."
Mammon shifted in his seat, feeling a mixture of pride and unease. "Well, I just channeled my ideas and let the space respond to me."
Astranor's gaze softened. "Then it's clear, you've awakened your mana, though it remains bound to your mind. Let's confirm it, check your status.
Mammon nodded and brought up his status window. His eyes widened when he saw his mana pool displayed as nothing but question marks.
"That's… strange," Mammon muttered, frowning.
"It's exactly what I expected," Astranor said with a small nod. "Your mana resides in your mind right now. To fully harness it, you need to guide it into your Mana Heart, where it can settle permanently."
"How do I do that?"
"With focus and determination," Astranor said. "I'll guide you, but the effort is yours to make. Sit straight, close your eyes, and visualize the cluster you saw in your mind."
Mammon did as instructed, picturing the radiant tree and its pulsing energy. Astranor's voice guided him like an anchor in the storm. "Draw that energy down, boy. From your mind, through your body, to your Mana Heart. Feel the flow."
At first, it was like pushing against an invisible barrier. The energy resisted, stubborn and wild, but Mammon persisted. He focused harder, his breathing growing heavier as sweat beaded on his forehead.
And then, it shifted.
The energy began to move, slowly at first, then with increasing fluidity. It coursed through him, vibrant and alive, until it reached his Mana Heart. A rush of power exploded through his senses, leaving him breathless. He opened his eyes, his entire body thrumming with newfound vitality.
Astranor smiled, the rare expression lighting up his weathered face. "You did it. Your Mana Heart is awake. Now you're truly on the path to becoming a mage."
Mammon grinned, exhilarated by the energy coursing through him. It was as if a part of him he hadn't known was missing had finally been restored.
"Don't get too cocky, kid," Astranor said, standing. "Raw power without discipline is a recipe for disaster. Now comes the real work, control."
Mammon followed him, feeling a new sense of purpose as they dove into the basics of mana control. Under Astranor's guidance, Mammon learned to channel his energy into simple elemental spells, each movement refining his control and sharpening his focus. Astranor watched him like a hawk, correcting every misstep and pushing him to his limits of concentration.
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