"I want to start by saying that I'm no expert on the topic," Zoran began, fixing Maveth with a serious expression. Chief Orros, seated nearby, leaned in as well, eager to hear an explanation about Awakening from an actual Awakened. "I'm not a scholar or a researcher who's spent years figuring out exactly how and why things are the way they are. I'll just share the common knowledge everyone has, along with my personal experience."
"I appreciate your honesty," Maveth replied dryly, his tone measured, though his focus remained unwavering.
"Alright then." Zoran grabbed two cups and a pitcher of water, preparing a visual aid. "First, let's start with what exactly an Awakened is." He poured water into one cup, leaving the other empty. "To put it simply, think of this cup filled with water as an Awakened and this empty one as someone who isn't."
Maveth frowned slightly, trying to decipher the analogy.
"Basically," Zoran continued, "the difference comes down to something colloquially called mana. Now, I should explain mana first. Honestly, I don't know much beyond the basics, it's everywhere, and it's like a fuel source for the Awakened. You could compare it to wood for a fire. Without wood, the fire goes out, and the same principle applies to the Awakened."
He paused, allowing the concept to sink in before proceeding. "The tricky part is that the way someone becomes Awakened varies from person to person. Some people Awaken as children or even as babies, while others, no matter how hard they try, never manage to do so. The process isn't consistent, but there is one common theme: Awakening happens msot commonly when you're about to die." Zoran hesitated, his expression darkening slightly, before resuming.
"That's one reason why there aren't many of them, it's incredibly dangerous. Attempts to force Awakening often lead to more corpses. That said, it's not always tied to near-death experiences. Some people Awaken after reaching an epiphany or experiencing a life-altering event. As far as I know, the exact process isn't understood, at least not by the general public. Certain races, like the Highborn, are born Awakened, meaning even their weakest members are powerful by our standards."
Zoran gestured to the water-filled cup again. "Once you Awaken, you're like this glass filled with water, with mana being the water. The main difference is the ability to store mana within your body. All Awakened do this, and it's this mana that allows us to perform feats impossible for ordinary people."
He set the cups aside and leaned forward slightly. "This is where Awakened individuals diverge into countless categories. Some use the mana within them to enhance their physical abilities, like me, while others use it to perform magic. Magic refers to using mana to create unnatural phenomena. For instance, the most well-known magic user in the city where I was born can create fire using mana."
"I'm not entirely sure about the finer details," Zoran admitted, "since I'm not a focused magic user myself, but I've heard magic is incredibly diverse. Those who enhance their physical abilities, like me, can also use mana to achieve feats that resemble magic." At this point, Zoran picked up his spear. With a strained expression, he focused, and the tip of the spear glowed faintly red.
"This is an example of that. However, unlike a trained mage, I need a weapon to channel my mana. Some people aim to master both physical and magical abilities, but they often end up being average at both. There are other paths too, like healers or craftsmen, who prioritize different uses of their mana, often outside combat. The world is vast, and I'm certain there are even more paths I've yet to encounter."
Zoran stopped himself, realizing he might be overwhelming his audience.
"Does one get to decide what path to follow once they Awaken, or is it predetermined?" Maveth asked, finally breaking his silence.
"You have some choice," Zoran explained, "but you're limited by the amount of mana within you. And just because you might want to be a warrior, for example, doesn't mean it's the best path. If you're more skilled with a bow, that might be the better option. But that's just my opinion."
"You explained how someone Awakens but not what they do afterward. I've heard of powerful figures capable of destroying cities. No offense, but you don't seem capable of that," Chief Orros interjected, seizing the chance to ask a question that had lingered in his mind for years.
"There are numerous ways for Awakened individuals to grow stronger and achieve feats that can alter the very fabric of the world," Zoran began, addressing the question he had anticipated elaborating on. "The most straightforward methods are training and studying, which can enhance your control over mana and gradually increase its capacity. However, those methods are incredibly slow and inefficient, so they're typically only used to hone specific skills. There are plenty of other ways, but most I wouldn't recommend for one reason or another. The only truly efficient method is killing beings of equal or greater power than yourself."
"What? Killing things?" Orros exclaimed, his disbelief evident.
"Yes," Zoran affirmed with a nod. "A friend once told me that when an Awakened individual dies, their internal mana erupts outward. During that eruption, it becomes relatively easy to absorb the surging mana and make it your own. But even that method comes with risks."
"What kind of risks?" Maveth interjected, his curiosity piqued.
"For starters," Zoran explained, "there are wealthy individuals who've paid Awakened warriors to hunt beasts and let them absorb the mana. The problem is, it almost never works. If the person attempting to absorb the mana is significantly weaker, it could even lead to their death. Additionally, trying to absorb mana repeatedly over a short period can have dangerous side effects. Mana isn't uniform across individuals. Remember when I talked about healers? Imagine someone decided to kill healers because they seemed like easy targets to steal mana from. In theory, it might work, but the efficiency would drop drastically. That's because healers channel their mana differently."
"What about individuals in similar professions, like two warriors or two magic users?" Maveth asked, seeking clarity.
"If both warriors use mana, then yes, the victor could absorb a substantial amount. But magic is vast and complex, and like I said, I'm no expert. I'm not entirely sure it would work the same way with magic users."
"So, how do healers or craftsmen grow stronger? Do they have to kill too?" Orros questioned.
"Killing is just the quickest route," Zoran clarified, "but it's neither the only way nor necessarily the best. Every profession has its own unique methods for improvement."
"Alright, what if a group of ten attacks one target? How does that work?" The chief, his brow furrowed in thought, pressed further.
"It depends," Zoran replied. "If the group works together to defeat a stronger beast, they'd all benefit to some degree. However, if someone in the group didn't contribute and merely observed, they wouldn't gain much, even if they were nearby."
"Why is that?" the chief asked again, his confusion deepening.
"As I mentioned, I'm no expert," Zoran admitted, his patience beginning to wear thin. "There's a lot I don't know or that simply wasn't relevant to me. For more detailed answers, your best bet would be the viscounty capital. I've heard they have a university with scholars who probably know far more than I do."
Maveth's eyes suddenly took on a faint purple hue as he listened intently to Zoran. The change didn't escape Zoran's notice, but he refrained from commenting immediately. Instead, he explained calmly, "I don't know what ability that is, or what it's good for, but it's definitely an Awakened skill, similar to the way I channel my mana through my spear."
"Awakened abilities can be used for more than just attacks?" Maveth asked, his glowing eyes fixed on Zoran.
"Of course," Zoran said with a slight smile. "Most Awakened possess several abilities, many of which aren't combat-related. After all, there's more to life than fighting. Let me share one final piece of advice, Maveth, and if you take anything away from this conversation, let it be this: the world is far larger and more dangerous than you can imagine. There are creatures out there that make you and me seem like insects in comparison. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that being Awakened makes you invincible or unique. Avoid letting arrogance cloud your judgment."
He leaned back slightly, his tone growing more solemn. "Awakened individuals are divided into thirteen levels. Right now, we're both at the very first. Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is on the same playing field. If you want my advice, don't go chasing dragons in hopes of becoming stronger. Start small, mice, then wolves, then bears. Take it slow. Otherwise..."
Zoran trailed off, his words hanging heavy in the air as he rose from his seat. Exhausted from the day's events and weary of the discussion, he left the table with those parting words.
Though his final remarks came across as a bit of a rant, Zoran's intention was clear. He didn't want Maveth to meet an untimely end by overestimating his strength. As he retired for the evening, Zoran's thoughts turned to Asha and her training. He resolved to begin her lessons in earnest, preparing her for what he hoped would one day be her own Awakening. Briefly, he wondered how she might develop over time. Would she become a warrior like him? A magic user? Or perhaps something entirely different?