Luca made eye contact with the old man, his round mouth widening slightly.
"He looks like you, Isabella," the old man said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Isabella smiled gently and stroked Luca's head.
"..."
Aldric stepped forward and reached out, lifting Luca into his arms.
Huh?
A warm, pulsing energy surged through Luca's body as Aldric infused him with his aura. His small frame shuddered in response.
"Ooh..."
Instinctively, Luca sensed the extraordinary purity of the warmth—it felt raw, like it had come straight from nature itself.
It's warming up my body…
Luca was incredibly frail. He knew his mother had been worried about his weak constitution for some time now. At first, he assumed it was simply because he was still a child. But the truth ran deeper—his body had a fundamental flaw.
Aldric carefully examined Luca's body with his aura, scanning him inch by inch. A few moments later, he silently returned the child to Isabella.
What's wrong?
A realization dawned on Aldric's face, followed by a deep, sorrowful expression.
"Isabella," he said gravely.
"Yes? Did you figure out what's wrong with Luca?" Isabella asked, worry creeping into her voice.
A heavy silence lingered before Aldric finally spoke.
"This child has Mana Dissipation Syndrome."
"Huh…? But Aldric, are you sure...?" Isabella's voice trembled with dread, her expression darkening. She knew what this meant—the suffering, the limitations, the inevitable struggles her son would endure without proper mana control.
Unlike the faint smile he had worn earlier, Aldric's face was now cold as frost.
Huh…?
Luca didn't fully grasp the severity of the situation. Mana Dissipation Syndrome? His non-existent eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Aldric turned away as if disappointed, his shoulders stiff with finality.
"Wait, Aldric! At least tell me what to do—please!" Isabella called out, desperation in her voice as she clutched Luca closer.
But Aldric did not turn back. "For the boy's sake, don't let him dream of becoming a warrior. Without mana, it will only bring him disappointment," he said before promptly leaving the mansion.
Luca's lips trembled.
"Why…? Why did it have to be you, Luca? I-I'm so sorry!"
Isabella hugged him tightly, burying her face in his tiny body. The tears she had barely been holding back finally spilled over, soaking into his clothes.
Luca's heart clenched at the sight of his mother's sorrow.
But… I'm so sleepy... I can't think…
Slowly, his eyes fluttered shut. His mother's warmth enveloped him, lulling him into a deep sleep.
A child's body really is inconvenient…
-------------
The stars illuminated every corner of the night sky.
She's asleep.
Luca turned his head to the side. His mother lay peacefully beside him, her breathing steady.
Whew...
He let out a small sigh.
It had been one hundred days since Aldric's visit.
It's time to get started…
Luca slowly exhaled, focusing on the mana coursing through his veins. Just as quickly as he could sense it, the energy slipped away, dispersing into the air.
Since Aldric's visit, he had learned a few things.
First, this world was called Aetherios.
Second, mana was the lifeblood of this world, flowing through every living being like oxygen. It was an ethereal energy that fueled magic, enhanced physical abilities, and influenced the very fabric of reality. While mana was universal, its quality, quantity, and control varied from person to person.
Every individual possessed an internal network of mana circuits—akin to veins—that regulated the flow of mana throughout the body. The strength of these circuits determined how efficiently one could store, channel, and manipulate mana. They were categorized into three key aspects:
Capacity – The total volume of mana a person could store. Conductivity – How efficiently mana flowed through their circuits. Resonance – Their natural affinity or synchronization with specific magical forces.
Most people instinctively retained and controlled their mana. Luca, however, suffered from a rare condition known as Mana Dissipation Syndrome (MDS). His circuits were riddled with microscopic fractures, causing his mana to leak away before it could be used. This resulted in:
Inefficient Mana Control – Any attempt at magic would fail as his energy dispersed into the atmosphere. Physical Frailty – Since mana reinforced the body, his constitution was far weaker than it should be. Overexertion Risks – Pushing himself too hard could worsen the damage or cause permanent deterioration.
Yet, he had noticed something.
Perhaps due to his newborn body constantly adapting, the fractures in his circuits had begun to heal—slowly, but surely. The forced repeated exposure to mana as a result of focused breathing. Seemed to be reinforcing them, making them ever so slightly stronger.
Still, at this pace, it would take years for him to catch up to his peers in mana control.
But he wasn't worried.
He had a lifetime of knowledge from his past life. Surely, with the right plan, he could close that gap.