episode_0180

Episode 180

Monaz’s room was crowded with all kinds of books and miscellaneous items. Although the direction was different, it reminded me of Juliana’s workshop. As those who have been recognized by the grimoire, they may have some common traits.

There, Monaz and I are sitting across from each other at the table. It’s time to take the magic class I planned to take last time.

“All training begins with feeling the mana in the body. But inevitably, I have no choice but to skip this part. In fact, the princess tried it once when she was very young. I had no choice but to conclude that I had absolutely no talent for magic. Because no mana came out at all.”

Monaz, who was familiar with the explanation, did not feel much of his dignity as the archmage representing Lustier. He looks more like a teacher at a rural school. That is, except for the royal magician’s fancy attire.

There I raised one hand high. Monaz allowed questions.

“Yes, princess. What is it?”

“I want to check one thing. I understand that the magic power contained in grimoires is not easily filled. So, how should we practice using mana in class?”

“Good question. Let’s use this.”

Monaz took out a small glass bottle from her pocket. It was filled with translucent ores the size of peppermint candy.

“It’s a magic stone.”

“Yes. We will use this to practice mana handling.”

Monaz poured the magic stones from the bottle onto the desk. A magic stone this clean and high quality would be much more expensive than the same weight of gold. It’s a pretty luxurious class.

Monaz reached out and picked one of them up. Monaz, who was looking at the magic stone, asked me.

“So, the princess had the mysterious ability to see mana. Is it still possible?”

“Yes. I can see it.”

Colorless and transparent mana can be seen forming on the magic stone. It was almost motionless, like a viscous liquid.

“Good. If so, it would be much more understandable than in the normal case. Pick up a magic stone.”

When I picked up the magic stone with two fingers, just like Monaz, he turned his gaze back to the magic stone in his hand.

Soon the mana contained in the magic stone began to move. The lump of mana that escaped from the magic stone rolled between Monaz’s fingers.

“This is the exercise you will do today. Extracting pure mana from magic stones. Slowly, think of the sensation in your fingers being transferred to the energy within the magic stone. It is better to approach it intuitively rather than theoretically. The sense of mana varies from person to person.”

“Uhm, I understand. I’ll give it a try.”

“There is no need to be disappointed if it doesn’t work out. Originally, it was a practice that was only done after one had become quite familiar with handling mana in the body. It should take at least a week…”

“Uh, it’s okay?”

“Yes?”

Monaz looked at my hands in confusion. Indeed, the mana inside the magic stone came out according to my will and was deposited at my fingertips.

“…How did you do it?”

“That’s right… I did as you told me. It’s as if the sensation at your fingertips is directly connected to your mana. It wasn’t that difficult, right?”

“Would you please try again?”

Monaz handed me another magic stone. I took it with my opposite hand and showed him how to do the same thing with his left hand this time.

The finger holding the magic stone is touching the border of mana. For me, who could clearly see the boundary with my eyes, it was not that difficult to imagine it as if it were a real substance.

The colorless mana in both hands moved freely according to my will. Monaz’s expression was filled with wonder as she watched the circus of mana being performed simultaneously on both hands, rolling over the back of her hand or jumping from one finger to another.

“It’s a unique… and amazing talent.”

“I didn’t know that being able to see would be an advantage in mana management.”

“No, not just that. The ability to detect mana and the ability to manipulate it are separate things. As magic stones are minerals, they are fundamentally hard. To manipulate the mana extracted from there freely requires another talent.”

Actually, I wasn’t that surprised. It was a fact guaranteed by the Tree of Knowledge that I had the talent to manipulate mana.

“Good. So what’s the next step?”

Managing mana was more fun than I thought. I feel like I can do as much as I want with this kind of training. It may be because it is still too easy to think that way.

However, Monaz lightly shook her head as she put the magic stones scattered on the desk back into the bottle.

“It is also not a good idea to skip too many steps at once. I’ll give you this, so repeat the exercise from before. Glad I saved you some time. Thanks to this, I will be able to conduct theory classes in depth.”

Monaz placed a very thick book on the table. It was as if it had been written that it would be difficult to even look at.

“Ugh…”

I sighed and put the magic stone in my hand back into the bottle.

* * *

Monaz’s theory class was very intense.

It was close to digging into every detail and uncovering the principles of what I intuitively realized while reading the Book of Enekra. Although it was still only at an introductory level, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the depth of magic.

You don’t need to know the entire structure of a gun to shoot it. But it definitely helps if you know. Monaz’s education seemed to say so.

Well, it’s actually a poor analogy. Compared to a gun that fires when you just pull the trigger, magic is a field where knowledge is much more important. So, it was completely understandable to focus so much on theory classes.

I sat in front of the desk in my room and held a magic stone in my hand. Mana seeps into my hands from the magic stone without difficulty.

‘Insra.’

Using that mana, I summoned the Book of Enekra. The reduced mana was barely noticeable.

It’s a very efficient magic. At this level, if you only carry the magic stone, you don’t have to worry about summoning and returning the book.

It would be nice if I could use the magic written in the Book of Enekra with this mana extracted from the magic stone. But unfortunately that is not possible.

The only things written in the Book of Enekra are mental magic. Monaz explained that the properties of ore are completely opposite to those of mana.

I put my regrets aside and began to leaf through the Book of Enekra. When I read it again based on the theories I learned today, there were some new insights.

The nature of mana is extremely personal. Even among mages of seemingly similar lineage, it seems that it is not easy to exchange or share mana.

But I had seen the phenomenon firsthand. And that too very recently.

Carmel accepted Mystilia’s magic power and part of the dismantled curse as her own mana. In other words, Enekra and Carmel have mana that is compatible with each other.

In other words, even if the mana of the Book of Enekra is consumed, there is a way to replenish it. A mana tank named Carmel.

That is definitely a very welcome thing. But that didn’t mean he could use magic too much.

In order to replenish the consumed mana with Carmel’s mana, I must inform Carmel that I have obtained the Book of Enekra. According to the Tree of Knowledge, the moment Carmel touches the Book of Enekra, ownership of the book is determined once again. It is by no means a small risk.

In the end, you can leave magic as the last card and think of it as not being completely impossible to recharge the consumed mana. That alone is a positive aspect.

Besides, I’m thinking about that too.

Perhaps Carmel… wouldn’t she give up the Book of Enekra if I asked?

We know that Carmel places great value on magical accomplishments. Obtaining the Book of Enekra would have been one of Carmel’s main desires.

But for me… maybe…

No, that would be great, but you shouldn’t have hasty expectations. Rather, if they find out that the Book of Enekra is in their hands, there is a high possibility that they will start thinking about stealing it.

I might mention the debt I owed this time. Of course, I have absolutely no intention of turning over the Book of Enekra for something like this.

Therefore, it is the right decision to hide the fact that I am a grimoire holder from Carmel for the time being. You’ll eventually get caught, so you’ll need to prepare for that.

I closed the open Book of Enekra. And I mentally cast the spell of return.

‘Outra.’

The mana in my hand decreased slightly, and the Book of Enekra disappeared in an instant.

* * *

Several days have passed.

Neither through Ktisha, nor through informants released to the Knights or Lullier, much information was available about the shamans who came from outside.

In that case, I might have to meet the Marquis of Sesennes. I wanted to gather some information about the enemy and contact them directly, but… I don’t have time.

Like Mystilia and the Book of Enekra, there are many types of magic that bind the mind rather than directly harming the body.

If the Marquis of Cesennes is being used, there is a high possibility that he is being manipulated by them. Just by lifting the curse on him, the situation would have progressed significantly.

To lift the curse, I’ll have to get Reelia’s help. Unless it is a great curse of the Mystile level, a clumsy curse will easily fly away in front of the power of a saint.

If we can’t figure out something by today, let’s go ask Leelia for a favor. That was when I was thinking about it.

Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock. An urgent knock is heard. It was none other than Rika who opened the door and came in.

“…Rika? What’s going on?”

The complexion is so dark that you can tell at a glance. As if something terribly scary had happened.

With a face that seemed as if it would collapse at any moment, she told me the sad news.

When I heard that, I couldn’t help but make the same face as Rika.

“…Reelia…”