A bright screen appeared in front of Max and Echo showing Max's stats
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[Name]: Max Benz
[Age]: 13
[STR]: 5
[INT]: 6
[STA]: 5
[MANA]: 3
[Artifact]: The Traveller [Divine] A divine artifact that allows the user to travel between worlds in this vast cosmos. Created by the God of Time, it holds unimaginable power.
---
"Hey, this is new. I have a new stat category [MANA]. Isn't it something related to magic? I've read about it in a few different series," said Max excitedly.
"I knew it. The pain you felt wasn't the wand harming you; rather, it was actually forming 'mana veins' in your body."
"What's mana veins, and how do you know about it?" asked Max.
"Mana veins are vessels in witches' and wizards' bodies that allow them to manipulate the energy called Mana. This energy allows wizards to do magic," explained Echo.
"I got that based on the name of it, but how did you know so much about it?" Max asked.
"Well, when Goddess Arial gave me divine energy, she also infused the wisdom of previous Soul Dragon Queens' memories. She and the Soul Dragon Queen were friends, so she gave me her memories. But the information about this world only came to me when I tried to help you with the dragon heartstring wand and infused divine energy into it to stop the pain. In doing so, I also unlocked some information about this world. I still don't know everything about this place, nor do I have control over when I remember these memories, but I will try my best to recall them to help you."
"Ohh, looks like Goddess Arial helped us a lot with these gifts. Having more knowledge about this world and even other worlds in the future will be very helpful to us. We don't know if the next world will also be a world I have knowledge about."
"Yeah, true. This will be very helpful to us. If we can figure out how to gain more strength for you and obtain powerful artifacts, then it would be great for us. Now that we know why the wand harmed you, let's learn your first spell."
"Yyyeeessss, finally! It's time to learn some magic," Max said excitedly.
"But before that, I need to tell you something... Every magic spell requires Mana. If the caster does not have enough Mana to cast a spell, then the spell circle has a high chance of getting out of control. So it is imperative that you always know how much mana you have and what spells you can cast due to it," Echo warned Max.
"Wait, wait—I don't get it. In the books, there was no mention of any kind of energy or a hint for it. It was said that wizards would just wave their wands and say the spell, and it worked. There was nothing about mana or spell circles!"
Echo gave him a knowing look. "That's because most people in this world don't know about mana. They simply use magic instinctively, relying on their wands as conduits without understanding the deeper mechanics. Mana is always there, but since they don't measure or study it, they think magic is just about willpower and incantations. The truth is, magic has structure—it follows the principles of energy manipulation, and wands help direct that energy."
Max's mind raced as he processed this information. He had always wondered why magic in the books seemed so effortless for the characters. Was this why some wizards were naturally better at magic than others? Because they had stronger mana veins? It was a lot to take in, but it also excited him. If he could learn to control mana directly, maybe he could become stronger than even the most skilled wizards.
"Alright," Max said, determination flaring in his eyes. "If knowing about mana gives me an advantage, then I want to learn everything about it. How do I control it?"
Echo smiled. "Good. The first step is to sense your mana. Close your eyes and focus. You should be able to feel a faint energy coursing through your body. Try to direct it towards your fingertips."
Max obeyed, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths. At first, he felt nothing. Just the usual stillness inside him. But as he concentrated, a tingling sensation began to spread from his chest outward. It was subtle—like the warmth of a candle flickering in his core. He focused harder, willing it to move to his hands.
A spark of blue light flickered at his fingertips. His eyes flew open. "I did it!"
Echo nodded. "That's your raw mana. Now, let's try shaping it into a spell. The simplest spell for beginners is [Lumos]—it's a spell that creates light. Normally, wizards use their wands to guide the magic, but you'll do it by controlling your mana directly."
Max hesitated. "Wait, what about the spell circle you mentioned? Do I need to draw something?"
"Not for basic spells," Echo explained. "But as you grow stronger and learn more advanced magic, spell circles will become necessary. Spell circles helps to do complex spells by combining different properties of basic spells. Combining smaller spells gives new reactions to bigger and better spells. For now, just focus on channeling your mana and directing it through your wand. Say the incantation and push your mana outward."
Max raised his wand. He could still feel the lingering warmth of mana at his fingertips. Taking a deep breath, he whispered,
[Lumos]
At first, nothing happened. He furrowed his brow and tried again, this time focusing on pushing the energy outward. "Lumos!"
A small orb of light flickered at the tip of his wand before vanishing. He gasped. "It worked! Kind of."
Echo chuckled. "Not bad for a first attempt. Your control over mana is still weak, but with practice, you'll get better."
Max grinned, exhilarated. He had just performed his first real spell! This was nothing like what he had read in books. There, spells had seemed like simple words and gestures. But here, he could feel the energy inside him, shaping itself into something tangible.
"Alright, what's next?" Max asked eagerly.
"Before you start learning more spells, you need to build your mana reserves. Right now, your [MANA] stat is only 3, which is barely enough for minor spells. We need to increase it."
"How do I do that?" Max asked.
"There are a few ways," Echo said. "One is by repeatedly using magic. The more you use mana, the more your body adapts, increasing your capacity. Another way is through meditation and controlled breathing exercises. And then, of course, there are special artifacts and potions that can boost your mana growth."
Max's excitement grew. "Let's start with training! I want to increase my mana reserves as fast as possible."
Echo nodded. "Good attitude. But remember, overusing mana can be dangerous. If you push too far, you'll suffer from mana exhaustion. It's like overworking a muscle—it can tear and take a long time to recover."
Max nodded. "Got it. I'll be careful."