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Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Mana and Taste

A full year had passed since Lysander was reborn. A year in the world of Amrita, a period filled with a series of deep frustrations. Yet, amidst it all, there was also an endless curiosity that burned within him.

He had shown remarkable adaptation. If a normal child was still crawling and uttering a few indistinct first words, Lysander had far surpassed that. He was an anomaly walking among toddlers.

By the age of eleven months, he could already speak complete sentences. The melodious 'Ōlelo Kai flowed smoothly from his tiny lips. This astonished everyone in Kaelani Castle, leaving both servants and his parents awestruck.

Exactly on his first birthday, a significant milestone was reached. His steady first steps were imprinted on the stone floor of Kaelani Castle. It marked the end of his era of physical helplessness, a small victory he celebrated internally.

Although he could now move and speak, Lysander's world remained confined. He could only move within the vast walls of Kaelani Castle. As the only son of Baron Roric and Baroness Seraphina, his safety and protection were the utmost priority.

The outside world, with all its mysteries and dangers, was still a forbidden place for him. That prohibition, though spoken with affection and concern, still felt like a chain. It bound his burning curiosity, imprisoning him in luxury.

"Lysander, my son, you are not yet allowed to leave the castle," Seraphina would say softly. She often saw Lysander gazing far out the large window overlooking the blue ocean. "The outside world is vast, and it is not yet time for you to explore it."

Roric would nod in agreement, his jaw firm. "There are many things you must learn here first, son. So many things you need to master before stepping outside."

Lysander could only let out a long sigh, a new habit born of his frustration. Though he could now speak, he knew it was futile to argue with his parents. His small body was still too fragile, and his logical arguments would surely be dismissed.

However, his knowledge as Aditya gave him another path. If he couldn't see the world directly, he would read about it. He would explore every corner of knowledge he could reach.

The Kaelani Library was an invaluable treasure for him. A magnificent room with tall, dark wooden shelves, seemingly reaching to the ceiling. It was filled with fragile ancient parchment scrolls, thick, sturdy leather-bound books, and old tablets with almost faded writing.

The aroma of decaying paper and ancient ink became his new favorite scent. This smell was more captivating than expensive perfumes or exotic flowers. It was the scent of knowledge, an invitation to dive deeper.

With his still limited height, he often had to ask for help. He would call a servant or even Roric himself to retrieve books from the high shelves that were impossible for him to reach. His tiny hands would point to the thick books with an uncontrollable enthusiasm.

"You really love to read, Lysander," Roric murmured, his eyes radiating genuine pride. He handed Lysander the desired book, a very thick, leather-bound volume, almost as thick as Lysander's own body. "My son is indeed intelligent and hungry for knowledge."

Lysander merely offered a faint smile, a grin far wiser than a baby's should be. They didn't know that he wasn't just intelligent, but also possessed the memory and learning capacity of an adult. An adult ravenous for every bit of information, thirsty for every hidden secret.

Every book was a new window into the world he yearned to understand. He read about the geography of his beautiful islands, learning the names of secluded islets and sea routes. He observed the strange and wondrous details of Amrita's flora and fauna, comparing them to the species he knew from Earth.

Gradually, he began to touch upon the topic that most intrigued and excited him: magic. This was the core of Akua's (God's) promise, and he felt ready to unravel its mystery.

The ancient magic books in the Kaelani library were a challenge in themselves. Although written in 'Ōlelo Kai, which he now mastered, the language within them was sometimes very poetic and difficult to comprehend. Yet, with perseverance, he slowly began to unveil the secrets he had been anticipating.

He learned about Mana, an invisible force that permeated all of Amrita. Mana was the essence of life, the vital energy flow that enabled magic to occur. Without Mana, magic was merely a fairy tale, an empty, powerless illusion.

Even more fascinating was how Mana was absorbed. The body of every living creature in Amrita naturally absorbed Mana from its surroundings. This was a passive, unconscious process, yet fundamental. However, this process could also be performed consciously, allowing living beings to possess more than one magic element.

Moreover, the environment where a person was born and grew up significantly influenced the type of Mana their body absorbed the most. This, in turn, determined their natural magical affinity, shaping their potential. It was a destiny etched by the environment itself.

There were Four Basic Elements that constituted most of the Mana circulating in Amrita:

Fire: Concentrated in scorching volcanic areas, arid deserts, or within fiery mountain caves. Those who absorb Fire Mana tend to have fiery temperaments.

Water: Abundant in vast oceans, mighty flowing rivers, and tranquil lakes. Water Mana is often associated with calmness and adaptability.

Earth: Found in vast fertile lands, sturdy mountains, and untouched dense forests. Earth Mana symbolizes strength and stability.

Wind: Blows across open highlands, towering mountain peaks, or over the vast and boundless ocean. Wind Mana symbolizes freedom and speed.

He read that if someone was born and raised near the sea, like in the Kaelani Islands, their body would unconsciously absorb more Water Mana. This naturally gave them a greater talent for water magic, even without formal training. The same applied to other elements, a simple yet powerful law of nature.

Besides these four basic elements, there were also Three Rare Elements that were far more difficult to find and master. They represented higher and more enigmatic powers:

Lightning: A rare and incredibly potent Mana, often associated with devastating storms or locations with extreme and unstable concentrations of natural energy. Few could control it.

Light: The purest and most sacred Mana, often linked to blessed holy places, divine blessings, or individuals with extraordinary purity of heart. It symbolized hope and healing.

Darkness: The most mysterious and often misunderstood, even feared, Mana. It was associated with shadows, subterranean forces, or powerful negative emotions like sorrow and anger. It held dangerous potential.

Lysander, born in the Kaelani Islands and surrounded by the vast ocean, felt a strange and tingling anticipation. Did this mean he naturally possessed a strong water affinity? He imagined himself in the future, controlling raging waves, summoning storms, or shaping water into weapons. The feeling stirred his soul, awakening a sense of hidden power.

Amidst his intense exploration of the world of books, Lysander also savored the simple luxuries of his new childhood. At one year old, he could now join his parents at the large dining table, though he had to insist a little with his parents. This moment was a personal victory he had long awaited. The aromas that once could only make him drool and feel frustrated could now be fully enjoyed, without hindrance.

"Lysander, try this," Seraphina would say softly, spoon-feeding him a small piece of freshly baked fish with shimmering tropical fruit sauce.

The taste exploded on his tongue. The tender, savory fish meat, perfectly blended with the sweet and slightly tart sauce. It was far more delicious than he had ever imagined as a baby, when he could only grumble. He devoured it with the enthusiasm of a hungry child, making Roric laugh proudly from across the table.

"My son truly enjoys our food," Roric said, his eyes shining. "Good, good. You need a lot of energy to grow big and strong, Lysander."

Lysander smiled widely, his mouth full of delight. He could now chew and swallow well, savoring every bite. The crisp, sweet taste of the blue dragon fruit, which he could only observe from afar before, was now his new favorite. He also enjoyed the tender honey-roasted chicken and the strange vegetables that turned out to have a pleasant crunch. This was one of the true joys that came with growing up in Amrita, a sensory pleasure previously unimaginable.

Lysander's daily life in the castle was now filled with a combination of intellectual exploration in the library and the simple delights offered by his developing new body. Although the outside world still awaited, he knew he was building a strong foundation for his future. With every book he read, every 'Ōlelo Kai word he learned, and every delicious meal he enjoyed, Lysander was increasingly ready for the adventures that awaited him on the Continent of Valdoria, where magic and destiny were intertwined with the invisible flow of Mana.

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