PART 1
Instead, they tend to plateau much earlier. On average, their maximum proficiency in one element is around 50%, 60% if they're above average, and at best, 70% in extremely rare and exceptional cases.
Just from these two alone, I could already tell Astraya was starting to feel mental fatigue. The information we were consuming was definitely a lot to process, and we hadn't even covered the next three core types. To be honest, my interest in reading further had diminished, as the answer to our question was thoroughly covered. It would be no surprise that the next three types would be incredibly difficult to power up.
The book further stated that affinity ratio splits like 50/50 or 60/40 give dualists the advantage of forming hybrid elemental styles, allowing them to perform unique combinations of mana manipulation that are impossible for single-element users.
It made reference to how some swordsmen were able to develop unique sword styles and abilities by having a mana beast that could absorb two types of mana. Some swordsmen make their mana beast manifest into different fighting tools, while mages use the larger amount of mana to create new types of magic beyond the primary four elements. As long as a core can absorb two distinct mana types, the individual is considered a dualist.
From what I could see here, apparently the reason Mother called Father a "below-average swordsman" would be his inability to turn a mana beast into a tool.
PART 2
As I kept reading, I noticed I wasn't receiving any response from Astraya. I looked up and saw that she had already fallen asleep while cuddling her pillow. It was so nice to see her sleeping peacefully. She had the cutest face ever, and her pale white hair covered half her face, giving her a bad posture.
"Oh my, Astraya," I whispered, trying to see if she was in a deep sleep. Placing the opened book on the ground, I moved closer to her, grabbing her by her arms. "It will definitely hurt your back sleeping like this, Astraya." I sighed.
Lifting her up, I realized that while four-year-olds are light, carrying her was heavy as hell for another four-year-old. Placing her on the top bunk was a miraculous feat. As I did, her arms and legs dropped in all positions. I put her in the appropriate position, and she unconsciously mumbled, "My pillow, I need my pillow."
At first, I thought she was awake and had made me carry her all the way to the top bunk, but it turned out she was sleep-talking. I got her special pillow and stared at her sleeping so peacefully. A strong feeling of protection came over me. I wasn't going to let our lives be taken away from us, especially hers. I told her, placing my hands on her forehead, "Don't worry, Astraya, I will protect you."
Still on the top bunk, dangerously close to the edge, I stared down at the book as if I were expecting a reply from it. I said, "You... I'm going to finish you and start training. All I needed to know is where I fall under these cores."
Now with the books in my hands, I was more determined to see this book to the end. I was also starting to feel sleepy; this body of mine clearly needed a lot of rest. Yawning, with one hand covering my mouth and the other holding the book, a small tear resided at the corner of my eyes.
The book further explained that a dualist with a 60/40 fire-water affinity might create a technique called "Steam Lance," a condensed heat of superheated steam that burns and also hides a person's presence simultaneously. While they can't control pure fire or pure water at a specialist's level, their hybrid manipulation allows for devastating and unpredictable attacks.
PART 3.
As I flipped to the page,
*flip*
the next entry was Triple-Affinity unsurprisingly as there was a clear pattern here. It stated that These types of cores, as the name suggested, absorbed three out of the four elemental mana types. This meant they were more versatile than dualists and specialist combined.
Flip
They are also capable of combining a wider variety of elemental magic at the cost of individual proficiency. Thinking to myself it was now more clear than ever the more mana types you absorb the less your affinity to each of them.
Flip
The book further explained that the core's absorption behavior varied in proportions, commonly 40/35/25, or in some rare cases, 45/25/20. The book then threw a massive curveball, stating: "Individuals in a triple affinity with a proportion of 33/33/33 are unable to perform any mana manipulation." Why would they be unable to perform any mana manipulation?I wondered deep in thought.It seemed strange how they were able to study the proportions in such detail; I would definitely have to ask Father how he came up with this information.
Flip.
It also clearly explained that once you are aware of your core type, it is fixed. You cannot change what your core naturally, or instinctively, chooses to do. In other words, a dual core can never become a specialist core, even if the mage or swordsman only uses one element at their disposal and leaves the other untouched. You also cannot increase your core's absorption behavior, as a triple-affinity core had a limit of only three elements.
Flip.
Beyond that, the core began to exhibit instability, becoming erratic and eventually unresponsive. This phenomenon, known among scholars as "Mana Collapse," was a critical failure state where the mana within the core could no longer maintain its structural separation.
Flip.
In order to manipulate mana effectively, an individual must first separate the elemental energies within their core fire from water, wind from earth, and so on creating a sense of mental hierarchy, but the individual must first know which element has the strongest proficiency. In single and dual-affinity cores, this separation was manageable, even natural. But once three distinct types of mana were absorbed, the complexity increased exponentially.