Trinity of Magic

It took quite some time for Zeke to adjust to this constant state of euphoria. In many ways, it was even harder to get used to than pain. While most people had some resistance to negative sensations, blissful feelings are much harder to ignore. After all, humans don't typically train themselves to shut out pleasure.

However, gradually, Zeke managed to collect his thoughts. It was frightening how quickly his body adapted to this new state, and a new worry grew in his heart. If he spent a prolonged period inside this chamber, the world outside would likely feel like a tortuous cesspit in comparison. Even now, after such a short time, he already dreaded the moment he would have to leave.

Zeke took a deep breath, clearing his mind of distractions. He would deal with that when the time came. Right now, he had a different task. He centered his focus inward, steadying his breath and concentrating on his Core.

The Core was a strange entity, existing in a state between the physical and the illusory. It was imperceptible to ordinary senses, yet any Mage was as aware of its presence as they were of their own heart or lungs. However, to anyone's Mana senses, it shone like a beacon in the night.

Zeke had always kept a close watch on his Cores growth. It was much larger than most people of his tier and age, thanks to his three affinities. However, his mixed Core wasn't just a blessing, it came with downsides as well.

For instance, he could already sense that he was nearly halfway through absorbing Blood-attuned Mana. Once that was complete, he'd have to switch to either Mind or Space, which would take even longer due to his lower affinities. If he had a pure Blood Core, he could have advanced quickly, even with conventional methods. But that wasn't the case for him.

Zeke took a breath, studying the changes in his Core. Then another, and another. He kept his breathing shallow and steady, maintaining a consistent intake of air. Only by doing so could he accurately gauge his growth.

Minutes passed with Zeke focused solely on his breathing, yet the changes in his body were remarkable. In that short time, he had already achieved hour's worth of progress. For once, the transformations in his Core were visible to the naked eye. As a Tri-affinity Mage, he was benefiting from the device far more than most Mages could ever hope to.

The reason for that was simple.

The gas, which was essentially pure unattuned Mana, nourished all three of his affinities simultaneously. Unlike with Essence crystals, where he had to focus on one affinity at a time, here he faced no such limitations. This gave him triple the benefits compared to someone with a single affinity. For once, his mixed Core provided a significant advantage in his speed of improvement.

Despite his keen observation, he was still human, and there were limits to his perception. However, the same couldn't be said for Akasha. The Spirit could make precise calculations based on the data she received. While Zeke was still trying to grasp the changes in his Core, she was already constructing a mathematical model.

After another few minutes, Zeke retracted his senses. "How is it?"