Chapter 38: Soul Space
"Middle-grade. Next", the priest announced as he called the next number.
One after another, children stepped forward in the order of their assigned numbers. Some walked back with disappointed looks, while others wore expressions filled with pride.
Astrael quietly observed how those who achieved similar grades of soul space quickly gathered into small groups. The ones who obtained middle-grade soul spaces stood together proudly, their faces glowing with self-confidence.
Meanwhile, those who had only managed to form low-grade soul spaces, who made up the majority, wore more subdued expressions. There was no shame in their eyes, but their faces lacked the glow of success.
Astrael could already notice that the people with a similar grade of soul space quickly formed their group. People with middle-grade soul space formed a distinct group, shining brightly with a proud look on their faces.
On the other hand, the children who failed to form any soul space at all looked devastated. Their faces were filled with gloom, knowing they had lost the chance to wield magic. Without a soul space, one could not manipulate mana at all. However, despite their disappointment, they did not fall into despair, because the second part of the awakening ceremony had not yet taken place.
Even if they lacked the chance to form a soul space, losing all hope of becoming a mage, there was still one last glimmer of hope.
The Talent Root Awakening.
Forming a soul space allowed someone to control mana, but the talent root was something entirely different. It was innate, present within every living being in the world of Eldoria.
Here, it was important to understand the difference between mana and aura.
While not everyone could manipulate mana, anyone could awaken their aura. The path of aura simply required continuous tempering of the body through pain, effort, and resources. Many people chose to avoid it because it was slow, exhausting, and expensive.
On the other hand, to use mana, one needed to form a soul space first, which only a fraction of people were capable of.