Chapter 45: Prelude to the Rift Mission
Then—suddenly, Inigo felt tired. "You are exhausted, that’s normal, especially for the first timers. You have to increase your mana capacity if you want to sustain effects like that in real combat," the instructor said, stepping forward with hands clasped behind his back. His voice was calm, but there was a glint of intrigue in his eyes now.
"You didn’t just infuse the projectile—you altered the kinetic discharge with pure intent. That wasn’t a mere enhancement. That was transmutation on the verge of evocation."
Smoke still curled from the impact site on the reinforced panel. A shallow crater, scorched at the edges, marked where the bullet had struck—its normal penetration amplified by a burst of mana detonation on contact.
"So, how do I increase my mana capacity?"
The instructor gave a thoughtful nod, pacing slowly across the room as if considering how best to answer. "There are several approaches," he began, gesturing for Inigo to sit on the bench near the wall. "You’ve got decent instincts. That’ll take you far. But raw talent isn’t enough if your body can’t sustain the flow."
Inigo wiped his forehead with his sleeve, breathing slower now. "I figured as much."
"First," the instructor said, raising a finger, "there’s the natural route. Meditation, mana breathing exercises, deep concentration over long periods. It takes discipline, but if done consistently, your mana pool will gradually expand. Think of it like a muscle. Strain it, rest it, grow it. And once it’s resting, your mana is slowly filling up."
"Second option—accessories. Mana crystals, amplifiers, or enchanted charms. Some store mana, others act as conduits to stabilize flow and reduce strain. They won’t grow your core, but they’ll let you do more with what you already have."
"I see, so meditation huh? That’ll do," Inigo said. "Thank you for the lessons instructor?"
The instructor offered a faint smile, the first sign of warmth he’d shown since they arrived. "Instructor Relas," he said. "I’m here most afternoons. Come back when you’ve rested. We can work on weapon imprinting next time—embedding enchantments that trigger only on impact."