Chapter 23: Enchanted Grimoire
THIRD PERSON POV
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In the world of Ostina, mana was the very unit of existence, an omnipresent life essence that flowed through the air, the earth, and all living things. It was the raw, fundamental energy from which all supernatural phenomena sprang.
Yet, how one interacted with this essence defined their discipline. Mana arts, for instance, were the direct manipulation of this raw mana for various functions – offensive, defensive, or supportive. A practitioner of mana arts might condense mana into a protective shield, or channel it to enhance their physical speed, or even project it as an offensive force. The mana itself retained its ethereal, shimmering form, its essence unchanged, merely shaped by the user’s will.
Magic, on the other hand, was a more complex, transformative discipline. It involved the transubstantiation of mana into one of the three fundamental categories of elements: primary (like fire, water, earth, air), secondary (such as lightning, ice, or metal), or advanced (more esoteric and powerful elements, often requiring immense skill).
Transubstantiation, the physical appearance of the mana changes, becoming tangible fire or solid ice, but its core essence, its raw mana composition, remained the same. It was a subtle but crucial distinction: mana arts sculpted mana; magic transmuted it. Both required a mana core to store refined mana — manex, but the application differed slightly.
Evelina Sapphire, with her innate talent and unwavering dedication, was aiming to be a practitioner of both, though her focus for the upcoming Ostinian Mage Knight Academy Entrance Exam leaned heavily towards honing her defensive mana arts. The Academy placed a premium on control and resilience, especially in the initial stages.
Deep within the Sapphire manor, underground, lay a specialized training hall. It was here, in the quiet hours of the afternoon, that Evelina prepared for the entrance exam.
She began her session with meditation, a process she had practiced since childhood. Sitting cross-legged on a cushioned mat, her spine straight, she closed her eyes. Her breathing deepened, becoming slow and rhythmic. She reached out with her senses, drawing in the ambient mana from the surrounding air, guiding it through her body, and refining it into pure, condensed manex within her mana core, a secondary organ nestled near her heart. The process requires immense focus and control, preparing her for the rigorous training ahead.
Once her mana core was sufficiently charged, she opened her eyes. Before her, floating gently in the air, was the Enchanted Grimoire, Kai had acquired for her. It shimmered with light, its pages turning silently, seemingly of their own accord. The book was a magical training partner, capable of casting mock spells and simulating real combat scenarios.
"Begin simulation: Offensive Mana Arts, Level 3," Evelina commanded, her voice clear and firm.
The grimoire’s pages flipped rapidly, then settled on a specific page. A soft hum filled the air, and then, from the grimoire’s open pages, ethereal arrows materialized. They were made of pure condensed mana, glowing with a faint golden light. These were the ’Soaring Arrows,’ a basic offensive mana art, designed to test a practitioner’s defensive capabilities. The grimoire fired them with surprising speed and precision, a series of glowing projectiles aimed towards Evelina.