Chapter 77: Flow I
"The problem," Thalso began, "is your understanding of the word ’stronger.’"
He folded his arms behind his back, tone calm but firm. "I’ve been to a place, strange, dead, where there was no mana in the air. None. The people there were the weakest I’ve ever seen. And yet, to a normal human raised in a mana-rich region, those same people would be considered strong."
Rauk nodded slowly, taking that in.
"Everyone is strong, until mana changes them," Thalso continued. "Then, they become something else."
Taria frowned. "What do you mean by mana changed us? People always say mana is a gift."
"Of course it changes us," Thalso said. "It enhances us. Makes us capable of things we would never have achieved otherwise. But not everyone undergoes the change. And of those who do, most barely grow stronger than an ordinary person."
He leaned forward slightly, armored plates groaning quietly with the motion.
"Then you have the average mages and warriors. Capable. Effective. Powerful. But the true benefactors of mana... are those who can touch real power."
"Touch?" Kaedros echoed, brow raised. "What do you mean, touch true power?"
Thalso leaned back, a brief smile flickering beneath his helmet. "Exactly that. Because only the best of the best, the peak above the highest peaks ever access true power through mana. Most will never get close. They’ll wield mana, yes. But they won’t understand it. Not really."
Kaedros was silent. He didn’t completely understand yet but something in his gut told him he would. And when he did, he would rise higher than any peak.
"But," Thalso went on, "we’ve strayed. This is about the Flow."