Foundation

When Emre asked Ragan to train him, this is not what he was expecting. For two days. Two whole days he had been told to sit and feel the mana and his surroundings. At first, Emre just did what he usually did, what he had learned by himself. Of course, according to Ragan what he was doing wasn't enough.

As such, Emre had been focused on trying to feel nature while being lectured in the process. Ragan had been thoroughly explaining how magic worked to him. While Emre could gather mana to him to replenish his stores, he could not grow stronger unless he tried to overflow his limits. The better he understood mana and the elements, the easier he would be able to use them, and in turn, the stronger he could become.

In other words, cultivation. Every living being had a core within them. There was no specific naming system for the strength of a core as most could be able to tell other's strengths. Emre was told that humanoids were able to tell a person's mana flow to a certain degree through the pressure of someone's aura. While a dragon could see the actual mana around them, humans were only able to tell through the aura someone emitted.

If a person was stronger, sometimes they would purposely manipulate their aura and so that they seemed weaker. A dragon, however, who could actually see the true mana flow of a person would be able to tell their true strength. They could also tell the types of elements a person was able to manipulate through the color of their mana. Emre only discovered this when Ragan was explaining about the magical elements.

Mana and the actual form of magic were a bit different. Mana was what allowed the magic to form into an element. Mana was the nature itself that creatures could manipulate through their core. If a creature had no core, magic would not be able to be produced.

A cores size does not coincide with the number of elements a person was able to use. Someone who can use one element can still be stronger than someone who can use two elements if they have a stronger core. Humanoids usually can use up to two elements. Only one humanoid has ever been known to have been able to use three. That person was the first Queen of Alama Kingdom and was the one who created it.

Humanoids also have a limit to how strong their core can get, however, getting to that point was extremely rare and had never been surpassed. Dragons on the other hand were known to have no limit. The only ones who would know if there is a limit would have to be a dragon themself and even then, would they dare tell humans?

In order to strengthen one's core, one must have a strong understanding of nature and the elements one was able to manipulate. As such, once one understood enough, a foundation could be formed. This would only be the beginning of growth. Once the foundation of the core was created, one would be able to continue strengthening it by layers.

Ragan told him to think of the layers like a tower. The foundation was the base of the building while each floor, each layer, added after it was more space to be filled with mana. This made it easier for Emre to understand. The hard part was how to form the foundation properly.

Right now, Emre had a core with a makeshift foundation. His foundation was weak and wavering. Ragan had informed him that continuing to use his magic like this might damage the foundation to the point of no return. This is why Emre could only focus on reinforcing it before anything. But it wasn't as easy as it sounded.

After that, Emre would be able to start using his magic again. Ragan told him that he would teach Emre the wind element since that was the element that he could use. Usually, once a person's foundation was formed, they would learn what element that they were able to manipulate whether it be through a magical item or through experimenting by themself.

Emre didn't have to worry about this because dragons were powerful beings of nature. He would be able to use all base elements, as well as his innate element, radiance. Which means he could know five elements altogether. The problem was actually learning how to use them.

Each element was different and had its own qualities that must be understood before a person was able to manipulate it properly. Wind would actually be the easiest for Emre to learn first due to the fact that he could fly. He already knew some of the qualities of the wind.

For now, he could just sigh and focus his mind and body on mana. Mana flowed through the entire world. It was nature itself.

Emre was sitting outside the house. Outside, he was able to see that Ragan's house was just a small cabin in the middle of a dangerous forest. And yet it felt oddly safe. It was in a large clearing with a garden and there was even a chicken coop and goat pen.

Ragan had told him to find a spot he felt most comfortable to start meditating on mana. Emre had chosen a small tree to sit underneath. It was small, with no leaves, and sat in an open space in front of the house. Instead, it bloomed beautiful white and blue flowers that almost reminded him of himself. Ragan must have planted it here because it was a stark contrast to the surrounding green canopy and probably hadn't naturally grown here without help.

He had been sitting still underneath the tree. The small petals slowly drifted down and landed on Emre but he barely noticed as he continued to feel the nature around him. His golden eyes were closed as he noted every sound, smell, and feeling.

Inside his body, he focused on where Ragan told Emre the core formed. It didn't actually take a solid but was located in his diaphragm area. It was like a floating orb in the middle that spread branches throughout the body. Each branch snaked throughout like nerves.

Letting out a focused breath, he had been left alone for most of today. Yesterday had been most of a back and forth of Emre's questions and Ragan's answers. Now he was able to just feel the nature around him without interruption. In fact, Ragan had left out into the woods so he was currently alone in the clearing aside from the chickens and goats.

After sitting for a few hours, he was able to feel many things. The mana that flowed from one spot to the next, the absence being replaced as soon as it left. It was like flowing waves. Each thing had its own mana. The trees, the grass, the animals, and even the sky. Picking mana from each of these things he had slowly been consuming it into his core.

The quiet of the birdsong, the rustle of the leaves. Everything was so peaceful that he did not even feel the stiffness of having sat still for so long. A light breeze caused the flowering tree to sigh softly as petals drifted down onto Emre's scales.

He could feel the gentle landing of a tiny petal upon his brow. He sighed in content even as his core began to aggressively gobble up the continuous mana in the area. He didn't even feel like Emre right now. No, he felt like nature. And in that moment of clarity, something changed.

In just one day he felt it already. The thing that Ragan said would probably take a while. His core which he could barely feel solidifying suddenly rushed like a strong breeze. He took in a sharp inhale as he continued to feel the mana flowing into his body. The mana that had slowly been trickling in was now spinning around like a whirlpool.

It even felt hot. Almost painful as he felt the weak foundation he had suddenly start to swell. His brows furrowed and his breath became sharper as the pieces began to form. It was 15 minutes of pure discomfort but he didn't allow himself to stop consuming the mana.

Then it all clicked together. All of the pieces his core had been meticulously forming finally connected. He expected to feel more pain at this moment but the feeling faded as fast as the mana had replaced itself. Feeling his core now. It definitely felt like the sturdy foundations that would slowly become a tall tower.

His foundation was no longer weak and cracking, but instead strong and solid. It felt rather nice. Even now, he was gathering mana to himself. His body was already trying to slowly form together the first layer even without him focusing on it.

[ Core foundation formed, gained 1500 experience ]

[ You leveled up ]

[ You leveled up ]

[ Gained 4 stat points ]

Amazing. A small breath escaped his mouth and he finally opened his golden eyes. He was startled. It was already sunset, the sky was dyed with pink, red, and purple. But that wasn't what startled him. What startled him was the tall old man Ragan standing in front of him. He hadn't even noticed his approach.

He had a bow and quiver upon his back, a sword at his hip, and two large Mara Rabbits slung over his shoulder. His thick brows were raised and he actually looked somewhat impressed.

"That was quick. I rushed back because the wind seemed like it was in a hurry. Turns out it was just because you were already forming your foundation." Ragan commented, almost as if he were talking to himself.

'Sorry to disrupt your hunting.' Emre responded with a small smile upon his draconic features.

"I was already heading back anyway. We're having rabbit stew tonight. I'll add some bacon on the side as a celebration of your foundation."

'Why bacon?' Emre chuckled.

"Hm? I thought you really liked it. You seemed excited when I first mentioned it."

'I do really like it.'

"Then is there a problem?"

'No, I was just curious.'

Emre shrugged his shoulders and Ragan let out a small scoff before heading toward the house. Emre glanced up at the small-flowered branches above him before scampering after Ragan. His head reached as high as Ragan's upper legs. He was a bit larger than he had originally thought.

He was level 18 now. His next max was 30 so even if he got to 20 he wouldn't be able to evolve yet. Level 20 was just another stepping stone. The problem was that the experience required to level up was going up by 50. If he did the math correctly, the experience required to get to level 30 was… 16000. That was a big number...

Emre could only count in his head after he hopped up onto one of the dining table chairs. The main room was the largest room. There was a small makeshift kitchen, a fireplace, a couch, and a dining table. Herbs hung from the ceiling on a string and there was a small table off to the side where the same tray and mortar and pestle that Ragan had used before was sitting there.

On the right, there was a door that led into the small guest room which was now Emre's room and on the left, the door led into Ragan's room but Emre hadn't been in there.

"Now that your foundation is formed we can start on magic." Ragan mentioned as he started to prepare dinner.

'What am I going to learn first?' Emre asked as he hopped off the chair and lifted himself onto his hind legs, and offered his little dragon hands to help.

Ragan had been starting to cut the skin of a potato before setting it half peeled with the knife in front of Emre. Emre took up the job, trying his best to stay balanced with his elbows barely being able to reach the countertop as he peeled the rest of the potato. His small hands made it difficult but it was fine.

"First you need to get a feel of the wind. We'll do that first before moving onto the basics." Ragan said.

'And the basics are?' Emre asked as he snatched the next potato to peel.

"Basic wind manipulation. So utilizing the wind in the air and using it to your own benefit."

'Which is...?'

"Don't be impatient. We'll get to it."

Emre let out a sigh and pushed the cut potatoes toward Ragan so that he could clean them and place them in the pot.

"By the way." Ragan's voice sounded interested.

'Hmm?'

"Where did you get that bracelet?"

Emre's eyes widened. He had forgotten about it again. Twisting his wrist, he looked at the engraved rose gold band and the bright blue gem embedded into it.

'It was a gift.' Emre answered truthfully.

"Oh...?" Ragan hummed out his response but didn't pry further.

Was it possible that Ragan knew Silvis? Emre glanced up at Ragan's face for a moment but nothing betrayed his thoughts.

'Why?' Emre wondered curiously. 'Have you seen it before?'

"No. But I can tell that it is a very high grade. The only person I know in the Gaia Kingdom that can make high-grade magic items like that lives in the capital." Ragan responded nonchalantly.

'Hmm…' Emre hummed as he grabbed the next potato.

They quickly finished up preparing the meal and Emre hopped onto the couch. There was no tv and no video games… It was boring when there was nothing to do. Ragan had plopped onto the couch as well as the stew quietly cooked over the controlled fire behind them.

'Ragan, can you teach me about herbs as well?' Emre asked as he made himself comfortable.

"Herbs? Why would you need to learn about herbs when you can heal through spells?" Ragan's brow lifted.

'Hmm… I don't know how to explain it but basically…' He thought about how he should word things. 'healing others makes me stronger, but using my magic risks that someone might want to capture and use me.'

"Healing makes you stronger?" Ragan almost sounded like he didn't believe Emre.

'Yes… I'm not sure how else to word it.' Emre was honest. 'But because my magic is so rare I might get unwanted attention. So I want to be able to heal others without that risk.'

"You're a really odd dragon, y'know that?"

Emre couldn't help but laugh. 'I know.'

"I'll teach you about herbs too." Ragan let out a defeated sigh. "So much work you're putting me through."

He leaned back into the cushion and stretched out his arms behind him.

'I'll be careful not to overwork your old bones.'

Ragan scoffed. "You better not."