Tiny Problem

However, the very next moment a frown etched itself on my face. There were too many problems with the idea, too many uncertainties for it to be dependable. 

Basically, I had been thinking about what exactly powered the now-dormant power core. It didn't really take long for me to figure out that it was most likely mana. In truth, I had already thought about the presence of mana in this illusion and others for some time already, especially after seeing magicians cast spells during the first battle I was in.

Moreover, parts of the diary had also mentioned concepts of a 'mysterious force' that sounded similar in nature to mana, which had only manifested in some individuals after the 'Great War'. It had even been mentioned that this force was used to create many artifacts, including this one. All in all, it seemed quite likely that mana fueled the orb.

However, even so, there was no way to be certain. Furthermore, even if mana was the elusive force, it would be nearly impossible to fix the powerless core anyway. What if there was some delicate machinery that had been damaged? I would be absolutely helpless. Even if that wasn't the case…

Just thinking about all the obstacles in my path had me in a bind. Nevertheless, I shook my train of thought away from the rapidly growing forest of problems with my spur of the moment idea and moved on to concrete action. 

After a quick run down to retrieve the gray ball from its position in the drawer, I sat unsteadily on a hammock, wincing with every movement. Closing my eyes, I focused on the unresponsive sphere in my hands… and 'willed' the mana into it.

When my eyes creaked open, I noticed a problem. Just a tiny, minute problem… 

I couldn't tell if anything had happened.

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In the past, when I tried to move the ambient mana around me, I was able to tell whether I had succeeded or not. For example, in the Comprehension Trial, I was temporarily granted the ability to perceive mana, and as such could tell whenever I succeeded in actually achieving something. Or when I was messing around with the wind in a different portion of the same Trial, I could feel when the wind stopped blowing, even for a mere moment.

Unfortunately, I couldn't tell if anything had happened to the energy core. It looked as gray as ever, but I couldn't confidently say that no progress had been made either. Perhaps it simply needed more mana… or maybe there was no mana in this illusion at all, or it wasn't responding to my call, or…

Decisively, I shut my eyes. For hours, I attempted to send invisible specks of mana into the utterly useless artifact before me, praying each time that when I opened my eyes I would be able to see at least some kind of change in it…

My prayers were not answered.

An unknown amount of time later, I was starting to understand why the inhabitants of this world had termed mana (if it was mana) as a 'mysterious force': there was way to tell if anything was being done or if I was just alternately staring at a gray oversized marble and closing my eyes.

Rubbing my eyes, I decided to rest for the day, and see what the morrow would bring.