Lectures
What Exactly is Magic?
Magic is simply miracles created through the skillful use of mana. Essentially, magic is the art of bending reality by merging your will with the will of the world. Through this process, magic is created.
You might ask, "How do you merge your will with that of the world?" Well, it's quite simple. You achieve this through meditation and by absorbing the mana present in the atmosphere. This will make your magic stronger and your spells more proficient. Meditate and connect yourself with the will of the world.
As the image of the mystic mage disappeared from the screen,
ding
{You have completed the first lecture}
{You have gained Insight on mana}
{You have been granted access to the mana space}
{You have been rewarded 5 skill points}
What... What is a mana space? I've never heard of that before. System, what is a mana space?
{The Mana Space is a separate realm created by the system where the host can train and meditate. It is abundant in mana and features a storage function. As the host's mana capacity increases, the Mana Space will expand, providing more room for training and meditation.}
{Would the host like to enter the mana space?}
"Yes, I would."
As soon as he said that, he felt a sensation passing through him, sending him into a trance-like state. As he opened his eyes, he found himself in a completely white space, surrounded by white walls. At the center of the space, he could see an old book floating there and beside it was a strange crystal-like orb. The first thing he noticed was the dense concentration of mana in the space, all emanating from the crystal. As he stared at the crystal, curiosity got the better of him, and he reached out to touch it. Suddenly, a dire notification from the system flashed before him, warning him not to proceed.
{Do not touch the crystal,} the system cautioned.
{It would not be advisable.}
"Why not?" he asked, perplexed.
The system responded, "The amount of mana contained within the crystal is immense. If you touch it, you will explode."
"Ahh, what in the world? Why?"
Intrigued, he pressed on, "What exactly is this crystal?"
{I'm afraid I cannot tell you that,} the system replied, leaving the mystery unresolved.
Hmmm... So there's things that the system won't even tell me.
Deciding to heed the warning, he let it go and shifted his focus. He settled into a meditative position, ready to begin the process of connecting with the mana around him. As he sat there, he could feel the potent mana energy around him. He could feel it circulate around him; he could feel the golden threads that connect him to the world.
Time seemed to blur around him as he sat there, attuning himself with the mana in the mana space. After what felt like hours, he finally opened his eyes. He could feel a profound new sort of power coursing through him. As he was about to leave the space, he remembered the description of the mana space given to him by the system.
"System, how do I store things in here?" he asked.
{As long as it's in your hand, all you have to do is think about storing it, and it will be stored in a separate part of the space. It can also be accessed at any time.}
"Wow, that's really convenient since I can store anything. But anyway, I'd like to leave the space now."
As the white walls of the mana space began to ripple, the sensation of being pulled back into reality washed over Kyle. Feeling a little bit exhausted, he decided to head inside, rest a little, and then start listening to the second lecture. Kyle woke up after around two hours and decided to listen to the second lecture, eager to learn the essence of spell casting as the now familiar image of the mystic mage was displayed on the screen before him.
"Your Spirit Zone, the strength of a mage, comes from the strength of your Spirit Zone. The strength of your Spirit Zone is dependent on two things: the density of the zone and the range of the zone. You've probably already formed your Spirit Zone while connecting yourself to the world—that sensation where you're able to feel everything. You need to be able to do that with minimal effort. How far can you see? How clearly can you feel your surroundings?
Now that that's over let's move on to spell casting. It's actually quite simple. The key components of spell casting are imagination, precision, and control. Let's start with a simple spell: creating a ball of fire. Visualize it in your mind and then draw from the mana in your Spirit Zone and direct it into forming a ball of fire."
As Kyle replicated all the movements of the mystic mage, he could feel the mana within his Spirit Zone gathering in front of him, creating a small warm light of fire hovering in front of him—the confirmation that he had succeeded. This was only the beginning, but it was a huge achievement for Kyle, coupled with the fact that a few days ago he couldn't even sense mana.
"Well done. Remember, the more detailed your visualization and the stronger your concentration, the more powerful your spells will be. Practice different spells within your Spirit Zone, and as you grow stronger, you can cast them in the physical world. I'll leave you with this: if you only keep listening to the lectures and completing the daily quests, there's only very little you'll be able to achieve with that. Since the system has given you a means, you should use it to the fullest. And what's the best way to gain more experience? Engaging in battles. Whether it's with other humans or beasts, that's the best course of action and the fastest way to get stronger. But do not engage in any battles you can't win. That's the best advice I can give you right now."
The image of the mystic mage faded once more, and a familiar chime sounded.
ding {You have completed the second lecture}
{You have gained Insight on the Spirit Zone and Basic Spell Casting}
{You have been rewarded 10 skill points}
As Kyle sat on his bed, the last words of the mystic mage still lingered in his mind: I need to engage in battles as it is the fastest way to get stronger. He smiled at the thought of it. He would be heading to Weyridge Forest.
"Let's go hunting."