First lesson 2

Professor Alexander was ignored as he headed to the podium, then turned to the students and spoke in a quiet voice.

"First, let me introduce myself. I am Lawrence Berghnorth, the academy's vice-director, and from today onward, your professor."

"I will teach you everything you need to know about mana."

"Are there any questions?"

Sure enough, one student raised their hand.

"What do you mean by teaching us everything we need to know about mana?"

Hearing this question, which might have seemed foolish, Lawrence smiled and replied:

"A good question to start with."

"But first... what *is* mana?"

At the professor's question, the students began glancing at each other in confusion. They didn't understand why Lawrence had asked this, but some still answered—or at least a few did.

"Energy."

"Life energy."

"Spiritual energy."

Hearing the students' answers, Lawrence smiled with amusement, as though enjoying their ignorance.

"Wrong."

"Mana is *not* energy."

"Though many scholars and warriors refer to and treat mana as energy, it is far more than that."

As he spoke, Lawrence summoned a sphere of blue light above his hand.

"While mana can transform into energy..."

The blue sphere shifted into a ball of fire.

"...unlike energy, mana is limitless."

The flames continued burning.

"Right now, I'm not channeling more mana into this fire. Yet, as long as I maintain focus, these flames could burn eternally."

A student asked in shock:

"What do you mean mana is infinite? Isn't it consumed when casting spells?"

"Naive."

With those words, Lawrence spread a field of blue light across the entire classroom.

"To simplify, imagine the world's mana as a vast but finite sea."

He waved his hand and pulled a sphere from the light-field, leaving a spherical void in the blue expanse.

"But this sea can never be depleted."

As he spoke, Lawrence transformed the light-sphere in his hand into fire.

"For instance, when using mana to ignite flames, you aren't *burning* mana—you're altering its form."

"When a spell ends, it doesn't mean the mana is gone."

The fire in his palm gradually dimmed, as if its fuel had been consumed.

But upon closer inspection, particles of blue light seeped from the flames, refilling the void in the light-field.

"It simply leaves your will and returns to the sea of mana in the air."

Another student asked:

"Then... couldn't we keep mana under our control indefinitely, granting even an F-class warrior near-infinite mana?"

Lawrence chuckled lightly.

"Impossible. The moment mana leaves the mana core, it begins disintegrating and returning to the sea."

He summoned another light-sphere and let it float freely. Despite his control, it slowly dissolved into blue particles, refilling the void.

"No matter where mana resides—even within a person's body—it will disintegrate and return to the sea unless anchored to a mana core."

"And of course, this isn't the only difference between mana and energy."

Lawrence turned to the class.

"In your opinion, what is the *greatest* distinction between energy and mana?"

The students exchanged bewildered looks. Some seemed ready to answer, but none spoke up.

Even I, though knowing the answer, chose silence.

Seeing the silent classroom, Lawrence sighed in disappointment.

"Has none of you studied history?"

"Very well. The greatest difference is that mana possesses *consciousness* and is influenced by emotions."

A student blurted out:

"Professor, what do you mean by mana having consciousness?"

Lawrence replied:

"In truth, we know little about mana's consciousness. It has acted independently only twice."

Earthen masses formed in the air, shaping into ancient continents.

"Those who studied history should know our world once had six separate continents."

"But when the Invasion War began and mana spread globally, it began merging the six into one."

The blue mana-sea compressed the continent models into a single landmass.

"Of course, some dismissed this as mana's erratic nature, refusing to believe it had independent will."

"But this denial didn't last. During the First Realm War, mana acted again—sealing the Demon Realm Sovereign."

The merged continent shifted into a colossal black throne. A shadowy figure sat bound by azure chains.

"Witnessing this act—which could only stem from a conscious will—mana's sentience became undeniable."

"As for emotions influencing mana, we must first discuss its nature."

Lawrence posed another question:

"You all know of the Lower City and Care Zones, but do you know why they were built?"

Many hands rose this time. He seemingly chose at random—but I knew better. He selected the sole Lower City student beside the sleeping Alexander: Jess Earth.

Jess stood, answering flatly:

"They were built in low-mana zones to house the disabled—those unable to adapt to mana."

Lawrence nodded.

"Accurate. But does anyone know why the disabled cannot use mana?"

Fewer hands rose. He pointed to a platinum-blonde girl with jewel-blue eyes.

"Because their bodies treat mana as poison, lacking adaptation."

"Correct."

Lawrence summoned a model of an ancient city with planes and infrastructure.

"Humanity's greatest catastrophe was mana itself."

The blue mana-sea pressed down, crushing buildings and grounding aircraft.

"First, mana's presence created gravitational-like pressure, devastating infrastructure."

"Natural disasters from continental mergers killed countless."

The model shifted to a human figure.

"For humans, mana was poison. Imagine the horror when your *entire world* became toxic."

The figure erupted in burns, mutations—extra limbs, eyes, a fleshy tail.

A normal human model replaced it.

"But some adapted, like other races. They united humanity, founded noble houses and the Union Army, and moved the unadapted to low-mana cities—prolonging their lives."

"Gradual exposure allowed more to adapt."

Lawrence smirked.

"A fact many ignore: talent grades reflect adaptation—how much mana your body stores without poisoning."

He summoned models of mana-tech: floating disks, airships, teleportation circles.

"When humanity warred with mana-adapted races, they abandoned developing their own mana-tech, adopting others' instead."

A bell chimed—ethereal, abrupt.

Lawrence sighed.

"Seems we must end here."

As he left, he added:

"Next lesson emotions' influence on mana. Review Mana, Emotions, Will, and Their Mutual Influence by Roland Berghnorth for a primer."