asfenwald 1

The cool morning air, mingling with the mist that blanketed the stone-paved streets, had enveloped the town.

Though Asfenwald was a coastal town, its proximity to major human strongholds made it a bustling place. Kaelen had learned this information from Lyra in the early hours of the morning. For some reason, the girl had been unusually cheerful that morning. Perhaps this was her usual demeanor. After all, Kaelen had only known Lyra for a day. While her behavior had slightly annoyed him, it was something he could handle.

Kaelen struggled to keep his eyes open, the effects of staying up all night weighing heavily on him. Forming a mana core required immense focus and a significant amount of time. Without a mana core, even if you could use mana, you couldn't convert it into its elemental form.

Walking beside him, Headmaster Edric subtly observed him. Kaelen's steps were uneven, and he occasionally stumbled as he walked.

Kaelen let out a wide yawn.

The Headmaster paused for a moment, then turned his gaze to Kaelen. The young man's exhaustion was evident in his eyes.

Headmaster Edric asked in a calm voice,

"What's wrong with you? Did you not sleep at all last night?"

Kaelen flinched slightly. There was no accusatory tone in the Headmaster's voice, but it made him more alert. Trying to hide his fatigue, he shook his head.

Kaelen quickly replied,

"I had trouble sleeping. I was just thinking about some things."

The Headmaster paused for a moment and narrowed his eyes. Kaelen, no matter how tired he was, wasn't bad at lying. But Headmaster Edric was an experienced man. He must have realized that Kaelen was hiding something.

Headmaster Edric raised an eyebrow and said,

"Well, if you say so."

Kaelen chuckled lightly, but there was tension within him.

He took a deep breath. He wasn't ready to reveal that he had formed a mana core. For now, the best option was to keep it hidden. The cold air from Asfenwald's mountains seeped into the young boy's body.

"So, this is what it feels like to be a wind mage," Kaelen thought to himself.

It was a very different feeling compared to fire magic. It felt calmer and more balanced. Kaelen's efforts throughout the night had paid off. He was now a beginner-level mage.

The fundamentals of mana are as follows:

An easy way to measure your power lies in the color of your mana core. Initially, the mana core is black because the body's blood and other impurities mix with mana particles to form the core. As the mana in a person's body becomes purer and the impurities are filtered out over time, it turns a dark red. From there, the color of the mana core lightens; from dark red to red, and then to a lighter red.

The sequence is as follows: black, red, orange, yellow, silver, and finally white.

From a red mana core to a yellow mana core, the colors are divided into three shades (Dark Orange, Medium Orange, Light Orange). As a rule, the lighter the color of the mana core, the purer the core, and the more power the person can access.

The mysterious truth about the mana formed in the early stages of the core is that it varies depending on how enhancers and emitters use it.

After observing Kaelen's tired but determined expression for a while, the Headmaster turned his attention forward without pressing further.

As they walked through Asfenwald's stone-paved streets, the townsfolk were preparing for the new day. Today, the town would celebrate a festival hosted by the Reus family. Kaelen had learned from the other children at the orphanage that the Reus family was a miracle family that had moved here about 50 years ago. Since their arrival, they had protected the town and its people, earning them great respect and trust. Currently, the third generation of the family had achieved the status of mages at a young age. This wasn't surprising. Mana generally favored those from mage lineages.

When Headmaster Edric stopped, Kaelen looked up and saw a tall, majestic building waiting for them.

The church glowed like gold under the morning sun. Its marble walls were adorned with large stained-glass windows. The faint sound of hymns from inside complemented the town's peaceful atmosphere.

As the doors opened, Kaelen's breath caught for a moment. Inside stood a woman with long white hair that shimmered like light. Her presence radiated an otherworldly aura. Kaelen had met many saints in his past. This was a feeling he was quite familiar with, but in his new body, all his senses had changed.

Luminaria. The saint of the Fallen City's church.

When the woman turned slowly, Kaelen instinctively took a step back. It was just a hunch—but his instincts were screaming at him. He couldn't feel her. He couldn't sense Luminaria's power. Since forming his mana core, he had been able to vaguely sense the energies around him, but Luminaria was like a complete void.

Kaelen thought to himself,

"Not being able to sense a person's presence at all... This isn't normal. She must be a mage so powerful that I can't even perceive her." Perhaps she had a silver core or something close to it.

A soft smile appeared on Luminaria's face. Her eyes briefly met Kaelen's before turning to Headmaster Edric.

Luminaria spoke gently,

"Edric… It's been a long time since I last saw you."

Headmaster Edric bowed his head slightly, a faint smile on his face. This was an expression that even Lyra found surprising.

Kaelen felt that if he had known the Headmaster for a long time, he would have been surprised too. The Headmaster was generally a stoic man.

Headmaster Edric said,

"It truly has been a long time, Luminaria. You haven't changed much."

Kaelen watched the two carefully. There was a noticeable formality in their conversation, but traces of a deep history were also evident.

Luminaria's eyes drifted slightly as she said,

"So, I'm still the same. It feels good to hear that from you."

The Headmaster's eyes hardened for a brief moment. Kaelen realized then that what they shared wasn't just an ordinary past.

The Headmaster looked at her for a moment, then nodded slightly. He then turned to Lyra and Kaelen and introduced the saint before them.

Headmaster Edric said,

"Luminaria was one of the most powerful warriors of the past. But at some point, both she and I withdrew from the battlefield. Losing someone like her on the field must have been a great loss, compared to me."

Luminaria smiled softly and said,

"We both left for our own reasons, Edric. Besides, it was time for old folks like us to make way for the younger generation. So, who are these young lady and gentleman? Aren't you going to introduce me?"

The Headmaster gave her a brief glance. While Luminaria's attention was fixed on him and Lyra, Lyra stepped forward and began to speak.

Lyra said in a serious tone,

"I'm Lyra from the orphanage. I'm also a light mage, like you, ma'am."

Lyra attempted a half-hearted bow, her posture not quite proper, but the saint received it with a gentle smile.

"So, you're the healer Edric told me about," Luminaria said.

Edric averted his gaze, seemingly uncomfortable with this revelation.

Luminaria placed her hand on the young girl's head. As her long, slender fingers ran through the blonde girl's hair, Kaelen was certain he saw a flicker of mana in her hand.

When Luminaria turned to him, there was a hidden wisdom in her eyes.

Luminaria spoke calmly,

"She doesn't seem like a bad mage, Edric."

Then her golden eyes locked onto the young girl.

"Edric told me you've reached the intermediate black core stage. Considering you're around 15 years old, yes, I can take you as my student. Your soul is pure and clean, which are necessary traits for a good healing mage."

"Wha...?"

Lyra stared at the old mage in shock.

Headmaster Edric interjected, clearly uncomfortable with the saint's offer.

"My meeting with Luminaria was because I thought you were talented, Lyra. She is one of the best teachers I know, and your abilities are quite similar. However, you would first need to join the academy and take the entrance exam. If Luminaria recommends you to the academy, you'll be admitted without taking the exam. Additionally, once you graduate from the academy, you can serve as a saint."

Lyra stood frozen for a long time, trying to process what she had just heard. So, there was a special reason why he had brought her and Kaelen here.

After all, the other children had already started exploring the marketplace.

"I understand. But please give me some time to think, Saint Luminaria," Lyra stammered.

Luminaria smiled warmly. Kaelen noticed that she looked even more radiant when she smiled.

"Of course. Take your time, little one. Now, Edric, who is this young man beside you?"

The saint's gaze shifted to the skinny boy with black hair and blood-red eyes.

"This is Kaelen, one of the children under my care at the orphanage."

"Ah, so this is the little one. He seems quite healthy now."

The saint placed her hand on Kaelen's head, just as she had done with the young girl.

At that moment, Kaelen felt a warm touch on his head. The saint was examining his body.

"Damn it," Kaelen cursed inwardly. He could no longer hide his mana core. A saint as powerful as Luminaria would see everything about his body with a single touch.

"Ah, so that's how it is, little one."

As Luminaria's golden eyes locked onto Kaelen, the church bell rang twice.

The sound of the large bell echoed throughout the town as Luminaria looked at Edric and the two children.

"The selections must be about to begin. I was invited by the Reus family earlier. We can go together if you'd like. The eldest daughter of the Reus family has also received a special invitation to the academy this year. I'd like Lyra to meet her."

Kaelen's brow furrowed. The saint would likely reveal everything about him to Headmaster Edric after the tournament.

For now, the start of the tournament had spared him from unnecessary questions.

Also, was the Reus family's daughter around their age?

"The reason they're holding the tournament and selections is to find someone who can assist their children at the academy and won't betray them."

Kaelen found himself wanting to meet the Reus family. How talented was their daughter? Though their influence was great, he doubted the academy would grant admission to every noble family.

The Headmaster nodded slightly and said,

"Please, lead the way, Saint."

As Luminaria walked toward the town square, Kaelen followed her.