Hours passed in this manner, and Arian grew stronger each day in knowledge and combat skills. Realizing that this method of training was no longer adequate for Arian's progress, Zynarfil proposed, "Arian, what do you think about going on a journey? I think it's time for you to see the world beyond the forest."
"Yes, Master! Please... let me quickly pack my things. Where are we going? To the sea? Or the Argolin Mountains, hmm! Or maybe the Dark Marshes?!"
"Calm down, this isn't a leisure trip. We're going on a mission. And the first place we're heading to is the capital of Calostia!"
Both Arian and Zynarfil prepared for their adventure. They traveled on foot to build Arian's endurance, while Zynarfil taught him how to absorb the mana around him while walking, without meditating. In the early days of their journey, they left the forest where their cottage was located and entered a vast, lush plain. In the center of this plain was a road that connected the capital of Calostia to the border town of Irwana, which was near the land of the elves.
"Master, look at those butterflies! Why are they behaving like that?"
"Arian, be careful. Every beautiful thing has its dangers. These butterflies, if you notice, hover more around insects than flowers. Do you know why? Because the mana within insects is tastier for these butterflies."
"So why should I be careful, Master? I'm not an insect!"
"True, but if you bother one of them, they'll all attack you together because they have vengeful personalities."
"What fascinating creatures. We didn't have them in the forest. I guess they're afraid of that place. Oh, Master, look at that dog! This one doesn't seem very dangerous, huh?"
Their journey continued in this way, encountering other travelers along the road who were heading to Irwana. Near nightfall, Zynarfil suggested they rest for the night. They went over other lessons, and Arian helped Zynarfil prepare food.
"Well, Arian, tonight I want to teach you about the anatomy of different races. Although there are significant differences, the bodies of all of us work in similar ways. For any being to use mana, they must have mana veins and a mana core, forming a mana circulation system similar to a blood circulation system. However, these veins and cores form at different ages for different races. For example, in humans at age 8, elves at age 12, dragons at age 20, and vampires at age 31. Of course, this is an estimate, as some, like you, form their mana core much earlier."
"So, Master, does that mean I'm a genius? And how come I didn't even realize I had a mana core?"
"Yes, Arian, you are a genius, an exceptional case. You formed your core at the age of 3, which is why you've forgotten about it. But remember, don't tell anyone about this except your closest loved ones, okay?"
"Yes, Master. Now, can you explain the rest of the lesson?"
"No, Arian, that's enough for tonight. Now, go to sleep. I'll join you shortly."
After putting Arian to bed, Zynarfil walked toward a dark spot in the plain. With each step closer to that point, the suffocating feeling in the area intensified.
"You're the ones heading to Irwana, aren't you? What happened? Why are you back?"
"Please forgive us! We didn't know that... ugh!"
"Didn't know what, huh?! I despise fools like you, whose mana cores are still in the red zone even at the age of 30, yet you take up banditry."
The sound of breaking.Zynarfil sent the two bandits to the next world, then returned to Arian to rest by his side. The next morning, Arian and Zynarfil resumed their journey and training. Zynarfil handed Arian a transparent crystal, one designed to be used after awakening one's mana core.
"Arian, my dear, take this crystal and try to inject your mana into it."
"Why, Master?"
"Well, because I got this from a traveling merchant, and since we didn't have it before, we couldn't figure out your primary mana element."
"Alright, Master. But... what is a primary element?"
Zynarfil replied, "Do the test first, and I'll explain afterward." During the test, Zynarfil's eyes widened in shock. He was witnessing one of the wonders of the world.
A primary element indicates which element someone is most attuned to and may learn related elements with effort. Most of the time, a person only has one primary element, and the crystal displays that single color. Rarely, someone might have two primary elements, and the crystal shows two colors. However, for Arian, the crystal displayed all four colors—and, additionally, a black hue appeared, a color said in legends to manifest only when nature itself chose someone.
Another legend, known only to Zynarfil, stated that if black appeared in the crystal, it meant the person had been chosen by the goddess of death and creation herself!
"Master, what happened? What are these colors?"
"Sorry, my son, I got distracted for a moment. Let's continue. The primary element shows which type of magic someone can use. As I've taught you before, there are four primary elements: air, which appears green; water, blue; earth, brown; and fire, red. The color in the crystal indicates which element the mana user can harness. With effort, they can also use related elements. For example, someone with fire as their primary element could potentially use lightning."
"That's so cool, Master! Does that mean I'm the ruler of all elements? And what does the black mean?"
"Yes, Arian, you have the potential to rule over all elements—if you work hard. As for the black... In ancient times, it was said that anyone with black in their crystal could become something beyond this world's imagination. But in the 23,000 years since the first wizard, you're the only one who's had this element."
"So, if I'm the first, how do they know what this element does?"
"It's said this element was first seen in the forgotten goddess, the goddess of death and creation. But that's just a theory."
"Alright, Master. Now will you teach me how to use magic? So far, you've only taught me to gather mana around my fists and sword as a shield, that's it!"
"Yes, but first, you need to determine which category of mana users you belong to: mages or enhancers! It depends on the capabilities of your mana veins. I already know which category you fall into, but what do you think?"
"Well, Master, you taught me that mages manipulate the mana in their surroundings to cast spells, while enhancers use the mana within themselves. So, I guess I'm an enhancer!"
"Bravo! Here's a candy as a reward. Now, let me explain in more detail. Mana veins in the body connect to the outside through points with gateways. Mana flows into and out of the body through these points. In mages, these gateways are fewer but larger, allowing them to release more mana from a single point compared to enhancers. Enhancers, like you, have more points in their bodies, but the gateways are smaller. That's why your mana spreads evenly across your body rather than concentrating in one area."
"Okay, Master. So, I have many points in my body but can't cast big spells?"
"You can, but you'll need to work hard. First, let's learn how to distribute elemental mana within your body. How does that sound?"
Arian and Zynarfil continued their journey, learning more about the world around them. Arian encountered fascinating creatures, like bird-hunting mice and wolf-eared cats, while Zynarfil laughed at Arian's playful antics.
After three days, they reached the capital, a bustling city filled with crowds and shops selling all sorts of items, from magical wands to furniture. The streets were paved with stone, and everyone seemed to be heading toward the central square in front of the king's palace. After the global peace treaty, different races began living together, so people from diverse backgrounds could be seen everywhere.
"Wow, Master! It's so big! What's that? And that? Oh, what's this? By the way, why is that man's skin so pale? Oh, Master, can I buy this, please?!"
"Arian, you're all over the place! What do you want now?"
"Look! They're selling magical eggs. Maybe I'll get a rare creature!"
"Oh, madam, please don't break your son's heart. Little boy, you've come to the right place. These eggs were brought from the continent of Zilandra. They say they could hatch into a phoenix, a demon, or a wolf—I'm not sure!"
"Master, please, can I get one?!"
"Fine! Stop giving me that look with your eyes! Alright, sir, how much?"
"For this charming boy, I'll only take ten rants."
"Alright, here you go. Arian, pick one."
"Hmm... I'll take the black one!"
"Here you go, little one. Come back anytime!"
After buying the egg, Zynarfil visited an information shop and purchased a map of Calostia and its surroundings. Then, the two headed to an affordable . "Master, what do you think this egg is?" "Look, Arian, I think it's probably a regular chicken egg since it only cost ten rants. If it were a real magical egg, it would've been over seventy rants. Now forget the egg and go eat your dinner! I want to teach you some more—hurry up!"
Both of them ate their dinner, sat in the middle of the small rented room, and prepared for their lesson.
"Alright, Arian, so far we've figured out that you're an enhancer with all the elements. Now tell me, does that make you invincible?" "No, Master. If I don't work hard and get stronger, then no. There will always be someone stronger than me!"
"Good answer, my boy. Now let's talk more about the mana circulation system. The core is the main part of the system. If you want to disable a mana user without physical harm, you can destroy their core—this will prevent them from using magic ever again! The core acts like a pump, moving mana in and out of the body. The mana core itself has levels, which you can notice by looking within yourself at the area where your core is located. Each level is represented by a specific color. The difference in levels and colors lies in the density of a person's mana. Let me explain with an example—it's like polluted water. The more polluted it is, the murkier it gets. Now focus inside yourself, around your stomach. What color is your core?" "...Hmm, Master, I think it's red!"
"Exactly correct! You get a chocolate as a reward. Now let me explain the levels. Red represents the beginner or amateur level. The amount of mana in your body is very low, so with this amount, you can only form a thin protective layer around your body. The next color is orange, which is denser than red, so your magical range increases. After that comes yellow, then green, then blue, purple, and finally white. That's the order of mana levels. Most people in the world fall into red or orange levels, with only a few reaching purple or white. The four kings, along with me, have white-colored cores. But there's also a legend about another color—black! According to scholars, if the mana inside the core exceeds a certain limit, a fusion process occurs within the core..."
"Wow, that's so interesting, Master! Does that mean you're that strong?!" "Yes, my little rascal—of course, that's the only part you paid attention to!"
After continuous discussions about who was stronger, the lesson paused as playful Arian steered the conversation away. They both rested in their small room and woke up early the next morning.
During their journey, Zynarfil decided to review the map he had bought. Since it was cheap (five rants and three rents), it only showed borders and area names—nothing more. Zynarfil decided they would stay in the capital until noon and then head toward the Amurna Desert in the center of the continent. For this, they would need to cross the border of the Silanderin nation.