The Regressed NoBody

“Come here and take a comfortable position, one which can easily help you mediate your body and allow your mind to go into cogitation,” Mordian said attentively as he ushered with a movement of his huge golden eyes, shimmering through the bright light of the crystals around us.

His demeanour took a more serious and stern air as I listened and did as he instructed without question and went into a meditative stance with my legs crossed and hands interlocked, placed over my thighs.

I waited for a few minutes, peering up at Mordian with awaiting eyes as I stretched my senses and felt for the mana around me.

I kept Mind’s Eye active, which might guide me through the process of learning the rotation spell. Because ultimately, from the conclusion I had come to after listening to Mordian’s explanation, the movement of the ambient mana and how a person’s compatibility with it, determined the final result of the process. And through Mind’s Eye, I thought I could lessen the burden of racking my brain into figuring out the terminology and workability behind this spell.

Honestly, without this skill my chances at improving my use of mana wouldn’t have been as fast and efficient as it was now. I could clearly use the role and how the mana worked, when it was either dormant or drawn to a meditating mage or being used to empower a spell, through its perspective lens I was able to observe and diversify my own ability to manipulate mana.

It didn’t take the dragon long before his brows eased from his inward pondering and his face grew more resilient and stern, as if the one who stood in front of me was an impeccable and appealing trained warrior who had mastered the art of stoicism, without a crack in his demeanour.

The poise and unwavering power oozing from his eyes and each movement he performed, made it seem as if it was done with some purpose in mind. Something which left me in awe.

“This technique's name is mana rotation, similarly it was given many other names as it was experimented on, such as: mana equilibrium, resonance, flow or mana attunement.”

I attentively listened to Mordian as he explained.

“Before we start, first tell me...” Mordian’s eyes sized me up and down as I maintained my stance, looking back at him with full attentiveness—this somehow made me remember my time, may it had been short, back in the academy, making me kind of melancholic as the sudden thought of how my friends might be doing emerged in my head.

I felt conflicted as I remembered not saying a word to them before going to the trials. Thinking back, I guess my decisions were rushed and taken halfway through due to my desperation in finding a cure for Jihye, or hoping I could find one if I went to the trials.

“...what are the primary elements of mana you are most compatible with or what is the attribute you excel in?” Mordian asked, sounding like a mentor ready to teach a class. He rubbed his snout with his clawed hand as he continued. “As you might have figured, unlike the ash’ari, whom are able to manipulate all the four attributes of mana and purify all the elements inside our body by rotation in harmony due to the reason that our constitutions work differently, its not the same for the other races, especially so for humans, due to the complexity of each attribute and their respective compatibility, there can only be a single element they can be compatible with to harness their potential, or at the very best two if they’re talented.”

Well, he was right. Now that I’d finally become able to harness all four of the attributes' strength, I could tell more or less the state of harmony and compatibility, plus the complexity of each element was, which each element had with one another. So to create a state of harmony inside our bodies, our body would only attract the motes of mana which we were the most compatible with.

So it was similar to the case as: a water-attribute mage would clearly and only attract the particles of water-attribute mana or a fire-attribute mage would only attract the particles in alignment with his natural ability to attract the element of fire.

My brows knitted as I drew a breath and answered. “More or less, I have an affinity for all four elements,” I said with a straight face as I clearly saw as clear as a day, Mordian’s brows furrowing suddenly, but it was a change hardly noticeable.

“But the stronger and more in control attributes, which I’m most confident in wielding are fire and wind. My control over water is good and earth is just so-so, but still adequate.”

His brows relaxed after a minute as if he himself had found some clue of my statement being true.

As if to quench his own curiosity he asked right away. “You are telling the truth. Even with my abilities being sealed, I still feel it strongly, the presence of all four elements hovering around you, being drawn to your body, which should be physically impossible in your case as a human.”

“Well sorry for being a fragile human and not a robust life-form like the ash’ari,” I whispered in a self-deprecating tone as I scoffed, taking an annoying glace at Mordian.

He most probably had heard me, but decided to ignore my comment, but with a snort he blinked slowly and with the furrow of his brows he asked.

“It is truly a surprise to me that you’re able to wield all four of the elements, an achievement which is certainly praiseworthy among your people. But tell me, how difficult do you find it when you cast a spell of a specific attribute—let’s say fire—, while on the other hand when doing so with the other attributes at the same time for efficiency?”

My brows furrowed in thought as I looked through my mind. Since I’d started spellcasting with the basic elements, then moving on to the deviant of ice after I’d gained more than enough control over the attribute of water.

I straightened as I said soberly. “To be honest, if I use a single element when spellcasting its more convenient and effective when I do so, but the burden and process of spellcasting several spells of different attributes become more and more difficult as I continue, like changing the criteria of effectiveness with efficiency to have more diversity, but I’ve noticed that some spells among the others lack the intended firepower.”

Mordian nodded back with an attentive expression. He considered something inwardly then spoke. “Then first show me how you manipulate mana and how you spell cast. That is a crucial point if you want to learn the skill of rotation. And perhaps use spells with two different attributes.”

I stood squarely from my spot as I readied myself and started channelling the mana inside my body. From the side, Mordian observed me with perfect concentration, his gaze perfectly felt which could drill a hole in my back, as if he was trying to read the very flow of how I channelled my mana.

I took a breath as the mana squeezed out of my channels and rushed to the palms of my hands in an instant.

Mordian’s stance didn’t change as his observational eyes followed me.

Through Mind’s Eye, I saw the particles of wind coalesce in my right hand as the particles of fire rushed to my left palm. Just as my hand was engulfed in a fiery glow of surging blue flames which rose higher as I fed more mana to the spell, and in my right, a tranquil and harmonious gale of wind forming as the air fluttered around my palm.

As I maintained my stance, I turned to look at Mordian for any guidance but he was as still as a statue, merely observing from the side lines with his face frowning deeply in contemplative observation.

Just as I felt the mana was ready, it stirred inside me as I thrust both hands forward, the fiery blue flames hungrily lunged out of my hand and engulfed anything in its path, as the strong gale of wind, siphoned through the air, cutting and scratching the crystals as the heavy gale magnified the effects of the flames, making them burn more amply.

As the spells died down, I turned to Mordian as I wiped the sweat from over my forehead. “How was that? Was that good enough or do I need to make a more feisty display?” I shot him a smirk as I crossed my arms.

Mordian’s face didn’t break an inch away from his solemn expression as he gave me a thoughtful stare, which didn’t communicate any good will, or as far as I was concerned with my performance. That was a concentrated blast of air and a display of blue deviant fire. As well as their simultaneous use at the same time.

“You’re performance and talent for spellcasting is good, for someone on the intervening stage of the Enlightenment stage, and so is your hold over mana and its different attributes, good and adequate, for being a quadra-elemental mage...” Mordian said as his giant face turned more stern and perspective. “But...your performance is only as good as on the human standards. If compared to an ash’ari, your performance would only be comparable to an ash’arian child, yet to be accepted as a full-fledged adult.”

Really, was he being sarcastic or just plain harsh? I rolled my eyes as I shrugged.

But seeing his hardened face which didn’t contain any hints of him making a joke or being sarcastic in any kind of way, I grew suspicious and thought back on my performance. Despite being one of the weaker spells, the concentration of mana I’d used was still good enough to make both spells close to an intermediate rank spell—out of the three ranks, simple, intermediate or advance.

And Mordian had just plainly said that they were...just adequate?

My face suddenly wore a grim expression as I probed Mordian for an explanation, with questioning eyes. “What do you mean? You saw how well I concentrated the mana and how effectively and effortlessly released both spells simultaneously...then why was my performance just...’adequate’? I asked with a stern tone, placing emphasis over my words greatly, feeling slightly unnerved and wronged by his evaluation.

“That is why I said your control was adequate, which is only right as you’re a human, and considering that your kind only has had access to mana for barely a century—as strange as it is, that it took the mana in your world to develop after such a long time—, so taking into account those factors, your performance is splendid in its own way. Yet, recursive, you’re short-sighted in your manipulation of mana for spellcasting—sure you can augment mana through your body in near instances, but when the question of conjuring occurs, your lack of control and short-sightedness for incantation less mana manipulation makes your ability to spell cast rudimentary and rigid—even when concentrated and when using a well thought and controlled spell, your inadequate and rushed actions during spellcasting, makes the mana leak which it shouldn’t as the spell is being formed and then released, with the constructive help of the atmospheric mana used as fuel.” Mordian took a breath as his mana flared and his hand burst with a golden-white radiance, showing me the use of his mana, which was splendid and nothing shot of awe-inspiring.

“Coming to the point that you are still inexperienced as a conjurer—despite being an experienced and talented augmenter for your age. Preferably, your actions indicate that it’s only been a short time since you have been able to influence mana and incorporate them into the form of spells in outward forms, unlike, reinforcing your body simply with spells, which is common knowledge among augmenters.”

Upon hearing Mordian’s well thought reply I carefully thought back on each of his words. “What do you mean I’m short-sighted? I know it hasn’t been long since I become able to use mana for spellcasting, but I’ve been an excellent augmenter, stronger than any among the humans, but considering my performance and how good of a control I have over the elements, that’s just plain absurd.” My eyes flashed in annoyance looking at Mordian, as his eyes met mine with a nonchalant flash of boredom.

“That’s why I said you’re short-sighted.” Mordian said without preamble as his wisdomous eyes bore down at me. As if he could see right through my skin and at the shape of my mana. “The way you manipulate your mana is good, but from how I felt the mana leaving your body and then being guided into taking a certain shape of a spell, and then being released in that shape, it was rushed and forced to some extend, halfway through its release the spell was already flawed and crumbling.” Mordian explained. “It looked to me as if you’re forcing the mana inside your body to work in a certain way, clearly ignoring the way your body reacts to the outcome itself. Which is by far the most important aspect of spellcasting for a conjurer, feeling even the tiniest flow of mana and adjusting your body to align with how your mind would picture an attribute to take a specific shape, sequentially trying to create harmony both with your mind and body. That is why incantations became a general rule of practice for a newly awakened mage among the other races—elves dwarves or even the humans—so they could focus, which you currently lack.”

“Tell me, when you started conjuring the spells from before, did you think of the shape or the process through which the mana was to take a certain shape depending on your timely decision or through your own influence which you wanted it to take?” Mordian asked with a solemn air around him.

I racked my brain over his question, but the only outcome I arrived at was that, he was right. After being told of the clear mistake I was making, I understood the point he was making—very clearly. I might have become able to wield mana like a conjurer, but all I did was mimic what I’d seen them do—I was just impersonating a mage at best—, I thought of incorporating the mana in a certain shape and then releasing it using a certain attribute which aligned with my affinity. Without any consideration to the process.

“And you asked why. One of the reasons for that is, I noticed, that the way you’re using your mana was weirdly discrete. Well, every person has a different way of manipulating their mana in ways they find comfortable, and how they view the mana in their mind and through experience, but...” Mordian paused, pondering over his words carefully as his eyes shone subtlety with understanding. “It just looked to me, that you’re forcing your body to accommodate to the use of mana. As if you’re still not used to guiding your mana through your own body. Or just a mistake you naturally make as a dunce conjurer.”

“Similarly, your body is unable to react properly to the release of your mana—which is outstanding—,taking time to accommodate, a lack of synchronization on your part."

I frowned on Mordian’s words, there was clearly sarcasm lacing his statements, but only subtlety visible through his hardened tone.

But he was right. Somewhere, at some point I had also started feeling the same way. This wasn’t my original body, so learning to perfectly make this one mine was a problem of its own from the start—it was different from being born naturally in a physique since day one as an infant, rather appearing in a grown body with a different constitution from the get go—, but to accommodate myself with the construction of the mana channels inside Jiwoo's body had posed troublesome for me even when breaking through to the Enlightenment stage. And I think my eyes were opened after my defeat at the hands of the Guardian.

Those were the fundamental differences between him and I. It was my mind and his body, two different constitutions merged into one, but Mordian wasn’t aware of this fact. But he'd figured my lack of synchronization just by observing me.

“Then you need to first correct that issue if you want to start learning rotation. Because that technique also depends on how you manipulate your mana, coordinating your body.” Mordian mused.

Under his clear and easy to understand instructions, I started making adjustments to the use of my mana, how conjurers did. With the use of the breathing forms, I guided the ambient mana around my body and purified it through my channels, at a snail’s pace under the dragon's strict instructions.

Mordian’s brows rose a fraction of an inch as he asked. “This form of breathing you’re utilising, assisting you with the absorption of mana and the refining process...” subtle surprise bled through his stoic face as he continued, “the technique is similar to mana rotation, but an inferior technique which is flawed in its mechanics.” Mordian hummed as he kept observing me keenly.

“To be honest, a friend of mine taught me this technique a long time ago, he is the same guy who created these breathing forms as a form of martial training.” I said, suddenly recalling the memory of when Han had forced me into learning his original technique to pass time and accompany him during his own training sessions in the past.

“Your friend must have been one talented fellow if he was able to replicate the rotation technique without any help, alas, creating a flawed and inferior version of the original technique.”

Mordian made a few comments here and there when I made a mistake, but nonetheless, it didn’t take me long to figure out what I was lacking. With this, my body had perfectly attuned with the flow of my mana, but the process still painstakingly took me a few hours under Mordian’s tutelage, surviving through his subtle sarcastic insults directed at me whenever I did something wrong.

But I didn’t feel contempt, rather I felt our bond growing. As much as a grumpy guy he was.

“Focus on the shape of the spell rather than how you’re just trying to force the mana into taking the shape itself," the dragon said, as he peeked an eye open which glimmered with a subtle depth of understanding. "Your ability to manipulate mana is good, but compared to me and the other races out there its simply rudimentary and pathetic." I could feel a wry smile pulling at his lips as he instructed like a grumpy mentor—now that he had opened up to me, and so had I. Mordian’s sarcasm was truly peculiar, I guess everyone had their quirks.

I ignored him and concentrated, but still took his advice at heart.

“Focus and carefully imagine the shape you want the spell to take. When you can learn to do that, then spellcasting would be less of a burden for you and also less time consuming.” He added right after.

May that scaled reptile have been nothing but annoying to me these past few hours, but his understanding of mana was far advance and leaps ahead of me, if I had to be honest.

I couldn’t ask for a better teacher.

I did as he had instructed. I commanded the mana inside me and allowed it to flow through my body in a rotatory motion which kept stirring inside me constantly, sequentially utilising the breathing forms.

Then as I guided the mana to my palms—without any forceful actions, creating harmony with each movement as I started getting the hang of it—they burst with a calming light of green as I observed through Mind's Eye, the particles of wind were drawing closer to my palms, as the motes danced atop them, ready to be moulded into a spell.

Then closing my eyes, I took a deep breath—similarly, when the topic of spellcasting was taught and the classes I attended back in the academy, they taught students to be reliant on incantations during the process when they thought of a shape of a spell, to picture it’s process through a creative mind. What I'd found out was that, it wasn’t the incantations which fuelled the spell, rather the image a mage made in their head during their state of concentration—incantations were only a form of dialect which better helped them shape a spell and save time and pull their mind from other unnecessary thoughts, to chiefly focus on the composition of their spells.

For example, for a wind-attribute spell, a mage would start to craft a image in their mind about the breeze or something similar which incorporated with wind, through the use of incantations—chant—, made that image solid and firm. I remembered reading an incantation in a text book back in the academy: ‘Whispers on the breeze, spirits roar, air that dances, forevermore. In currents swift and gentle flight, I call upon the winds tonight. Element of air, breath of the free, blow through me, blessed be.’

But ultimately incantations were merely just an extension, until an individual gained enough mastery to perform incantation less spellcasting.

On that note, I imagined a ball of wind taking form inside my palm as the wind particles pulled close to it, giving it shape, holding the ball firmly.

I knew that I was not a conjurer but, something like this was possible even for people when their understanding and control of mana increased as they broke-through to a higher rank of mana.

I felt a refreshing breeze taking form in my palm, as I opened my eyes and saw a ball of wind having taken form where I intended it to. The wind-attribute mana was whirling in the middle of my palm, without subtlety leaking any mana this time, which I had improved on, thanks to Mordian’s help after hours of racking my brain and ardours practice.

"You may not be born a conjurer but even people who can only augment mana through their body can use spells if they focus hard enough. That is a mind-set and also depending on an individual's perspective and how they manipulate mana through their gained experience of trail and error." Mordian gave me a slight grin, as if he was making fun of me with a playful expression. He was resting his snout on his arms as he leaned deeper into the patch of grass. “While you ignored those basic steps when beginning to use mana, now you have improved over that simple mistake. But for spells which require more mana and control, it will require you more time and training.”

I smirked wryly as I looked back at Mordian. “ I guess I finally got the approval of Lord Astrionyx.” I inclined my head in amusement as I felt happy on my improvement. Feeling a familiar rush of excitement like I did in the past during my training sessions with Master or Raphael.

“You’re still quite far off from gaining my approval.” Mordian said, joining in on the banter as I felt slightly relieved by this change of demeanour. “And there is still the question of you learning mana rotation.”

I crossed my arms as I leaned against a giant crystal, relaxing and catching my breath as silence descended, as I considered something with knitted brows before asking Mordian. “I know this might be a weird question to ask, but how I’ve seen it, depending on an individual’s control and natural affinity toward mana, they can either wield one or two elements at once—being a single of dual-elemental mage. Then why can’t they with more? Considering that mana is all just mana, and only divided by its four different forms—but at the core of it all, its the same—, then isn’t it possible if they try? Could they be able to wield the other elements, as its a challenge of just dominance over an attribute and the purification of one’s channels?”

“Then what do you think when you see a mage who only has an affinity with only a specific element—let’s say a water-attribute mage—since the moment of their birth or when they awaken to mana?” He asked, soberly as his eyes fixed over me, holding a quality of wisdom, as if he already had an answer ready.

I was just curios about these fundamental differences between us.

I thought for a good minute over it, as I answered shortly after. “Because it has something to do with their biology, and also their compatibility with a specific element depending on their own perspective and versatility. Ahm, something related with the process of their ability to purify the mana and their innate affinity.”

“Your thinking is correct, but flawed and rudimentary due to the constricting nature of how you were taught what mana is.” Mordian said with a wave of his hand, as his clawed finger drew a line in the air which made a streak of pure golden-white light to follow in its wake. “In your case, you can manipulate all four elements, because you have an affinity for all four of elements of mana. We dragons theorized after a long time of ardours research, that mana, is what fills all the space around us, similarly its linked to the edict of space, because there is mana everywhere in every world. There is no place which is not touched by its presence. There is mana everywhere and its the living force which gives birth and sustenance to all living creatures and things.”

“But coming to the point, not anyone could attempt to learn to harness the techniques from the elemental attributes other than their innate ones which they’re the most compatible with since learning to feel mana and use magic, but sequentially if they are able to, doing so would only serve to hinder their progress which their entire time has been invested on so far on training that one specific element.” Mordian moved, his chain sending a sharp raspy sound through the cavern as he shifted his position. “Rather, it is a path fraught with obstacles and limitations when learning to manipulate an attribute beside the natural affinity to the mana which their body has, hindering their journey rather than propelling them forward, without any ample results, entirely wasting their time.”

“Let’s say for example, a mage with an affinity to the attribute of fire were to pursue the study of the water attribute, their advancement would be minimal at best, alas as slow and arduous as a snail’s pace, and it could even potentially disrupt the flow and delicate balance which their body has for the manipulation of mana.” Mordian’s eyes flashed with understanding, as I saw the mana pulled inside his body then purified. “Because a person can only attract the attribute of mana which their natural affinity aligns with, sequentially, only the motes of red—which are of fire will be attracted toward them and flow around them—beside the other three elements which that person doesn’t have an affinity for will not be absorbed into his body and be purified.”

I nodded with a pondering expression as I understood the inclination behind his explanation. It was true, and an individual’s affinity mattered most in his progress of understanding mana. Because if they had more affinities it would become more complex and harder for them to master a single element of their choice.

Mordian’s heavy voice broke me out of my reverie as I tore my head up and peered at his firm demeanour which oozed wisdom and knowledge with each word he spoke.

“Because their body gets used to absorbing and purifying a specific element and purifying said element by distributing the mana equally in their body and keeping a sense of harmony without allowing the output of a specific element to increase than another.” His explanation was easy to understand as I nodded back in response. “And the individuals who are able to manipulate two elements, maintaining this balance, because their body has a natural affinity for the attributes which are compatible with each other. Like wind would have a compatibility with fire.”

“Conversely, when a mage dedicates themselves to a technique of an affinity of mana aligned with their own innate attribute and talent, the results become vastly different. They would not only find it easier to comprehend and assimilate an attribute of mana, but the power and potential unleashed by their focus and training their affinities would be exponentially greater and stronger. The synergy between them and their natural attributes’ affinity could allow a mage to unleash their true talent and bring out the full potential of their technique, which would also create harmony seamlessly, enabling them to tap into its full might without any interference and issue.”

Mordian shifted to accommodate a more comfortable position as his facial expression slacked, drawing a breath to relax, then slowly picked up his pace.

“It’s a widely acknowledged principle among mages that the elemental affinity of someone could shape the path they wanted to walk on and pursue their purpose, while their physique’s aptitude also determined the extent of their progress along that path.”

“Like the difference between the humans, or elves or the ash’ari?” I chimed in from the side as Mordian nodded.

“Yes, that also depends on an individual’s constitution.” He mused as his silky black hair waved down his neck and coated his obsidian scales. “but from my knowledge, the other weaker races have a very liner mindset in regards to mana and find it hard to deviant it from anything that actually works. Similarly, rotation is almost impossible to learn by others because of their late awakenings and their bodies taking time to adapt to the mana and changes, which in our case is done at a very young age."

After a few seconds of pause, he said. “So, considering if a person had all four elemental affinities at their disposal, that granted them a lot of freedom and versatility when trying to wield a certain element and using different deviant forms of magic—plus allowing them enough leverage to flow their mana in different outcomes, making them versatile for the use of mana and its constructive effects—consecutively, making it harder for them to manipulate all four elements and get used to a certain element, that’s the only drawback of this talent, unless they can learn to overcome the challenge of manipulating more than one element and their deviants."

I was left astound by Mordian’s elaborate and easy to grasp explanation. To so easily explain a mage’s ability to manipulate mana, their drawbacks and advantages, he truly was from the race of the most knowledgeable minds. Be it for an augmenter or conjurer.

As we humans were still in the stage of development in our magical society, these topics were tough for scholars to interpret and form a clear answer on. But what Mordian had just told me would be ground-breaking for my people.

“Now that we are down with this, let’s get back to the main point.” Mordian pointed out. “How does mana rotation works? To be exact, it’s nothing too tough to realize, I think even you might’ve grasped a hint or two from our conversation.”

I stood on my toes as I felt excitement envelope my back and arch upward, as my face turned slightly impatient on just what kind of exercise would he make me perform. Now that my body had become perfectly attuned with my mana—there was no longer any distortionary subtle movement—, I think I might be able to learn this spell.

Well confidence was the key. I determined myself as Mordian began to explain about how the spell works for the natural ability to draw mana and refine it.

“This spell is pretty simple to learn,” Mordian said. “Nothing to tough to rack your brain over...”

‘Yeah, like I trust you after all the sarcasm I had to survive.’ I rolled my eyes as I scoffed.

“Try to absorb the mana from the atmosphere while processing it out of the body and repeating the process several time before you can do so without even concentrating. Similar to multi-spellcasting while only distributing a portion of your active concentration."

A frown caught up to me as I blankly looked up at him. It was this simple.

I crossed my legs as I sat down on the cold ground. I took a quick glance at Mordian as I repeated the instructions he had provided in my mind like a stereo record. I needed to absorb the mana while guiding it out while also taking into account the circulation of my mana inside me to rotate it to reinforce my body.

That didn’t seem to hard. I took a breath as I started the process. Guiding the mana into my body as I also used the breathing forms as assistance after asking Mordian as he gave me the okay for that.

My mind was focused as all my attention went to the shape of the mana around me and the purified amount inside me which rotated and stirred to create a circular motion.

‘Alright, the absorption process looks good.’ I thought as I focused on the circulation of my mana and guided it through each nook and cranny of body.

But just as I was about to let it out and guide the mana out of my body, whilst sequentially absorbing the mana and refining it, my mind seemed to grow a headache as I tried to break my concentration into two ways. One part solely focused on the absorption process and the refining and the second on the discharging to make more room for mana.

My concentration broke as I groaned, taking a breath and looking at Mordian with a thoughtful expression.

“I told you, it wouldn’t be as easy as you had in mind.” He jabbed with a grin.

I frowned, as I tried the process for a few more times, but the result was still the same, I couldn’t seem to get any ample results as many times I tried. Whenever I moved to the last part of the process my mind wouldn’t be able to handle the output of the mana or lack the concentration due to the burden.

Mordian keenly looked at me, making one failed attempt after another. And for the next three or four hours he didn’t say a thing even if I asked him for a hint. But it'd been quite a while since I felt this frustrated and excited.

I smiled taking a slow breath as I repeated the process, and finally this time I felt the mana react in a way I wanted it to. It was subtle but it was there. Mordian had said it was like multi-spellcasting.

I thought with a questioning expression. Then did he mean that I needed to influence the mana in a way that it was absorbed and discharged from my body at the same time, as naturally as just breathing or blinking the eyes.

My eyes fluttered open in understanding as I felt the puzzle fall into place. I think I somewhat understood what I lacked.

I reached out with my mana and released Mind’s Eye, instead I decided to channel Ruler’s Authority this time.

As the skill responded to the command of my mana, it stirred awake from its dormant state and bloomed forth, like the morning dew and crisp smell which evaded in the morning, my body was filled with warmth.

I could feel Mordian’s gaze over me as he might have noticed my actions.

Then what if I did this.

I started to pull the mana closer as it was absorbed through each pore over my body, then instead of forcefully splitting my concentration into different points. I needed to think of this process as a whole, as an entire puzzle but with misplaced pieces, instead of trying to separately make corrections with each conscious movement my mana made.

I let my mana flow as my body now instinctively absorbed it without any restrictions, then I moved onto the purging and refining process which wasn’t any harder to do than the absorption.

I made a serious expression as I swallowed hard and let a piece of my concentration break free from the two previous actions with the help of Ruler’s Authority.

If I thought about it, my mana training with Mordian had also greatly helped me attune my body with the mana inside me.

Then by multi-spellcasting he meant...

I exerted my influence through the mana around me as the magical energy surged out of me as I felt the force of gravity unwind around me, weakening as my body lifted into the air effortlessly, but I felt my head hurt from the process of splitting my thoughts into two parallel patterns. But with Ruler’s Authority the burden was lessened as I felt my mind splitting into several strings of thoughts as I focused on remembering the shape and output of the mana which my body was able to adjust to.

Absorption and refining was similar and I was all too familiar with the process after two lifetimes, what mattered most was the final part where I had to match the output of the mana absorbed with the mana I refined and what left my body.

When these three thing were in harmony with each other, I opened my eyes as I saw Mordian looking at me with an amused expression of astound.

His eyes subtlety showed it but his grin was still there.

“Congratulations,” he said, as I slolwy allowed my mind to relax from the chain of concentration as the absorption of the mana continued as I walked closer to him. Even as I moved, with just a tad bit of my active concentration, I was able to absorb and refine the mana just how Mordian had said.

“So you finally figured it out. It’s genuinely surprising that you learned it in just a few hours, I thought it would take at least a few days at best, but your talent for mana manipulation might be on the same level as an ash’ari.” He said with a genuine smile this time.

“Its surprising that the talent you displayed is something rarely seen even among my people.” He mused. “But there will be limits to what you can achieve with your talent in the future with your weaker physique. That is a natural limitation which can’t be overcome by any form of training. I’m not saying this to discourage you, but to let you know of your actual standing. But beside that, how did you figure it out?”

I nodded back as I pondered over his words with a thoughtful expression.

“Remember how you told me that this spell is similar to something akin to multi-spellcasting, right!” I said as I crossed my arms and released Ruler’s Authority and kept my concentration divided to getting used to the spell.

“I thought on it this way, that if a mage is chanting a spell and while the process of using incantations to focus the spell, he is vulnerable during that time, wouldn’t it be more convenient if he used a second protection spell to guard himself as he chanted. So in order to do that he had to actively split his concentration into two different but parallel patterns, to even do something relatively close.”

I continued manipulating mana rotation as I kept my breathing in check. “Then wouldn’t it be an impossible task to perform unless the mage was a skilled and experienced individual to begin with. So on that note, just like splitting my mind into holding two parallel patterns for a spell, I did the same with this one. And my skill, Ruler’s Authority, helped in that.”

Mordian gave a understanding nod of affirmation as I smiled back at him.