[Mana Control] and the Idea

"We will begin our training in mana control by extracting a small amount of mana from the mana core and directing it throughout our bodies." Professor Anderson turned back to the blackboard to say this.

He sketched the basic shape of a human figure on the blackboard, initially leaving the inside blank. But that quickly changed. Professor Anderson drew a human figure and then added lines to connect the parts of the body.

Once the drawing was complete, Professor Anderson set the chalk down and pivoted to face his students.

"Within every human, there exists a mana system. This mana system resembles a network of canals weaving through the human body, enabling the distribution of mana." Professor Anderson explained, positioning himself behind his podium.

"We will master mana control by harnessing small strands of mana from our core and guiding these strands throughout our bodies," he elaborated.

"The technique involves starting with a small amount and gradually moving it through our bodies at a slow pace. Initially, this may prove challenging; however, as it becomes easier, we can accelerate the process." Professor Anderson clarified, stepping away from the podium to approach his students.

"This method will also enhance our mana core, incrementally increasing our mana reserves each time we successfully navigate a cycle within our bodies with the mana strand, but only by a minimal amount." Professor Anderson then paused momentarily to allow the students to digest the information.

After a brief silence, Professor Anderson felt it was time to impart practical knowledge.

"Now, I want you all to focus on your mana core and sense the small waves of mana emanating from it. Once you feel it, imagine seizing a small portion of that mana. With this fragment, locate a minor canal within your body. Upon finding it, gently push the mana strand through the canal." Professor Anderson instructed, guiding his students through the beginning steps of mana control while meandering among their desks.

Gabriel diligently followed all of Professor Anderson's instructions, starting with an effort to sense his mana core. Initially, he could only sense its faint presence, but with concentration, he started to detect small waves of mana emitting from the core. After some effort, Gabriel succeeded in feeling the mana waves. 

He then embarked on the more challenging task of grasping a strand of this mana, which took several attempts before he finally managed to do so.

As Gabriel continued with this exercise, he experienced a sense of familiarity, as though he had performed this task before, though he couldn't recall when or where. Undeterred, he proceeded with Professor Anderson's guidance. 

Having captured a strand of mana, he next sought out a small canal through which he could channel it. Surprisingly, this step proved less challenging; Gabriel found multiple canals where he could direct his strand of mana. 

Having chosen a canal, he started the process of pushing the mana strand through. Initially, there was resistance, but with persistence, Gabriel found it gradually easier to push the strand into the canal.

However, guiding the strand through the canal felt akin to walking against a strong current, presenting Gabriel with a considerable challenge. Despite that, he continued on, eventually completing a full circuit within his body's canal.

Throughout this process, two significant revelations occurred. Firstly, Gabriel recalled a previous experience similar to his current endeavor: the skill of aura control. 

He realized that [Aura Control] involved circulating mental energy, not mana, through the veins and blood vessels, which then form a protective layer over the skin after purification within the body. Secondly, upon successfully circulating mana for the first time, Gabriel acquired a new skill: [Mana Control].

The [Mana Control] skill aligned precisely with Professor Anderson's description, simplifying the process of circulating Mana within Gabriel's body. This newly acquired skill facilitates the circulation of strands of mana in Gabriel's body.

Gabriel also discovered that his ability to acquire the skill [Mana Control] stemmed from his preexisting skill in [Aura Control], which facilitated acquiring this skill thanks to his previous experience with [Aura Control]. By concentrating and focusing on utilizing the skill, he can enhance his control over mana while simultaneously increasing his mana reserves. 

However, the drawback is that an hour of concentration and skill usage results in only a tiny increase in his mana. Given the slow pace of progress and the looming, invisible threat he faces, Gabriel is feeling impatient.

"The mastery of this skill proves immensely beneficial; it significantly enhances my mana capacity." Gabriel mused. Despite recognizing its potential, something felt lacking. 

"However, its efficacy is limited by its slow nature. Discovering a method to utilize this skill passively, even while engaged in other activities, would drastically increase its utility." He pondered, eager to find a solution that would allow the skill to assist him further.

Determined, Gabriel delved deep into his memories, hoping to uncover something—anything—that could expedite his progress. Yet, despite his earnest efforts and thorough reflection, no insight emerged. Frustration began to mount, but he refused to succumb to defeat. 

"There has to be a technique to accomplish this," he voiced aloud, fingers tracing circles on his temples in a gesture of deep thought.

"What if multitasking at a cognitive level were possible?" A eureka moment struck him when he least expected it. This fleeting thought quickly evolved into a groundbreaking realization.

"Parallel processing!" he exclaimed, vibrant with enthusiasm. The concept, which operates on the foundational principle of computers executing multiple tasks simultaneously through separate processors, now seemed ingeniously applicable to his predicament. 

The notion of bifurcating his mind, enabling one segment to focus on a task while the other embarks on an entirely different one, was exhilarating.

"Remarkably, considering the human brain's complexity and capabilities, this could theoretically be achievable." Gabriel concluded, his excitement palpable. This revelation, though a small step towards his overarching goal, marked a crucial milestone in his journey of growth.

Gabriel pondered the only method he could think of, one that he recalled some drummers used to master playing two different beats with distinct tones and timings simultaneously. This approach intrigued him as a potential way to develop a skill akin to parallel processing. 

"The method involves creating a square with one hand while simultaneously forming a circle with the other." Gabriel contemplated attempting this exercise in his classroom. While his classmates, under Professor Anderson's supervision, focused on practicing mana control, Gabriel dedicated himself to trying out this peculiar technique.

Initially, Gabriel struggled with the task. His early attempts were clumsy, more about attempting the shapes than actually forming them. Yet, as he persisted, the process started to feel more natural. Gradually, he could produce both shapes simultaneously, although perfecting this ability still required considerable effort.

Gabriel incessantly continued his work without a pause, neglecting even the training of his new [Mana Control] skill to enhance his mana reserves. 

He was determined not to stop until he achieved his goal, persisting until the class concluded. As the bell marking the end of the class resounded, Professor Anderson collected his belongings. Before exiting, he turned to address his students with a happy and confident smile.

"Continue to work on your mana control; you are all proficient enough to practice it independently." Professor Anderson advised, pausing momentarily to survey his students before adding. 

"In our next class, we'll delve into magic spells, and we'll even perform a few of them." With that, the professor turned towards the door once more and departed, leaving his students, including Gabriel, brimming with excitement.