Chapter 24: The First Circle

Aspiring mages were average humans with the potential to become mages. Unlike, aspiring mages, First-tier mages had stepped into the world of magic in the true sense of the word. 

They could cast all the first-tire magic spells with enough practice, their mana reserves increased and the casting time was drastically reduced. This was with the help of grimoires.

Grimoires would exist in astral form within their circle space, a mysterious space that no one has been able to comprehend up to this day. It could only be seen and utilized by the will of the mage. Each grimoire was different and unique to the mage in ownership.

'Then, that starry space was the…circle space?' 

Lucien was already in contemplation thinking back on it. It was truly a mesmerizing place, out of his imagination.

But that was not thus the point, but the grimoire, something personalized to every mage. A grimoire existed in different forms; a book, a scroll, a bunch of inscriptions etcetera. With each spell one learned, they could record it in this book or text record within the circle space. It could be done with great focus by first….

"Yes. All you," emphasized Merlin.

His Father's answer pulled him from his thoughts. 

"..."

Lucien felt a slight feeling of being blamed so he was speechless. His thoughts were cut short before registering the news.

'I did this? Am I this strong…?'

Lucien took another look around and still didn't believe his eyes. He had conveniently forgotten to ask about his experience in the light fragment-filled void.

Merlin silently cast a fire spell that unset the freezing spell, leaving the cold room warm and toasty. His emerald eyes reflected a tinge of exhaustion.

"Today's lesson ends here. You should contemplate the feeling you had earlier," said Merlin and left Lucien to his thoughts.

'Feeling…earlier?'

He felt like a crack appeared on the wall that was obstructing him. He saw the wall of crystal extending high and mighty, shattering with cracks before his vision disappeared into the circle space….

The other feeling was his weird understanding of the interaction his mana had with nature. He could feel the will of nature bend to take shape by the will of the language of nature. This nature essence itself was formless and would only take shape when willed to…

Was it the strange connection he had with the newly formed crystal? There was also the pull he felt extending deep within that dark void, something familiar yet so distant.

Lucien sat there blankly, slightly confused. His understanding of his father's words was a mystery in and of itself. He wouldn't be sure he understood his assignment well enough or if there were words deliberately withheld from him. Lucien had no way to know what to put his focus on.

'What feeling…?'

At this time Bianca came into the room, she watched from the side as Lucien was lost in thought. Thinking of busying herself, she activated her prying eyes. They glowed of light azure covering her entire sclera, iris, and pupil included. 

What she saw shocked her. The amount of Ether had increased within Lucien. His mana had a proportional increase as well. Lucien's body was a step away from detonating.

The lemniscate, the golden loop of infinity was slightly more visible now. It extended out to somewhere she assumed Mikaela was. 

The odd thing was, energy was carried in the lemniscate flowing out of his body. Lucien's excess mana left his body dispersed along the way most naturally.

Having reached the first circle, his reserves enlarged as well as his compatibility with ether. This made mana and ether intake into his body too straining thus the loop acted as a filter and took away the excess of the energy.

The other thing she observed was Lucien's magic circle, in the form of a diamond three-dimensional jewel that facilitated the inflow and storage of mana within the body. 

With each circle as an anchor, the reserves of mana and space of the circle void increased. Mana would gather around a magic circle and form an intricate flow around it. Like planets revolving around the sun. A mana circle was like a processor, it helped in casting spells and storing and regulating mana. She could tell at a glance that this mana circle was at its early stages given that no complex form was made. 

However, Lucien by far surpassed the reserve amount of an average mage. It was almost that of a mage at the threshold of the second circle.

Lucien was too talented!

Despite Lucien's good news and wonderful talent, Bianca could only let out a bitter smile. One of solemn bittersweet pain. Her heart skipped anxious beats until it calmed down after some controlled breathing.

'It is fine, we'll find a solution soon. My baby is going to be fine. Nothing will go wrong under my watch...'

Self-placating was something she had grown accustomed to over time.

"Mom, is something wrong?" asked Lucien.

He had long noticed his Mother's arrival but he didn't dare to disturb her amid her observation. He remained still until her eyes began dimming the luminous glow.

"My baby, you are so talented. You have gotten to the first circle so quickly…I am proud of you! You did great!" said Bianca.

'She is hiding it, again.' Lucien thought helplessly.

Lucien didn't pry despite noticing the choked-up, hoarse voice from his Mother trying to seem calm and less emotional.

"Thank you, Mom," he said. 

That day, as usual, he got to choose his most desired dish for dinner. Mikaela would join as well.

He would be sure to rub it on his face of how good he was…

…

At dinner that night, the atmosphere seemed unsettled. Mikaela and Lucien seemed to have something to say. They restrained themselves until it was after dinner.

The dish Lucien had chosen was ribs from a boar hunted in the woods. It was sweet and juicy when Bianca unleashed her special cooking skills. It was made in a broth accompanied with a side dish of fried vegetables and rice. 

They had excited faces and rushed to finish their meals. The mouthwatering delicacy left one craving for more. If not for their limited eating capacity, they would go on forever. 

After the meal was done, the adults had their daily chats since it was only at dinner meals they had leisure time.

^_~