Awakening his mana

'He sure sounds bored given how much he's talking despite saying he hated useless speech...'

'Guess he's still an old man at the end of the day.'

"In the past, during my youth, this place used to be packed full of people… But now I… No matter."

"If you wish to become a strong adventurer, then you need to create your Mana Core."

"If you walk out, not far from here, you'll see a building, don't worry it is hard to miss. Meet Troy, he will help you become an awaken."

'There is no time to waste.'

Damien turned around and followed the instructions to a T.

******* 

Damien arrived in front of a building that stood out like a sore thumb on the street. He walked towards the door but before he could knock a voice sounded from within.

"Who is there?"

"I am a rookie adventurer, trying to find his way. Might I ask you what this building is?" Damien politely asked.

"This is but a humble mage's abode. It is also the library in this small village. What do you want from me, young lad?" The frail voice asked.

"I wish for guidance on my future path, oh honourable mage." Damien answered.

"Did that guy send you here?" It sounded more like a rhetorical question than an actual one so Damien kept mute.

"Enter young man. I will aid you as best I can." The frail voice sounded as the door unlocked and opened itself.

Damien walked in slowly, taking in the surrounding sights. Books. Books everywhere.

The wall shelves, full to the brim. The floors, stacked to chest height. Tables and chairs full, with barely any room to move at all.

Damien walked cautiously, making sure he didn't step on any of these relics of knowledge.

'No use in angering the mage.' He thought.

"In the backroom, young lad. Careful not to trip on anything, these books are precious." The frail voice sounded from a small door in the back of the room.

The door was open, with an old man leaning in on an old book, reading the page slowly and passionately.

The old man barely raised his head from his book when Damien entered the room, going straight back to reading after a glance.

Damien patiently waited for the mage to finish his book before saying anything.

After a while, the old man finished his page and slowly closed his book.

"Your name... What is it people call you?" The mage asked as his sharp eyes locked onto Damien.

"My name is Damien." He replied, bowing slightly.

"And why do you wish guidance from this old mage, young Damien?" The mage kept questioning him.

"I wish to embark on a great journey, but lack the knowledge and skills to do so. Would you be so kind as to guide me?" Damien pleaded.

"Do you wish to embark on the path of magic, young adventurer?" The mage questioned him.

"It is a possibility I can not rule out." Damien confidently said.

"Very well young man, sit." The mage said, getting up.

Damien quickly sat down as the old man paced around him in silence for a moment.

"What I'm about to impart should not be taken lightly, especially by fledglings like you. Most mages spend years studying before gaining this knowledge but i will impart it in you for free." The old man said as excitement began to sip into his tone.

'I see the teacher type.' Damien thought as he watched the change in mood of Troy as he began to teach.

"We will start from the basics before moving to advanced topic. My first advice for you, young mage is to never neglect your mana control training for your own sake." he continued, his gaze piercing.

"Let start with awakening your mana core and elevating your state of existence." Old man Troy said. 

"Close your eyes and focus," the old man instructed.

Damien immediately followed his instruction as he sat crossed legged and closed his eyes and waited for further instructions.

"Good now try to sense the mana in the air around you." Before the room descended into silences as Troy gave Damien time to complete the task.

A few minutes later Damien voice broke the silence, "I can feel it."

"Good keep the feeling, now you need to locate your mana core first. Once you sense it, feel the mana swirling within. Familiarize yourself with that sensation. Remember mana is in everything." the old man directed.

"Yes, sir," Damien replied.

He concentrated intensely, visualizing his mind's eye like a beacon in the darkness.

After some time, he felt a faint pulsing sensation emanating from the centre of his mind—a rhythmic ebb and flow like gentle waves on a shore.

He homed in on that feeling until he could discern a small ball of light within his consciousness.

The old man, observing Damien's progress, nodded approvingly.

"Good. Now focus on that pulsating energy. Sync your breathing with its rhythm. Feel the mana coursing within you. Slowly rotate it throughout your body to acclimate yourself," the old man instructed, his gaze unwavering.

"Yes, sir," Damien affirmed.

He synchronized his breath with the mana's pulse, taking several minutes to achieve a harmonious rhythm.

Gradually, he circulated the mana within his mana core, cautiously extending its flow through the rest of his body.

His initial attempts were clumsy, with mana slipping away from his grasp. He proceeded cautiously, aware of his limited reserves.

After a few failed tries, he managed a complete circulation throughout his body.

He repeated the exercise for practice before calling out to the old man.

"What's next?" Damien asked eagerly.

"Now for the last step draw the mana in the air into your body." the old man replied, his voice brimming with intensity.

Hearing it was the last step Damien immediately took out the potion that he got from the instructor back in the village and drank it before returning to the previous task.

The old man was surprised at Damien action but didn't make a comment as he went back to his sit waiting for the result.

A few seconds later, a strong gust of wind picked up and loud whooshing sounds echoed startling the old man.

"Ahhh I see a very talented one, I am impressed." The old man said. He expected it to take a while but barely a few seconds had passed showing how talented Damien was.

A Notification sounded but before Damien could do anything his entire body was covered with swirling wind from top to bottom forming a cocoon that solidified around Damien.

If one could see beyond the shell of the cocoon, one would see the deconstruction and the rebuilding of blood vessels, bones, muscles, tendons, mana pathways, and every inch of his fleshly body.

Keep in mind that one's body was one's foundation. It was the core upon which everything else was built.

Without a perfect vessel, mind, soul, mana core and everything else would crumble.

 A few hours later the cocoon finally broke and Damien stepped out but before Damien could check his progress a couple of notification alert sounded and before he could even check them, he was suddenly inflicted by a huge pain causing him to black out instantly.