A Grave Mistake

The three of them sat forming a small triangle, with Hugo in the center.Aria and María listened attentively, though with very different expressions: María showed curiosity while trying to hide her unease, and Aria maintained her serene face."Mana in the human body is not something that can be used indiscriminately," Hugo began, pausing to ensure he had their attention. "To use it correctly, it needs to be formed into rings. These rings develop around the heart and are fundamental for channeling and controlling mana without losing control."María, with a confused expression, timidly raised her hand."I've always been curious about that, since no one explained it to me, but I've seen people using magic without knowing about these rings..."Hugo nodded, as if he had expected that question."It's true, there are other methods to use mana, but the ring method is the best and most effective. When you form rings around the heart, each acts as a filter and regulator. The more rings you have, the more mana you can handle without risking it consuming you or losing control."María looked intrigued."But... I've used magic before," María confessed, as she was confused.Was she special?"I use it only for tricks, like card illusions or moving small objects..."Hugo let out a light chuckle, clearly amused by the confession."Girl, for that kind of basic magic, rings are not necessary at all."Hugo snapped his fingers, and suddenly, various reflections of cards began to float around him, spinning in the air like leaves carried by an invisible breeze.María was left open-mouthed, amazed at how easily Hugo managed all those cards, while Aria remained calm.Not in a million years could she do something like that!"Can you do this without using a card as an anchor?" Hugo asked, smiling at María's marveled expression.She quickly shook her head, feeling small in front of the demonstration."No... I can't," she admitted in a low voice, looking down. "But there's no need for you to mock me like that..."The cards gradually disappeared, fading in a blink.Hugo leaned forward, his eyes now fixed on Aria, who maintained her firm posture."In your case, Aria, the situation is different... and somewhat disconcerting. You are able to understand and memorize advanced concepts with impressive ease, yet you can't perform even the most basic spells."Aria looked at him silently, as if waiting for him to reach a conclusion on his own."This only leads me to two possible conclusions: either you have a condition that might be a disease preventing your mana from flowing properly... or someone has cursed you."Aria maintained her neutral expression, but her eyes sharpened slightly."I think it's the latter," she said firmly.María blinked in surprise, turning her head towards Aria."What do you mean by that?""Every time I try to use magic, a kind of window appears in front of me saying I'm missing key 04."The statement left María stunned.She had never told her that before!Moreover... what exactly did she mean by 'window'?Hugo also fell silent, processing the girl's words, as it was the first time he had heard of something like that.After a few seconds, Hugo asked cautiously:"Are you joking?"Aria looked him directly in the eyes before responding:"No."Hugo furrowed his brow, intrigued."If that's true, how were you able to almost modify the kitchen circuit?""At that moment, an option appeared in the window that said I could use my life force, so I accepted."Aria's words left Hugo breathless for a moment.Had she really done that?Hugo ran his hand through his hair, visibly uneasy."Damn..." Hugo whispered.He was upset.Had he really made a genius like her go through something like that?"I shouldn't have put you through that. You're too young, Aria. It's nothing short of a heinous crime to make such a promising child damage her insides by trying to fix an insignificant circuit I set up as a mere test."María looked at him, surprised by the intensity of his words.Hugo turned towards Aria, his expression more serious than ever."Aria, listen carefully. Never do something like that again unless your life is in danger."Aria raised an eyebrow."Why?"Hugo sighed deeply before explaining."When one's body exceeds the use of mana, it begins to create internal damage. These injuries can leave serious consequences if not treated by a very high-ranked healer. Damage that could become permanent."Aria nodded slowly."I understand."Hugo took a moment to regain his composure."I'll look for a solution to your problem with key 04, but I'll need your help with something important," said Hugo this time with his eyes fixed on Aria with an intensity he had not shown before.María frowned, confused and somewhat alarmed.What could a mage like Hugo need from a two-year-old girl?"What kind of help?" Aria asked bluntly.