Trial one: Mana

Alex's mellifluous voice resonates as he delves into the origin story of Mana. "Many moons ago, the concept of mana was unknown to humans, who relied solely on technology for their daily needs. Meanwhile, various other species such as fairies, dwarves, and more could wield magic without the aid of mana. Though each of these groups lived in their separate realms, their paths soon crossed as they began to interact with one another. They began trading with each other, with dwarves showcasing their unmatched weapon-making skills, fairies bestowing blessings upon their allies, and humans sharing their technological advancements. Despite their successful partnership, some humans were yearning to master magic, but unfortunately, they were unable to wield it. It was believed that fairies could use magic as they were a part of the God and Goddess, while dwarves had their unique system to wield it."

Alex paused for a moment and caught sight of Leo, who was taking a sip of tea and humming a tune under his breath. As soon as Leo noticed Alex's halt, he curiously inquired, "Why did you stop?" Alex replied with a hint of confusion in his voice, "Well, I'm not exactly sure what happened after that." Perplexed, Leo asked, "Then why are you telling me the story from that point?" Alex responded, "Because I noticed when you were in the doorway, the pattern resembled that of humans wielding modern weapons...I mean ancient weapons. This led me to believe that you must have some knowledge of what happened during that time."

It's worth noting that the account Alex shared was not from a book but rather from an ancient relic he discovered beneath the castle. He had disregarded it initially, as it was mostly destroyed and seemed unimportant at the time. However, upon catching a glimpse of the peculiar doorway, his curiosity was piqued, and he yearned to know more. Despite Alex's explanation, Leo was quick to remind him that his task was to undergo a trial and answer questions, so he urged Alex to focus on the task at hand.

With a forlorn expression, Alex turns to Leo and explains, "It all began after a major historical event where fairies and dwarfs were nearly wiped out, and only a handful survived. When the demons emerged, humanity's technology proved ineffective against their power. Although some individuals managed to overcome these malevolent creatures, they never divulged their methods. As a result, the common folk began to refer to them as heroes. Then, one day, a person shared the secrets behind the heroes' triumphs, revealing the existence of 'Mana' to the world for the first time. Mana, a mystical force, had been the key to the heroes' abilities, but until that moment, its existence had remained shrouded in mystery."

Alex took a well-deserved break before diving back into his explanation for Leo. "You see," he began, "there's a special kind of spiritual energy that exists in our world. Humans have a unique constitution that allows us to store this energy, also known as 'mana.' Some people use this mana to perform magic, while others use it to boost their physical capabilities. As time passed, people began to store mana in their blood, which eventually led to individuals being born with innate mana within their bodies. However, not everyone is born with this ability, so some people still resort to traditional methods to store mana."

Alex, on the other hand, was born with an astonishingly high amount of mana. While most people have a limit to how much they can store, Alex can hold an unlimited amount of mana. This is why he often seals his mana.

- To be continued