Volume 1: Chapter 2 - Mana Core

Brisk warm wind brushed against my hair. It was a comforting warmth. The air had a cooling effect as they fanned the sweat dripping down my whole body. My eyes were shut tightly, my teeth clenched and my hands balled into fists. Beads of sweat rolled down my face and fell with audible plops on grass blades below.

The formation of my mana core. It was an arduous task and required more effort than understanding many of scientific theories. Magic and science were inter-related. One good example was the deviant counterpart of a basic attribute. Water has a deviance of Ice. By having enough control, one could compact the molecules of water, solidifying it.

It was the same for Wind element and its deviant Sound. As for the Fire element, it was a bit complicated. Fire wasn't a natural element. Flames were born of some kind of ignition in the presence of oxygen. Since fire itself was a complex phenomenon, achieving its deviant form and then mastering it would be even difficult. I had the basic comprehension of every element- a preparation for whatever element I could unlock later. Most I have read about says that even dual elementals are rare. Tri and Quadra elementals are nothing but a fable. Or so do these mundane creatures called Dicathians believe.

I felt the mana trickle towards my core, moving slowly and patiently, forming a sphere around my sternum. Like pieces of puzzle, they continued to combine with each other. It was a complicated phenomenon. Something, I had no experience with. After hundreds of methods and speculations I had come up with this method. However, something had always bugged me.

Why do people settle at one core? Is it a rigid natural enactment that a person can't have more than one core? Or was it the limitation of an average human body that it can't handle the presence of another mana core? If the human body was capable of handling it, then why didn't anybody ever think of it?

The answer was simple. And the answer also showed the mentality of people living here. They looked up to someone. Just like how religious people looked up to their respective Gods, in time of a trepidation, people here depend on someone and accept what's given to them and are content with it.

Bottom feeders. Such people were easy to manipulate, as all it takes is to determine what kind of thing interests that person. The possibility of another continent was more probable. And if they had someone slightly smart leading them, then in case of a war this continent will be doomed to fall in the worst ways possible.

Back to the main topic; Was forming another mana core possible?

The size of a mana core doesn't determine its power. Rather it's the purity of the core. Starting from a black core a mage purifies it through stages of dark, solid and then light. With time the color becomes lighter and lighter which is usually called Core Progression. After black comes Red, followed by Orange, Yellow, Silver and Finally White. Yet again, the white core being a roof for people here seemed like an absurdity. If mana was endless, how can a core progression be limited to just white?

However, the size didn't matter. If I could split the mana fragments inside my body and convince them into moving to somewhere else. Form a mana core on the right side of my chest. It could work. But all of this was theoretical. With my countless experiments and studying multiple books, I had come to this conclusion.

I looked inside myself. Half of the mana fragments had condensed in my sternum and a core was already formed. It just needed one other fragment. I was fairly away from home, so the explosion won't be a problem. Also, having a 2-year-old-awakened kid would certainly be a problem, which might disrupt my plans for a peaceful life. Awakening the core around my sternum was enough for now. I could put on a fake show of awakening later when I reach the appropriate age. Or maybe a year later than the average age, so I might not gather any unwanted attention.

The last fragment fell into piece as I felt a warm sensation encompass me. My eyes opened slowly as I took in the sight of... what was supposed to be a lush green place amidst towering trees. However, all I saw was myself hovering over a meteor sized crater with a transparent dome around me. The towering trees were devastated, some fell on the ground while others bent and were resting upon the other trees.

The scale of my awakening was a miscalculation on my part- A rare occurrence. I needed to re-evaluate my presence in this world. Since reincarnation itself was a weird phenomenon, I assume everything related to me won't make sense in this world.

My feet touched the soft, muddy ground. Being awakened was a totally different experience. My breathing, movement, sight, hearing, smell- every sense was heightened.

"So, this is how mana feels", I whispered to myself as I curled and uncurled my little fingers, feeling the mana trickle from my core and augment my fingers. They glow in a radiant sheen of mana, a surge of power. I looked down and spotted a small pebble. I picked it up and applied a little force to it. A crack ran through its smooth surface and the next moment it broke down.

My grip in my past life was as strong as this. I could bend the hardest of metals if I applied enough force. So, the result of becoming a black core mage served as nothing but an insult. That man would scoff at me if he saw me being content with just awakening at a tender age of two. I looked up... gray clouds overcast, thunder slightly rumbling.

"I should go home", I muttered under my breath as I made my way back to the place, I call home now and hid myself in the corner of a house, acting fast asleep. My mother, Alice, came in the room after a few minutes. With half opened eyes I saw a worried expression over her face as she picked me up in her arms.

The unconditional love of parents for their kid was a new thing to me too, as I was not only witnessing it for the first time, but rather being the subject of it. However, this love could prove useful for me.

Alice and Reynolds- They will have their uses, in the interest of time.

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Running in our backyard, I was busy doing my daily routine in secret. To gain enough power to lead a life devoid of any worries any foreign intervention, I needed repeat the physical routine of white room. Although, I hated the white room, the curriculum was just what I needed to succeed in this world.

It was pretty ironic though. I despised the White Room, spent my brief life in destroying the foundations of white room and now here I am... repeating the same thing again.

Karma works in really eldritch way.

My race from one corner of the backyard was suddenly interrupted. I felt it. The last mana fragment absurdly close to my second core. I wasn't the one manipulating it. Ever since my first awakening, a year ago, because of usage of mana in my primary core, the fragments of mana kept moving to the secondary core on their own.

Sitting down I closed my eyes. I willed mana to stop it but the fragment had already made its way towards the second core.

*kaboom*

"Looks like its too late to do anything" I said looking around, "Well at least the scale of explosion is with in my calculations", I thought before a sudden migraine hit me, stealing my consciousness away from me.

>> TIME SKIP <<

"And I am telling you that I won't let my kid go away from me in an unknown city", Alice spoke harshly, slamming the hilt of her fork on the table.

"This is bigger than just us, honey. Can't you see how talented our son is? He is the youngest to ever awaken in the history of Dicathen. We can't waste his talents by isolating him in a city like Ashber. Xyrus has the environment than can supplement the nourishment his talent rightfully deserves", Reynolds argued. 

From a normal person perspective what Reynolds was saying, was what made the most sense. For a talent that is classed as an anomaly, anyone would recommend a place that has the right resources to nurture the talents to their rightful limits. But it was a different scenario for me. Xyrus held as much importance as its capital, Etistin. The city was built on a flying rock. The mechanism behind making such a huge piece of rock afloat is still unknown. However, when a city holds such an importance, it means two things. 

First, I could find people who were actually going to be of some work and help me in pursuit of a peaceful life. Secondly, even a slightest miscalculation could result in trouble. 

Suddenly I felt two pair of eyes looking at me, intently. My gaze ventured from my fork that I had stabbed into a pea to my parents. They both looked at me. I let out a small breath, hoping they won't ask me the thing I think they would. Because if they do so, I have to reevaluate their uses. 

"Art! This is your future, you have a say in this too", Reynolds spoke up as the respect he had earned from me a while ago with his argument vanished into thin air. I placed my fork at the side of my plate. I don't know if asking 4-year-olds was the best move when it was a life changing decision, however, I couldn't miss this opportunity. 

"Can't both of you come with me too?" I asked trying to sound as childish as I could, but my voice lacked any emotion and came out monotone. My pathetic attempts at making it sound like a childish whimper ended up in smoke as it made my sound really awkward. 

Both of them looked at each other for a brief moment, like they were holding a mental communication.

Blew it!

As I was worried what kind of blunder had I spew both of them started laughing out loud. 

"We didn't even think of it, haha. You are right, Art. We both will go with you to Xyrus", Reynolds said, raising a glass of water. Alice just giggled in response and ruffled my hair, a proud look on her face. 

> TIME SKIP TO WHEN HE MEETS TWIN HORNS <

After a narrow breadth escape from my second death, this time by suffocation between bosoms, I was rescued by a tall looking man. His name was Durden, an earth element mage. By the way he acted, his personality seemed like the one who keeps others in line. 

After that I met other members of my parents' ex-party. Among them, the red-haired man, Adam, seemed the most unremarkable. Although from his stance I could tell that he was a good fighter, but just being able to fight well can't guarantee your survival. If anything happens, he would be the first to die. 

Next was Helen Shard, who was also the leader of the party. She had a positive vibe to her- a trait necessary for anyone to lead a party, when their lives are in her hands. She was a wind elemental augmenter who used a bow and arrows. 

Up next were the causes of almost doom and salvation. Angela the well-endowed woman, and Durden, the gentle giant. Angela was a wind-conjurer while Durden was earth-conjurer. 

However, no matter how much they all to offer, none of them caught my eye. That was until the last one arrived. A young girl who had dual daggers strapped to her hip walked swiftly in my direction. With a quick "Hello" and a nod, she turned on her heel and started to walk away. Her daggers moved subtly in tandem with her practiced movements. She looked back for a split second, her red eyes scrutinizing me before continuing her walk back to the carriage. 

She was a dual dagger, wind element augmenter. However, the way she behaved, her demeanor, her comportment. Everything about her was enough to spark the only feeling I had in me. The feeling of curiosity towards a significant thing. A barely restrained word came out of my mouth in form of a whisper, muffled by the subtle breeze, 

"A failure... huh?"

(A/n Well, I speed run the awakening and twin horns, since they have not much significance in plot. Also, he can't manipulate anyone when he is 2 -__-   

With his "Evaluation as Tools" of Twin Horns complete, its time to see what he is capable of. See ya all next time)