What is Mana

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I took a deep breath and summoned the status panel again, this time to review it more thoroughly.

'Anyway, my overall status looks like this...'

[Status]

[Stigma of the Anathema]

Name: Frynn Arathion

Age: 5

Race: Ghoul (Dominant) / Fox Spirit (Lesser)

Affinity: Matter

Gift: Mirage Lab

Innate Skills:

[Acting]

[Observation]

[Lesser Multitasking]

Blessing: [Blessing of the Hidden Veil]

Curse: [Curse of the Damned]

I closed the panel and rose from the bed, determination flickering in my eyes.

'Since it's come to this, there's no reason to waste time sitting around.'

The curse weighed heavily on my mind. 'Looking at how it works, anything bad could happen at any moment that could threaten my life.'

With that sobering thought, I stripped off my clothes and entered the bathroom. Warm steam greeted me as I stepped under the shower.

Standing in front of the sink, I caught sight of myself in the mirror above it. My gaze drifted to something unusual—a dark mark on my chest, just above my heart. It resembled a black cross encased in a semicircle, with what looked like tentacles wrapping ominously around it.

I clicked my tongue. 'So, this is the result of that damned black flash... the Stigma.'

Shaking off the thought, I stepped into the shower and began to wash. The bar of soap felt slippery in my hands, and before I could react, it slipped, bounced off the edge of the sink, and fell straight into the latrine with a soft plop.

I stared at it for a moment, my expression blank.

'...It seems the curse has already started.

——

Now seated in the library's private study room, I sighed in relief. Thankfully, no other incidents had occurred on my way here. I opened the first book I had chosen—a slim, textbook-like volume titled The Fundamentals of Mana.

The first chapter caught my attention immediately.

Chapter 1: What is Mana?

Definition: Mana is a universal energy that exists in everything and acts as a bridge between the physical and supernatural worlds.

Flow: The book elaborates on "mana flow," the natural circulation of energy within living beings and the environment. It describes how mana is drawn inward, converted, and directed outward.

Manipulation: It highlights how mana can be transformed into energy to influence or create phenomena, with most common affinities being elemental—fire, water, earth, and air.

'So far, it aligns with what I've read before.'

The next chapter provided an overview of elemental affinities, describing how mana interacts with each. It was fairly basic, though.

Chapter 2: Types of Affinities

A list of common elemental affinities (fire, water, earth, air) and their properties.

Examples of limitations: Fire requires oxygen and doesn't work well underwater, while earth is slower but highly durable.

Finally, I skimmed the third chapter, where the techniques for controlling mana were explained.

Chapter 3: Mana Techniques

Basic Control: Breathing exercises to help sense mana flow and guide it through one's body.

Visualization: Techniques to clearly imagine a desired outcome and use one's willpower to manifest it.

Mana Imprint: A curious section on how mana reacts differently to materials. Metals amplify mana flow, while organic materials like wood tend to disperse it.

That was a lot of information to process, but I managed—though it came at the cost of much of my time.

Unfortunately, despite the wealth of knowledge contained within these walls, there wasn't a single book about matter or anything resembling "fundamentals of properties." It seemed this world hadn't delved deeply into such research yet.

I closed the book with a soft thud and let out an exhausted sigh.

"Sister Risu," I called as I pushed the book aside.

Risu, who had been patiently sitting nearby as usual, turned toward me. Her opal-colored hair shimmered faintly in the fading daylight.

"Are you done, young master?" she asked, her voice gentle.

I nodded tiredly, leaning back into my chair.

She chuckled softly, her sea-blue eyes warm with amusement. "You've worked very hard for someone your age. Sometimes you act like the child you are, and other times you seem far more mature than anyone would expect from a five-year-old. It's quite impressive."

Hearing her words, I turned to meet her gaze. "Is that so? Well... maybe it's because I like reading books," I replied, a slight smile tugging at my lips.

Risu chuckled again, her kind demeanor making the moment feel lighter.

As I sat there, I mused silently to myself. 'Yeah, no wonder she thinks that way. I do spend most of my time with her. And honestly, pretending to be childish all the time would be exhausting—not to mention nauseating.'

I sighed inwardly. 'At least I haven't been overdoing it. It should be fine.'

The clock on the wall now read 5 p.m., leaving me about two hours before sunset. An idea sparked in my mind.

"Sister Risu," I said, sitting up straighter.

"Yes, young master?" she replied, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.

"Could you teach me how to operate mana?" I asked, my voice steady despite the small flicker of uncertainty within me.

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise before she smiled warmly and nodded. "Of course. I'd be more than happy to help."

——

Arriving at a serene place slightly removed from the royal palace, I was greeted by the vibrant greenery of an open garden. Unlike the carefully manicured palace grounds, this space felt more wild, with trees and shrubs growing freely.

Sister Risu explained that the library wasn't the best location for this kind of practice, so she brought me here—a place where the mana flowed naturally and abundantly through the surroundings.

We walked a bit further, the rustling leaves and chirping birds creating a peaceful ambiance.

Soon, we came to a small clearing surrounded by tall trees, their branches forming a natural canopy above us. In the distance, I could hear the soothing sound of a waterfall.

"This spot should be perfect," Risu said, her voice soft but clear. She gestured for me to sit in the center of the clearing, and I followed her instructions, settling into a meditative position with my legs crossed and hands resting on my knees. Risu sat down behind me, her presence steady and reassuring.

"What we'll focus on now is helping you sense mana," Risu began, her tone patient. "Before you can operate mana, you need to build a mana circuit and form a mana heart.

That's something you'll only be able to do once you've gained a deeper connection with the flow of mana. For now, my role is to guide you in becoming familiar with sensing it."

I nodded silently, signaling my understanding.

"You're doing well already," she said, placing her palm gently against my back. "Now, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Slowly, in and out."

I obeyed, inhaling deeply through my nose and exhaling steadily through my mouth.

"Imagine the air you're breathing isn't just air, but a flowing current," she continued. "Picture it as something alive, something that moves with purpose.

Feel it filling your chest and flowing into every part of your body. That's mana."

Her hand on my back felt warm, as though she was transferring something intangible into me.

"Next, focus on the sensation of your body itself," Risu said. "Your skin, your heartbeat, even the faintest tingling at your fingertips. Mana is present in all of it. Listen to it."

At first, it felt impossible to pinpoint anything beyond the rhythmic pounding of my heart and the sound of the waterfall in the background. But slowly, with her guidance, I began to notice something subtle. It was faint, like a gentle breeze brushing against me from every direction.

"That's it," Risu said softly, her tone encouraging. "You're starting to feel it."

Her next instruction introduced a simple breathing technique.

"Now, imagine with each breath you're pulling that flow closer to you. Like water drawn into a well, let it collect within you."

I followed her words, envisioning streams of invisible energy gathering with each inhale and settling somewhere deep within me. It wasn't tangible, but it felt... alive.

"Good," she said. "Keep practicing this, young master. The more you attune yourself to the flow of mana, the easier it will become."