Path To Strength

I ran through the corridors in search of my mother, and I spotted her standing at the mansion's front door talking with a slender man in a black suit. My 'mother's expression was of anger—no disgust.

"Moth-"

Before I could call out to her, the slender man in a dark suit raised his palm towards her face.

"A princess shouldn't be living in such a shoddy place." he said with a revolting expression that only his hideous face could accommodate.

My 'mother' instantly slapped away the man's hand and turned around.

"I told you my husband will be here soon, please take your leave until then."

My 'mother' entered the mansion as the man giggled and left. The feeling I felt at that moment was a burning rage that ate away at my insides, I wanted to tear him apart and bury him. A feeling I was not used to. A feeling I felt was unwarranted.

'Why am I so angry? She's not my real mother…' The helpless rage I felt reminded me of my past life, a life of pathetic proportions that ended with an equally pathetic finale.

"The Redvein Duke. Anger is merely a waste on the helpless." I calmed myself as my mind sped forward.

I entered the room my mother was in and sat near her. She hurriedly wiped her eyes but I could tell she was crying from the redness in them. I felt strange, my 'mother' had always been a cheerful and smiling person and yet for the first time, I had seen her cry. Rage, anger, and confusion could not explain what I felt.

"Oh!, Cassian, are you done playing outside?" she asked with the name my family liked to use. Alistair was an honorable name but they deemed it too formal.

"Yes, Mother, I came to ask you something," I asked while ignoring what I couldn't change.

"What is it you want to know, my baby?"

"What is a mage's guidebook?"

My mother looked surprised.

"You already know about that?, I suppose it's about time we started teaching you, a mage's guidebook is a text all mages have to read upon beginning their magic journey. It explains everything one needs to know including how to form your 1st magic circle. Wait, I think I.."

My mother looked through a drawer near her.

"Here it is! You can read through it if you want, but it's unlikely you'll be able to form your magic circle just by reading it, so just go through it while we find some instructors for you."

"Okay, Mother, but do I get a prize if I can form one on my own?" I asked in an effort to change the mood.

My mother giggled like it was impossible.

"Hehehe, if you can do it, I'll give you one thing you want no matter what it is."

"Okay, I'll work hard then!" I replied.

A BIT LATER.

I sat on my bed and began reading through the guidebook.

"Let's see."

A few hours later after reading cover-to-cover with the computing power of my mind, I understood its purpose.

"Magic is theorized to be the language the ancient gods used and Mana is like water in that it becomes anything and everything no matter what, if there's enough of it. We can't just manipulate the mana in the air like gods, and dragons can, so we form circles of mana around our hearts, compact loops that we can use to affect the world." I continued to ink onto the page.

"Mages are usually ranked by the number of circles they have from 1 to 11, as magic strength and the amount of mana double or triple with every circle you have formed. all mages must chant. It can be shortened by training and techniques but chanting is necessary."

My summary fully written, I looked outside through the window of my well-decorated room that resembled those seen in Renaissance paintings.

"The most important thing is that I can now attempt to form a circle." I put down the book and sat crosslegged on my bed.

"First, I need to sense the mana in the air by closing my eyes and focusing while I chant 'Aurthan' a word that means 'appear'"

I closed my eyes and focused.

"Aurthan!" I said with focus.

As I closed my eyes I could sense the endless current of translucent energy moving freely through the world around me.

"I can see and sense it, now it's time for the second step, I need to call out to as much mana in the air as I can and force it into the form of a circle by chanting"

I took in a deep breath and began chanting.

"Galeth Bornak Vereg Jaslov Ogh Sanjek Locatria Sigund!! oghh Sigrund!!!"

Instantly a Spinning circle of incredibly thick mana appeared in front of me, I could see it with my eyes closed as I looked at the world of mana, but I didn't know that it would be so clear even after opening my eyes.

The circle did not stop growing and spinning even long after I seized to chant and finally it popped.

*POOF!*

I was thrown through the air and struck the wall.

"Ack! Fuck that almost killed me! If my stats were any lower my head would have cracked!" I nearly shouted in a disoriented state.

I tried again.

And again.

And again.

And again for nearly a week

And again for several months.

Until one day without my control, my body shone a faint blue and floated into the air.

"It worked! It's around my heart!" I shouted as my head struck the ceiling.

[You have completed your first mana circle! Passive [Mana Heart] will be granted.]

My door pushed open and my 'mother' entered.

"Cassian, what is that sound..?…! Why are you flying?!" she yelled.

I was also confused as I unconsciously floated until I touched the ceiling.

[Passive [Mana Heart] Is in effect, you will regain your control over your mana!.]