The First Steps

The inn was quieter than he expected. He could hear the soft clinking of mugs from a few patrons, their low murmurs filling the room. The warmth of the fire crackled in the hearth, casting long shadows along the stone walls. It was a far cry from the chaotic noise of his previous life, but the peace was welcome. He had a lot to think about.

Merrick had brought him a bowl of stew, along with some bread and ale. It was simple fare, but after the adrenaline of the day and the encounter with the Var, it tasted like a feast.

As he ate, he turned over the events in his mind. He was in Jiera, no doubt about it, but the question that loomed over him was: Why? He had no special destiny, no claim to power in his previous life. So, why was he here, reborn into a world where power ruled and death was always a few steps behind?

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, staring at the flickering fire. He'd been given an opportunity, and if the stories he knew were any indication, opportunities in this world rarely came without a cost. The only way to survive was to harness the power that had already flickered within him.

But first, I need to know what kind of core I have.

It wasn't easy to sense your core unless you were trained, but the fact that he had already used magic suggested that he was at least a mage in the making. The Supreme Magus universe was built around the idea of mana cores, ranging in color from weak red to the mythical black. His goal? To push his core to the highest possible level, like Lith Verhen had.

But that was a long journey. The first step was figuring out exactly what he was working with.

He placed his hand over his chest, closing his eyes, trying to concentrate. According to what he knew from the novel, sensing your core involved focusing on the energy flowing within your body. He cleared his mind and breathed deeply, letting his consciousness drift inward.

At first, there was nothing. Just the distant noise of the inn and the sensation of his body sitting at the table. But then, like a faint pulse, he felt it—a flicker of energy, small but steady, buried deep inside him. It thrummed in time with his heartbeat, a wellspring of potential just waiting to be tapped into.

There it is.

He focused harder, trying to visualize it. In his mind's eye, he could almost see it: a glowing sphere of energy, pale and faint, but undeniably there. His mana core. It wasn't strong—certainly nothing like the bright blue or violet cores of advanced magi—but it was a start.

Suddenly, his focus was broken by the sound of footsteps approaching. He opened his eyes just as Merrick appeared at his table, wiping his hands on a rag.

"Feel a bit better now?" the innkeeper asked, his eyes scanning him curiously.

"Yeah, much better. Thanks for the meal," he replied, his hand dropping from his chest. "I appreciate it."

Merrick grunted. "You'll work it off soon enough. I've got some chores you can help with tomorrow. But for now, you should get some rest. You look like you've had a long day."

"More than you know," he muttered.

As Merrick turned to leave, he hesitated, then called out after him. "Merrick, do you know if there's anyone in the village… you know, someone who knows about magic? A healer or a magus, maybe?"

Merrick stopped and turned, his brow furrowed. "Magic, huh? Not many in these parts practice it openly. But you might want to talk to the herbalist, Old Beryl. She's got a knack for things most folk don't understand. Some say she used to study magic when she was younger."

The herbalist. It wasn't much, but it was a lead. If she had any knowledge of magic, even rudimentary, she could help him start to understand his core better. He wasn't expecting a grand master, but even basic instruction could give him the push he needed.

"Where can I find her?" he asked.

"Her hut's on the outskirts of the village, near the eastern woods. You'll know it when you see it—covered in vines and all sorts of strange plants." Merrick gave a small, amused smile. "Just don't go asking too many questions. She's not the type to enjoy company."

"Got it. Thanks again."

Merrick waved him off and returned to the bar, leaving him alone once more. He finished his meal, his thoughts racing. Tomorrow, he would visit the herbalist. If she could give him even a small hint about his core, it would be worth the trip. Every piece of information he gained was a step closer to mastering the magic he knew was within him.

---

The next morning came swiftly. After a simple breakfast and a few hours of doing chores around the inn, he set off toward the outskirts of the village, following the road that led to the eastern woods. As Merrick had described, it wasn't long before he spotted the herbalist's hut—a small, crooked building covered in overgrown vines and strange flowers that seemed to pulse faintly with energy.

The door was slightly ajar, and from within, he could hear the soft sound of grinding herbs. He knocked gently, unsure of what to expect.

"Come in," a sharp voice called from inside.

He pushed the door open and stepped into the dimly lit room. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with jars of dried plants, glowing crystals, and strange trinkets. The air smelled of earth and herbs, a mix that was both calming and slightly unsettling.

At a table near the back sat an elderly woman, her gnarled hands working deftly to crush herbs with a mortar and pestle. Her white hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her eyes—sharp, green, and piercing—looked up at him as he entered.

"New face," she said, her voice rasping like old parchment. "What brings you to Beryl's hut? You don't look like you're in need of healing."

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. "I was told you might know a thing or two about magic. I… I'm trying to understand something about myself. My mana core."

At the mention of the word "core," Beryl's eyes narrowed. She set down the pestle and wiped her hands on her apron, standing slowly. "Mana core, you say? You're not from this village, are you?"

"No," he admitted. "I'm… not from around here at all."

Beryl studied him for a long moment, her eyes seeming to pierce through him, as though she could see the magic within. Finally, she sighed and waved him over.

"Sit," she commanded. "Let's see what you're made of."

He obeyed, sitting across from her at the table. Beryl reached out, her hands hovering just above his chest. He felt a slight tingle as her fingers pulsed with a faint magic, probing at the energy within him. Her brow furrowed as she worked, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Hmm. You're young. Barely awakened, I'd say. But your core… it's strange."

"Strange how?" he asked, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach.

Beryl withdrew her hands and crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "You've got a core, all right. But there's something… off about it. Something different from the others I've seen in my time. You're not a normal mage, boy."

His heart skipped a beat. "What does that mean?"

Beryl shook her head. "Hard to say without knowing more. But if I were you, I'd tread carefully. Power like yours can draw attention—attention you might not want."

Her words sent a chill through him. Whatever his core was, it wasn't ordinary. And in a world like this, standing out could be both a blessing and a curse.

"I suggest you leave it alone for now," Beryl said, her voice low. "Stay quiet. Grow stronger in secret. And if you want to learn more… well, you'll need to find someone with far more knowledge than I can offer."

He nodded, though his mind was already racing with possibilities. He had always known this journey would be dangerous. But now, more than ever, he understood the gravity of his situation.

The path ahead was dark and uncertain. But one thing was clear.

He couldn't stop now.

---

End of Chapter 3

In the next chapters, the protagonist could begin to experiment with his abilities, gradually uncovering the mysteries behind his strange core. He might attract the attention of other magi or enemies as he grows, all while trying to stay one step ahead of the dangerous forces in Jiera.