Chapter 10 - Learning

Two weeks have passed since I first spoke in this world, and finally, I regained enough strength to move. I can now make slight movements with my hand and even walk, albeit slowly and clumsily.

Every day, I venture to the library accompanied by my Aunt Claire. She spends time reading to me, teaching me how to read and write.

These days, our focus is on a book about the application of magic.

"Almost everyone born possesses mana," she explained.

"Only the fortunate ones, however, are talented enough to wield it," she continued, breaking down the magic system in this world.

"This mana can channel their energy into fulfilling our desires," she demonstrated, moving her hand in a rhythmic motion. A magic circle materialized in the air before us.

"This magic circle is used for summoning water." As she spoke, the circle began to pulse with a vibrant blue light, and water started to pour from it.

The magic circle was truly enchanting; beautifully spread out with lines connecting each dot.

If one assumed magic circles were merely one-dimensional, they'd be gravely mistaken.

This magic circle presented itself as a cubic structure, three-dimensional and complex. Its components moved in harmony when activated.

"To accomplish this, one must feel the mana, and understand how to construct the magic circle," she added, casting me a warm and encouraging smile.

"Isn't your sister fantastic?" She proclaimed, sporting a smug, proud smile.

"Aunt," I corrected her. I don't know why she insist calling her sister. Maybe this is just who she is. My mind chuckled.

"No, you'll call me sister, or else there will be no more magic lessons if you don't start calling me sis," she retorted, a mischievous tone cloaking her voice.

"Kay, sis," I conceded, accepting her earlier insistence.

"Now let's go to a cleaning spell," she declared, her hand tracing lines of mana that gradually constructed into a three-dimensional cubic structure. The cubic figure gradually transformed into a sphere, from which emerged a gradually expanding transparent square.

The transparent layer then autonomously moved towards the table, enveloping it in magic. Gradually, the table began to glow brighter, and soon it was entirely spotless.

"Now, that's what you call a complex magic circle," she asserted, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

I was left utterly astonished, staring open-mouthed at her.

I couldn't begin to comprehend how she had constructed such a complex magic circle. The way each line played with the other – it was nothing short of fascinating.

"You can't learn magic right now. You would need to be at least ten years old to sense mana properly," she advised.

"Your body's condition plays a vital role in attuning you to the sensation of mana," she expanded on the subject.

Her explanation spurred a flurry of questions within me. Although dejected, I still can learn the concept of magic. Speaking of magic you need to use mana.

So what is mana? What gave birth to mana? How is it structured? Why can it transform into various forms? Is there any way to reverse the process?

Can an ordinary table be converted into mana?

I pondered upon the origins of mana.

Breaking the silence, I inquired, "Mana...where...from?" Mayhaps the sentence was fragmented, but cut me some slack. I was still learning how to talk.

"Well, that's a profound question. The truth is, we don't know," she confessed.

"Some theorize it comes from the soul, while others believe it originates from the void; the spaces consumed at the beginning of time that slowly developed into mana," she hypothesized.

"However, as of now, nobody has managed to directly manipulate or produce mana ex nihilo," she added, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

As we seems lost in thought, suddenly she said something interesting to me.

"Alright, while it's not possible for you to learn this yet, you can feel the mana at present," she declared, her hand gradually glowing with a layered blue light as she reached out and touched mine.

"Remember, it's risky to explore mana without expert guidance. Understand?" She warned with a stern expression.

"And don't spill a word about this to your mother. I'd rather evade a scolding," she chuckled under her breath.

I merely nodded, a smile spreading across my face as waves of mana ebbed from my hand.

As she slowly touch my hand, I feel something from it. The mana feels like strange feeling you can't put into a word.

It was an amalgamation of diverse sensations – cold, warmth, hot, sticky, heavy, light, a tingling sensation, vibrations. Every sense seemed to converge there. As I slowly attuned to the mana, something peculiar caught my interest.

At the deep down of the mana, I could sense a minute form of energy, as elusive as it was fascinating.

It felt akin to the essence when I used for cultivation before, even though it was significantly subtle and borderline undetectable.

A slow grin creeped onto my face as I pondered upon a possible application. Could this faint essence be utilized for cultivation? Perhaps if it were filtered and purified...

While it remained a working theory, my curiosity was piqued. I found myself lost in the possibilities of the future, and my grin only widened.

It seems like I lost in thought. Well, I need more research and learn I guess.

"Alright, kiddo, do you know what time it is?" she asked, an energetic gleam in her eyes, before excitedly answering herself, "Picnic time!"

In reality, it was simply lunchtime, but we did it al fresco in the garden. So, I suppose it could pass as a picnic.

As we took our seats in the garden, my mom and the maid served us an assortment of food. Between bites, my Mom asked, "Athty, what have you been up to today?"

"Magic," I answered with a grin.

"Yes, Atthy seems to have a knack for magic, much like myself," my aunt chimed in, a smug grin dancing on her lips. We chuckled at her playful bragging.

Night tiptoed in, quietly replacing the remnants of the day. As my aunt succumbed to sleep, I found myself lying awake, contemplating my physical state.

As I lay in bed, my thoughts consumed me. After my rescue, I had been kept largely in dark about the extent of my physical recovery. My body had returned to its standard human configuration and no longer have wings.

I closed my eyes and focused on my existence. I could feel my astral body and soul. It had been quite some time since I delved deep.

In the past, my astral body had possessed hybrid features—part demon, part celestial. Now, it resembled a more human form.

There was something peculiar, though: a pair of grey wings with some glistering translucent can be seen, the structure is much more larger than my body. They were oddly beautiful, and I found appreciation for my newfound appearance.

I sensed a reflection of my well-being within my astral body. Right now I'm also thinking about my soul form.

Mustering the courage to gaze upon my soul form had always been a struggle. I set my sights on my true form.

As anticipated, my soul was still an amalgamation of diverse beings. Only, the three heads had now consolidated into a single, human one, mirroring my appearance. I gleaned comfort from this progress, lifting my spirit up.

Upon examining my soul form, a wave of restlessness seized me. Sleep continued to evade me, and I lay there in bed, captive to my thoughts.

In times like these back in my previous life, I would have reached for my phone. Surfing the web, catching up on my favorite manga, or settling for a Netflix marathon would have been the go-to distractions. A sense of nostalgia washed over me at the thought.

Naturally, it led me to ponder the existence of phones, or perhaps magical phones, in this world. If such a thing didn't exist, perhaps I could invent it. I could be a businesswoman - the idea amused me.

But right now, I'd have to crawl before I can walk. First and foremost, I needed to consolidate my strength, ensure my safety, and ward off any potential harm.

Cultivation came to mind. Despite the less than optimal condition of my body, it was worth a try.

I recalled my cultivation method from back then, the Heavenly Demon Art. All I needed to do was guide my over-abundant essence into my body.

Patience was a virtue in cultivation. It warranted a calm mind and a tranquil surrounding. I kept repeating to myself, 'No rush, you're in control. Breathe in, breathe out.'

Times floated by, transitioning the room into a serene ambiance. Before I could grasp it, I was swept into the ocean of sleep.

Sunlight streaming through the windows roused me from my sleep. Damn, felt like I just started cultivating a few minutes ago, it's a bit frustrating. Focus, it seems, needed more work.

As I swayed in place, the itching sensation from my back grew stronger. It piqued my curiosity, so I reached out to touch it. Upon doing so, a wave of surprise washed over me. I woke fully and stumbled to the mirror. What I saw left me completely taken aback.