The next morning, I woke from a deep sleep, my mind still tingling with the events of yesterday. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, a dull ache reminded me of the internal injuries I had left deliberately. I didn't reach for the life mana in my boar necklace to heal.
The daring experiment with mana-infused meat had been a pivotal moment in my pursuit of transcendental knowledge of my new world. As consciousness returned, a peculiar balance settled within me—an eerie clarity in thought paired with an intensified awareness of my senses.
Eating that meat was still the gamble; even if every bite had been carefully measured, I carefully checked my vitals, feeling relief that the experiment succeeded. Yesterday's experiment wasn't meant to form my mana core—that was still to come—but to prepare my body and mind for what lay ahead.
I settled for a quick session of meditation before getting ready for the lecture with the mother. The respect shown by spellswords, spellmedics, and others towards her was enough to show that she was much more than an auditor and the wife of a general. Her past identity still holds the weight.
I walked through the corridors of the Star Fort while eating a few pieces of the new calorie-dense toffee, and my boots clicked a steady rhythm. I used sonar to listen to the conversations of the guards of the morning shift. I could smell the medicinal bitterness of my mother's tea before I even reached the door of the study.
When I entered, she was seated by the window, and an opposite chair was in front. The morning sun of Nas highlighted silver threads in her hair. She looked at me, her eyes narrowing with slight worries.
"Have you eaten something?" she asked, masking her worries.
I nodded my head in response to her question.
She appeared a little relieved and gestured for me to sit.
I settled on the chair directly opposite to her.
"Let's begin with the basics." Her tone changed into a serious one.
"Not everyone has the capability to form a core. A mana core is what separates a human from being an ordinary human."
"The Mana Core, in its functional, literal sense, ultimately acts as the reservoir and refinery for the mana and the key to true spellcasting."
"Without a core, a person can't become a spell-sword, spell-knight, spell-medic, or any other profession related to a core, let alone a mage." Her voice had a hint of nostalgia.
"Isn't the spell prefix used for those who imprint a spell form on their core?" I asked, already knowing the answer, but I still asked based on past experience from studying for exams, as learning from basics can lead to new or better understanding.
Mother nodded, a faint, proud smile touching her lips. "Yes, Zae. You are correct about the prefix."
"Imprinted spells provide instant use and a significant reduction in mana cost for the given affinity or affinities only." She focused on the topic of imprinting.
"An imprinted spell on a core is different from a true spell, as imprinting a spell on a core is like climbing a fortified wall compared to climbing a colossal and dangerous mountain."
"You can only imprint one spell for each affinity. They become a part of your soul in a way."
I was about to ask a question, but she motioned for me to wait.
The way she continued to explain the importance of the choice of spell for imprint felt like the dilemma of choosing a university after getting a high rank on national exams.
"To cast a spell, one must channel mana into a construct. Constructs come in three forms. They can be a physical device or magic item, or they can be imprinted permanently onto a person's mana core; we know each affinity on a person's core can only accept one such inscription."
"But what really defines a true mage is the last method. The ability to cast a spell in the air by mana manipulation and manual dexterity. Once you create the construct, you only need to channel mana into it to generate the spell's effect."
"It is not just writing them with mana in the air. You have to properly form the layers of the construct and do it fast enough that they don't dissipate and keep them all oriented correctly. Even if someone had a strong affinity, only one in a thousand of those people can control their mana and truly cast spells."
"A person who can truly cast a spell by the third method is called a mage. Mages are highly valued throughout the world."
"In the academic circles, mages are divided into two distinct categories. The first, and most common, are those limited strictly to the spells of their natural affinities. The second—an anomaly rarer than a spring in the deepest part of the desert—possesses the 'Omni-Potential' to cast from any affinity. However, the title of a 'mage' is not handed out for mere potential. To be recognized, a person must achieve the baseline standard: the successful casting of a non-imprinted spell from one of their own affinities."
She paused for a few minutes to let me process the information and then shifted the topic of discussion to the level of one's affinity, which ranged from the lowly "Low Tier" to the legendary "Apex Tier."
Doubts began to form in my mind, but I decided to not interrupt the flow.
-----
Olford waited in Sama's office, rechecking the integration reports on Garren and two others. He had been extra meticulous; the implementation of the Sovereign Grid was already showing its effects on the region's stability.
The surrounding sectors had become significantly less chaotic. The number of applicants seeking permanent residency was increasing steadily, though the sheer volume far exceeded the Fort's current capacity.
Their choice to allow people who have skills or deep family bonds as well as surveillance on gambling dens, brothels, pubs, and black markets, which were sponsored by them, helped to gather enough data on every applicant to reject high-risk individuals before they even reached the gates.
The greatest advantage had been the idea of Zaemon to implement a universal processing fee for every applicant, without exception, after a couple of months. An unconventional idea to a traditionalist like him. It created an unnecessary barrier to recruitment in his eyes, and he showed his opposition, but Lady Zeni saw the merit in the idea.
It soon became clear to Olford from the short trial he conducted that the applicants who were serious or had some level of resources and commitment automatically paid the fee. While those who didn't pay showed signs related to the most volatile or desperate elements of the lawless lands.
On the financial side, this fee provides immediate, steady cash flow to pay for the clerks and intelligent agents processing the applications.
The payments made by master blacksmiths, alchemists, or stonemasons for the application were returned to them as Hatar Scrip, which equals half of the original fee, to spend in the market on passing the audit.
Olford's chain of thoughts was broken when he felt the presence of Sama arriving at the door of the office. On entering the room, the general appeared as an imposing figure as always. On his belt a normal monster skin pouch can be seen, but the steward knows the true identity of the object inside the pouch.
The General had returned from the depths of the forest, where they never touched because of a special mission for his son, and the other purpose was the reconnaissance for the future plans.
Sama noted the presence of Olford when he entered and sat on his chair, as it made a creaking sound, and placed a pouch on the table. He slumped to relax from his solo adventuring.
"It appears the reconnaissance didn't go smoothly, my lord," Olford noted, his voice laced with concern.
Sama exhaled, slumping into the chair as it groaned under his weight. "Nothing I couldn't handle. I was caught between monsters fighting for territory on the infiltration journey, but I stumbled upon fresh troll tracks near the boundary formed by the remnants of the Yav tribe during the return trip. I followed the tracks and stumbled upon their massacred village. I couldn't find a single soul in that place."
Offord made a face like he had eaten something sour.
"Trolls! I will send a team as soon as possible. We cleared the few groups in their surroundings when we arrived and sent expedition forces on their requests. They were one of the first defenses against trolls." He was clearly shocked by the news.
"No need; I already sent a team under Nina." General straightened his back as he spoke.
"Now tell me what you got from bugs we have caught in our territory." A shift in tone can be felt.
Olford passed the copies of the reports based on the interrogation of Garren and others to the General.
"The person named Leo, whose real name is Nate, was bribing our recruits and commoners. He belongs to the Golden Mercenary Guild, which is a branch of the Seagold merchant group. He took the contract to find individuals whose ancestors were an official son or daughter of a blood noble and came to this region in the past or their descendants. " Olford clearly saw that Sama was expecting more from him, which piqued his interest but soon turned into disappointment.
"Is that the reason he was bribing every recruit to commoners in our region? Just to find spouses for children belonging to provisional nobles and rich families, who are desperate to become blood nobles or to raise their social standing? Sama had a hard time digesting the stupidity of the captive. Such contracts are common among the various guilds, even if they come with their own headache.
"Apparently our exercise to consolidate the population raised the hopes for such organizations and individuals. Even for the people who are ready to marry their children to the descendants who belong to the bastard lineage of a blood noble." Olford said in an annoyed tone. He wasn't happy with the thought of increased workload because of idiots like Nate.
"The next person is named Torus; he is hired by one of the provisional nobles who belongs to one of the factions of Silion City. He himself didn't know which faction or person hired him, but he is sure on the basis of his mission."
"F**k genealogist-bounty hunter and gold licking bas***d. Send these two to become part of the first batch of death squads." Sama gave the order without lifting his eyes from the report on Garren.
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