Mana wells, or the phenomenon we call mana wells, are one of the mysteries of the world that may never be fully understood. Why is a mana well's size independent from the amount of mana produced? Why are they located where they are? How does one tell the difference between a mana well and a magically-charged area? How is the mana production measured? What uses do mana wells have for society and nature? These and other questions are what we shall explore, as we seek to explain the phenomenon known as mana wells.
-Excerpt from the intro of Mana Wells Explained
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As the sun rose above the western plains, the city of Nylsha was cast in a beautiful, golden light. Some might call it an idealized version of the city, but that was not true. Beauty was beauty, after all, just as kindness was kindness and love was love. You could love the city in golden lighting, and that didn't exclude you from loving it normally. You could begin to fall in love with someone after they did something really sweet for you, and that wouldn't be the only reason you loved them. It may have started the snowball rolling, but as snowballs roll downhill, they build mass and momentum as they pick up more snow. Similarly, as you loved a person or a city, you would learn more about it that would either enable your love to grow, or impede its growth. Today marked the end of the fourth week of the new year, and the city was quiet so early in the morning. The weather was pleasant, mana was abundant, and classes were about to close their enrollment windows.
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The city of Nylsha was the capital of Snurb, a small kingdom that had many friends and allies. Snurb had a very friendly outlook on visitors and other kingdoms, as a result of a very friendly disposition and foreign policy. It was a center of productivity, as its citizens were, for the most part, workaholics. They were also very friendly people, educated, musically-inclined, generous, and patient, but the people of Snurb also liked their personal space, and lots of it. They loved personal time, to work on their projects, advance in their studies, volunteering, listening to music, as well as reading books.
Snurb was a central hub of education, musical and magical innovation, and social networks, as it lay across one of the most important and central geographical areas. It was centered on one of the most powerful mana wells discovered by humanity, and controlled access to several important trade routes between other kingdoms. Nylsha also had the most prestigious magical academy, which was open to foreigners. Nobody would attack Snurb, because to do so would invite the ire of other nations due to endangering the children of nobles, royals, and commoners of several kingdoms and empires, as well as endangering the aforementioned trade routes. Lastly, but most certainly not least, attacking Snurb was just asking to be smited by one of many archmages calling it home, and who knew what the latest magical innovations and spellworks were?