CHAPTER 17
THE HUMAN STANDARDS
Sierra stopped Rudolf from laughing and pondered, realizing that getting caught in this situation must have embarrassed the little man. She knew that it was not something a growing boy could overcome on his own, but her perspective shifted when Hans mentioned the colours entering her heart.
"What do you see, Hans? Say it clearly," she asked, urging him to explain further after studying more closely.
"It's like you are the centre, and these strands move spirally inward towards it, and after a while, the motion reverses as these things are released from your heart," Hans replied after concentrating harder.
Sierra nodded, curious to know more, and asked,
Now tell me the difference between the colours entered and exited.
Hans focused even more and answered,
Not colour, but it loses some brightness after the release.
Sierra released some of her mana, and Hans quickly commented,
Now it is like before.
Smiling, She praised him, saying,
Your Gramps is right. You have a knack for surprising others.
She continued,
That's how the mana heart of a mage collects mana. It is like a cycle. The raw mana outside contains every mana property like a mixture, that's why you see many colours band together. A mage's heart acts like a filter and stores the compatible mana and releases the rest. In my case, I store the golden strands and let out the rest. That's why you see it dimmed down after the release.
Hans asked,
then if the mage stores the compatible mana inside, doesn't that create imbalance outside?
Sierra felt proud of his observation and replied, "Being a mana user goes against the very nature of things, my child. Not everyone can do it. Mages keep releasing the mana bound inside through spells, returning it to nature again. That's the cycle of mana, and you have to be at least a world mage (Eight Circle) to see these things."
Instead of Hans, Rudolf said in surprise,
Are you for real?
Sierra confirmed, "Yes, I am. This is called ManaVision, an upgrade to the ability of ManaSense that your knights use. Instead of sensing the mana, Hans could detect what mana others possess, just like me, a world mage."
Rudolf said in frustration,
I know what ManaVision is, dear, but this brat is using it. Are you sure?
Before she could respond to Rudolf, Hans intervened, surprised, "It's a good thing, right?"
Sierra cheerfully replied, "Of course, it is. A world mage uses this to create a Sanctuary."
Rudolf, still in shock, muttered,
The boy is learning to run before toddling.
With a sneer, Hans retorted,
That's human standards, old man. I am born better, as I said before.
Rudolf fought the urge to knuckle Hans in the head once again. He had already told the boy not to act like the haughty elves who took pride in their lineage, but Hans had already ran over to Sierra, teasing him about his failed attempt. Sierra pulled Hans in front of her and began to explain.
"Listen closely," she said, her voice filled with determination. "When a mage reaches a certain level of proficiency, they begin to influence the mana around them. It is then that ManaVision surfaces... Ah!".
As she spoke, a sudden realization struck Sierra, and she turned to Hans with a knowing look in her eyes. "I understand now," she said with certainty. "You are controlling the mana around you, right? yes, yes, which is why the book is called Limitless. It teaches you to take control over the infinite mana pool of nature and allows you to shape it to your will. I'm right, aren't I"
Hans chuckled in amusement at his grandmother's sharp mind. "You are smart, grandma," he said with a grin. "But yes, you are right. I can tap into the limitless mana of the world around me."
As Sierra watched, her amusement bubbled over as her intuition was proven right once again. Meanwhile, Rudolf's frustration was palpable as he muttered, "This boy is turning scarier with each passing moment, my dear."
Ignoring him, she turned to the boy and confirmed once again "We need to see if it's a fluke or if you can do it willingly. Close your eyes and imagine the warmth of your eyes dissipating from the corners. Then open them."
Hans followed her instructions and opened his eyes to see everything had returned to normal. Sierra asked him how he saw things, and he told her the truth. She instructed him to concentrate harder and focus more, but Hans interrupted excitedly.
"I can see the strands of mana again!"
Rudolf responded in disappointment,
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So it wasn't a fluke.
Hans retorted,
See, Gramps? I'm better than a human, right?
Rudolf muttered,
Yeah, yeah, show off.
Hans then turned to Sierra and asked,
Does that mean I can create a Sanctuary too, whatever that is?
Rudolf interrupted,
Do you even know what you're saying, squeaky?
Hans shot back,
Yeah, it's not something to eat, old man. Just stay quiet for a moment.
Rudolf struggled to control his urge to beat the boy once again, while Sierra answered Hans' question.
"I know you defy common sense, but that would be too terrifying, Hans. A mage has to reach the eighth circle to create a sanctuary."
Hans then asked, "What is a sanctuary?"
Sierra explained, "A world mage's most powerful spell or ability, in which the mage establishes an area of high mana that only listens to them. Mostly every mage's sanctuary behaves differently. Mine heals everyone who comes under the area."
Hans complimented Sierra,
Cool, I knew you were awesome, grandma.
Sierra ignored his flattery and asked him,
Are you okay?
Hans replied,
Yes, I was just tired. Soon I will grow strong enough to protect you, grandma.
Sierra pinched Hans's cheek and told him,
You just started today, squeaky. Say those words to me when you're stronger than my husband.
This was the first time Sierra had taken Rudolf's side in front of Hans, which made the old man feel butterflies in his stomach. However, Hans's next words ruined the moment.
"Don't worry, gramps will be biting the dust soon."
With a playful grin, Sierra tugged at Rudolf's arm, pulling him out of Hans's chambers and into the hallway. As they left, the young boy drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the endless hours of playing with ManaVision. Unbeknownst to him, his control over the raw mana was growing stronger with each passing moment, as if he was regaining long-lost abilities.
The following day, Rudolf awoke to a surprising sight. Instead of having to rouse the boy from slumber, he found him seated by the window, fully engrossed in manipulating a blob of raw mana. The more he practised with ManaVision, the more powerful and prolonged his control over the mana became.
The idea of possessing unlimited mana was now within the boy's grasp, and he eagerly anticipated discovering what more the book had to offer. With eager anticipation, he turned the page and delved deeper into its secrets.
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> PAGE 7
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> If you are on this page, it means that you have successfully grown the seed into a plant, well congratulations first on succeeding. You might have realised the growth of the seed depends on how much mana you can control...
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As Hans delved deeper into the pages of the book, he was struck once again by its uncanny ability to predict his every thought. It was as if the book itself was alive and responding to his every whim, answering his every question before he even had a chance to ask it.
Undeterred by the strangeness of it all, Hans persisted in his reading,
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> Despite the vast potential of raw mana manipulation, there are certain limitations to the power. If there were none, then the infamous Ghost Isle could've have easily conquered the entire world by now. The concentration and mental fortitude required to effectively manipulate raw mana are immense, and not all individuals possess this level of capability.
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> But fear not, The human brain has a remarkable ability to adapt and learn through repetition. With consistent practice and dedication, even the most difficult tasks can become second nature.
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> This is what sets humans apart from beasts, as they lack the cognitive capacity to reach the level of control necessary to master raw mana manipulation.
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> “In light of this, it is essential to devise a spell that is suitable for you to train and hone your skills in manipulating raw mana.”
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> END OF PAGE 7
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This page was short. Hans got excited to learn his first spell and hurriedly flipped the page and read the words in bold letters. It was the name of his first to be 'spell',
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> PAGE 8
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> SPROUT
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> An ability to create or grow any plant you desire with nothing.
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> You have grown a plant from the seed right, but have you seen a treant using seeds,no right? I bet you didn't because they didn't need a starting point like a seed.
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As Hans read through the book's pages, his mind wandered back to his first encounter with the Treants. He recalled how these ancient creatures had the power to grow entire flower beds without the need for any seeds. Nature seemed to bend to their will, as they effortlessly moulded it to suit their desires.
With a wistful sigh, Hans set aside his memories and returned to the present, picking up where he had left off in the book's pages.
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> In this we will imitate what they did. Just as you connected with treant, try to do the same with the seed. They might not respond to you like them, but you will understand how it comes to existence. For this lesson to be completed, you have to achieve two things. First, create a seed with just raw mana and second thing is to grow it. There is a limitation in the seeds found in nature, but your creations will be superior as it focuses not on survival but the task intended. You might not understand my words clearly now, but you will soon. You could even grow a tree indefinitely.
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> Hint- for creation, study the seed structure and try layering the mana as its structure
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> Now start what I said and I will see you on the next page.
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> End of page 8
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Hans hastily closed the book and dashed off in search of the seeds he had collected from his backyard garden. Scouring through his possessions, he stumbled upon a floral seed that could grow into a plant almost as tall as him.
Following Sam's instructions, Hans attempted to connect with the seed using his raw mana. To his dismay, the seed did not respond in the same way as the Treants, but he could sense the minute strands of mana weaving themselves into an intricate pattern to form the seed.
Hans tried to replicate the pattern by combining the fine strands of raw mana in the same arrangement. His initial attempts resulted in nothing but repulsive creations, far from the intended seed. Despite numerous failures, Hans persevered and finally succeeded in creating an exact replica of the floral seed. Overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment, he sought out the elders for praise and validation, feeling like any other child his age.
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