Lance was pleased with his progress so far. The apartment was comfortable, his courses were selected, and he felt more settled in. However, as he sat in his new home, he realized he should start learning magic to get a head start in his studies. Excitement bubbled within him, and he decided to head to the library.
Before heading out, he took Ember to a sort of daycare arena area for familiars. The place was buzzing with various magical creatures, and Ember happily trotted off to explore his new temporary home.
Lance walked through the grounds of Elderglen, feeling a sense of purpose. He was determined to make the most of the time he had before classes started. However, as he walked, a thought struck him—he had no clue where to start learning magic. The excitement was quickly replaced by uncertainty. He recalled Father Elias mentioning the need to awaken his core, but he didn't know how to begin.
Determined to find answers, Lance made his way to the library. The grand building welcomed him once more, its carved entrance exuding an aura of knowledge and history. He stepped inside, feeling the familiar quiet grandeur of the place.
Lance approached the main desk, where the elf librarian from before greeted him. “Welcome back. How can I assist you today?”
“I want to start learning magic,” Lance said, his voice tinged with determination but also uncertainty. “But I don’t know where to start. I remember someone telling me that I need to awaken my core.”
The librarian sighed and nodded understandingly. “A lot of students have the same question, especially those that come from relatively backward regions.” She suddenly went blank, her eyes glazing over for a moment. When she came to, she said, “Section B12, Row 7, Shelf 3. You'll find the book Awakening the Core: A Beginner’s Guide there.”
“Thank you,” Lance said gratefully.
He followed the librarian's directions and quickly found the book. Settling into a quiet corner, he began to read.
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Awakening the Core: A Beginner’s Guide
Magic happens through the Lifestream. To use the Lifestream, one must obtain Lifestream in their core, which is a Lifestream storage device situated between the soul and the physical body. The core is present in every living creature, but for most mortal humans, it is not awakened. This means it cannot produce or store Lifestream. To do this, one must awaken their core by drawing a huge amount of Lifestream into it and then using all that built-up energy to jumpstart it. This requires intense concentration and practice.
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Lance paused, thinking about the implications. “A huge amount of Lifestream? Sounds...dangerous,” he murmured. He read on, his curiosity piqued but also wary of what he might find.
The importance of visualization cannot be overstated. You must clearly visualize your core and the flow of Lifestream. Picture your core as a small, dormant flame located in the center of your being. Visualize the Lifestream as a glowing river of energy flowing into your core, filling it with warmth and power.
Assert your willpower to control this process. Willpower is the key to guiding the Lifestream into your core and maintaining the necessary concentration. Any lapse in focus can disrupt the flow. The build-up of energy in your core may feel like a growing warmth or gentle pressure. When you feel a substantial amount of energy has accumulated, focus on releasing this energy in a controlled burst to jumpstart your core. This burst of energy will ignite the dormant flame in your core, enabling it to produce and store Lifestream on its own.
Lance’s thoughts were racing. “This sounds intense,” he muttered, feeling a bit overwhelmed. He could almost hear a sinister narrator in his head, warning him about the dangers of awakening his core.
Awakening the core is not a one-time process. It requires regular practice and meditation to maintain and strengthen your core's ability to store and utilize Lifestream.
The text continued in a dark tone, almost as if trying to scare off any would-be mages who might not be up to the challenge:
Beware, reader. Many have tried and failed, their cores never fully awakening, leaving them as mere shadows of what they could have been. The path to awakening your core is fraught with peril. Only those with the strongest willpower and determination can hope to succeed. Are you prepared to face the unknown, to dive into the abyss of your own potential?
Lance couldn't help but chuckle nervously. “Well, that’s reassuring,” he said to himself. He closed the book for a moment, taking a deep breath. The process sounded daunting, but he was determined to succeed. He decided to start practicing right away.
He closed the book and found a quiet spot in the library where he could meditate without interruptions. Sitting comfortably, he closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply, clearing his mind of all distractions. He visualized his core as a small, dormant flame, just as the book had described. This was especially difficult, he had never meditated!
Focusing intently, Lance imagined drawing the Lifestream into his body. He pictured it as a glowing river of energy flowing into his core, filling it with warmth and power. Maintaining this visualization was difficult, but he pushed through, determined to feel the build-up of energy.
Minutes turned into hours as Lance continued to practice. His concentration wavered at times, but he reminded himself to stay calm and focused. Gradually, he began to feel a faint warmth in his core—a small but encouraging sign that the process was working.
Returning the book to its shelf, Lance left the library with a renewed sense of purpose. The journey to becoming a mage was not easy, but he was determined to embrace every challenge and opportunity that came his way at Elderglen Institute.