Elia and Eliot stood motionless in the morning breeze, their skin warmed by the day’s first golden rays. Yet these sensations went unnoticed, their minds fixated on the single, devastating word their friend had uttered.
Mage.
What was a mage? In Eliot’s understanding, a mage was a being of overwhelming destructive power who laid waste to everything within reach. Elia’s perspective, while similar, was more nuanced. To her, mages embodied all the evil in Valorian—the symbol of greed, covetousness, envy, and contempt.
Mages were the world’s destroyers, the architects of the calamity that had nearly obliterated the Eternal Village, leaving them trapped in their current, nearly inescapable situation.
Mages were like demons from ancient Valorian legends, harbingers of doom whose very presence spelled disaster.
Being identified as mages struck them both like a physical blow, draining the color from their faces and sending their senses reeling. The world seemed to spin around them as their minds remained frozen, unable to process this discovery.
Jonn observed their shock, noting how differently they reacted compared to his own experience. Yet he couldn’t fault them for their response, nor did he found strange his manner. Since the Celestial Magnifying Glass had connected with him, many concepts and insights had become natural to him.
Being told suddenly that you would become a mage was certainly different from what he had experienced.
He allowed them both a moment to collect their thoughts, knowing the importance of mental clarity for the conversation ahead. They needed to be fully present when he continued this discussion.
“That… Mage…” Eliot muttered, finding his voice before Elia, who remained lost in her turbulent thoughts. “Why do you say that? How could we be mages?” he asked, while a tempest of emotions still raged through Elia’s mind.
“I am a mage, Eliot,” Jonn stated plainly. “I can sense the growing mana within both you and Elia.”
He continued, addressing their immediate concerns, while Elia gradually recovered from this sudden revelation. “You’re not mages yet. But in a matter of weeks, you will be… Put simply, your magical power hasn’t reached the threshold for you to be called mages, but it will inevitably reach that level.” Jonn kept his explanation straightforward, emphasizing their current situation.
Elia
Level: 0 (33%)
Health: 59
Mana: 33
Stamina: 55
Relationship: +1000 (Respect)
Eliot
Level: 0 (31%)
Health: 62
Mana: 31
Stamina: 60
Relationship: +1000 (Respect)
As Eliot processed Jonn’s words with growing acceptance, he observed their status windows. Their progress was remarkable—at this rate, he estimated both would achieve level 1 within three months.
“So you’re a mage?” Eliot asked, his voice a mixture of awe and apprehension.
“Yes, I awakened after Grandpa Hewet passed away. That’s why I can do so much physical work,” Jonn said, highlighting the positive aspects of being a mage. “And as you’ve seen, I haven’t destroyed the village or brought trouble here. Being a mage isn’t a sentence condemning us to be destroyers of this world.
“Magic is like a weapon. In the hands of a maniac, it can leave a trail of destruction, with blood and bodies everywhere. But it can also protect and build, as I’m doing in the village. That’s what I expect from both of you from today onwards.”
Elia finally overcame her internal struggle, setting aside her reservations to focus on Jonn’s words. She caught the tail end of his speech, her fists clenched as she considered the possibility that he might be right.
“Is it truly possible for us to benefit the village as mages?” she asked, her question revealing her current state of mind.
Jonn met her gaze and nodded affirmatively. “Absolutely. It all depends on your intentions. If you seek to challenge the world, I don’t know what might happen. But if you only fight to protect the village, I’m sure you’ll contribute to the growth and safety of our people.”
Eliot accepted this explanation more readily than Elia, feeling that things were as simple as his thoughts. However, Elia, ever thoughtful and cautious, wasn’t so easily convinced.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
She pressed on. “Is this why you’ve been acting differently since Elder Hewet’s passing? Because you’ve become a mage?”
Jonn didn’t hide the truth. “Yes, that’s the reason… Mages have special characteristics, which you’ll develop in time. Depending on these individual traits, you may experience changes as new possibilities become available to you.”
Jonn’s knowledge of how other mages perceived magic was limited. Would Elia and Eliot see status screens? Would they immediately gain {Skills} upon reaching level 1? What aspects of his experience would they share, and what new experiences might they have that he hadn’t?
These questions remained unanswered by [Essence of Life], but he was determined to learn through his cooperations with Eliot and Elia.
One certainty was that each mage had their own [Elemental Affinity]. This naturally guided them along different growth paths. Also, his observations of Annabelle had led him to conclude that magical beings tended to develop unique abilities as they grew.
Annabelle had created a long-range mana attack, while he had developed the {Skill}, [Universal Breath]. These instances suggested magical beings could develop their own capabilities based on individual characteristics and experiences, even without a system’s help.
“But it won’t change your essence,” he reassured them. “But if you can manipulate fire, for example, you’ll develop a fondness for it.” He painted a mental image to illustrate his point.
“So your ability must be quite strange to drive you to study so much,” Elia said, relaxing slightly as she intuited the nature of Jonn’s power.
“You’re very perceptive, Elia,” Jonn grinned, his gaze shifting between them and the village.
“So you’ve been masking this from the village?” she asked, while Eliot followed their conversation.
“Yes, though I suspect some villagers have their suspicions. Petyr and Sarre have likely noticed something, even if they haven’t confronted me about it.”
“Do you plan to continue this way?” she asked.
“Indeed, and I expect the same from both of you,” Jonn said as he advised them, his concern evident. “Although our intentions are to benefit the village, and being a mage doesn’t inherently make us destructive, we can’t ignore the world’s perception of such individuals. Maintaining secrecy about our status and preventing information leaks will serve us well, both in the immediate future and long term.”
“That’s valid,” Elia accepted. “So, what’s next? You mentioned earlier about noticing changes. I’ve only experienced increased daily energy. Should we expect other changes?”
“I’ve also felt more energetic,” Eliot chimed in before Jonn could respond. “My archery has improved too—I can shoot farther and more accurately than I could weeks ago.”
Jonn said to them both, “Physical improvements are the first noticeable changes, so your observations align with my expectations. However, upon reaching level 1 and becoming Apprentices, you’ll gain the ability to channel mana through your body and even infuse it into objects, like arrows.” He gestured towards Eliot. “At that point, you’ll undergo significant transformations, becoming different—and more dangerous—than you are now. Each improvement in mana control will bring substantial changes, though the process will feel progressively natural.
“Feel free to seek my advice or ask questions when that time comes. Today’s discussion is about understanding your situation and how we’ll proceed. I still need to observe you to discern what kind of mages you’ll become, but my intention is to use your abilities for the village’s progress.
“My skills have allowed me to expand our food production and turn our animals into beasts. While I don’t expect you to follow the same path, you’ll each find your roles. For now, focus on protecting your mage identities and prepare to contribute to the village in ways you never imagined possible.”
Eliot readily agreed, eager to awaken the promised skills and defend the village.
Elia, though anxious about becoming an Apprentice, couldn’t let the conversation end there, her inquisitive nature prompting one more question. “What exactly are your plans, Jonn? What aspects of your goals remain unknown to the village Council?”
“My goals agree with what the village already knows,” Jonn assured her. “However, there are certain details the Council isn’t privy to. For example, to the west lies a group of animals and beasts capable of annihilating us. Even I wouldn’t stand a chance against them in my current state.”
Their expressions shifted, once again engraved with worry and rendered silent.
Jonn pressed on, “I’m now in a position where I must prepare to negotiate with this group. I don’t know what might happen, but I know that if we don’t take action, we’ll invariably have a formidable enemy capable of annihilating us within weeks or months at most.”
“That’s terrible!” Eliot muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Elia asked, “Shouldn’t we discuss this with the rest of the village?”
Jonn met her gaze, his eyebrow raised. “What for? To panic them?”
“Perhaps we should go somewhere else,” Elia suggested. “With your magical abilities, we could start over elsewhere.”
“That would be an option if not for the fact that we can’t afford to move. We can’t transport our crops, Elia. And even if starting over were possible, who’s to say we wouldn’t encounter a worse or similar situation? The uncertainties would be immense.’
Eliot surprised them both with his voice. “I’d rather protect our home and confront what we already know.”
Elia took a step back, reconsidering her words.
Jonn said, “For now, I prefer to continue investigating and preparing for a peaceful action. And if you two develop your abilities more rapidly, I can gain the support of additional mages, which could alter our precarious situation.”
Understanding dawned on Elia’s face. “So that’s your aim… But will we grow powerful enough to assist you? You mentioned it would take months for us to become Apprentices.”
“And I wasn’t wrong. It would indeed take that long if I allowed you to progress through ordinary means. However, with my intervention, I can reduce that to less than two weeks.”
“You can do that?” Eliot’s impressed tone betrayed his growing admiration for his friend.
“I can. All you need to do is agree to proceed with my plan.”
“What exactly does this require?” Elia asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.
Jonn explained succinctly, “Not much. Your current conditions are delicate—you’re no longer ordinary humans, but not yet full-fledged mages. I can assist, but my options are limited. So what I will do is enrich one house outside the village with pure mana, and you’ll meditate there for a few hours daily. This should speed up your growth.”
As he spoke, Jonn contemplated the utility of [Magic Breath] in saturating an area with mana—energy that wouldn’t dissipate until absorbed by magical beings.
In their current state, Elia and Eliot could easily assimilate this mana through prolonged exposure.
Jonn concluded, “Just try to exert yourself before this routine. Our bodies seem to absorb mana more readily when we’re exhausted.”
“All right. I’ll do that,” Elia affirmed.
“Me too,” Eliot said.
Jonn smiled, summoning two items from his spatial ring: a dagger and a bracelet.
These were the [Wildheart Talisman] and [Mysterious Magic Dagger]!
“These are enchanted artifacts, things of great use to mages,” Jonn said to them. “Elia, I want you to have the bracelet. It will help you bond with an animal or beast in the village and amplify your magical abilities once you become an Apprentice.” He handed her the [Wildheart Talisman], surprising her with this gift.
As Elia slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, Jonn presented the dagger to Eliot. “This weapon surpasses the ordinary daggers in our village. It will enhance your combat prowess and prepare you for more advanced weapons in the future. Keep progressing, and I’ll entrust you with that bow and arrow set I showed you earlier.”
Eliot’s eyes lit up, recalling the super-heavy bow and arrows Jonn had introduced him to previously. The chance of wielding them brought a smile to his face.
“Thank you, Jonn. I appreciate this.”
“That concludes our discussion for today. Continue your routines and organize between yourselves on using my old house. I’ll prepare it for your meditation sessions starting this afternoon.”
Elia glanced at Eliot and said, “You can take the afternoons, and I’ll use the early evenings.”
“Hmm, that works for me.” Eliot agreed to the division.
Jonn said, “I’ll provide the house is ready for those occasions. I’ll be in the village for the next few days, so make the most of it while I’m here.”
With these words, their conversation ended. Eliot returned to his guard duty as Elia headed to the village’s construction area, and Jonn made his way to the animal area.
Later, Jonn planned to visit his hostage, but first, he wanted to check on Ice and the others this morning.
Let’s see how these two respond to my experiments over the coming days… I’ll delay my departure to the western beast group until I have a clearer picture of their growth rate under my influence.
In any case, I’ll use this time to boost my strength. Perhaps it’s time to experiment with the mana crystals from Count Francus’ cave. My {Resistance} should now protect me from the fire element left by Count Francus in those Aether Tears.
“Well,” Jonn mused aloud, “time to take some risks!”