Sagar smiled at Lucian. "Exactly," he said.

Lucian paused for a moment and furrowed his brows. "So, how do I do it?" he asked.

Sagar took a deep breath and explained in a patient tone, "Of course, by creating a mana circle. If you can have a mana circle, manipulating external mana becomes much easier. This way, the mana flowing into your body will be limitless."

Lucian’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Does that mean I’ll have unlimited power?" he asked, full of expectation.

Sagar burst out laughing. "Of course not, you fool! Even if you have unlimited mana, it’s meaningless if you can’t control it. It’s like someone having tons of flour but not knowing how to bake bread."

Lucian shrugged, trying to hide his disappointment. "So, this will just eliminate the need for me to meditate, right? Is that all?"

Sagar gave him a hard look, as if losing patience. "What more do you want? You’re acting like I’m revealing the greatest secret in the world!"

Lucian pouted and muttered, "I just thought having unlimited mana would be... cooler."

Sagar shrugged in response. "Maybe, maybe not. Your situation is the first of its kind in the world. There’s only one way to find out."

Lucian squinted and sighed. "You mean risking my life again and trying crazy things, right?"

Sagar grinned slyly. "Exactly. You can be sure I’ll use you in my experiments a lot."

Lucian sighed, giving in. "So, how do we do this mana circle thing?"

Sagar became serious again. "You’re lucky you didn’t imprint the Aura Star into your heart. I don’t know how you did it, but I’m sure you can’t do the same thing with the mana circle. You absolutely have to imprint the mana circle into your heart. Can you feel the mana inside you without intensifying it?"

Lucian nodded. "A little. But it’s very hard. It feels like trying to find a grain of sand different from the others in a vast desert."

Sagar smiled slightly. "That feeling shows we’re on the right path. Now, try to release the faint mana flow you feel from your body. You need to spread it evenly across your body."

Lucian frowned. "Release it from my body? Isn’t that the same method aura users use to create armor by covering their bodies with aura? You need to be at least a four-star aura user to do that!"

Sagar replied in a mocking tone, "That’s why we’re using mana, not aura, you idiot. Try to release it without intensifying it. That way, you can overcome your lack of power."

Lucian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He tried to relax the mana and release it from his body. However, when he felt his veins becoming more prominent and glowing, his body was consumed by unbearable pain. "What is this pain?" he thought. "It feels like my body is being torn apart... but I must continue."

As the pain intensified, his breath began to falter. "Am I really this weak?" Lucian thought. "I have to trust Sagar. Otherwise, this will end badly."

Sagar’s voice broke the tension between them. "Calm down! This is a mana constriction. I told you to ease the intensity!"

Lucian writhed in pain, screaming, "Help! This… is unbearable!"

Sagar quickly took action. He murmured a string of magical words, and his eyes and hair lit up with a blue glow. He drew the mana from Lucian’s body, correcting the imbalance. When the ritual was over, Lucian fainted from exhaustion.

When Lucian woke up, he found himself in that familiar place again. "I’m tired of fainting," he grumbled.

Sagar laughed mockingly. "This time, it didn’t take that long."

Lucian rubbed his head and said, "Mana constriction, right? What was that thing you did? Did you absorb the mana?"

Sagar smiled and nodded. "Yes, that’s exactly what I did. If you understood what I was saying through the pain, you weren’t that bad."

Lucian rolled his eyes. "Very funny... So, is something like that really possible?"

Sagar replied in a low voice, "Of course not. I’m probably the only one who can do it."

Lucian looked at Sagar thoughtfully. "Then, couldn’t you neutralize aura users by doing that? That seems like a cheat!"

Sagar shook his head. "It’s not that simple. For strong aura users, it’s impossible. And for mages, it’s even harder. I’d have to absorb all the mana in an area."

A thought crossed Lucian’s mind. "This guy... how powerful is he really?"

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Sagar changed the subject. "I thought you were a genius, but things aren’t going the way I expected."

Lucian grimaced. "So, what are we going to do?"

Sagar continued seriously. "This isn’t something that can be done in a few hours. You need to focus solely on magic, which means taking a break from this boxing thing."

Lucian responded sharply, "No way. Strengthening my aura and working on my boxing techniques is the most important thing for me. You saw the power they produce when combined. I can’t give that up."

Sagar sighed. "I knew you’d say that. That’s why I’m coming to dinner tonight."

Lucian was surprised. "Dinner? Why, are we going to train while eating?"

Sagar smiled. "No, I’m going to talk to Arthur about taking you under my wing. For at least a few years."

Lucian raised his eyebrows. "Do you really believe he’ll allow that?"

Sagar grinned mischievously. "I was already going to lie a lot about your potential as a mage. If I embellish it a bit, I can get you under my wing."

Lucian curled his lips. "That... doesn’t sound very reassuring."

----------------------------------------

Dinner time was approaching. The servant Cynthia entered Lucian's room with her usual energy and cheerfully exclaimed, "You look as handsome as ever, Master Lucian!"

Lucian adjusted the collar of his outfit as he looked in the mirror, muttering in a slightly uncomfortable tone, "Thanks, Cynthia... but I really hate wearing these tight clothes."

Cynthia smiled and lightly tapped Lucian on the shoulder. "But you only have to wear these formal outfits on special occasions, Master Lucian. Others don't have this chance. I think you're quite lucky!"

Lucian sighed and nodded. "I suppose you're right... But it looks like you won’t be able to carry me on your back this time."

Cynthia giggled in response, "Oh, yes! Since we're hosting the mage Sagar, everyone is being more cautious. We wouldn’t want rumors spreading about me carrying you, would we?"

Lucian laughed and looked at her in the mirror. "Alright, Cynthia. In that case, let’s not be late for dinner."

When Lucian stepped into the dining hall, his brothers and Marquess Arthur had already taken their seats. However, this time Lucian was directed not to sit next to his sister but directly across from the Marquess. This change was to place Sagar next to the Marquess.

As Marquess Arthur entered the room, he glanced at Lucian and began speaking. "So, Sagar hasn’t arrived yet. I thought he was with you, Lucian?"

Lucian responded politely, "Sensei will be here shortly. He had a few matters to take care of."

Upon hearing the word "Sensei," Marquess Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly. "Sensei, huh? That man can never be on time."

Lucian turned to Marquess Arthur curiously. "Are you close with Sensei, Marquess Arthur?"

Marquess Arthur paused for a moment, trying to hide his thoughts. "He’s bombarding me with questions. Sagar must have piqued his interest," he thought. Then he continued aloud, "Not exactly... But we’ve worked together before."

At that moment, the door swung open, and Sagar entered with his usual relaxed demeanor. "Worked together? Is that all? You’re not going to tell them I’m your best friend, old man?" he said, lightening the mood.

Lucian looked on in astonishment. "Old man?!"

Marquess Arthur calmly responded to Sagar’s outburst. "Stop rambling and take your seat. Remember, we have a guest here."

Sagar smiled and replied, "Ah, of course, of course!" As he sat down, he fixed his gaze on Marquess Arthur. "There’s an important matter we need to discuss."

Marquess Arthur replied seriously, "This matter can wait. Let’s have our dinner first."

But Sagar was impatient. "No, it can’t wait. This is something that needs to be discussed immediately."

Lucian began to worry inside. "Where is this going to end..."

Suddenly, Marquess Arthur’s aura intensified. It was as if everyone in the room had their breath taken away; even his brothers Uther and Albet, and his sister Serenna, were under immense pressure. But Lucian… felt nothing. Confused, he looked around and thought, "Why am I not affected?"

It all made sense when he saw Sagar wink at him. "This is definitely Sagar’s doing. He must be protecting me. And he’s not affected by the pressure either..."

Sagar continued to stare intently at Marquess Arthur, who finally gave in and withdrew his aura.

"Alright, Sagar," Arthur said, maintaining his seriousness. "What is this matter that’s so important? Tell me."

Sagar replied without blinking, "I want Lord Lucian to be my apprentice."

Marquess Arthur paused as he realized the seriousness in Sagar’s tone. "Lord Lucian?" he thought. "This man is showing respect to someone… Sagar, who doesn’t even do that to the Emperor…" Then, aloud, he said, "I thought I called you here to train him anyway?"

Sagar shook his head. "But what I’m talking about is different. I’m talking about training him as a mage. As my heir."

Uther’s voice trembled with concern. "H-Heir?!"

Lucian rolled his eyes. "Ah, there it is, the idiot I was expecting finally spoke. I didn’t think he’d last this long."

Sagar continued without breaking his serious tone. "Yes, Lucian’s potential in magic far exceeds what he could ever achieve as a swordsman."

Uther was still in shock. "But he’s already chosen the path of aura. Can someone with an aura star become a mage?"

Sagar shot him a threatening look. "Are you telling me I can’t do that?"

Uther recoiled and began to stammer. "I-I… No…"

Marquess Arthur interrupted Uther. "Enough, Uther. Stay out of this."

Uther fell silent, staring down at his plate in fear. Sagar, still smiling, returned to the conversation. "I’ll destroy Lucian’s aura star. Then we can start from scratch and imprint a mana circle in his heart."

Marquess Arthur, with an expression that revealed nothing of his thoughts, replied, "I’m sure you can do that. Still, I have some reservations."

Sagar smiled, narrowing his eyes. "Arthur, when have you ever regretted trusting me? Do you remember?"

Marquess Arthur thought for a moment, then turned inward. "I should ask Lucian," he thought, and he turned to Lucian. "Well, Lucian? Are you interested in becoming a mage? The Wintergate family has walked the path of swordsmanship for generations. However, if you think you can be stronger as a mage, I won’t stop you from walking that path."

Lucian replied with a determined expression. "I don’t know what kind of journey awaits me, but I don’t want to continue down the path of swordsmanship. I want to try my luck in a different field. And the best guide for me on this path is none other than the Great Mage Sagar. If you permit me, I would like to try this path, Marquess Arthur."

Marquess Arthur thought for a moment, then inwardly reflected, "When did this boy learn to speak like this? They grow up so fast..." Then he turned to Lucian and spoke calmly, "Alright, Lucian. If this is the path you wish to walk, I won’t stop you."

Then Marquess Arthur turned to Cynthia and gave an order. "Cynthia, prepare Lucian’s belongings. He will leave in the morning."

Sagar smiled and winked at Lucian, who smiled back with confidence.

Waving his hand in the air, Sagar cheerfully said, "Alright! Now that everything’s settled, let’s start the meal! Can I get a steak?"