On Earth, people used fuel to generate electricity, which was then utilized for everything from simple daily tasks to powering factories. Heavy machinery operated using electricity, and the process of creating machines involved mechanics combined with circuits that harnessed electrical power to enable the machines to function autonomously.

'In Vidrian, the most common energy source is Mana, and the method for creating circuits that efficiently utilize this mana to produce the required output is through Runes. Runes are symbols that must be inscribed on metals.'

This created a vast network resembling a circuit, composed of various gateways. Mana would flow through the circuit, producing the desired outcomes from machines. Artifacts were crafted in a similar manner, requiring runes to be inscribed upon them.

These runes imparted different properties to the artifacts. There were specific runes designed to enhance piercing capability, increase damage from heavy weapons, and improve the sharpness of swords. For artifacts, runes functioned more like bonuses added to their attributes.

'Becoming a Runesmith is easier said than done. I possess a few skills, but I'm uncertain if they will aid me in learning rune-related skills in the first place.'

Michael had encountered several artifacts adorned with runes, but he had never been able to approach them, let alone touch them. Head Knight Adrian had a sword sheathed at his waist, which he had drawn a few times, allowing Michael to see the glowing runes on the blade.

'I need to acquire a small artifact with runes inscribed on it. Then I can use my appraisal or analyzer skill to see if I can glean any understanding from them.'

Michael pondered while waiting for his stamina to recover. The day promised to be long; after sword training, he would need to run laps around the grounds until he collapsed from fatigue.

Michael looked around; others were lying on the floor, trying to catch their breath, while some stood, indicating that this was like a walk in the park for them. There were more than a hundred children in the training ground.

Most were orphans, while some had been recruited from various families. All of them were here to join the military of Count Jable. Michael was the youngest son of the forty-year-old Count Jable, his so-called father.

Either due to his identity or his reluctance to talk to anyone, he hadn't made any friends even after a whole week. He attributed this more to being the son of a count. Unlike him, who was only training because he was forced to, others were determined to be part of the army and earn a good rank.

'I wonder how many of them will become mages. I heard there's a very low chance of awakening as a mage, and not everyone has the skill of mana sense before they turn thirteen,' Michael mused again, observing the determined looks of the children.

'I'm lucky to have one, which means I can be a mage. But do I really want to be a mage?' Michael loved the thought of doing magic, but he also had a passion for technology. He decided to learn any rune-related skill first. He still had three more years before awakening ascension.

'I hope learning a rune-related skill is easy for me due to my high intelligence. On top of that, I also possess other skills that can help me understand how those things work, or at least I hope that's the case.'

As Michael hadn't seen any runes up close, he wasn't really sure how difficult it would be for him to learn the skill. However, his traits and skills, along with his high intelligence, had boosted his morale. He had probed the details of the children around him using his Appraisal skill.

None of the trainees here had higher scores than ten in any of the stat sections, except for a few adults and some he couldn't check because his skill level was only 1 for now. Among those adults was Head Knight Adrian.

'That's all the information I have on Runes for now. I wish there was a book explaining the fundamentals, but there are only general books in the library on the first floor. I guess only core members can access the 2nd floor.'

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Michael sighed with an exhausted expression. He was more mentally tired than physically from thinking about it all the time. ''Break's over. Get back to training,'' Michael jolted back to reality after hearing the loud shout from Adrian.

** ** ** ** **

''Man, this training is quite hard for a young and slender boy like me who's barely 10 years old. Is this how karma feels? I wonder what sin I committed in my last life to deserve such harsh training. I wonder how long those kids have been training. Even though they were amateurs like me, they had a physique far better than mine.''

Michael lay on his bed after dinner with an exhausted expression. It was his first day of training, and he was pretty tired from all the swinging and running. He had very low stamina and needed to increase it in the future; constantly training every day was his goal for the next three years, along with some other important things.

'If my idea really works, then I think I can become strong a lot faster than I ever imagined, even in this magical world. Let's put this to the test now. Shall we?'

Michael sprang up on his bed and sat with his legs crossed, once again in the meditation pose. After adjusting his mindset, he closed his eyes and envisioned the surroundings filled with mana particles. Those tiny dots of warm light hovered in the air, moving from place to place.

'No matter how many times I see this, it always feels amazing. Now for the most important part.'

Michael slowly guided the mana particles into his body, filling it with mana once again. Prior to this, he had emptied his tank, constantly using appraisal skills in hopes of leveling up, but it had remained at the same level even after days, highlighting how crucial and challenging this skill was.

Time passed, and his MP was full again, but this time, instead of stopping, he focused more on controlling the mana. He hadn't considered it in the last few days, but he remembered it today during his practice. The mana around him began to move according to his will. The process was slow and somewhat tricky at first, but then it suddenly became smooth, and a new notification popped up in front of him.

[You have learned the Mana Manipulation Skill]

[Mana Recovery Skill Level 1 → Mana Recovery Skill Level 2]

''Haha. Just as I thought. I was going the wrong way from the start. I was only thinking about absorbing the mana initially, which counted as the Mana Recovery Skill, but if I had manipulated the mana before absorbing it, I would have acquired this skill first.'' Michael laughed heartily, reveling in the joy of his new success.

'I think I understand how skills work in this world. Doesn't that mean I can gain any skill as long as I comprehend it and conduct a little experimentation? Hmm, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. I will need to do more experiments to be 100% sure,' Michael mused.

Michael recognized the mistake he made the first time. He hadn't even considered controlling the mana as much as he should have. Skill acquisition depends precisely on what he was trying to achieve, or perhaps there were more factors he was unaware of at this moment.

''Ok, enough delusions. The night is still long.''

Michael steadied his mind and focused on the skill displayed on the screen. With his will, more detailed information appeared on the screen.

[Mana Manipulation Skill: Helps you control and manipulate the mana around you with your will]

Though the description was brief, he grasped the implications. This world was saturated with mana, and now he had taken another step into the vast, magical, and wondrous realm all on his own. The future was uncertain, and the world felt intimidating. He needed to prepare himself.

'If I'm correct, then the mana-related skills are merely the first step toward mastering the elements. It's said that one cannot cast any element-related spells without possessing an affinity. To gain that affinity, I would have to wait for my awakening time, which is still a long way off.'

Michael spent the next two hours manipulating the mana to his will. He was now ready for the next part of his experiment, which he had eagerly anticipated after acquiring the new skill. In the past two hours, he had only moved the mana around him, but now he began to give this formless mana a shape.

However, he first needed to spend time recovering all the lost mana. Even though he was moving the mana from his surroundings, it only mixed with his own mana afterward. In a way, he was constantly expending all of his mana.

"Let's start." After recovering his mana, he poured it into his hands and began to shape it, particularly into an arrow. It was far more challenging than he had imagined; simply moving it in the air was one thing, but shaping it was another. Even after more than five minutes, there was no proper form.

"I think my skill level is too low; maybe that's why shaping it is such a difficult task for now. I'll need to improve all the skills related to mana first." Michael didn't feel discouraged; instead, he was more motivated than before.

For the next few weeks, Michael embarked on rigorous training that included both physical and magical exercises. His body gradually improved, and he was growing quite rapidly. He had gained a couple of inches and was no longer as skinny as before.

Another discovery was that all his stats had increased by two whole points, including MP, which surprised him. Michael attributed this to his growing body and began to work even harder. After a month, he looked significantly better than before, and even his skill levels had risen, bringing him close to finishing his Mana Arrow.