As Ethan opened the book "Essential Elements: A Beginner's Guide to Magic”, the graceful and elegantly written Etherean language sprawled across the parchment paper. Despite the complexity of some words, he could still decipher the meanings behind most of them, thanks to his mother, who taught him the basics of the written language.
The purpose of the book was tailored for those seeking to understand the mysteries of magic with only rudimentary knowledge of the language.
He sighed. "I still can't believe it," he muttered. "If the gods or whoever sent me here had such a great opportunity to grant me a System, how convenient things would've been. Just ask the system, and voilà! I would have instantly acquired language skills for reading, writing, speaking, and even using Magic without the need for a Nexus."
“Now let me see” he murmured, “the first chapter is Introduction to Mana.”.
“Naruhodo, Naruhodo,“ He muttered to himself, shaking his head, trying to imitate the words he had heard in anime while reading the words inscribed on the paper. As he grasped its meaning, he understood that the initial chapter, spanning twenty pages, delved into the foundational aspects of mana.
Having just learned about mana from his mother earlier that day, he found it relatively easy to follow along.
“That’s weird,” he remarked, his eyebrows furrowing as he turned to the last page of the first chapter, wondering, “Why does this chapter not have any mention of Mana beings?” He wondered, recalling his mother’s vivid description of the mysterious entities earlier today.
As he glanced through the titles of all ten chapters to find more details on mysterious beings, all the chapters delved into different topics. His brow furrowed in contemplation, and a thoughtful expression crossed his face. “Maybe,” he mused, “it’s an advanced concept that is reserved for Advanced Magical books.”
As he finished reading the first chapter, he eagerly turned to the second one, titled "Awakening the Arcane Nexus." The chapter delved into the process of awakening, a pivotal and turning point in the formative years at the age of twelve. His eyes darted across the pages as he absorbed the knowledge they held.
He snorted disbelievingly as he checked the time it would require to form the nexus. "Well, I would be damned," he muttered, realizing he had to wait for so many years.
The book explained that during the initial years of life, the human body gradually adapts to the presence of mana. Just like a honey bee diligently collecting dew to build a hive, as time progresses, the body undergoes changes, slowly forming a core within—a vessel to hold the magical energy, known as the Arcane Nexus, which is the second heart.
His face contorted into a salty grimace, frustration still bubbling up over the lack of a system in his arsenal. "If only I had received an Arcane Nexus instead," he grumbled with a hint of saltiness, "but here I am, having none."
As he delved deeper into the second chapter, a question arose in his mind: “Why not awaken the Arcane Nexus myself earlier and become a prodigious mage?" But as he read further, a surge of frustration washed over him upon seeing the text, which shattered his hopes.
The book stated that it was simply not possible to awaken the Arcane Nexus before a certain age. It revealed that the body needed time to accustom itself to the flow of mana, and only after experiencing various environments and natural growth could the Arcane Nexus take shape properly.
“How come everyone forms the Arcane Nexus at the same age?” he wondered, his mind trying to unravel the mysteries before him. Then, in that spur of the moment, he was stuck with a revelation: “Maybe the Mana beings decided this? But why? The question still lingered, leaving him with an insatiable curiosity.
“At the age of twelve,” he read, “the body is ready to bear fruit, and thus the Arcane Nexus is formed, signifying the awakening of magic within a child. Once the Nexus is established, a young mage can harness the mana flowing inside and begin their journey as a Novice mage.”
Ethan then turned the page, and a detailed diagram of the human body caught his eye. The intricate illustration displayed the various magical nodes within a mage's body. His gaze settled on the round circle beside the heart, distinctly labeled as the "Arcane Nexus." It seemed to be the central point for mana storage and distribution. He traced the lines that were branching out from the nexus, connecting to eight nodes and forming what looked like a circuit with the body.
His eyes then darted to the eight nodes marked on the diagram, each representing a distinct part of the body. The Mind Nexus was positioned within the head and was responsible for governing the cognitive and mental aspects of magic.
Next, his attention shifted to the Cardiac Nexus near the heart. Its role as the main hub for mana circulation fascinated him, strengthening a mage's overall mana capacity and emotional resilience.
The palmar nexus, situated in the hands, allowed mages to wield a spell with fine control and precision. As he followed the lines on the diagram, his gaze landed on the Cervical Nexus located at the base of the neck, which served to transfer mana between the head and the rest of the body, ensuring a stable and balanced flow.
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The Spinal Nexus along the spine, which served as a secondary hub for mana storage and distribution, resonated with him. His eyes then drifted to the Pedal Nexus on the soles or heels of the feet, which gives the mage steady movements and balance.
The Celestial Nexus at the crown of the head and connection to celestial or cosmic mana hinted at the potential for powerful, high-level spells and magical connectivity beyond the earthly realm.
Last but not least, The Astral Nexus, also situated within the head, played a distinct role by facilitating a direct conduit between a mage's magic and the astral or spiritual realm. This connection enhanced their ability to tap into astral energies and harness spiritual insights.
These nodes supplemented different parts of the body, connecting the mage to the mana network.
"Wow, this info dump is a lot to take in," he murmured after finishing the second chapter. He sighed, realizing that he had eight more years to wait before he could fully awaken his magical abilities.
Having read enough for the day, he stepped out of his room, gently placing the book on the table and folding the mattress. It was his designated playtime, and he cherished these moments spent with the village kids. Despite possessing the mind of a twenty-one-year-old, he found joy in playing with children his age, relishing the experiences he had missed in his past life, and embracing the simple pleasures of his present existence.
Upon stepping out, just like every other day in the past few days, he spotted his mother getting ready. She wore worn-out clothes with an extra white shirt on top, a hand-me-down from Aldric, to protect herself from the scorching sun. Beside her stood two women, a little older than his mother, dressed similarly.
It was the month of March, and like clockwork every year since his rebirth, he had found himself wondering about his mother’s mysterious outings during the afternoons, roughly around three.
For the next few months, other women would accompany her as she left the house.
Although he had never asked his mother, his curiosity now compelled him to unravel the enigma surrounding her daily routine, since now he was already old enough to know more about the world in detail.
"Mom, where are you going?" he asked, genuine curiosity coloring his voice. He used to play with his village friends at this hour, but today he couldn't suppress the urge to seek answers.
With a warm smile, Elara replied, "We're heading to the cashew farm."
"The what?" Ethan mumbled. Despite his mother owning the bar and having a small storage area behind their house filled with pots of freshly brewed alcohol along with large mud containers filled with fermented pulp which was submitted by villagers, he had never bothered to connect the puzzle.
His interests were solely focused on magic, and he paid little attention. But now, as his curiosity grew, he found himself piecing it all together. "Oh, I get it now,” he concluded, finally understanding the reason behind his mother’s disappearance.
She held a basket crafted from bamboo in her right hand, while the other hand held a unique stick. It appeared to have been harvested from a plant near their home garden, with a single thorn protruding from its end, a size both fascinating and peculiar.
“Mom, can I come too?” Ethan’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he spoke; he had only ever tasted cashews on Earth but never witnessed how they grow. The idea that his mother and father had their own farm intrigued him.
Elara hesitated, concerned about his safety and the potential dangers lurking in the jungle. “Shouldn’t you be playing with your friends today? You know, it might get late, and I have to make alcohol too,” she said, trying to dissuade him. “Besides, goblins or orcs might appear, so it’s really dangerous out there.”
"But I really want to come," he insisted, ignoring her warning and eagerly putting on his leather shoes. "I'll be careful, and I know you'll protect me, Mom," he reassured her, his smile beaming with excitement.
Elara couldn't refuse his enthusiasm. "You've become quite persuasive, my glib-faced child," she remarked with a hint of amusement. "Alright, get ready quickly." She relented, agreeing to take him with her.
Walking from behind the house, they ventured towards the dense jungle, where the path gradually inclined, turning mountainous. Elara kept a close watch on Ethan, her motherly instincts urging him to stay by her side, wary of any potential dangers lurking in the shadows.
As they neared the top of the mountain, his gaze swept over the landscape, and he could spot his tiny village nestled below. As he cast his eyes in the opposite direction, he noticed a faint trail of another village, encircled by wooden walls, though there was not much he could see from this far.
"Which is that village, Mom?" Ethan's curiosity brimmed as he pointed towards the distant settlement.
Elara followed his eager gaze and replied, "That's an orc village, where big green monsters reside." With concern etched on her face, she continued, “You must never go there, honey. They are very scary creatures," she said, urging him to stay away from any potential danger.
"Of course, Mom," he reassured her, though he couldn't quite grasp why he would even contemplate venturing there. After all, he couldn't wield magic yet. "Maybe in the future," he mused, a sly grin playing on his face.
As they reached the cashew farm, his eyes wandered across the vast expanse, and he marveled at the sight of yellow and orange fruits hanging from the trees, bearing cashews. “So this is what it looks like,” he mused, seeing the cashew farm up close for the first time.
Some of the ripe fruits had fallen to the ground, but as they continued along the narrow path to gather the fruits, it was evident that the ground was covered with foliage from wild plants and husks.
Sensing that the path was too cluttered for her child, although it was easily traversed by adults, Elara extended her hand, murmuring an incantation under her breath. A circle appeared on her hand. With a graceful wave of her palm, a gentle gust swirled into existence—a simple beginner’s spell. She directed the flow towards the narrow path, cutting and clearing the husks wide enough for Ethan to pass comfortably.
The basic gust spell allowed her to manipulate the wind within a small target area, and in this instance, she employed it to sweep away the foliage that might harbor ticks or other pests and clear the path or any obstacles that obstructed their way.
Ethan's eyes widened with curiosity as he observed the wind magic in action. In the village, he had spent most of his time reading books or playing and had only witnessed occasional spells demonstrated by his father for entertainment. However, this time was different; his mother's repeated use of the spell to clear the path intrigued him, and he carefully scrutinized the wind manipulation, trying to understand its intricacies.