Taking me to another one of the Machines, my master said, “Now that you're my disciple, and have sworn a blood oath. I feel better about sharing some of my secrets with you, especially those that will help us understand your talent better. But first I’d like for you to try out this last machine, called a Braxton-gage. All I need you to do is to use unstructured magic on that orb, anything will do.”

Looking at the giant orb, protruding out from the silver machine. I said, “Oh, okay I can totally do that.”

Reaching towards the ambient mana floating in the air, with my perception. Pulling it towards my hands molding it into a ball. Envisioning what I wanted it to do; flicking my finger towards the orb, a bolt of ice blue light arced towards the orb, hitting it squarely in the middle. Lights flashing from its depth winking out just as quickly as they appeared.

Letting out a breath of air, releasing my hold on the ambient mana around me. I said, “That wasn't terrible? It was definitely better than when I tried doing that in the slums.”

Looking slightly surprised my master said, “Hmm not bad, have you had a lot of practice with unstructured spell casting before?”

Embarrassed, I said, “No, I hadn’t even used it before the trial in the south slums.”

Rubbing his chin, my master said, “Hmm, this is puzzling, and I do love a puzzle. I’ve been studying talents for almost my whole life, trying to figure out what my own talent was. After thirty years of research, and a lucky trip to the arthic ruins. I found out my talent was called mana-body, which I inherited from my draconic bloodline. I thought you might have had the same talent, but the bloodline test showed you having almost zero markers, for having foreign bloodlines. On the other hand, the other tests all point to you having signs of the various talents that deal with mana. I have never seen so many tests points to varying talents, without a strong bloodline marker.”

Looking at my master, I said, “I don’t really understand, what does that say about my talent.”

Eyes clearing like he was actually looking at me, my master said, “Sorry, I didn't think about what you know or don’t know about talents. While not all talents are tied to bloodlines; those talents that are far more potent, usually come from ancient bloodlines, like how my mana-body talent, comes from my bloodline that descends from the arctic sky-wyvern. But you don’t have any strong bloodline markers, so where does your talent come from.”

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I didn’t realize talents were tied to bloodlines, it makes me wonder what bloodline Madisons and Alfred's talents come from. Not just them either, but also the rest of the people I've encountered since coming to the free city.

Slamming his hands together, rushing through the bookcases scattered throughout the room. my master said, “Oh, Hold on! Hmm, where did I put that book.”

Mumbling to himself as he went through book after book, my master said, “ Not here, Wenning’s bulue, nope. Slatter Ridge, not here. Ahh, here it is; Davina’s Gathering, It is one of the best books in my collection, written about a hundred years before the great shifting.”

Appearing in front of me; with waves of excitement radiating off his body, causing the ambient mana around him to ripple, caring a thick golden tome. I was trying my best to hide my shock, he was like a completely different person. It made sense why he was such good friends with Mancin, they were cut from the same cloth.

Flipping through the golden tome He said, “I almost forgot about this book, Davina was supposedly a Divine witch who lived before the great shift. Best known for her vast knowledge and her studies on the deeper secrets of magic. Here it is, They have appeared in my dreams again. They have appeared more frequently since I've reached the Divine level. I'm still completely unable to tell what they look like, their bodies still covered by mana. Warning that an imminent disaster is coming, and it will affect the whole world. Even though it’s nothing but a dream my mana feels suppressed.”

Before I could ask what I was supposed to understand from that, my master said, “It’s not the first time I've read about these beings. That visited the powers of the time in their dreams, warning of the great shift. But they all have the same characteristics of being covered by mana and suppressing the mana of those they visit. I can’t be certain, but I smell a connection between your talent and these mysterious beings. I’ll do some more digging later we should move on It’s getting late.”

That makes a lot of sense if I understand what he's saying. Bloodlines dilute with each descendant, maybe I just have a weird talent compared to that complete suppression. Bowing towards my master, I said, “Thank you for all of your help.”

Pulling a piece of paper from his spatial focus, my master said, “While I’ll teach you everything I can about unstructured spell casting, your still a student of Eden, and you will still have to take their classes. I view it as a great opportunity to learn the in’s, and outs of what could be considered modern magic. I can suggest some classes that I think would benefit your unique situation. If you haven’t already looked at the listing?”