The infrared spectrum report of the water droplet showed no differences between the water produced by mana and regular water. However, water infused with mana could severely harm monsters within the realm. Yet the same water was harmless to the party members. The key was choosing the right glyphs, the spiritual components and the physical components. The spiritual components consisted of many different elementals and the physical components were carriers. Water was one of many physical carriers organized under hydro glyphs. Water carrier infused with pyr elemental could create steam and mists. Water carrier with bio elemental could heal an ally.

All physical carriers were capable of offensive and defensive spells, but some were better suited for certain situations and some provided better control. It was much more difficult to attack a beast creature with a hydro spell than it was with a pyr spell. However, hydro spells were often better for healing spells, and magicians who learned hydro spells had an easier time learning healing spells.

Ian reread the pages of the Hydro glyphs. It was a beginner's book on magic taught in most military high schools. Although Ian had read it once, he didn’t understand the core concept. With some experience with aura and glyphs, he finally understood some of the instructions. He was using a textbook that Luke was using. There were notes scribbled on border the pages.

The source of all glyphs were tomes found in the otherworld and in treasure chests. There were 124 hydro tomes available to the public, but each tome had slightly different usage.

Tomes used to be kept as a secret by whoever discovered them, but it limited growth during the early exploration of the otherworld realms. After countless deaths, an agreement to share the most basic tomes to advance humankind was agreed upon in the nineties. As soon as the tomes were discovered, the ORA confiscated and bought the tomes through eminent seizures.

The basic textbook released to the public was a compilation study based on research from twelve different hydro tomes. A single tomes could reveal many different hydro glyphs depending on the rankers. Scholars had yet to determine if they were all connected in some ways, or separate glyphs. There were 3d reconstruction of the glyphs, but it was difficult to analyze whether it was any more effective than using 2d imagery.

Ian had never seen a tome, but he had been told that for most people, it looked like a regular book with blank pages. A geist was needed to activate a tome, which would reveal a glyph to the user.

Ian flipped through the various illustrations of glyphs associated with hydro. Luke mentioned that many magicians approached glyphs differently. Some focus on one glyph, studying every line and detail until they were ingrained in their head. Other magicians studied as many hydro glyphs as possible. Both methods appeared to be effective, with talent and grit being the key to creating a powerful spell.

Other less talented magicians used premade talismans to help them visualize the glyph in their head. Many talismans were self-made, hand-written, scanned, and recreated through a printer. However, as soon as it was used, the talisman turned into dust. Some magicians would rather use talismans than memorize the glyphs. For them, it took too much effort to remember the glyphs. For Ian, it was difficult for him to visualize shapes and lines in his head. Words or shapes in his head would either scatter immediately or give him a migraine.

Although relying on talismans would place him on the lower tier, it was his only option.

****

~4 years ago~

Luke returned late from his military school training on Friday evening. Although he was sixteen, he was already in the most advanced class. When most children took breaks during the summer, Luke entered the military camp. Hogan and Marnie were initially against the idea, but Luke wanted to catch up to Kane and Logan.

Even at home, Luke was always in his room studying. Ian walked inside and placed a fruit cup by Luke's work table. Luke paused his study to look up and thank his brother.

“It’s still early, why don’t you rest up until tomorrow?” Ian suggested as he glanced at the textbooks filled with pencil notes on the borders that were once blank.

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Luke shook his head and returned a smile. “I am all right,” said Luke. “There are still a couple of spells I would like to memorize before bed.”

“You already know several hundred glyphs by heart. By that standard alone, you don’t need to memorize any more to make it into the top academy.”

“I know, but I am not doing this to enter the academy,” said Luke.

“Then what for?” Ian never knew what it was that drove Luke to become so dedicated.

“It’s because I have the ability, so I must use it to the fullest potential,” said Luke. “I don’t want to waste my potential.”

“Then what do you say to someone with little to no potential?”

“I believe everyone has a purpose and ability to improve humankind.”

“Is that so? But for every Einstein, there are millions more people who have very little purpose other than to survive and breed more generations of homosapiens.”

Luke set down his pencil, wondering if there was something on Ian’s mind. “Do you want to talk about Jenna?”

Luke had overhead it from their parents, but he didn’t think Ian cared that much about his girlfriend. They were dating for two years, and she must have realized that Ian’s online degree wasn’t going to get them anywhere.

"No, not really." Ian replied. His ex-girlfriend made a decision for was best for her future. He didn't fault her for making that decision, but he was more pissed that it took her two years to realize it. He had a feeling it wouldn't work out after the first year, but she strung him on because of her indecision and avoidance nature. Of course, it didn't help that he was fully aware of his own thoughtlessness and kept things to himself. "I would do I same if I was in her position."

“You’re underestimating yourself again,” said Luke. "Rankers aren't the only people who are in position of influence. Some of the most influential people today are politicians and artisans."

Ian thought about a potential pathway as an artisan. He was dexterous, but he wasn't sure where to start.

“Why don’t you try finding a master?”

“Isn’t it too late for me?” said Ian. “I’m already twenty. Most start out in their teens.”

“You’re giving up too soon.”

“Maybe I should have given up earlier. Now I’m just deluding myself that I can still catch up to people with better talent.”

“You may call me naive, but 7 billion lives are as equally important as the ones who you call talented. Neither one of us decides on what abilities are handed to us at birth, but we can choose to play our cards. If you fold already, then the odds of winning are already zero. If you have nothing to lose, why not go all in?”

Ian ruffled Luke’s hair, a rare chance given how tall the skinny boy had gotten through the past year. The growth in his SP was also alarmingly high. “Why is the youngest always the wisest?”

Luke shook Ian’s hands away, and then combed through his hair with his fingers. “Don’t take my advice and start becoming reckless.”

“No way, but teach me some of this glyph stuff,” said Ian. Ian had always wanted to learn glyphs, but it was useless without a geist. However, even if he never awakened a geist, it was good to understand the basics. Afterall, Luke was one of the most talented when it came to spatial cognitive skills. It was simple for him to visualize the glyphs in his head and cast a spell.

Luke agreed. By teaching Ian the basics, it would also help him relearn some of the fundamental basics. Luke went through his old textbooks and took out the book on hydro glyphs. Ian flipped through the book, already feeling disgusted and overwhelmed at the amount of glyphs that were more complex than magic circles and a Navier-Stokes equation.

“How can you even memorize these?” Ian asked. Looking at them gave Ian an overwhelming sense of dread and a migraine.

Luke saw Ian’s difficulty, so he flipped to a page with the simplest form of the hydro glyph. “I trace over it everyday. I’m not like Kane who has photographic memory.”

Luke and Ian both smiled at each other, knowing they both secretly hated Kane’s guts for his talent.

“You should start with this,” said Luke. “There are 148 strokes total.”

"Only?" Ian raised his eyebrow. “Are there easier way to cast these spells, how in the world is Logan able to cast this type of spell?”

“He doesn’t,” said Luke. “He uses a talisman for these types of spells. His geist also grants him methods to bypass the activation phase.”

“Talismans? Are those the premade spells I keep hearing about?”

“Yeah, I figure that since you’re good at replicating images, why don’t you try copying this hydro spell? If you ever awaken, you can use the talismans instead of trying to memorize everything. I know it’s not your strong suit, but don’t focus on your weakness.”

Copying something was easy for Ian, as long as he didn’t have to memorize it.