Only a little time had passed since the outing with my parents. A few days later, I discovered a book in their room that piqued my interest.

My mother often sat with me in their room when she had free time from her queenly duties, and soon after our pizza venture, I found a fascination in their bookcase as she read. She'd often notice my gaze on a particular hardcover on the shelf, but Elise would say I was still too young every time. It was always like that. Even when they showed me spells, and I became eager to copy and learn, I was always too young. It annoyed me.

I was stuck in a fantasy world with spells but could only watch others use them, so I snuck the book out of their room while everyone was occupied. I wanted to be a good girl but was happy with my covert operation.

Usually, I would never dare to do something like this. I was going behind my new loving parents' back and felt guilty. But my curiosity had gotten the better of me. The book's title, "Fundamentals of Magic: Volume 1" instantly captivated my attention.

I found myself in my room with a stolen book, away from my maid, Yumi. How could I not pick it up? There was no way the prospect of learning magic wouldn't entrance me. I was filled with growing excitement, my legs swinging merrily as I opened the book's first page.

Warning! Children under the age of 5 should not attempt to use magic. Trying to use magic before could cause permanent damage to the child's…

"Bleh, bleh, bleh!"

I skipped the warning pages, turning them over until I reached the first chapter.

Every living being has mana, from the forest's trees to those in high society. The monsters, the beasts, the animals, and the races all have mana. The only difference between trees and people is that a person has a mana core, while a tree does not.

"A mana core? Is that like some organ?"

The mana core is attached to the soul of every animal, beast, monster, or person living. Through the mana core, one can enact their will upon the world, bending it as they desire.

I skimmed the many paragraphs describing a mana core. Eventually, I ended up in chapter 2, where the exciting parts would begin.

The first step to learning magic is to recognize your mana core. Some mages take years of meditation to channel mana through it. Others are naturally talented and can immediately feel and understand the process. I hoped to be a part of the latter group that was talented in magic.

Feeling your mana core is different for everyone. The easiest and most consistent way that has been researched is to find somewhere free of distractions and clear your mind. Once your mind has been cleared, visualize the mana fluctuations around you. You should notice a difference between the surrounding mana and yourself. Focus on that difference within, and eventually, something will happen. This "something" is also different for everyone.

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"Very useful. Stupid book! How do I visualize something I never experienced, hmm?" I asked. Despite asking that, I had seen a few times where people used mana, but I never felt anything myself. Mana wasn't scientific, and there was not an abundance of it on Earth, was there? Still, I completed my checklist.

"An area free of distractions? Check. Clear my mind? Che-..." I realized what I was doing and was hit by another wave of guilt. My parents told me that I was too young to use magic. I really should have listened to them, but their little shows of magic made me envious. There was no way anyone from my old world would miss out on this opportunity. I swallowed my guilt as I separated from the book, finally attempting to clear my mind.

I sat cross-legged, and my mind cleared away the guilt. I focused on the world around me.

"How would I even notice a difference between the surrounding mana and myself in the first place? The book should have explained this crucial information. What even is mana? Is it like a particle?"I didn't know much about particles but I knew they were all around us.

"Particles are a fundamental building block in the universe." I shook my head, closing my eyes, hoping to feel something surrounding me. It took a long time, and at first, there was nothing. But a sensation washed over me when I took a deep breath.

It felt slightly precarious at first. I squirmed as the sensation blanketed me. Eventually, the prickly feeling dissipated, and instead, there was a small trickle of information. I could feel the surroundings even with my eyes closed. The air around me felt neutral, but it was oddly soothing. I thought the new information would overload me, but it was surprisingly pleasant.

When I opened my eyes, I thought I would see something different in the air. The room still looked the same; however, I could feel it. There was much more to the surroundings. Just like oxygen in the atmosphere, there was also this so-called mana.

I remembered the next thing the book told me and closed my eyes again. This time, I was focusing on the difference between my surroundings and what was inside myself.

There was an immediate contrast. The atmosphere was clear, but the mana core inside me was a pulsating silver. I pulled on the core with my mind, trying to get something to happen. I didn't know why, but I felt this was the key, like if I pulled it with my imagination, it would glow.

I struggled against it until I felt a dull pain in my chest. The pulsating grew more potent, along with the beating of my own heart. As I yanked as hard as I could, straining my mind, I heard a loud popping sound. What followed was the second worst pain I had ever felt. The pain started in my chest and rapidly spread throughout my body.

"Mommy!"

It felt like hundreds of insects biting me all over. I kept screaming while the world grew dark again. The world blurred, and my eyes filled with tears. I heard my bedroom door burst open, but I couldn't move my spasming body.

I recognized my mother's worried face as she ran over, scooping me into her arms. Words were leaving her mouth, but my ears rang, and I couldn't make them out.

I knew I had messed up big time. I was starting to get terrified that I would die again. The last thing I wanted was to leave my beloved new family behind. As I struggled to stay awake, I prayed in my mind, hoping that some god would take pity on me and allow me to stay. The pain was too much as my consciousness faded.