Atell stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed. His mind had finally managed to adjust to the intense assault on his senses and he was now able to revel in the new world imparted onto him by Mana.

Hearing, sight, smell, touch — his sensitivity to changes in his surroundings had increased manifold. Not only that, but his internal awareness had reached shocking heights as well. If he concentrated, Atell could distinctly feel the throbbing of his heart and the subsequent passage of his blood... even the subtle expansion and contraction of his muscles as he moved… there was almost too much to observe, too much to feel. He marveled at it all, eager to learn and explore.

His whole life he had dreamt of this becoming Warlock, and now, he found himself overwhelmed by a flurry of emotions. If only his grandfather was here to share it with him, everything would be perfect...

“Atell? Are you ready?” Sivelle’s muffled voice pierced through the door.

“One second!” Atell was still struggling to tame his wild mess of hair. Somehow it had grown a tremendous amount during the ceremony and now reached down past his shoulders. Getting it cut short again was at the top of his list of priorities.

After getting dressed, he scrambled out of his room.

“Follow me. It’s already getting late, so we won’t be practicing for too long. I know you’re anxious to learn, but for today — I just need to make sure you don’t kill yourself during the first night as Elaina nearly did…” Sivelle finished with a grumble as she led him towards the end of the hall.

They stopped in front of a blank stretch of wall. Atell looked curiously at the old Fae, wondering what she had in store.

As if reading his mind, Sivelle took out a strange silver wand and inserted a Charge Crystal into the base of its handle. The device began to glow, and as it did... a faint, shimmering blue light appeared on the wall, slowly revealing a sturdy oaken door.

When a flick of the wand, Sivelle dissipated the blue wall instantly, allowing them to step inside.

“What was that?” Atell inquired as Sivelle fumbled around with the key to unlock the actual door.

“Just a simple ward.”

“I see…”

“We’ll talk about wards and arrays later. Don’t want to waste too much time tonight. If you have any questions just write them down or something and make sure to ask me later.”

“I don’t know how to write…”

Sivelle paused. “...Right. We’ll work on that too.”

Atell shrugged. Honestly, he just wanted to learn about magic. Writing had never been something he needed in the past, and he couldn’t see that changing much in the future.

Finally, the heavy old door creaked open.

Atell gazed around the study as they stepped inside. Bookcases stuffed with all manner of journals, manuals, and scrolls lined the walls. A faint layer of dust could be seen collecting among the ancient parchments.

Sivelle made her way over to the large desk at the opposite end of the room. Various notes and vials containing bright liquids were scattered haphazardly across its surface.

“I apologize for the mess. This is often where I come to document my research on new recipes and such. But…. I haven’t done much experimenting recently, so it's been a while since I’ve cleaned the place up,” Sivelle explained.

After grabbing a spare chair from the corner of the room, Atell placed it opposite the desk and sat down. Sivelle just pushed all the papers and potions to the side, clearing a space for herself before she leaned back in her leather armchair.

“First, I’ll clear up any questions you have regarding the results of the ceremony. Ask away.”

Atell nodded. “Ok. What did Juma mean when he called me the ‘Primogenitor,’ or whatever it is?”

“Ahh, yes. Before I answer, let me ask you this: Have you ever heard of a Hybrid Bloodline?”

“No, I don’t think so…” Atell replied. He didn’t really see where this was going.

“Well, among Mundane Demons who possess a dual bloodline, there are actually two different types that exist. Most commonly — mixed-bloods. This term has a negative connotation as I’m sure you’re aware. The other is a Hybrid, and is a much more interesting case.” Sivelle explained, clasping her hands together.

“So, what’s the difference? Is there a way to tell them apart?”

“The difference between the two is vast, but there’s no surefire way to distinguish between them until the Initiate Ceremony is completed. As you know, a true Warlock or Witch can only possess one bloodline, which means that mixed-bloods will have one of theirs filtered out during the ritual — usually the lesser of the two. During this… filtering process, some of the potency of the prevailing bloodline will be lost as well.”

“Right. I learned that much from the Aurelians...” Fleeting scenes of Raiden and the other boys in the clan enthusiastically informing him of the downsides of his mixed heritage invaded Atell's thoughts.

“Let me finish.” Sivelle held up a hand. “However, if the two bloodlines possessed by the Demon are supremely compatible, then there is a chance that they will merge during the ritual. Those whose bloodlines merge are known as Hybrids.”

Atell's mind was reeling as he pieced together the significance of Sivelle’s statement. “So… I’m a Hybrid.”

“Correct. You now possess a brand new bloodline, never before seen on this Plane.” Sivelle continued on, ignoring his unhinged jaw, “As far as I’m aware... Hybrids weren’t always held in such high esteem. It wasn’t until the latter half of the Fourth Era, when the Pure-Bloods were in decline due to the thinning of their bloodlines, that Hybrids took center stage. There was a frenzy among all the major Clans as they searched for suitable bloodlines to fuse with their own. This led to the Fifth Era in the Dynasty being dominated by the Primogenitors — those who emerged from the successful synthesis of Ancient Bloodlines.”

“...Then what’s so great about being a Primogenitor now, isn’t that just a fancy name for Hybrids?”

“Not exactly. Most of the Clans currently occupying the Dynasty are descendants of Hybrids, but there are still those, like the Aurelians, that possess a pure bloodline passed down from the very first generation of Demons. Only those who manage to merge a pure, Ancient Bloodline are referred to as Primogenitors, or Primos for short.”

Atell’s smile stretched from ear to ear. His heart pulsed faster, fueled by his joy, feeling light and jubilant now that it was free of the shackles that weighed it down. It felt like his future was blooming with infinite possibilities. Sure, the blood of the Auric Wolf was still a part of him, in a sense, but it would no longer be what defined him as a Warlock.

“Hey, don’t go getting too excited,” Sivelle warned, mistaking his grin as one of pride rather than relief. “You’re still just a little fledgling cultivator.”

“I know, I know,” Atell replied, still unable to wipe the smirk from his face.

“Alright, we got the big one out of the way. Anything else?”

“Nope. I’m ready.”

“Getting right into it, very well. First, you’ll need to locate your Mana Pool.” Sivelle got up from her seat and moved around the desk to squat next to him. “Relax... Close your eyes and look inside yourself.”

Atell loosened up his shoulders, sinking back into his chair.

Sivelle’s soothing voice entered his ears. “I’m going to send some of my Mana into your Origin Channels. Follow it along its path.”

A cool trickle of energy entered Atell’s as he felt Sivelle grip his hands. It traveled up through his forearms and shoulders, slowly worming deep into his chest towards the heart.

“Look closely for the moment my Mana meets an obstruction.” Sivelle’s Mana circled once around his heart until it was blocked by a dark void that sent it back from whence it came. “Did you feel it?”

“Yea… there was some kind of... black orb behind my heart that blocked its flow.”

“Ok, now follow my Mana once more, and when it reaches that black orb — focus all of your attention on that location, sinking your consciousness towards it.”

Atell nodded his head to acknowledge her words. Soon after, the second round of Mana flowed through his Channels, repeating the process. He could feel it more clearly now, the tough and flexible walls that composed the network of veins connected to his Mana Pool.

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Upon following the Mana back towards his heart, he waited eagerly for it to meet the void. Soon enough, contact was made and Atell immediately reached out to the dark orb, desperately trying to worm his way inside.

Much to his delight, he wasn’t met with any resistance and a spectacular scene revealed itself in his mind’s eye. There was a tranquil pool of golden water, dyed hues of orange and red as if it were reflecting the image of the sun, stretched thin inside a perfectly circular enclosure. It stirred slightly as if responding to his joyful thoughts.

“Can you see it?” Sivelle’s voice echoed through the vast grey void surrounding the pool.

“Yes…” Atell whispered as if worried his voice would disturb the scene.

“Great. Now, can you see anything in the center of your Mana Pool?”

“...There’s a bunch of bright, intersecting markings forming some kind of strange symbol.” The symbol was difficult to accurately distinguish beneath the glistening pool, but Atell could vaguely make out its shape.

“Mm. That is your Origin Rune, the source of all true magic for those Ancestral Races.” Sivelle affirmed. “However, we’ll ignore it for a while. You’re likely to lose control and damage your body, or my home... if you try to activate it now.”

“Ok... Then, what’s next?” Atell asked, a bit annoyed. Wasn’t using his magic the whole point of this exercise? Of becoming a Warlock in the first place?

“We’ll start with simply feeling the flow of Mana inside your body. Reach out towards the Mana in the pool with your thoughts. Once you have a grasp on some of it, slowly retract your mind from the space.”

Atell concentrated with his utmost effort, droplets of sweat forming on his forehead as he expanded his consciousness towards the dark gold domain. The pool rippled at his touch but otherwise remained unresponsive. He stirred and sloshed the Mana around wildly, unable to find purchase.

“If you’re struggling, try imagining a bucket. Dip it into the water and pull some out. Then, pour the Mana out in the grey area.” Sivelle patiently advised.

Proceeding as instructed, Atell molded his thoughts into something that resembled a cup. It wasn’t perfect, but it got the job done as it sunk into the pool. The Mana felt heavy and viscous as he lifted the full cup, directing it outwards to the grey expanse.

As the liquid fell downwards into the void, Atell felt a warm current emerge in his chest. But he also felt somewhat lightened by the act. It wasn’t a physical weight that he lost… rather, something more akin to a hunger — a lingering feeling of emptiness. He was disturbed by the sensation but didn’t have any chance to question Sivelle as a strange resonance suddenly occurred between his two circulatory systems. His blood hummed happily as if it had a mind of its own, pumping forth from his heart with greater intensity. The small trickle of Mana followed suit, flowing outward in pace with his blood until it exited his body through his extremities.

Atell’s eyes sprung open, his breathing heavy. His sudden lack of control left him feeling increasingly anxious.

“It's okay,” Sivelle cooed. “Warlocks always have the hardest time reigning in their Mana early on. It shouldn’t be too bad for you as a Primo, but those who rely more heavily on the instincts passed down through their bloodline could take weeks, even years until they have a proper grasp on Mana control. We’ll take it slow, okay? How do you feel?”

“...Tired,” Atell mumbled, a sudden bout of exhaustion sweeping over him.

“I’m not surprised.” Sivelle chuckled. “Let’s wrap it up here for the night. Working with Mana is mentally exhausting.”

Sivelle practically had to carry him out of the study and back to his room.

Atell sighed as he buried his face in his pillows. Forget about mental exhaustion, his whole body was sore like he’d just completed a round of intense exercise. Even so, he struggled back up into a meditative position atop his sheets.

Now was not the time to start slacking off. In fact, he had every reason to push himself harder than ever before. How could he allow himself to falter when he’d finally taken his first true step outside of the Mundane world?

Reaching out to the Mana Pool hidden behind his heart, Atell began anew.

***

“Looks like you had some fun experimenting.” Mocking laughter resounded through the kitchen.

Atell groaned as he hopped up onto a stool at the counter. He’d lost track of time last night, but it must’ve been hours he was up, working on extracting and guiding the Mana from his Pool. Although he made a few small discoveries, there wasn’t much else to show for his effort aside from the dark circles under his eyes and a dull, throbbing headache.

“You and Elaina both,” Sivelle griped. “Would it have killed you to wait until the morning when I could help you out?”

“No… but you said that Demons tend to have trouble with control so I didn’t want to waste any time.” Atell tried to defend his actions, but Sivelle wasn’t buying it.

“You’re only 10 years old! You have all the time in the world to waste. Anyway, you may have gained a few hours last night, but now you don’t seem to be in any condition to continue. I certainly won’t waste my time with you this morning if you won’t be able to stay awake.”

“I’ll be fine! I just… need a minute to wake up.”

Sivelle snorted, rolling her eyes. “You’re lucky I was prepared for this, kid. Drink up, this is the only time you get one of these, so do try and heed my warnings in the future.”

A bright azure potion slid across the counter until it stopped right in front of Atell. He picked it up, examining it closely for a moment before chugging it down.

“Amazing…!” he muttered. His fatigue vanished in an instant as his Mana Pool swelled. The dark orb behind his heart pulsed discordantly as if it was agitated. Atell suddenly felt an intense desire to release the pent-up Mana inside his body. “U-Um, is this dangerous?”

“A little bit. Well, we better get right into it before you blow your lid. Follow me outside.” Sivelle directed as she glided out the front door.

Atell followed her out, exhaling as he hopped down from the porch, a satisfied smile stretched across his face as the morning sun washed over him. The warm beams scattering across the lawn seemed to assuage the cravings building up in his chest.

“Alright, before we get started, drink this as well.”

“What does this one do…?” Atell was a little more hesitant this time around. He carefully eyeballed the vial of murky brown liquid Sivelle had just passed him. It emanated a sharp, putrid scent that drilled into his nostrils.

“It should suppress your blood, preventing it from agitating your Mana."

“Oh, nice!” Pinching his nose, Atell downed the liquid in one go. It didn’t taste any better than it smelled, but he was able to hold down the bile rising in his stomach.

“Great, now extract some Mana from your pool and try to keep it contained within your chest. Don’t let it spread to your limbs just yet.”

Atell closed his eyes, molding his thoughts into an ethereal hand as his Mana Pool filled his vision. This was part of his new strategy. The bucket trick had been useful for drawing out his Mana, but that was about it. Once he dumped it into the void, there was no way to wrangle it back under his control.

With great effort, Atell managed to grab a few large strands of Mana. They wriggled like snakes on the verge of death when inside the pool, but once they dangled out over the void — they hung limply as if accepting their inevitable demise.

He continued driving the hand towards the edge of the void, his mind exiting the Mana Heart, as he’d chosen to call it, in unison with the warm strands of energy. Atell held his breath as he focused, keeping the current of Mana as still as possible. Luckily, it seemed the smelly brown elixir was just as effective as the other one. His blood still reacted to the emergence of the Mana, but it felt sluggish, unable to incite the strands into action.

Seeing the excitement flashing through Atell’s eyes, Sivelle knew he was ready to move on to the next step. Her heart still ached from the loss of such precious potions; although they’d only been collecting dust in her storage, so she deemed it worthwhile in the end. “Great. Now, guide the Mana through your Channels, slowly. Don’t try to force it. Feel the path it seeks and then take the lead.”

The strands of Mana in Atell’s grip wriggled happily as he loosened his grip. They dashed forth from his chest into his arm causing Atell to panic. He tightened his hold, trying to pull them back.”

“Don’t fight it!” Sivelle urged.

Atell released the breath he’d been holding as he yielded to the excitable energy. Upon release, he could feel its intention to travel in a rapid circuit through his body. With a great amount of care, he pulled the Mana along its desired path. He was pleased to discover that as long as he maintained even a light mental hold, the Mana wouldn’t flee his body. Still, success yielded a mix of emotions.

Having a foreign substance journey through every inch of his body was… unnerving to say the least. It wasn’t uncomfortable — he just had a natural mental reluctance to accede control.

Atell brought up his concerns with Sivelle after the mental strain of controlling the Mana became too great.

Sivelle laughed as she watched the faint glimmer of gold light dissipating around the boy’s body. “What is so strange about it? Blood flows through your veins on its own prerogative, why should Mana be any different? If you had to both restrain the Mana AND guide its every step through your body, how would you have any mind left to spare towards another task?”

“Isn’t that what practice is for?”

“Yes, but there is no need to micromanage. The Mana flowing through our Channels only serves the purpose of reinforcing our body. Increasing our strength, speed, perception, and so on. Every practitioner shares this ability.”

“So, I can’t even control the Mana after it leaves my body? How do I use magic then? Like what you did when you took down those kidnappers.”

Sivelle tapped her foot as she thought about how to respond. It had been a long time since she taught anyone the basics. “This requires an explanation of how Mana is formed. The Mana inside our Pool is not much different than the Origin Energy all around us in the world. In fact, Mana is just another name for Origin Energy that has been altered to be compatible with our bodies.”

A chilly blue mist suddenly started emanating from Sivelle’s body, slowly fading into the air and leaving a crisp breeze in its wake. “You’ve felt it yourself… when you don’t restrain the Mana — it seeks to return to its natural state, leaving our body to find its place in the world once more.”

“I’m following.” Atell acknowledged.

“In order to use what we refer to as ‘magic,’ we must give the Mana substance, shape, and purpose.”

“Right... So, how do we do that?”

Sivelle grinned. “Our Origin Rune does it for us.”

“...That’s it?”

“Yup, that’s it.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Then, why do we even send Mana into our bodies? Not using it all for magic seems like a waste.” Atell was starting to question the purpose of the first exercise.

“For a variety of reasons. Protecting ourselves is the most important one. Stronger bodies are harder to destroy. To give another example, some people specialize in magic that requires close proximity to their target, enhancing their bodies in conjunction with their magic yields the greatest effect. However, there are others who specialize in long-range attacks, like myself, who won’t reinforce our bodies very much, if at all.” Sivelle explained.

“Ok…”

“You still look skeptical.” Sivelle chuckled. “And it's true, depending on your magic, this exercise may not be something you continue with in the future. But right now, it just serves as an easy way to learn and practice Mana Control. So, let’s get back into it. Once I think you’ve demonstrated sufficient mastery, I’ll teach you how to stimulate the Origin Rune.”

Atell sighed. It was immensely frustrating. After all this time, he had finally become a Warlock and yet... he wasn’t allowed to use any magic. But as he’d learned the hard way last night, even minor experiments could be both mentally and physically exhausting. It was likely best to just listen to Sivelle for the time being. Begrudgingly, he reached out into his Mana Pool once more.