The moonlight poured through the narrow window above, casting a silver glow across Alex's face as his eyes blinked open. He lay still for a moment, his gaze focusing on the light that pooled on the rough stone floor—the night seemed vast and quiet, its calmness a contrast to the pain that had settled, dull but persistent, in his limbs.

Alex pushed himself up slowly, swinging his legs over the edge of the cot. Standing took effort, but he managed, his movements deliberate as he made his way toward the window. The chill from the stone floor seeped into his bare feet as he reached the narrow opening. Outside, the night was deep and endless, stars scattered across the dark sky, and the trees beyond looked like shadowed silhouettes, whispering in the faint wind.

Just then, the sound of the door creaking open cut through the stillness. Alex turned as Lira slipped into the room, her face lit by the moonlight that spilled in through the doorway.

"You're awake," she said, her voice quiet. "Grandpa came home. You can meet him now."

Seeing him staring out the window, she asked, "Are you okay?"

Alex nodded, brushing a hand through his hair, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. "Yeah… just needed a breath of fresh air," he replied, glancing back at the stars for a moment before meeting her gaze.

They walked together to the next room, where her grandfather, waited. The old man had a steady, unhurried presence. His hair was stark white, up to his shoulders in rough waves that framed his face, deeply lined yet calm. His eyes, a piercing gray, held a clarity that seemed unusual for his age as if they’d seen more of the world than they let on. Wrinkles traced his forehead and mouth. Dressed in a simple, worn shirt with the sleeves rolled up and pants that had been patched in places.

The old man looked up as they entered, nodding with a calm smile. He greeted them, his tone mild but steady. "I’m Maren."

"Hi, I am Alex," he replied, returning the smile despite the lingering fatigue in his body.

"It seems like your injuries have healed," Maren remarked, his voice steady and soothing. His gaze lingered on Alex, searching for any signs of lingering pain. "That's good for you."

Alex managed a nod, still feeling the lingering ache in his limbs. "Thank you for… everything. Lira told me you’re a former magician?"

Maren nodded, his expression almost unreadable. "Yes, though that was a long time ago. These days, I work with herbs and simpler remedies—seems I’m more useful as a healer than anything else."

Lira, standing by her grandfather’s side, chimed in. "He’s helped so many people around here, even though he doesn’t talk about it much."

Alex gave a thoughtful nod, glancing back at Maren. "Do you think you could help me understand a bit more about mana and… the core?"

"If it's about your mana core, I can help you," Maren said, his tone calm.

"Mana is a source that has existed since before any life was born," Maren began, his voice steady. "This is a belief shared by magicians across the world. Many people think that the Creation God crafted mana for humans, giving them the opportunity to grow strong and perhaps even become like gods themselves."

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"Mana is the essence of magic in our world," Maren began, his gaze steady. "It's a fundamental energy that exists in everything around us. All living creatures, plants, and even the ground we walk on have mana flowing through them. This energy can be harnessed to perform magic, strengthen our bodies, or enhance our abilities."

He leaned back slightly, allowing Alex to absorb the information. "Every magician must learn to sense and manipulate mana. It's essential to understand how it flows to use it effectively."

"What's a mana core?" Alex asked, eager to learn more.

"Ah, the mana core," Maren said, his tone shifting to one of importance. "It's a reservoir of mana within an individual. Think of it as a wellspring; it stores mana and releases it when needed. The capacity of your mana core determines how much magic you can wield and how powerful that magic can be."

Alex nodded, intrigued. "So, how does the capacity work?"

"Capacity is the amount of mana your core can hold and use at any given time," Maren explained. "A larger capacity means you can perform more powerful spells and sustain them for longer periods. If your mana core is strong, you'll be able to access more mana, enabling you to manipulate it more effectively."

He continued, "Typically, magicians start with a small capacity and can increase it by breaking through the ranks that are like walls in front of us. There are a total of nine ranks and five sub ranks which is initial, low, mid, upper, peak; these are all that one can achieve in their journey. Each rank represents a significant leap in understanding and control over mana."

Maren paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle in. "When you begin, you're at the initial rank, which is more about discovering your connection to mana and learning the basics of manipulation. As you progress, each rank requires a lot of effort to breakthrough into another higher rank."

Alex leaned forward, curiosity etched on his face. "How do you break through the mana ranks to reach another rank?"

Alex shifted slightly, the weight of his situation pressing on him. "So, what if your mana core is already larger than it should be? That’s what I’m dealing with right now."

Maren’s expression shifted to one of understanding. "Ah, I see. In your case, it's crucial to manage that expansion. One needs to first make the mana core bigger until it fully expands to the size of your heart. This is the first step, allowing you to maximize your potential. However, if your mana core has expanded too much, it can become a problem."

"How do I fix it?" Alex asked, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"You need to suppress the mana core, reducing it back to its initial size, which is roughly the size of a marble," Maren explained. "This process requires careful control and focus. You’ll need to channel your mana in a way that allows you to contract the core without losing control over it."

He paused for a moment, carefully choosing his words. "Think of your mana core like a rubber ball. The first step is learning to control your will. Will is a force within your body, almost like a second soul. To progress in ranks, you need to use your will to reshape the mana core, compressing it back to the size of a marble. That’s when you’ll advance. I’m only at the middle stage of Rank 3, and it took a lot of effort to get here. For you, it might take around five years to reach my level, but I can’t say for sure. Either way, good luck."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you for teaching me," Alex said, nodding.

After a brief moment of silence, Alex excused himself. "I think I’ll head back to my room now," he said, standing up from his chair.

Maren nodded, a faint smile on his face as he returned to his work. "Rest well, Alex."

Alex stepped out of the small, dimly lit room, the hallway bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the windows. The quietness of the house surrounded him, the air carrying a hint of warmth despite the night chill.

He made his way back to his room, the echoes of his footsteps softly reverberating against the stone walls. As he reached his door, he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. The sense of peace he found in this place was reassuring, a stark contrast to the chaos he had experienced before.

Pushing the door open, Alex stepped inside. The room was just as he had left it—simple and unadorned. He moved to the cot as he settled back onto the cot, exhaustion began to wash over him. He closed his eyes, letting the quietness envelop him, the rhythmic sound of his own breathing lulling him into a calm state.