The murmurs of the gathered villagers hushed as the large double doors of the Townhall creaked open. Berry stepped out, his sharp features lit by the flickering torchlight. His eyes scanned the crowd with a mix of amusement and theatrical disdain, his lips curling into a smirk.
“Well, well,” he began, loud enough for everyone to hear, “this is unexpected. A full house for magic lessons. Either I’m more popular than I thought, or you lot are desperate for answers.” He clapped his hands together. “Come in, come in. Let’s not keep the mysteries of the universe waiting!”
The villagers hesitated for a moment before streaming inside, their excitement barely contained. Children darted to the front, their faces alight with curiosity, while the adults took their time, their expressions ranging from skeptical to eager.
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Inside, the Townhall had been transformed. The long tables, usually reserved for communal meals and celebrations, had been arranged into three semicircular rows. Berry stood at the center of the room, a rough wooden podium before him. He motioned for everyone to take a seat.
“Find a spot, settle down,” Berry instructed, his tone sharp but not unkind. He waited as the crowd arranged themselves, the buzz of conversation gradually dying down. When silence finally reigned, he leaned forward, his voice dropping to a measured tone.
“First things first,” he began, his eyes sweeping the room, “magic isn’t a toy. It’s not some cheap trick to show off or a parlor game to impress your friends. It’s powerful, it’s dangerous, and yes—it’s beautiful. But only if you respect it.”
The crowd hung on his words, their attention firmly fixed on him. He nodded, satisfied. “Good. Let’s start with the basics.”
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Berry launched into a detailed explanation of Neutral Mana. “Neutral Mana,” he said, “is the foundation of everything. It’s simple, universal, and—unlike the fancy stuff—usable by anyone. The catch? It’s inefficient. Think of it as a dull knife: it’ll get the job done, but don’t expect miracles.”
He paused, allowing the information to sink in. “To use Neutral Mana, you first need to feel it. Not with your hands, not with your eyes—with your mind. It’s like learning to listen for a sound you didn’t know was there.” He glanced around, noting the furrowed brows and intrigued expressions. “But don’t worry. That’s not today’s lesson.”
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After setting the stage with Neutral Mana, Berry moved on. “Now,” he said, “let’s talk about the good stuff.” He stepped back from the podium, his face growing more focused. The room grew still as he raised a hand, closing his eyes briefly. A faint blue glow surrounded his fingers.
Moments later, three small, luminescent birds materialized above his hand. They took flight, gliding gracefully through the air. The crowd gasped, the children giggling as the birds swooped over their heads.
Berry let them enjoy the display for a moment before clapping his hands. The birds disintegrated into shimmering blue dust that dissipated into the air.
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“That,” he said, turning back to the crowd, “is Arcanis Mana—my specialty. Precise, elegant, and a little flashy when needed.”
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From beneath the podium, Berry retrieved a large sack. “Now for something fun,” he announced. He reached inside and pulled out a small, hand-sized orb, holding it up for everyone to see. “These are my little masterpieces. Each one is packed with raw Mana. Here’s how it works: focus on it with everything you’ve got. The Mana will respond to your capacity, turning into liquid. And if you’re lucky—very lucky—it’ll even change color, revealing your affinity for a specific type of Mana.”
He grinned. “But don’t get your hopes up. If one of you shows an affinity, I’ll consider this a miraculous day.”
The sack was passed around, each villager taking an orb. Once everyone had one, Berry clapped his hands. “Begin!”
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For several minutes, the room was filled with quiet concentration. Some villagers murmured to themselves, their brows furrowed. Slowly, orbs began to fill with a faint white liquid, signaling the presence of Neutral Mana. No colors appeared—at least not at first.
All eyes turned to Elira when she began. Her orb filled rapidly, the liquid shimmering in a brilliant emerald green with golden accents. The crowd gasped, though no one seemed surprised.
Felix, seated beside her, stared at his orb with intense determination. He whispered to himself, “Come on, Felix. Don’t give up.” His orb began to crack, faint lines spidering across its surface before it shattered with a soft pop.
The room fell silent, all eyes on Felix as Berry approached, his expression alight with curiosity. “Well, Felix,” Berry said, inspecting the fragments, “you might not have an affinity, but your Mana capacity is... astonishing. You broke the thing!”
Kael, meanwhile, sat quietly with his orb, his expression unreadable. He focused for three minutes straight, but nothing happened. Not a single drop of liquid appeared. Berry approached him, his brow furrowing.
“Huh,” Berry said, his tone half amused, half perplexed. “Absolutely no Mana. None. Nada. That’s as fascinating as it is impossible.”
A child’s voice broke the tension. “Look, Mommy! I made mud water!” Laughter rippled through the room as Berry spun toward the voice. A young girl held up her orb, the liquid inside a murky brown.
Berry’s eyes widened. “That,” he said, pointing dramatically, “is Terran Mana. Earth and stone. You, my dear, must’ve been incredible at building sandcastles!”
The girl giggled. “I like dirt!” she exclaimed.
Berry knelt, smiling warmly. “What’s your name?”
“Alma,” she replied, her voice clear and bright.
Berry nodded. “Well, Alma, I’ll make you a deal. If you promise to keep playing in the dirt and building things, I’ll teach you how to make it even more fun.”
Alma nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement.
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As the exercise ended, Berry called Elira, Felix, Kael, and Alma aside. He gestured with a mix of seriousness and enthusiasm.
“Elira,” he began, “your Aether Mana is as strong as I expected. Felix, your capacity makes you a rare case. And Kael... you’re an anomaly. I’d like to figure out why.”
Felix hesitated. “But I don’t have an affinity. Why teach me?”
“Because,” Berry replied, “what you can do with Neutral Mana is rare. If you can control it, you’ll be a force to reckon with.”
He turned to Alma and smiled. “And you, Alma, are something special. Terran Mana doesn’t show up often. I hope you’ll let me teach you how to use it.”
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As the Townhall emptied, Kael, Elira, and Felix stood outside, watching the villagers. Elira’s gaze was thoughtful. “That was... enlightening.”
Kael nodded, his eyes on the horizon. “It’s a start. But we’ve got a lot more to figure out.”
Felix crossed his arms. “We’ll make it work.”
Unbeknownst to them, torches flickered in the distance—the seventh brigade, drawing ever closer.