Chapter 7 — Supernatural Dream or Mana Core
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The morning sun didn't shine directly into my room—the tree branches in front of the window blocked it. But even so, it was hot today. Small beads of sweat formed on my forehead.
I sat on my bed, flipping through the book.
"Creating a mana core is the most important and most dangerous step on the path of sorcery. If you attempt to create a core immediately after starting to feel mana, the probability of death is over 90 percent. Mana energy, uncontrolled, can explode and burn your entire body from the inside..."
I read this sentence three times.
Death. 90 percent.
I took a deep breath.
So... I mustn't rush. First, I need to befriend mana. To feel it, to get used to it, to love it.
"Love..." I repeated quietly. "Apparently, I need to love mana."
I chuckled. So even sorcery begins with love.
---
Two months passed
"Good morning, Father!"
Father was getting ready to leave the house. Every day, early in the morning, he goes to the city to trade. Mother is busy with household chores.
Father patted my head. "Son, what will you do today?"
"I'll run away from the heat," I said, laughing. "I'm looking for a shady spot."
Father laughed too. "Be careful. Don't go too far."
He left. I stood by the window, watching him go.
Spring had ended, summer had begun. The air was hot, the sun strong. Even in the early morning, sweat covered you.
"Eh," I sighed. "If only I knew water magic. I'd be cool in an instant."
But it was too early. I was still in the stage of befriending mana.
---
As the day passed, the heat intensified. I looked for cool places around the house. Under the trees, the shady side of the house—I checked everywhere.
But still, it was hot.
"Uffff..." I wiped the sweat from my forehead. "I'll go to Mother."
Mother was in the kitchen. But when I entered the room, I felt something strange.
Cool.
The air was cool. Despite the scorching heat outside, the kitchen inside was as light and cool as spring.
How?
Mother was standing by the stove, cooking. There wasn't a single drop of sweat on her face. She was calm, even smiling a little.
I stood there for a few seconds.
She's using magic. No doubt.
But I didn't see any movement. No gesture, no magical words. She was just standing there—and the room was cool.
What kind of power is this?
"Mother," I said softly.
She looked at me. "Yes, my child?"
"Well..." I hesitated a little. "I can't escape the heat," I complained. "It's cool near you."
She smiled. "It's good that you're growing, my child. It means you're getting bigger. But you still have a lot to learn."
I tried to understand her words. It's good that I'm growing? Is it good that I'm suffering from the heat?
Mother returned to her work. I stood there, enjoying the cool air.
She didn't cast a spell. She did nothing. She just... made the room cool.
So, Mother is a very powerful sorceress.
And if she's so powerful...
Does she also feel what I'm doing?
This thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
Does she know I'm trying to create a mana core? Is she watching me?
I looked at Mother from where I stood. She was just cooking—the most ordinary mother in the world. But the cool air around her made me think.
Who is Mother? Who is she really?
---
Summer passed
Summer was a trial for me. Heat, scorching, unbearable heat.
But I practiced every day.
In the morning, before sunrise, I connected with mana. At noon, during the hottest time, I sat under a tree and learned to breathe. In the evening, at sunset, meditation again.
Sometimes Mother would come to me and stand quietly. She said nothing, just watched. And I, with my eyes closed, would surrender to the flow of mana.
Summer passed like this.
---
Autumn — second month
The air had started to cool. The leaves on the trees were turning yellow, slowly falling.
I sat in my room, looking out the window.
Okay. I think I'm ready now.
This thought appeared in my mind clearly and vividly.
Today. Today, I will create the mana core.
My heart began to race. A feeling mixed with fear and excitement.
The warning from the book was in my memory: "Probability of death is 90 percent..."
But I had waited for over six months. I practiced every day. I learned to feel mana, to love it.
Now is the time.
I closed my eyes.
---
Mana Core — The Creation
First—breath.
I took a deep breath. Slowly released.
Again. Again. Again.
My body slowly relaxed. The tension in my muscles disappeared. My thoughts calmed.
Then—mana.
I felt it. First slowly, like a whisper coming from afar. Then it grew stronger, closer.
The flow of mana.
It was spread throughout every part of my body—from my fingertips to the soles of my feet. Mana existed in every cell of mine.
In this world, mana is produced inside a person. In the novels I read, sorcerers would take mana from the air. Here, you could also take it from the air—but the main source was this internal generator.
The mana generator—the mana core.
I focused all my attention inward.
I need to direct all mana toward the heart...
I stopped for a moment.
No. Not the heart. It's written in the book—it's slightly lower, in the center of the chest.
I focused my attention on that spot.
And I began.
Directing all the mana in my body to that one point—it was painful. The electric current at every nerve ending, the tension in every muscle, the vibration in every bone—all gathered into one point.
Sweat began to flow from my forehead.
Huff... huff...
Breathing became difficult. It felt like fire was burning in my chest.
But I didn't stop.
Mana began to gather. At that one point—in the center of my chest—a small light appeared.
Slowly... slowly...
And then—an excess appeared.
"ARRRGGGGGGGGHHH!!"
Pain covered my entire body. Pain like being shot, like being stabbed with a knife, like being burned by fire.
But I continued.
It was written in the book: "If an excess appears, it's a dangerous sign. Mana is getting out of control."
I knew. But I couldn't stop.
Control... I have to maintain control...
I gritted my teeth. Sweat flowed from my forehead. Tears came from my eyes. But I held the mana at that point.
From downstairs, Mother's voice came.
"Kael! Are you okay?! What are you doing?!"
I couldn't answer. I couldn't distract my attention. If I got distracted for even a second—everything would end.
I remained silent.
The pain intensified. The light in my chest grew larger. Mana began to spin—like a whirlpool, like a storm.
And then—
Something snapped.
The chaotic mana suddenly collapsed inward,
compressing into a single point.
A small sphere of light appeared.
My mana core.
A small, warm, bright point.
The mana core.
I wanted to smile.
But instead—
"ARRVVVVVVVV!!"
My vision darkened. My body stiffened. The pain passed the limit and turned into numbness.
And I lost consciousness.
---
. . .
. . .
. . .
Darkness. Neither hot nor cold. Emptiness. Silence.
Then—a voice.
"Samuel. Samuel, open your eyes, my friend."
Is someone slapping my face?
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
A person stood before me. I couldn't see his face—it was hazy, as if through a fog. I could only see his body, hear his voice.
"Hey, what are you doing sleeping? We don't even need sleep, my friend."
He laughed. Most importantly—I felt like I recognized his voice.
Who is this?
"G***," I said. It came out of my mouth by itself.
He nodded. "Yes, I've got you, my friend."
G*? What does this name mean? Why do I know it?
"We great beings..." he said and laughed again. "Hehe."
I stared at him. I couldn't understand what was happening.
This is a dream. This must be a dream. Or something else...
"G***," I said again. "Let's go. We're returning."
He nodded. "Yes, you're right."
And at that moment—
The dream began to shatter.
Everything around me—the hazy fog, the stranger, the darkness—all broke into pieces like shards of glass.
Millions of tiny fragments. Each sparkled with light. And they drifted away, faded, disappeared.
---
Awakening
My eyes opened.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Breathing was difficult. My entire body was covered in sweat. My heart was racing as if in a race.
Someone was holding my hand.
Mother.
Tears were in her eyes. She held my hand tightly, crying as she looked at me.
"Kael... Kael, my dear child..."
Father was also beside me. His face held an expression mixed with fear and amazement.
"Son, what happened?!"
I looked at them. I tried to answer.
And at that moment—my eyes shone with a golden light.
I felt it myself. The light in my eyes. The power.
And inside me—a core.
The mana core. I created it.
But first of all—that dream. That person.
Who was he?
I stared into the distance, into emptiness. My thoughts seemed unable to gather in one place.
Father asked again. "Son, what happened?!"
I slowly looked at him.
"Father... I think I managed to make the core."
Mother burst into tears—whether from joy or fear, I didn't know. She hugged me, kissed my head.
Father stepped forward and placed his hand on Mother's shoulder.
"Okay, calm down," he said to Mother. "Our son is fine. Why are you so worried? Congratulate him instead."
Mother wiped the tears from her face and looked at me. In her eyes, there was no longer fear, but pride.
"Yes... yes, you're right," she said to Father.
Then she hugged me again.
"Congratulations, my son. You created the mana core. Now you—are a true sorcerer."
I melted in her embrace. Mother's warmth, the affection in her words—all gathered in one place and filled my heart.
"Thank you, Mother."
From behind, I heard Father's voice. "Hmm, looks like I need to say something too?"
I laughed. "Thank you too, Father."
He laughed as well. "Okay, okay. Now take care of yourself, my boy. Don't do this again."
I nodded. But a thought remained in my mind.
That dream. That person. Who was he? He called me "Samuel." And "G*."
What do these names mean? Why do I know them?
And why did he call me a "great being"?
I closed my eyes. The mana core pulsed inside me, warm and steady. For the first time, I felt myself—truly myself—powerful.
But deep inside, I knew one thing.
This was only the beginning of something far greater.
Something that would shake the heavens themselves.
Ahead, there were many more questions. Many more secrets. Many more dangers.
And that person from the dream... he will return one day.
I could feel it.