He looked at the remaining mana points on the system screen.
[Mana: 3/10]
"Scan," he whispered, activating the skill.
Instantly, something shifted in his eyes. His vision distorted — colors faded away, leaving only outlines of objects drawn in black and white. Amidst the strange monochrome, one corner of his room glowed faintly.
"There," he thought.
In that spot, mana particles were gathering — not many, but noticeably more than elsewhere. He stared for a few minutes longer, then deactivated the skill.
[Skill: Scan – Deactivated]
[Mana: 2/10]
He blinked.
"Five minutes of scan... costs one mana point," he muttered to himself, realizing the consumption rate.
---------
He sat cross-legged on the floor, spine straight, arms resting gently on his knees.
Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath — slow and steady — filling his lungs with as much air as he could.
Inhale. Hold. Exhale.
He repeated the cycle again and again, each breath deeper than the last.
But this time, his focus wasn't on the breath.
It was on the screen floating silently before him.
[Mana: 2/10]
He stayed still, mind quiet, attention sharp — completely locked onto the system's display.
Minute after a minute passed.
No sound. No movement. Just silence and intent.
Then finally, the bar shifted.
[Mana: 3/10]
His eyes opened slowly, a faint glint in them.
"It worked…"
Just as a smile began to form on Sam's face, proud of regaining a mana point, a sudden voice shattered the moment — like cold water poured over him.
"Sam, get ready! It's time for preschool!"
His happiness vanished.
Sam froze. He didn't know what to say.
He tried to think fast.
Then turned toward the door, voice low and shaky.
"Mom... today I don't feel well. My stomach's not right. Can I skip school just for today?"
There was a pause.
A soft silence filled with experience.
Then came her sweet, firm voice:
"My lovely son, your school has a toilet. You can use it when you need to."
He sighed inwardly, knowing this would be tough.
He sat still, hand on his belly, and gave his most pitiful look.
"Mom, please... just one day. It really feels bad. Like I'll spend the whole day in the toilet. If you really want me to go, I will… but there's no point in me sitting in a school toilet all day, right?"
A knowing smile crept across his mother's face — the kind that meant she wasn't buying a single word but was thinking of something clever.
"Alright then," she said, a playful glint in her eye.
"Go arrange your bed in the bathroom. You can spend your whole day there, just like you said."
Sam's mouth dropped open.
"Mom..."
He looked at her, half pleading, half embarrassed.
"I'm not joking!"
She chuckled softly, ruffled his hair, and said with a smile,
"Okay, okay. You can rest today. Stay home."
Then she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Sam in a quiet mix of relief… and mild defeat.
As the sound of his mom's footsteps faded down the hallway, Sam flopped back onto the floor, a grin stretching across his face.
"I'm so excited!" he whispered to himself, fists clenched in pure joy.
"I can use mana now. Why would I waste my whole day in a boring preschool?"
He sat up straight again, eyes gleaming.
"While they're learning colors and shapes... I'm learning magic."
His fingers twitched with anticipation as he looked at the floating system screen again.
He had just 3 mana points, but that was more than enough — enough to explore, to train, maybe even unlock something new.
Today wasn't just a day off school.
It was the beginning of something bigger.
As the sound of his mom's footsteps faded down the hallway, Sam flopped back onto the floor, a grin stretching across his face.
"I'm so excited!" he whispered to himself, fists clenched in pure joy.
"I can use mana now. Why would I waste my whole day in preschool?"
He sat up straight again, eyes gleaming.
"While they're learning colors and shapes... I'm learning magic."
His fingers twitched with anticipation as he looked at the floating system screen again.
He had just 3 mana points, but that was more than enough — enough to explore, to train, maybe even unlock something new.
Today wasn't just a day off school.
It was the beginning of something bigger.
*****
Sam's eyes lit up with a new idea.
"Now let's test Scan… on myself," he said, sitting upright again.
"I need to find out what type of mana system I have."
He took a deep breath, focused his gaze inward, and whispered:
"Scan."
The familiar shift happened — his vision blurred slightly, and the system screen changed. This time, instead of showing the room, it turned inward… toward his own body.
Lines formed. Shapes. Faint blue energy flowed like rivers through invisible pathways under his skin. His heart beat slow and steady, glowing with a soft pulse.
Then the system displayed:
---
[Body Scan: Active]
Mana Pathways: Incomplete – Early Awakening Stage
Core Type: Unknown (Sealed)
Affinity: Unmeasured
Warning: Mana flow is unstable. Prolonged use may cause fatigue or dizziness.
---
Sam blinked.
"Whoa… so I'm still in the early stage. Core's sealed? Affinity unmeasured? What does that mean?"
---
Sam closed his eyes again, now focusing deeper—beyond the surface of mana lines, beyond the shallow pulses.
Then he saw it.
There, nestled in the center of his chest—just above where his heart beat—was a tiny glowing stone.
Blue.
Small, not even as big as a marble. But it pulsed… like it was alive.
"That's it… the core?"
His thoughts whispered with awe.
The scan lines flickered gently around it, highlighting its form.
It wasn't cracked, but it wasn't fully formed either. It looked… dormant. Sleeping.
He focused harder, trying to see more.
Suddenly, the system responded:
---
[Core Detected: Dormant State]
Name: ???
Color: Blue
Elemental Affinity: Unknown – Resonance Weak
Core Status: 12% Formed – Awakening Incomplete
Warning: Forcing activation may result in instability or core damage.
---
Sam's breath caught.
"Twelve percent…? So I need to finish forming it first..."
He touched his chest gently, right where the stone would be.
"Blue… what does that mean? Water? Ice? Or something else?"
His heart pounded—not from fear, but excitement.
A secret was inside him.
And now… he wanted to wake it up
---
Just as he was about to return to meditating, something caught his eye.
He glanced up — and froze.
The density of blue mana particles floating in the room… had started to thin.
The soft shimmer in the air was fading, drifting slowly, almost like it was being pulled away.
"What's happening…?" Sam whispered.
He stood up quickly and rushed to the window.
Pushing the curtain aside, he squinted into the morning light.
That's when he saw it.
Outside, just beside the house — the old well that had stood there since before he was born — was glowing faintly.
Or rather, the space around it was.
Blue particles.
Hundreds of them, like fireflies swirling in slow motion, were gathering above the well, thick and vibrant.
His eyes widened.
"The mana… it's going there?"
Without a second thought, he dashed for the door.
"If that place has more mana… maybe I can use it to awaken my core!"
Sam tiptoed through the hallway, careful not to make a sound.
His mom was in the kitchen, and his dad was probably outside working near the barn. With the lightest steps and held breath, he slipped out the side door — completely unseen.
The cool morning air brushed against his skin as he made his way toward the well.
The closer he got, the thicker the mana became in the air. It shimmered faintly — blue wisps floating like dust in sunlight.
He knelt quietly beside the old stone well, his eyes locked on the cloud of particles dancing nearby.
"Last time… I just watched."
"But this time, I'll control it."
He took a deep breath.
Sat cross-legged once more.
Then whispered:
"Mana Manipulation — Activate."
The system responded instantly.
---
[Skill: Mana Manipulation – Active]
This time, instead of simply letting mana move on its own, he reached out with his will — gentle, like gathering feathers.
The blue particles stirred.
They paused in their drifting, then slowly — one by one — began to float toward him.
Closer.
Steadier.
He focused harder, sweat forming on his brow.
He wasn't just attracting them randomly.
He was gathering them all into one tight, glowing sphere—hovering in front of his chest.
"Come on… just a bit more…"
**************
The blue mana sphere floated inside Sam's chest, spinning slowly like a miniature galaxy. His entire body trembled from the effort of holding it together. He could feel the mana — cool, fluid, alive.
Then, suddenly—
A sharp chime echoed in his head.
"Ding!"
The system screen flashed brightly in front of his eyes.
---
[Core Formation Successful]
Core Type: Water Mana Core
Color: Blue
Formation Level: 100% – Stable
Affinity: Water (Primary)
Passive Trait Unlocked: Faster mana regeneration near water sources
Evolution:-0/100
---
As the message faded, Sam gasped.
He clutched his chest instinctively.
A warm, cooling sensation bloomed from his heart — like fresh water flowing through dry soil.
His veins lit up faintly with blue light for just a moment before fading again.
"I… I did it," he whispered, stunned.
"A water mana core… my own."
He looked down at his hands.
They trembled — not from fear, but from awe.
The swirling blue particles around the well had mostly vanished—absorbed into his newly awakened core.
But a few still floated nearby, dancing just beyond his reach.
He raised his hand, focused, and whispered:
"Mana Manipulation."
The system obeyed, and the skill reactivated.
Blue particles within one meter of him responded, drifting toward his hand smoothly.
But those even slightly farther out?
They didn't move.
No matter how hard he focused, they stayed where they were—untouched.
He frowned.
"So… right now I can only control mana within one meter," he muttered.
"That's not much. I need to increase my range."
He looked at his hand again, mana particles resting softly in his palm like fireflies waiting for his command.
"But at least now, I know it's real… and it's mine."
He stood slowly, the early sunlight brushing his face, the well behind him now feeling less like a mystery—and more like a beginning.
*************
Sam stood still for a moment, staring at the few blue particles still floating near his hand.
"Let's make something…"
"Something from water… using mana particles."
He took a deep breath, focusing his will.
The mana particles in his palm began to vibrate slightly — responding to his intent. They shimmered, then pulsed gently as if asking, what do you want me to become?
He imagined water.
Not just the idea of it, but the feel — cool, flowing, smooth.
A droplet. A simple sphere of water.
He whispered:
"Shape: Water Sphere."
The particles trembled — and then, slowly…
they began to merge.
One by one, they fused into a small glowing orb — liquid forming in midair, shimmering blue.
It floated above his hand, tiny at first — no bigger than a tear.
Then it grew — to the size of a marble.
Sam's eyes widened.
"It's working…"
Then suddenly—
splosh!
The orb collapsed, splashing lightly onto the ground.
He blinked, hand was still raised, and soaked slightly.
"…I almost did it."
Sam wiped the small splash of water off his hand and let out a slow breath.
Then, out of habit, he looked up at the floating system screen.
And froze.
His eyes widened.
---
[Mana: 90 / 100]
---
"Wait… what?"
He blinked again, just to make sure he wasn't seeing anything wrong.
Before the core, his limit was 10.
He remembered it clearly — struggling to conserve every point.
But now?
"It jumped… straight from 10 to 100?"
His voice was a whisper, filled with disbelief.
He replayed it in his mind: the moment the core formed… that flood of warmth… the connection he felt.
"So creating the mana core didn't just unlock mana flow… it expanded my whole mana pool."
He glanced down at his hand — still tingling from the collapsed water sphere.
"And the spell cost me 10 mana," he muttered, noticing the drop from 100 to 90.
That meant the simple water orb — that tiny drop of magic — already required 10% of his full capacity.
He whistled softly.
"Even a small spell uses a lot right now… I need to get more efficient."
But deep down, he was smiling.
He had a core. He had mana. And now… he was truly starting to cast.
Sam took one last glance at the system screen, watching the floating number:
[Mana: 90 / 100]
His heart still raced from everything that had happened — forming a core, casting his first water spell, discovering the jump in his mana pool.
He exhaled slowly and whispered:
"Scan — deactivate."
The world around him shifted.
Colors returned. The glowing blue threads of mana vanished from his sight. The gentle hum in the air faded to silence.
Everything felt… normal again.
But Sam wasn't the same.
He looked down at his hands — no glow, no shimmer — just the hands of a boy.
But he knew.
Inside him now pulsed something powerful. Something real.
"Today I became a mage," he said softly, grinning to himself.
Then he stood up, brushed off his clothes, and turned toward the house — wondering if his mom had noticed he was gone yet.
Sam walked slowly back toward the house, the morning breeze brushing gently against his skin.
The well behind him now felt less like an ordinary old structure… and more like the birthplace of something new.
He moved quietly, just in case his parents were nearby.
Peeking around the corner — no one. The kitchen was quiet.
He slipped back in through the side door, his steps soft on the floorboards.
Up the stairs.
Down the hall.
Back into the safety of his room.
As he closed the door behind him, he finally let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
He dropped onto his bed with a satisfied thud, staring up at the ceiling.
"I have a mana core…"
"I cast a spell…"
"And I didn't get caught."
A grin spread across his face.
Then he looked at the system screen one last time before letting it fade.
[Mana: 90 / 100]
[Core: Water – Stable]
Everything had changed — and yet, the day had just begun.
As he lay on the bed, heart was still steady from all that had happened, Sam couldn't hold it back any longer.
He sat up slightly and said with quiet excitement:
"Status — open."
The system responded instantly. A soft glow appeared in front of him, and a translucent blue screen unfolded with a gentle hum.
---
[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: Sam
Age: 5
Race: Human
Core: Water Mana Core (Blue)
Evolution: 0/100
Core Status: Stable (100%)
Mana: 90 / 100
Mana Regeneration: 1 per 5 minutes (Bonus near water sources)
Affinities:
• Water (Primary) – Unlocked
• ??? (Unknown) – Locked
Skills:
• Scan (Beginner) – Lv. 1
→ Can analyze environment and body; drains 1 mana every 5 minutes
Evolution:-30/100
• Mana Manipulation (Beginner) – Lv. 1
Evolution: 20/100
→ Control and guide ambient mana within 1-meter radius
→ Range and precision improve with practice
Passive Trait:
• Gentle Flow — Regenerates mana faster near water
Evolution: 10/100
System Level: 1
---
Sam stared at the glowing blue screen floating before him, his eyes tracing every line of text.
Then, with a furrowed brow, he muttered:
"Did my status screen… evolve after I created my mana core?"
He swiped through the tabs, comparing everything to what he remembered before.
Back then, the screen was simple. Just his Name, Mana: 3/10, and two basic skills: Scan and Mana Manipulation. No affinities. No traits. No core.
But now?
The screen felt… alive.
Detailed.
Responsive.
Like it had unlocked a deeper layer of information the moment his core formed.
Sam's eyes lit up.
"So forming a core didn't just change me… it changed the whole system."
He leaned back on his bed, staring at the screen above him, a slow smile forming.
"Good. That means the deeper I go… the stronger the system becomes too."