Harvey left, the door closing slowly behind him. Mike and Arin were left alone, the silence heavy and expectant. But Mike wasted no time letting it linger. His voice cut through the quiet, sharp and deliberate:
> "Tell me what you know about mana."
Arin straightened in his seat, hesitation flickering across his pale face. He looked like a student recalling an old lesson, carefully choosing his words:
> "Mana… is the magical force of this world. With it, humans can achieve abilities far beyond the ordinary. Its primary source is the earth itself, which constantly seeps mana into the air. Its true origin… remains unknown. But most of it gathers in deep veins beneath the ground."
Mike's eyebrows lifted in quiet approval, and he gave a slow nod.
> "Good. And the elements?"
Arin's gaze wavered for a moment before drifting toward the fireplace. His voice, calm yet thoughtful, carried the weight of what he remembered:
> "Mana is neutral by nature, but it often reflects the environment. Certain places are rich in elemental mana—fire, water, and so on. They often conceal rare treasures. Within people, each individual is born with an elemental affinity that rarely changes. That affinity can be weak, average, strong… and in near-mythical cases, it reaches the pinnacle."
Mike waved a hand, signaling him to continue, then added in a measured tone:
> "A small note… common belief holds that one's affinity is fixed from birth. Still, ancient texts hint at rare exceptions. Keep that in mind."
Arin's fingers twitched slightly on his knees as he nodded. This wasn't something he had read in books—it was knowledge he carried within, from the memories of the novel.
A faint smile tugged at Mike's lips, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes:
> "As for the mana veins… they are usually near mana stone mines, which is why the great families and guilds guard them fiercely. And the highest known affinity among humans is… high. True pinnacle? Extremely rare. Sometimes found in elves or dwarves, and if it appears in humans, the bearer possesses a special constitution. That, however, is for later, at the academy. Not your concern for now."
Unconsciously, Arin clenched his fist. A shiver ran through him, cold as ice, a whisper of the affinity sleeping within. The pinnacle… that was what it meant.
Mike drew a slow, deliberate breath, then gestured as if opening a door to a deeper truth:
> "Mana is the fundamental energy in the air—but it isn't the only one. There's also Qi, the power warriors cultivate. Unlike mana, Qi isn't in the air; it is forged from mana itself."
Leaning closer, his voice dropped to almost a teacher's whisper:
> "Warriors absorb mana into their bodies using special techniques, storing it in a place called the dantian. Once there, mana transforms into Qi and spreads throughout the body. Qi is heavier, denser than mana, which makes it unsuitable for delicate spellcasting. That's why warriors rely on close combat—swords, fists—while mages manipulate spells from afar, with refined control. "
Arin's head felt heavy, as if these words pressed down on his skull. Without his memories of Min Soo and the lessons at the Moon City Palace, he would have understood barely half of it.
Finally, he asked, his voice tired, his expression drawn:
> "But… what does all this have to do with me being a mage?"
A small smile spread across Mike's lips, equal parts pride and pity:
> "Three reasons. First: so you understand the world you're stepping into—it's far more complex than the life you knew. Second: the academy's entrance exam has a written section, and you'll need this knowledge. And third… the most important reason."
He raised a finger, pointing directly at Arin, his tone sharp, unyielding:
> "Harvey asked me to teach you these things."
Arin exhaled, a long, quiet sigh. Of course—it could have been said from the beginning.
Mike chuckled lightly, the sound mingling with the soft crackle of the fireplace:
> "Rest for a few minutes. After that… I'll finally show you what being a mage truly means. Then, we begin your practical training."