"Like all beings in our world, humans require mana to live. However, certain individuals possess greater amounts of mana, which they can use to cast spells. We refer to them as mages. But before you can start to learn more about mana and casting spells, you need to discover your elemantal affinity. Close your eyes and start to meditate. Feel the mana flowing through your body and determine the color of your mana core. Turn to the next page for a comprehensive chart correlating each color to its respective element."

I set the book aside and closed my eyes. Slowly breathing in and out, I started to meditate. I struggled to concentrate and find the right position to sense my mana. It was hard to grasp the mana flowing through my body when I didn't even understand what magic was.

How is mana even supposed to feel? Is it like blood, or is it a separate liquid?

I began to think about the many possible ways mana could feel. I even thought that it might be something above the physical realm, but then I remembered something important.

When I ran away from the bear. There was something flowing inside me. This, black mist. Could it be that this was also magic? Maybe when I remember the feeling I had there, I can feel my mana? It's worth a shot.

I closed my eyes again and began to concentrate. The feeling of the black mist engulfing my hand was easy to remember, and when I tried to feel something similar, I found it. A force flowing through my body, stemming from something like a core inside my chest. When I concentrated deeper on this feeling, I saw something right in front of me. A ball, glowing in two different colors. One half of the ball was vibrating in a green light, while the other side was pulsating in a red light. But this was not the only thing I saw. Next to the core, there was something else. Something ominous. It sent shivers down my spine as I tried to examine it further. There seemed to be something imprisoned inside this black, liquid-covered sphere. And the more I looked at it, the more my mind began to drift away, so I stopped meditating immediately. The moment I stopped meditating, I realized that my heart was racing and I was sweating profoundly.

What was that? What is this black sphere inside my body? Is it related to the darkness? Should I tell Jack about this?

I pondered this for a few seconds. But I still had the feeling that I couldn't trust Jack.

No, it would be better to keep it to myself.

I took a deep breath and slowly calmed myself down. Then I picked the book back up and began to read again.

I need to concentrate on this first. Let’s see, the colors for the corresponding element are on the next page.

"Blue is water, brown is earth, red is fire, yellow is lightning and green is wind."

My elements are wind and fire. Is it normal to have two elements?

"Most mages have only one natural element, but sometimes there are mages who have two elements. If your core has two colors, then consider yourself lucky."

So, it's not normal to have two elements. But why is there nothing written about the black sphere? Maybe it's the darkness Jack mentioned.

"Now that you know your elemental aptitude, you can start with learning the most basic spell of your element."

On the page was a table of contents, so I flipped to the side where the basic fire spells were written.

"There are two types of casting spells. The silent casting and the vocal casting If you use an incantation for a spell or give it a name, it's often easier for you to get a clear picture of the spell in your mind. But you can also just imagine the spell and then guide the mana to the place where you want to perform it. The easiest fire spell is torch. Imagine a little flame at the tip of your finger and say the name torch. Or use the incarnation lighten my way torch if that’s easier."

I closed my eyes and stretched my arm out, pointing with my index finger upwards. Then I tried to imagine a small flame flickering gently above my index finger.

"Lighten my way, torch."

After saying the incarnation, I opened my eyes again, and to my surprise, I managed to create the flame on my first try, and it was even bigger than I had imagined.

I didn’t know that it was so easy to cast a spell.

I imagined the flame disappearing, and it was gone. To say that I was proud would have been an understatement. I was so confident in myself that I immediately wanted to try the first lightning spell too. Flipping back to the table of contents, I eagerly searched for the page with the wind spells.

"There! Page 251!"

Quickly flipping to the page, I started to read the first spell.

"Before you can learn any attack spells, you need to learn how to control the air. Try it with a tiny amount first. There is no incarnation or name for this. So, try to gather a small amount of air insiede your palm. "

Putting the book back down, I closed my eyes and repeated the process. Trying to slowly guide my mana towards my hand took a bit longer than before. It was hard to grasp something you couldn't see, but I still managed to do it. When I finally had enough mana in my hand. I tried to imagine how the wind was gathering inside my palm. And when I opened my eyes, I felt it. A gentle breeze weaving through the gaps of my fingers, despite the window being closed.

I did it again! Should it be this easy to learn magic? Could it be that I'm some kind of genius? No, no, calm down. It's only the beginner's step. Don't get too confident now. 

It was like I had already learned how to use magic, and my body never forgot it. The only thing I needed to remember was the feeling of mana.

I've already learned two spells in less than a day. I need to tell Jack as soon as possible!

My excitement let my concentration waver, and the wind dissipated. But I didn't care. Without a second's delay, I jumped up and made my way downstairs toward the tavern, where Jack was already waiting for me. I had already forgotten the unease of the black sphere.