Awakening the Mana Well
“The Mana Well is an illusory space within humans that holds their innate mana.”
Metaph tapped his staff against his head, chest, and solar plexus in sequence.
“Since it's an illusory space, everyone senses the point where their mana gathers differently. No one else can diagnose it for you—only you yourself can discover it.”
The students followed his explanation, each touching different parts of their bodies.
“Of course, mana doesn't actually gather there in reality. It's just a sensation that serves as a bridge to approach that mental space—something that's hard to explain in words.”
The reason for his tardiness to the first class. Maness had already reached his Mana Well.
Looking back, during that process, he'd felt the energy spread throughout his body converging on his solar plexus.
“Seeing is believing. No need to drag this out. Everyone, straighten your backs, tuck in your chins, and get into proper posture.”
The students rustled as they adjusted their positions according to his guidance. Some had already closed their eyes, focusing inward.
“Breathe as deeply as possible. Repeat that and concentrate solely on yourself, as if you're the only one left in the world.”
Though he'd experienced it before, Maness followed the instructions. The sensation of air flowing through his respiratory system gripped his body.
“As you focus inward, you'll see the flow. Sometimes monotonous, sometimes complex. Controlling untamed mana is no easy task.”
Just like yesterday, the mana flow was chaotic. But perhaps there'd been some progress—it seemed a bit more stable now.
“Catch it. Even if you can't get a sense of it, keep staring until the end. Eventually, the mana will guide you to its home.”
When a human peers into their mana, the mana becomes aware of the human. Mana had no true personality, but it was close to instinct.
Just like that famous mage's saying: mana runs thicker than blood.
“Those who haven't grasped it yet, just maintain that state. Now, assuming you've understood the flow, we'll proceed with the lesson.”
Most students who couldn't keep up frowned, but a few perked up their ears. They were the ones with innate magical talent.
“The flow is the will of the mana. It guides you to the well. Follow it deeper, and you'll reach the well itself.”
The achievement he'd earned even while getting scolded by Hiteri for being late. Maness felt the familiar sensation of something surging toward his solar plexus and followed the flow to that one space.
The Mana Well. A place made of massive currents so vast it seemed impossible to control.
“I see a few quick learners.”
Maness slowly opened his eyes. Once he adjusted to the sunlight filtering through the window, he spotted a student already watching the professor.
Impressive adaptability.
Iris, having completed the entire process, was waiting for the professor's words.
“You two, come forward.”
At the phrase ‘you two,’ she turned her head. Her eyes blinked in surprise upon confirming Maness had finished meditating. A blatant look of disbelief.
Maness ignored it and stood from his seat.
I need to grab what I can.
According to the original story, at this point, Iris should have been the only one to finish meditating. But abandoning something he could mimic just because it deviated from the original would be idiotic.
With his future so uncertain, he had to seize every opportunity.
Once the two reached the lectern, Metaph beamed at them.
“This year's intake is impressive. Two students reaching the well so quickly in one class.”
“Who was faster?”
The sharp question cut through the praise. Iris furrowed her brow slightly, urging the professor for an answer.
“If we're splitting hairs... I think Iris was just a tiny bit faster.”
“Just a tiny bit?”
“Yes. In truth, there was hardly any difference.”
Dissatisfied with the answer, Iris's brow refused to smooth out. Maness could understand it.
She knew her own talent with mana and took immense pride in it. She couldn't easily accept that someone else had matched her meditation time.
Recognizing this, Metaph added words to soothe her.
“While magical talent plays a big role in finding the Mana Well for the first time, sometimes a student with exceptional senses can grasp the flow itself. Maness here might be that type.”
Maness silently took the implication: ‘He might just have gotten lucky.’
There was no point in creating a rivalry with Iris.
“Everyone, open your eyes?”
Metaph infused his voice with mana, just as he had at the start of class. The apprentice mages, lost in meditation, began opening their eyes one by one.
The students, looking as if they'd just woken from sleep, soon started murmuring among themselves.
– Why are those two up front?
– They already found their Mana Well, right?
– No way? Iris, maybe, but...
Most gazes focused on Maness.
– He doesn't seem like the type.
An odd pair that didn't match at all. Metaph lined them up and got to the main point.
“The process of finding the Mana Well has no dangers, so you can practice anytime. Let's move on quickly.”
He placed his staff on the lectern and extended both hands forward. A clear blue energy flickered vividly between his facing palms.
“Mana has color. It indicates what kind of magic its owner has affinity for. This blue mana I'm showing, for example, represents water.”
“Does that mean you're affinity with water magic, Professor?”
It was a question from a sharp-featured male student wearing round glasses.
“Good question. What's your name?”
“Vincent.”
Did he ask for my name, come to think of it?
Maness felt a fleeting doubt as the professor asked the student's name, but brushed it aside. His reputation as a wastrel must have spread among the faculty already.
“As the student said, it means high affinity with water among elemental magics. What I'm showing now is colored intentionally for demonstration.”
Metaph clapped his hands, and the dense mana vanished with an afterimage.
“When you gather mana, you won't color it intentionally, so your natural affinity will show. Now...”
Finishing his explanation, Metaph's gaze turned to the two students. His squinted eyes made his expression hard to read, but he seemed amused.
“You two, do exactly what I did.”
The classroom buzzed. It wasn't that surprising. It wasn't manifesting magic—just drawing out and condensing internal mana.
But one of the representatives was Maness.
“Professor?”
Vincent, perhaps pushed by the previous question, raised his hand again to draw attention.
“Yes?”
“From what you said, it sounds like those two have already reached their Mana Wells...”
“Correct. Any problem?”
The classroom erupted again. Mixed in were shock that the utter wastrel had magical talent, self-reproach for being worse than him, and more.
Maybe I shouldn't have finished so fast.
Maness felt a twinge of regret amid the intense reactions, but there was no helping it. Lingering too long in the Mana Well felt like he'd get swept away by the violently churning mana.
“Time's short, so let's proceed quickly. Like my demonstration, extend your hands forward.”
Following the guidance, Maness and Iris held their hands out side by side.
“Imagine holding a small, formless ball. Once ready, gather your internal mana into that imaginary ball.”
Maness closed his eyes and focused on his solar plexus. Mana like an inked dot there. He drew the mana spreading through his body toward his palms.
“Magic is the power to make imagination reality. Mana is mana, but above all, the mage's sensory imagery is key. Visualize the sensation of ‘mana being released through your hands.’”
Mana released through the hands.
Mulling the advice, he focused on the sensation. Gradually, he felt an intangible energy slipping out through his palms.
Soon, the mana exiting his facing hands collided, seemingly forming a shape.
Did it work?
Maness's closed eyes cracked open slightly. The moment he directly experienced manifesting mana.
“Wow!”
Unlike Iris, whose face bloomed with delight and an exclamation, Maness could only blink.
Red energy tinged with fire affinity. Unlike the vivid mana flowing between Iris's hands, Maness's were empty.
He wasn't flustered or frustrated. But he couldn't accept it.
By feel, his released mana had definitely gathered between his hands. It was just colorless.
Metaph noticed it too. As a professor who could easily read released mana, he stared at Maness's with narrowed eyes.
“Well done.”
Quickly masking his expression, Metaph swung his staff once. The two's condensed mana decomposed in an instant.
“Both students did excellently. Applause for our demonstrators!”
Cheers and applause filled the classroom, growing louder. It was praise for Iris.
Students just starting their magical journey. They lacked the ability to perceive Maness's invisible mana.
The only one watching the enigmatic wastrel with a meaningful smile was Metaph.
*
Lunchtime after morning classes. Students gathered in groups to eat. Maness's face hardened as he sat on a bench, making do with bread.
[Joint Class] The Virtues a Mage Must Possess.
Instructor: Almond.
Location: Front of the back mountain.
The booklet Hiteri had given him that morning listed his assigned classes. The next one was ‘The Virtues a Mage Must Possess.’
Having experienced Snowrobe's curriculum through the original story, Maness knew. Among the professors, some pursued unique teaching methods.
Almond was one of those ‘unique method’ professors.
‘Unique’ my ass—more like a total nutjob.
You could tell just from the listed class. And what exactly was ‘front of the back mountain’?
Strict but thorough Hiteri was better. Metaph, who taught mana operation, had little presence in the game, so info was scarce, but he was surely one of the most upstanding professors.
Maness shoved the last piece of bread into his mouth and stood.
On the grassy path. Enjoying the cool atmosphere amid sunlight filtering through dense trees, he muttered to himself.
“I'll figure it out as I go.”
Stubborn mana. Invisible color. Pondering alone wouldn't yield progress. Better to learn through direct trial and error—simple and sure.
Should be about time to head out.
It was already late to arrive on time at the back mountain. But unlike his morning tardiness, this was perfectly timed.
Arriving early would just waste energy finding the professor anyway.
*
Maness inwardly admired his own planning.
Even though he'd arrived after the listed class time, students were only now gathering at one spot, saying they'd just found the professor.
Trailing leisurely behind, he spotted a fidgety group in the distance.
A joint class with another group, so unfamiliar faces mixed in. A stake driven into the ground read ‘The Virtues a Mage Must Possess,’ and in front...
“...What do we do, guys?”
...a woman who looked like the professor lay sprawled on the ground, wearing a blindfold.