NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: Morad's Nature and Lesson
"Well, you're not wrong, Morad, I find it difficult to cast mana." This wasn't supposed to be hard; it was just a matter of me imagining it, right?
I added, "I am able to take in four types of mana."
Morad replied, "Wow, the four types!" He seemed to be searching for the right word, stammering, "Qua-qua-quaa something..."
"You mean a quad core?" I finished for him.
"Yeah, yeah, that exactly!" he replied cheerfully. "But that is also the problem, as those types are hard to concentrate on when casting."
"This was already something I knew, which is why most people with quad cores don't awaken," I thought.
But then he said something different this time: "Well, when you're in a situation where your mana castings are weak and unable to manifest, it means your thoughts don't match your capability to use mana in that way... Hmmm, I really don't know how to explain it."
What did he mean by that? I could definitely imagine a fireball, a water ball, or some low-level mana manipulations. I told him, "Imagining mana in a particular shape or form isn't difficult, but the real issue is manifesting my thoughts."
Morad then explained, "Well, that's good. Most humans do this. But take a look at a mana beast. I, for example, can also imagine forms and all, but in the end, the result depends on how you can manifest, and that needs to be something you're physically capable of in this world, Astraga."
To be honest, all I had planned was to meditate, but what he was saying intrigued me. What was he trying to say? I didn't exactly get him.
Morad then replied with some unique references and explanations. "What I mean can be put simply: I can definitely imagine the mana as a sun, and even imagine making that sun explode. That's the imagining part. But if I tried casting it, would that work? Well, in the most normal of abnormalities, no. Do you have any idea why, Astraga?"
"To make it easier to understand, when you, Astraga, try to imagine a fireball, the most effective way at least for a human isn't just to picture a ball of fire floating in the air," Morad explained. "Instead, don't think of an abstract, floating ball of fire."
"Think of how fire behaves in the real world: the heat, the need for air, the way the flame curls and flickers. Imagine drawing warmth from your chest, your breath, or your hands, like exhaling sparks that condense into a flame. This links your imagination to something your body can actually channel."
He finalized his point: "In the end, you can imagine anything, but your body and mana can only create what's possible for you."
"How could I have not seen this part? I just skipped all the processes and jumped to the end result!" I realized. Mana works best through processed thoughts that are grounded in reality. In the end, fire can't just form instantaneously; it needs a channel, a process of creation. This is what I'm sure separates the best mages. So that was how Astraya was able to do it.
"Thank you, Morad, this was a lot of help."
My appreciation made Morad feel like he had finally returned the favor. "You're welcome. This was one of the reasons my previous master wanted me to evolve to a stage two, but I just couldn't," he said, his tone sounding a little sad.
The best way I could summarize Morad's explanation was this: "Think of it like cooking. In the kitchen your mind you can imagine the perfect dish, a feast fit for kings, rich with flavors and aromas. But if all you do is picture the finished meal appearing instantly, nothing ends up on the table. You need the ingredients, the tools, the skill, and the steps to bring it all together."
"It's the same with mana. Imagination shouldn't just be the noodles already prepared in your mind, but the act of making them the mixing, kneading, boiling. That process builds the mana. Even if it only takes seconds in your head, those steps shape the energy into the right form. What you create has to match what you can actually prepare."
I realized then: what I lacked was control. Fire, water, earth, air I carried all four. But I also had an edge. I was born in a technological age, 2018, and I could think in processes beyond the simple. Where a mage might imagine a candlestick to summon a flame, I could picture the mechanism of a flamethrower, driving the same element faster, sharper, and with more force.
I closed my eyes, inhaling. The first element I reached for was fire, as it had always been my favorite place to start. My mind quickened, and the air around my palms heated.
But Morad's reminder steadied me: intent. Build the process. A flame to comfort, created through stages and channels.
Morad gave me confirmation. "Good, Astraga! I can already sense you're casting differently now."
The heat softened, and then, like a controlled serpent, the fire came out firm and bold. This was it my intent casting. Yes, I did it!
Next was water, then air, and finally earth. I saw promising signs for all of them. All I had to do now was work on the casting, but that would take time.
My mind was still in the body of a four-year-old, so concentration wasn't at its best right now, and my thoughts wandered too quickly. I had also tried calling on my chains, but they seemed not to appear. Perhaps it was for the best, as I needed to master these mana types first before I faced that.
"Oh, I got an idea, Astraga," Morad urged. "Why don't you train with me while we wait for the fish?"
Why wouldn't I? I had already learned so much from him; I was definitely ready for him to show me more.
But he quickly added, "But I can't do much in this form, sigh. I won't truly be myself until we get me a vessel."
"Sure deal, heheh," I said.
So the days began to blur as I started working on my intent casting. The cave had quickly become my second home, something Father would definitely notice the moment he returned.
A week passed.
My routine was set. Mornings were for feeding and tending the fish, especially the two mating ones. Morad and I watched as the female grew rounder, her movements slower. Evenings were dedicated to meditation. I slowly got better at wielding Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Some nights my head pounded with frustration as my four mana streams collided. Morad never lost patience, guiding me carefully, and our bond grew stronger.
Two weeks in.
The fish spawned at last, leaving tiny, pearl-like eggs clinging to the stone edges of the trench. Morad's voice rang with delight, bubbling across the water. "It worked! Babies, Astraga! It worked!" But my task wasn't over. Father's notes echoed: protect the eggs. And so I kept vigil, checking them daily, brushing away silt, and keeping the water fresh.
Three weeks in.
I could finally hold all four elements in balance, if only for moments at a time. The Fire was steady, neither dying out nor leading to burnout. Water danced across my fingertips before dripping back into the pond. Air swirled with each breath I guided, but I was nowhere near Astraya's level of proficiency; having an affinity truly set her apart. Earth was one of the hardest to truly master, and I was still weak here, but everything was going well. My mind was no longer wandering and remained focused.
Throughout these weeks, I learned a lot about what kind of person Morad was and why he acted the way he did. Morad was now more like a brother than just a voice, as we had grown close. I still hadn't told him I was reincarnated, but our dynamic was truly something special.
The pond rippled differently one morning. The eggs were trembling, their shells thinning under a faint golden light. I leaned closer, my breath catching. Movement stirred within the fragile shapes, fighting to emerge.
"They're ready," I whispered.
Morad's voice rang clear with awe. "After all this time… Astraga, it's happening! It was beginning to get boring waiting, hahah."
I sat straighter, my heart pounding, not just for the koi, but for myself. Weeks of grinding, training, focus, failure, and stubborn persistence it had all led here. The eggs were about to hatch, and I was no longer the same child who had first flipped open Father's book in this cave.