NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33: Hell Training (1)
What is mana? Many people may think of it as a special power that only certain individuals have.
That's true, but in reality, mana flows through the bodies of all living things. The amount, however, is usually so small that it can't even be felt.
This is also why ordinary people in this world are stronger compared to those on Earth.
'Mana, huh?' Merlin muttered softly. 'How can I feel it?'
He had already been meditating for more than half an hour, yet he still couldn't sense any mana in his body.
After all, he was just an ordinary man from Earth, so naturally he didn't know how. Even with Merlin Clay's memories, they weren't of much help.
For two years, the boy had been bound by the curse of Blood Viroth and had never taken any basic lessons in mana, magic, swordsmanship, or anything of the sort—lessons that should have been started at the age of six.
Inevitably, he had to turn to the system for help.
'System, can you tell me how to sense mana in my body?' Merlin asked.
"[Hmm…]" the system pondered. "[It's difficult to explain precisely, Master. In fact, everyone has their own way of sensing mana in their body. However, I can help you imagine it. Think of yourself as a river, and mana as the water flowing through it. The water cannot leave its path—it always follows the shape of the river itself.]"
Merlin fell silent at those words. The explanation was simple, and he understood it, yet he still felt something was missing to fully grasp it.
'Mana is the river's flow, and the body is the river itself,' he muttered under his breath, repeating it again and again.
Then, a sudden realization struck him, and a faint smile spread across his lips.
'So that's how it is… I understand now. Thank you, System!'
"[Hehehe! You're welcome, Master! But honestly, I'm surprised at how quickly you caught on. Even with an A-level talent, it usually wouldn't be this fast,]" the system said with a mix of admiration and confusion.
Merlin simply smiled without replying. Don't mistake him for just an editor who worked late nights at the office—he had once been a bright student back in middle and high school.
For him, understanding concepts was never too difficult.
Meanwhile, Linda, who was sitting on a chair while sipping tea, glanced at Merlin, still in his meditative state.
'He's been like that for half an hour. It might take another thirty minutes,' she whispered softly.
Sensing mana was neither too hard nor too easy—it all depended on one's level of understanding. Some were quick, like her, who had managed to grasp it in just ten minutes.
However, there are also those who take more than two hours—some even need an entire day.
While this doesn't directly determine whether someone can become a great mage, those weak in comprehension usually struggle more in their progress.
After all, magic is about first understanding, then practicing. Grasping complex magic sequences before putting them into practice requires a sharp and perceptive mind.
Just as Linda was about to take another sip of her tea, something unexpected happened. Merlin's body began to emit a faint red glow.
Slowly, the light grew until it almost enveloped him completely.
Linda froze for a moment, then a smile appeared on her lips as she nodded in admiration.
"So my estimation was wrong. This boy can do it in less than an hour," she praised.
At first, she had thought Merlin would struggle and take much longer. What she hadn't expected was that he was far more capable than she imagined.
'Looks like this trip was worth it. I managed to find a talented student,' she whispered with a small chuckle.
Whoosh!
The glow around Merlin's body vanished instantly, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Looking up at Linda, he smiled as he rose to his feet. "Master, I did it!"
Linda gave a small nod. "Yes, very good. You're much better than I expected."
Her praise brought an even wider smile to Merlin's face. At that moment, he finally understood why praise could make a child so happy—it truly felt wonderful!
"By the way, Master," he called out eagerly, "when are we going to start practicing magic?"
He couldn't wait to use magic like the system had described. Even if he knew the system was only trying to coax him, what it said still sounded too tempting to ignore.
"Practicing magic? What do you mean?"
Linda's indifferent reply caught Merlin off guard.
"Ha?" It was as if three question marks floated above his head. "I said to practice magic, Master. As an aspiring mage, isn't it natural to start practicing magic?"
He scratched his head, clearly confused.
Linda gave a faint grin. "You're right. But magic practice is still a long way off for you. For now, I'll prepare another kind of training—physical training."
"Physical training?" Merlin gaped. "Wait! What's physical training for? Mages don't need great physical strength, do they? With magic, I could even beat stronger people!"
Linda rolled her eyes in annoyance. "You've read too many fairy tales, Merlin. Just like fighters, mages also need to train their bodies. Otherwise, they'll quickly run out of energy. Do you think restraining magic power doesn't require strength?"
She shook her head and crossed her arms, her voice turning stern. "Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Now, we begin physical training. I want you to run around this courtyard a thousand times. If you don't finish by tonight, the rest will carry over to tomorrow. So, you'd better finish today."
Merlin: (ㅎ.ㅎ)