Tales of a Shifter (P5) The White Mountain

Chapter 109 - Changing Roles

*Mana manipulation, which turns into Alchemy...Will Brandon learn how to control the powers he was never supposed to inherit? And can he trust Ann to guide him?"

Chapter 112 – Changing Roles

As Brandon began to quietly work blood and soil out of his mouth and spit it into the grass Ann spoke to him. She began by first speaking about what he most desperately wanted to understand. The Mana.

Her dark brown skin colored in the maroon and magenta light of the setting sun was oddly fitting of Brandon's mood in that moment and her own stoic nature. Intelligent black eyes beheld him without any malice despite the animosity and violence that still lingered between them.

"You are correct in understanding that you need instruction seeing as most Mana Users are guided in its use. For you see Mana is the power that is manipulated inside of inanimate objects all around us, but the Will of the Mana User is what causes the changes." Ann licked her lips and gestured to her left and right hands.

"Mana can be manifested in only two forms of power. Mana can become Alchemy...or a Transmutation. A change of an items form. Alchemy is the act of giving Mana a Form with Will. While Transmutation is the act of changing the original Form of an object into another. Do you understand these basic concepts?"

"Slow down." Brandon made a slowing gesture with his palms. "Look, I understand the definition of Alchemy and Transmutation." Brandon nodded and licked his lips, intrigued by the new knowledge being offered, and opening himself to curiosity. "But can you explain what they both mean and what they are? I mean I don't understand the fundamentals of what Mana is or why we can do these things with it."

Ann glanced out across the grassy plains with critical eyes, then she shook her head and replied

"Why?" She smiled and shook her head. "Brandon Mana is Manifested and expressed on us and on our environment by the Will and Aptitude of the individual. Will power or the mental and spiritual strength of the User determines the power of the Mana that is used. While the aptitude comes mostly from the physical and biological side of the individual." The Alchemists shrugged. "It is in their genes if that makes more sense to you."

Brandon blinked and pressed her. "So being a Mana User is passed down in the blood? The ability to use Mana is genetic?"

"Exactly." Ann shrugged in response.

Brandon licked his lips and tried to interject. "But...."

Ann waved a hand before her silencing him as she continued. "But nothing! You are what you are boy. You are a descendent of Hovels powerful bloodline, a bloodline that has birthed some of the strongest Mana Users in the known history of this world. In their time they were called Mages, and sorceress, but all were Mana Users in blood, and all of the Greats had Wills of phenomenal proportions. And that has been passed down through the generations. It is what it is. Simple."

Brandon sighed. "Perhaps, but I am not like my father in anyway. I may be a Great, but my ability to do Alchemy so far is pathetic next to his or even next to yours."

Ann tilted her head. "You have a very keen lack of understanding of the craft. So how can you gauge your abilities boy? You have no template of understanding of all the intricacies that come with the Manifestation of Mana. You may be ignorant, but there is nothing pathetic in your Will or you aptitude for Alchemy, or more particularly the act of using your Will to give Mana a physical shape."

Ann touched his arm, then pulled back. "You excel at giving Mana shape and you are astoundingly proficient in this aspect. It is a rare gift, and quite ferocious if you can learn the fundamentals and master the craft. Things that I can teach you to do."