TBATE: Shadows Of The Past

Chapter 19 - Mana & Cells

[1st POV - Cain Leywin]

The gentle sunlight filtered through the narrow entrance of the cave, casting a warm glow upon the environment I had chosen as my temporary dwelling. As its rays reached the heart of the cave, they encountered a brilliant, white-like flame that seemed to dissolve the very essence of mana in its presence.

My eyes opened, immediately fixating on the mesmerizing flame before me. With my hands still outstretched, I maintained unwavering focus. Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead, tracing a path down to my chin before meeting the scorching surface beneath me.

I had achieved it!

By employing a meticulously calculated ratio of 150 parts mana to 300 parts heat, I had succeeded in generating a flame capable of obliterating almost anything—or so my theory suggested.

The pure white flame danced gracefully within my grasp, swaying in harmony with the subtle currents of the air. Born of pure mana, this flame possessed the remarkable ability to draw upon the ambient mana in its surroundings, sustaining its burning essence. This implied that in combat, if unleashed upon an opponent, the flame would devour them, their own mana serving as its fuel, reducing them to ash.

I had braced myself for the possibility of failure, anticipating that my attempts to create the flame would yield only heat energy. Yet, I persevered, determined to manifest the flame, and against all odds, I achieved success.

This flame possessed a distinctive quality setting it apart from conventional fire magic—it had the potential to endure indefinitely within environments rich in mana. In conjunction with its ability to draw upon the mana of its surroundings as sustenance, it became a flame that could burn eternally.

Considering its capacity to deplete the mana of both its surroundings and individuals, while simultaneously reducing anything it touched to ashes, one may wonder how I managed to remain unscathed. The answer lies in the fact that the pure mana flame was an extension of my own mana, akin to an additional limb. I retained complete control over the heat emitted by the flame, adjusting its size within the confines of my mana capacity, and even manipulating its properties to enable the absorption of an adversary's mana.

In the books I had perused, the concept of Pure Mana was scarcely mentioned, likely due to its perceived lack of utility in controlling specific elements. However, the true reason for its omission can be attributed to the intricacies of the mana system within this world. Allow me to provide a comprehensive explanation.

Ahem.

In this realm, there exist four primary elemental types, each corresponding to a distinct element: Fire (represented by the color red), Water (blue), Wind (green), and Earth (brown).

Elemental mana, the manifestation of these elements in mana form, permeates the entirety of this continent. It exists in a particle state and cannot be destroyed or created through conventional means. When a mage absorbs elemental mana and undergoes refinement, they condense it within their core, augmenting their own mana reserves.

Now, here comes the twist:

Pure Mana, in essence, is the primordial form of mana and serves as the precursor to Elemental Mana. It exists within an individual from birth, and as their body matures, it gathers within the solar plexus, eventually forming a mana core—a crucial component of the awakening process.

However, this awakening process is imperfect, as the Pure Mana that condenses within the solar plexus also attracts impurities present in the body. Consequently, the originally pristine white mana transforms into a dark, black hue, giving rise to the various stages of the mana core. Quite fascinating, isn't it? Ahem.