The Monster King's Legacy-Chapter 129: Learning about Magic 2

Aelyndra raised a claw and traced a glowing pattern in the air. A circular design appeared, intricate and symmetrical, pulsing with energy.

"Magic circles work much like array formations. By creating a structured framework, they allow for greater precision and control over different perimeters that go into the formation of a spell. Instead of relying solely on mental visualization, the circle channels and refines the mana for you once learnt. With a magic circle, even a learner can cast a powerful spell without needing to understand the spell itself, just what goes into creating it. If that makes sense."

Lance leaned forward, examining the glowing design with curiosity. "It does make perfect sense, but wouldn't that be harder to learn?"

"Yes and no. Magic circles require technical knowledge and intelligence, but they eliminate the randomness of raw visualization. Once mastered, they allow for stronger and more stable magic."

Lance absorbed the information, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. It all made sense, though the idea of controlling mana still felt foreign to him. To tell the truth, he understood most of the concepts pretty easily because of his knowledge from earth that strangely enough, tallied with most of the things Aelyndra was saying, giving him the idea that perhaps, magic did exist on earth, or maybe in the past. Either way, there were people who knew things that the rest didn't.

"Alright," he said, "so mana flows from the core to the heart, spreads through the body, and can be shaped using either imagination and will or magic circles. Got it. But how do I actually know how much mana I have? And how do I start casting spells?"

Aelyndra's gaze sharpened. "Let's find out."

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She raised a claw and gently pressed it against Lance's chest. Lance felt a sudden warmth spread through his body, like a ripple of energy passing through him. Aelyndra also simultaneously closed her eyes, focusing.

Moments later, she pulled back, her expression unreadable.

"...Interesting."

Lance frowned. "What is it?"

"You have the mana capacity of a large bowl's worth."

Lance blinked. "That... doesn't sound like a lot. I know I don't have a talent for magic, but that somehow sounds worse than I imagined."

Aelyndra let out a low hum. "It isn't. In fact, it's absurdly low for a grown warrior who has already awakened an innate ability. Not to mention, you use the ability as though you have an ocean of mana inside you… truly fascinating if you actually think about it."

Lance felt an uneasy weight settle in his stomach. "Wait, wait, wait, keep that aside for the moment… so I'm weak?" He asked.

Aelyndra shook her head. "Not necessarily. Your body is strong, and you clearly have combat experience. But your mana reserves are minuscule. There may be something wrong with your core. With this amount, you will hit your limit for growth soon enough, as you mana won't be enough to fuel your body, especially because of your human physique."

Lance ran a hand through his hair. "Great. So, what now?"

"You need a second opinion," Aelyndra said firmly. "We will go to Elder Naerys. She is one of the most knowledgeable dragons, if anyone will know something, she will."

…

They had left immediately from Aelyndra's front yard if it could be referred to as so. Aelyndra had just finished her lesson with the sapphire scaled elder, so they were bound to find her easily, and they soon did only after a bit of looking.

The elder dragon was an awe-inspiring sight, even more so now that Lance looked at her in a brighter lighting. Her massive form, covered in gleaming sapphire-blue scales, exuded an air of wisdom and calm.

Her golden eyes regarded Lance with curiosity as she extended a single claw toward him.

"Let me see what we're dealing with," she said, her voice softer than Aelyndra's but no less powerful. Somehow, Lance could tell more clearly that she was female. Despite her being older… he was sure she would have a humanoid body to sooth such gentle voice.

'Come to think of it, she didn't sound this understanding back then.' Lance thought to himself, reminding himself of when he and Aelyndra had met the elders after her return.

Lance braced himself as the elder's magic seeped into him, much gentler than Aelyndra's and far more precise. She took her time, carefully examining every inch of his magical circulation.

When she finally withdrew her claw, her brows furrowed.

"There is nothing wrong with his core. It is formed properly and functions as expected. His heart, too, is normal, unusually strong even, I do say so." She exhaled deeply. "Yet, his mana capacity is... miniscule."

Aelyndra tilted her head. "So you have no idea why?"

The elder shook her head. "I have seen many strange cases, but this... this is unusual. Normally, a warrior of his caliber should have at least five to ten times as much mana."

Listening to the analysis, Lance couldn't help but sighed. "So what now? Am I just stuck like this?"

The elder studied him for a moment before answering, "You may not have much mana, but that does not mean you are weak. Physical enhancement through mana reinforcement is still an option. It may be your best path forward."

Lance nodded slowly. "So I should focus on strengthening my body instead of magic?"

"For now, yes," the elder confirmed. "However, I would not give up on magic entirely. There may still be ways to increase your reserves. Though, I do not know of any, I have never come across this issue before." She said.

Aelyndra nodded. "Then that's settled. We'll push your physical training to the next level while we figure out how to improve your mana. Just hope not to hot your limit before we find a way."

Lance exhaled as he listened, accepting the fate for the time being. Regardless, he wasn't going to let this discourage him. If magic wasn't his strong suit, then he'd just have to find another way to grow stronger.