"It is a power born of the mind, a force that both abides by the objective laws of this world and responds directly to your inner thoughts... Some say that mana originates from the synthesis of spirit and body, yet this world has no shortage of individuals who possess robust physical forms but meager magic, nor does it lack those who are physically frail but command vast reserves of mana.
Of course, those who possess both formidable bodies and resilient spirits are naturally the most common among the strong. However, I have also encountered individuals whose bodies and minds were completely withered, yet they still wielded immense magical power. To a certain degree, life force and mana can indeed be converted into one another...
Therefore, you can choose to believe that mana primarily stems from your spirit and secondarily from your body. As long as you master the method, mana becomes life, and life can become mana—it completely depends on how you choose to manipulate it.
But as for the true origin of mana, and what kind of existence it ultimately is, that is undoubtedly something you must explore and discover for yourself."
Sharan's voice was exceptionally soft and soothing, carrying an alluring weight that made one instantly yearn to dedicate all their focus and energy to the study of magic.
However, Li Ke had already caught her drift.
"In other words, every single mage must cultivate their own unique understanding of it?"
"Precisely. 'Magic' and 'mana' are simply very broad terms. It is much like the concept of 'Ki'—from a certain perspective, couldn't that be considered a form of magic as well?"
Sharan smiled warmly as she looked at Li Ke.
"So, regardless of how you choose to comprehend it, that is entirely up to you. I am merely a guide appointed here to lead anyone interested in magic through the gates of its grand sanctuary. How you think, and how you perceive magic, is your own affair. I will only offer suggestions based on my personal expertise, and provide you with access to the spellbooks we are permitted to make public."
Sharan gave a casual shrug of her shoulders.
Learning basic magic didn't cost a single cent, as Queen Skardi provided dedicated funding for it. However, actual spellbooks and magical experimentation were a completely different story. Those carried massive expenses that even a monarch as wealthy as Queen Skardi couldn't afford to subsidize for everyone, meaning the students were largely left to figure out the deeper intricacies on their own.
"This is a spellbook containing some basic incantations. If you wish to study them, the Mages' Guild has instructors explicitly assigned to guide you. However, the prerequisite is that you must first learn how to utilize your mana to construct a standard magic circle, and..."
Sharan shot Li Ke a highly peculiar look.
"...you must be literate."
"Tch."
Li Ke clicked his tongue in pure annoyance.
He was beginning to appreciate the critical importance of foreign languages more than ever. The problem was, back when he was in school, exactly zero institutions offered classes in Arad script.
"But you still have plenty of time, don't you? Since you've already mastered mana, you can recharge that brooch yourself every day. If you're careful with it, it will easily last you three months. However, no matter how well you preserve it, the brooch will inevitably crumble from mana corrosion after three months, so you had best learn the local language quickly. After those three months are up, if you come to see me again, I won't be able to waive the fees. Rules are rules, after all."
Sharan maintained a thoroughly professional, business-like demeanor, and Li Ke wasn't shameless enough to push his luck.
"Yeah, I understand. By the way, are there any people here who are strapped for cash? I'm afraid I'll need to hire someone to help me learn the alphabet around here."
Li Ke let out a defeated sigh. Out of pride as a man, he didn't want to constantly rely on Kiri, leaving him with no choice but to seek outside help.
"Well, about that..."
Sharan didn't immediately reject the idea. She actually quite liked this polite human, so after a brief moment of thought, she nodded at him.
"There's a girl named Roche who is quite short on funds. I'll ask her for you. Given her current level of strength, I won't have to worry about her safety while she's out with you."
Roche? The Cosmic Demon Rosgatha?!
A massive question mark instantly popped up over Li Ke's head.
But before he could ask for clarification, a petite figure with vibrant red hair suddenly barged straight into the room. With a frantic dash, she lunged forward and threw herself right into Sharan's embrace.
"Yo! Auntie—I mean, Sister Sharan! I brought back the Fire Element Crystal!"
As she spoke, the red-haired figure reached into the folds of her skirt and pulled out a crimson, crystalline object, proudly presenting it right before Sharan's eyes.
Yet, due to the stark difference in their heights, even though she strained on the tips of her toes, her hands could only raise the crystal as high as Sharan's collarbone. Consequently, an adorable, pouty expression washed over her fair-skinned face, which was currently smudged with black soot and ash.
Because of this sudden entrance, Li Ke finally got a clear look at the girl's appearance: she had blood-red hair tied back into playful, twin pigtails. She wore a dark red shirt paired with a frayed-edge dress, showing off her bare legs leading down into a pair of calfskin boots.
What was particularly eye-catching about her was a round, yellow, pancake-like ornament resting on her person, and the scythe-like head of the staff in her hand, which featured a bizarre pattern resembling a human face.
The second Li Ke laid eyes on this setup, he knew exactly who he was dealing with. This was one of the definitive protagonists from the Dungeon & Fighter lore. The outfit, the overall look—it was unmistakable as one of the original starting characters.
Sharan affectionately ruffled the child's blood-red hair as she took the crystal from her tiny hands.
"Well, you actually got the right one this time. However, leaning all over me when you're this filthy is going to make washing this dress a massive nightmare. I'm going to have to deduct a portion of your allowance this week."
Sharan spoke in a half-teasing tone, but the loli's face instantly twisted into pure horror as she blurted out, "Huh?! Auntie Sharan, you're mean!"
Right then and there, Li Ke watched Sharan's expression turn terrifyingly 'gentle.' Without a word, she brought the elemental crystal cracking right down onto the red-haired girl's head, causing her to let out a sharp squeal and collapse into a heap at Sharan's feet.
"Remember to call me Sister," Sharan chirped smoothly. "Oh, that's right, I almost forgot."
Only then did Sharan remember that Li Ke was still standing in the room. With effortless grace, she snagged the collar of the faceplanted loli and lifted her up like a prize kitten to display her to Li Ke.
"Mr. Li Ke, this child happens to be the one who can teach you the language. Don't look down on her just because she's a Pandemonium native; her command of the common tongue is actually quite excellent!"
"Ugh... Auntie Sharan—I mean, Sister Sharan is a bully..." Roche muttered, clutching her throbbing head.
Li Ke looked at Roche, then at Sharan, whose gaze was slowly growing menacingly pleasant once more. While he desperately wanted to complain about why Sharan was outsourcing his Arad language lessons to someone from Pandemonium, this was still Sharan's direct recommendation. Plus, she was a literal protagonist, so...
"Since she comes recommended by you, I can only express my gratitude. How should we handle the matter of her wages?"
Sharan simply offered a serene smile.
"It won't be high at all. You only need to cover this child's room and board, plus an additional five gold coins."
"That's right! Food is the most important thing!" The dangling Roche stopped struggling completely, throwing her hand high into the air in enthusiastic agreement.
Li Ke took a quick look at her petite, compact frame and figured she wouldn't be much of a burden on his wallet.
Thus, he confidently gave his guarantee.
"Rest assured. While I can't promise the most luxurious feasts, making sure you eat your fill will absolutely not be an issue!"
The very next second, he saw Roche's eyes—
Flash. They completely lit up with hunger.