Aelion now felt not only the presence of mana slightly in the environment but also omnipresently throughout his body, more precisely in his chest. It was a hermetically sealed sphere, filled with the mana he had gathered and compressed to its maximum capacity.
---
[ Mana Heart ]
Type: Passive Ability
Category: Internal Mana Reservoir
Description:
The Mana Heart acts as an energy core located at the center of the body.
It stores, purifies, and regulates the mana of its bearer, allowing them to use magic longer without exhaustion.
The more developed the heart, the higher the capacity and density of the mana.
Effects:
Increases total mana reserve.
Slightly accelerates natural mana recovery.
Stabilizes magical flow during spellcasting.
Mana: 250
---
" Wow, so my mana is currently quantified at this… I wonder how much it would be for Seraphina" he contemplated, staring at the skill description screen he had just acquired.
Seraphina watched him contemplate the void, unsure of what he saw. She simply clapped her hands to get his attention.
"Congratulations, I can see you successfully created your Mana Heart with flying colors– she said, congratulating him, then continued –Good. The stronger you become and the higher you level up, the more mana your heart can hold. Be careful not to confuse it with your real heart, otherwise, you might actually store mana there, and if a malfunction occurs, your heart could explode."
"The world of magic is really strict, I think…" Aelion confirmed, feeling confused.
"I'd say it's because you know nothing about it. I wonder how… even for a peasant or a non-mage, it's something instinctively limited, unless they come from a place where magic clearly does not exist. To my knowledge, no such place exists in Acnessea…"
Aelion nodded to confirm his doubts, yet he did not tell her where he came from, since she also withheld information. Now that the mana reservoir had been created, it was time to design the circuit for distributing the mana throughout his body.
When she explained the idea, Aelion quickly realized which skill could help him: one he had gained from acquiring the Blood Affinity.
[ Activated Skill: Blood Perception ]
With this skill, which allowed him to perceive his blood flow and, by extension, the pattern of his circulation and veins, Aelion used it just to trace the path the mana should follow to flow through his body and be externalized. In other words: his magical circuit was mapped according to his blood vessels.
[ You have acquired the Magic Circuit skill! ]
---
[ Magic Circuit ]
Type: Passive
Category: Mana Channeling / Control
Description:
The Magic Circuit is an invisible network running throughout the body, connecting the Mana Heart to the organs, limbs, and mind.
It allows mana to flow freely and be shaped to create spells, enhance the body, or activate supernatural abilities.
The more developed the circuits, the faster, more stable, and more precise the mana control becomes.
Effects:
Allows mana to circulate through the body and be used.
Improves control, precision, and fluidity of spells.
Reduces energy loss during channeling.
---
Thanks to all these skills and magic, Aelion felt as if he was not only rediscovering the world but also his body from a deeper, new perspective.
He felt the mana flowing through the circuit like blood through his veins, an odd but fascinating and comforting sensation.
Now, only one thing remained for Seraphina to teach him: magical detection. This was very simple for someone who possessed a Mana Heart and had learned perception.
"For detection, you just need to extend your perception range and sense the mana of living beings around you. It may be difficult at first to detect skilled mages, because they can hide their presence and mana to avoid being discovered. However, you can start with the trees around us. There are no animals, so I will make myself deliberately visible."
Aelion closed his eyes to focus and dive deeply into his sensations, like with perception.
As she said, it was fairly easy. Now he could see and distinguish mana, and even discern shapes and presences through the mana around him, as well as what the trees contained. Now, he extended his consciousness in all directions.
Of course, there was a limit. However, behind him, he felt an imposing presence; he didn't even need to turn around to feel the crushing pressure in the air. He had the impression that the mana emanating from Seraphina was burning.
He felt that this method was not efficient enough for him. Aelion wanted a detection that could sweep the area without intense concentration.
Then he thought of echolocation. In his case, he just needed to create a magical wave with himself as the epicenter, which would allow him to detect presences, especially people and mages around him.
Thanks to the Mana Heart and Magic Circuit, it was easy. Although he was not yet skilled in manipulating mana, he managed to do it. It was like a radar mapping the area.
The vampire noticed due to the fluctuations caused by the wave but did not scold him at the moment. It was only after he finished that she mentioned it.
"You know, what you just did is ingenious, certainly, but double-edged" Seraphina said bluntly.
"How so?"Aelion replied, seeking an answer.
"I won't tell you. You're a novice mage; what good would it do to hand you the answers on a silver platter? With the basic knowledge I gave you, it's up to you to strengthen yourself and seek understanding. The library isn't there for nothing" she insisted firmly.
He was her student, and she had to strengthen him, but that didn't mean giving him everything and explaining everything.
He also gauged her; both had reservations about sharing information.
"Then why did you agree to train me?" asked Aelion.
Seraphina sighed but replied in her usual even tone.
"First, I want to get out of here. Second, I don't really need dead weight if we get attacked again. Third, you are too weak to help me in what I want to do, physically or mentally. Anyway, I didn't ask for your help. I'm just following your way of functioning: an exchange of good practice."
"I understand, at least it's clearer in my head."
"The real training begins today with the skills you've learned. You must use them as many times as possible throughout the day to familiarize yourself with them and strengthen them. Tomorrow, I will teach you protection, reinforcement, and how to use your Dark Blood attribute much more effectively."
After everything he had just learned, he needed a break.
The two left the room for the ground floor. Seraphina planned to prepare for the evening, this time without animosity.
On the way, UGAEL joined them, bowing respectfully.
"So?"
"Regarding the task you assigned me, I have checked all defense systems and activated the external anti-magic barrier, as well as the gargoyles and statues. I will proceed with maintenance."
"Good. We are safe from external threats for now. Hmm… UGAEL, can you show Seraphina here present that you do not pose a danger to her and that you have nothing that could distract me from her or attract me?"
It was a strange but teasing request, addressed directly to Seraphina, who had become jealous after seeing them together.
He did not dehumanize UGAEL, far from it, just to reinforce the vampire's feeling that he didn't see the automaton as a romantic interest, only as a colleague.
"Understood."
Without warning, the automaton unbuttoned her outfit and stood nude before the two.
Aelion was fascinated by what he saw, while Seraphina, after seeing what was revealed, immediately turned to him and shouted in his face:
"LOOK AWAY!!!! I FORBID YOU TO LOOK!!!"
The fact was, despite her doll-like appearance, UGAEL had been designed to resemble a human: she had breasts, nipples, and even a genitalia, although the color had nothing to do with humans—it looked more like porcelain.
"Wait a second! Is this really real?"
UGAEL responded without emotion or embarrassment, as usual.
"Yes, absolutely. From sensation to sensitivity, I have all the components of a real woman. I also have a secondary mode optimized to satisfy my master's needs. However, my primary role is to manage the Ira Manor. The absence of physiological reactions from my master at this sight, does it convince you, Mistress Seraphina?" asked the automaton, unaware she was making the situation worse.
"You may also touch, Master Aelion, to confirm the sensation" she said, pressing her breasts toward them.
Wow, that really looks soft and real…
Feeling her patience exhausted and her jealousy surpassed the limit, Seraphina exploded, and without realizing it, a gesture she made with non-lethal intent went wrong.
"THERE IS NO FUCKING WAY I WILL LET YOU TOUCH HER BREAST IN FRONT OF ME!!! STOP LOOKING AT HER!!!"
[ You are dead ]
Huh…