Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Foundations of Power
A gentle breeze rustled the grass as I lay in the open field, staring up at the endless sky. The warmth of the sun bathed my skin, but my mind was elsewhere. In my right hand, I held a wooden spear, its surface worn smooth from hours of training. A few feet away, a training dummy—crudely stitched together—stood motionless, marked by the countless strikes I had delivered over the past few months.
It had been four years since I arrived in this world.
Under Cynthia Goodsky's care, I had been treated as nothing less than a noble. Her reputation and influence ensured that my presence was unquestioned. While others saw me as a fortunate orphan taken in by a high-ranking official, I knew the truth—she was keeping a close eye on me after all she who had come from another continent had to always be cautious, if not for her good nature i would already be dead.
My early years had been a blur of observation, careful maneuvering, and absorbing every piece of knowledge I could. Goodsky was a patient but meticulous teacher. Every day, I devoured books on mana theory, magical history, and combat techniques.
By the time I was four, my understanding of mana had already surpassed that of most adult mages. My perfect affinity for controlling supernatural forces made it easy to grasp even the most complex theories, and my natural intelligence allowed me to extrapolate information beyond what was written.
But it wasn't just books that shaped me.
From the moment I could walk steadily, Goodsky had ensured I received proper combat training. My education extended beyond theory, incorporating practical combat lessons with various weapons. Initially, I experimented with different styles, testing my body's limits.
Two weapons, in particular, stood out to me:
1. The Spear – Versatile, lethal, and adaptable to both long-range thrusts and close-quarters combat. It suited my natural agility and precise movements.
2. The Dagger – Light, fast, and perfect for assassinations or swift counterattacks. Its synergy with my developing shadow abilities made it an ideal secondary weapon.
Though I practiced archery as well, I found the bow to be more of a supplementary tool rather than a primary focus. My small body limited my strength for now, but with time, I knew that would change.
At the age of three, Goodsky had taken me on an official visit to the Elven Kingdom,elenoir . It was there that I met Alduin and Merial Eralith, the King and Queen of the elves and also the past king vision Eralith.
They had been intrigued by me and my circumstances of being adopted for which goodsky gave a hearth warming and tearful story in which my being found near the beast glades where left out. Even more interesting was my meeting with their newborn daughter, Tessia Eralith. She was barely a year younger then me, a small bundle of energy with piercing green eyes,chubby face and a very loud and annoying voice.
Though our interaction was brief, I could tell even then that our paths would intertwine in the future,though i hope that by that time she would grow out of her loud and annoying phase.
I observed the royal couple carefully during our stay. Their kingdom was powerful, their people proud, and their knowledge of mana beasts and the natural flow of energy was unlike anything found in human society. Goodsky, of course, had brought me along to introduce me to such knowledge firsthand.
The visit solidified my understanding of Dicathen's political landscape. Power was everything here, and if I wanted to carve my place in this world, I needed to continue strengthening myself.
Despite my physical training, my true obsession over the past four years had been mana core development.
Goodsky's lessons on mana cores had given me insight into their mechanics, but I found the existing system... lacking. Most mages followed a rigid method of absorbing mana to refine a single core, slowly strengthening it over time. But I saw potential for something greater.
During a particularly intense meditation session, an idea struck me. What if, instead of refining a single core, I created a dual-layered structure?
Thus, the Orbit Core and mana heart was born.
Unlike traditional mana cores, my design incorporated two protective shells, each regulating the mana flow within. Instead of simply refining mana, I structured my core to have orbital rings of mana circulation, enhancing both efficiency and concealment with the added bonus of automatic mana refinment.
While my mana heart was more of a support mana battery and adjustment system,though dangerous I designed the Mana heart with circuits which passivity absorbs mana from my core and distributes it throughout my body completing two functions the first being the increase in the intensity of the mana used throughout the body through mana enchantment and the second being the gradual release of mana particles within my bloodstream to increase my resistance to invading mana and also mana overload.
Right now, my core was still incomplete—at 84% formation while my mana heart is finished—even with the cores incomplete form I could already feel its superiority.
Normal mages could sense each other's mana cores. Mine? Practically undetectable.
Traditional cores required time to refine mana. Mine recycled and refined it continuously with the orbital rings.
Breakthroughs in traditional cultivation were bottlenecked. My design allowed for constant, gradual improvement without stagnation.
The only downside? It was exponentially harder to create, requiring immense precision and control. Fortunately, I had both.
Present Day
I exhaled, rising from my position in the field. With practiced ease, I spun the wooden spear in my hands, adjusting my grip before launching into a flurry of precise strikes against the training dummy.
Each movement was clean, efficient—no wasted motion. Though my physical strength was still that of a four-year-old, mana reinforcement made up for the deficit.
I stepped back, assessing my performance. The dummy, reinforced with a mana-infused frame, showed visible damage. Satisfied, I lowered my spear.
A voice interrupted my thoughts.
"You're out here again, Adam?"
I turned to see Mailk, Goodsky's right-hand man. He stood at the edge of the field, arms crossed, a hint of amusement in his dark eyes.
I gave him a small nod. "Training doesn't stop just because the sun is up."
Mailk chuckled. "Goodsky's expecting you soon. Another lesson on mana beasts today."
I wiped my forehead with my sleeve before glancing up at the sky once more.
Four years had passed. My foundations were set nearly set in regards to mana.
But this was just the beginning as I still had my foundations and understanding of my authority's to understand and implement.
[END OF CHAPTER]
Updated Status Screen
[Name]: Adam Goodsky (Kael Lunaris – Previous Life)
[Race]: Lunarian
[Title(s)]: Reincarnated (S), Genius Prodigy (A),
Cynthia Goodsky's Protégé (A)
[Level]: 0
[Age]: 4
[Mana Affinity]: ???+ (Enhanced by Cosmic Entity)
[Mana Control]: SSS+
[Mana Core]: Orbit Core /mana heart (84% Formed)
Traits:
1. Ancient Lunarian Physiology (SS+) – Increased durability, flight, and fire manipulation (still weakened due to age).
2. Genius (EX) – Unparalleled proficiency in combat, magic, and crafting.
Stats:
Strength: 24
Agility: 30
Intelligence: 58
Defense: 70
Charisma: 33
Luck: 55
Free Status Points:0
Skills:
Mana Manipulation (AA+) – Advanced control over mana.
Soul Authority (S+ / Growth) – Can influence and manipulate souls.
Shadow/Death Authority (???++ / Sealed) – Restricted for now.
Spear arts(S-) – High adaptability with spear type weapons.
Dagger arts(E-)-moderate use of Dagger type wepons.
Mana Reinforcement (A) – Enhances physical attributes using mana.
Other Functions:
[Shop] – Requires full mana core formation.
[Inventory]-Requires full mana core formation.