HDMGF Book 2- Part 12

Jake’s POV

I was sitting on a chair made of sculpted vines, listening to my personal tutor talk about magic theory and practical applications as a part of my after-training lessons that I was supposed to do. Every day after everyone else gets done with their training, I come here and learn about a verity of magic manipulation techniques, and how to more precisely control my mana. I may not make it sound fun, but it was actually pretty interesting. Recently, I learned a mana control technique. Apparently there are a lot of variations, but he just showed me a few.

“Now enlarge the mana sphere, but don’t let you concentration waver, or it will rupture.” My instructor, who didn’t have a name, told me. He was perched on a metal pole, about ten feet behind me.

“What happens-” BOOM! The sphere exploded like balloon going off in my ear. “In hindsight, I should have known better." I yelled and rubbed my ringing ears.

"I literally just said to concentrate.” He said shaking his head.

“It didn’t do that last time.” I said.

“That was the Noako variation, this is the Chatto. Do you remember how I described the Noako?” He asked.

I thought for a second, “You said it was more about output than control.”

“Yes, exactly. The Chatto variation is the exact opposite. So failing here is more likely, and a little less dangerous because you aren’t using as much mana.” The Noako version was pretty simple to do. He had me build up a lot of mana, and release it in a single blast. He said it was to improve how quickly I could utilize my mana and to improve how fast I could store it up.

“Wait, what do you mean less dangerous? Was the Noako one not safe?”

“It was safe enough, for you.”

Well now he tells me. I thought to myself. “What do you mean ‘safe enough for me’?”

“Your own mana is unlikely to hurt you, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Why do you think I’m perched over here?” He pointed out.

“Yeah, but what would it do, I mean?” I asked.

“Well, I don’t know about your inversion mana, and I’m not too keen on finding out, but depending on the attribute one possesses, a rupture could have a verity of effects to anyone caught in its path. Energy is more likely to burn you, Nature causes mold to grow sometimes, other times plants in the affected area die, and Memory attribute mana once cause me to relive an entire day in my mind. So, it really depends on the mage.” He explained.

As he explained, I restarted trying to form the sphere, and it popped again. “You seem to be having significantly more trouble with the control variation.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know why. I mean, my Railgun spell must require more control than this, so I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.” I said confused.

“Did you perhaps use a magic circle for your spells?” The instructor asked.

“I don’t even know how they work.” I said.

“I’ll put it in a lesson when I get a chance. Perhaps your visualizations need improvement? How are you picturing the sphere in your mind?” He asked.

“I-I wasn’t. Was I supposed to?” I turned to him and asked.

“It would help, yes, but it isn’t always a requirement. Actually, many high ranked mages pride themselves on not needing to rely on visualizations when doing this training.”

“How can you tell the difference?” I asked.

“Using visualizations makes the sphere smooth, but using only your own manual control causes lines to appear.” He said. I looked at the sphere I was forming. There were countless lines moving in every direction; like a ball of yarn, but translucent.

“Can I try with a visualization then?” I asked.

“You can, but I would prefer you to not to have to rely on them. In combat, you won’t always have time for such things, so you should get used to training the harder way if you can. It will help you on the long term.”

“So… I shouldn’t use them?” I wondered.

“You can, but sparingly. Build up your abilities without them.”

“How am I supposed to use a visualization sparingly?” I asked confused.

“The way I do it, is by only imagining the outline of the sphere, not the finished product.” He explained. I turned away from him and refocused back on the sphere, doing as he suggested on picturing a hallow circle in my mine. It really made a difference; the sphere was far easier to maintain this time. I was able to maintain it for thirty seconds before it ruptured again.

I practiced this way for about an hour. Apparently, once you are able to make the sphere and maintain it for a full minute, then you start making other shapes; I never made it past the sphere. After my training was done for the day, I found Suma and went home. I needed to prepare for tomorrow, and for the favor that Lieutenant Datahu asked me to do for her.