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Chapter 31
For both Obin and humans, even if they tried to use magic stones, the amount of spiritual substance “Yeongso” that could actually be converted into mana was extremely small. Therefore, magical rituals, spells, and catalysts were necessary.
Imagine lifting a huge boulder as mana. A human trying to lift a rock larger than their own body would require immense strength. But with a tool, the story changes. Using a pulley, one can lift the rock with far less effort. A magical ritual functions like that pulley. If you add lubricant to the pulley, it becomes even easier to use—that’s what catalysts and spells do.
But Aris’s magic had neither pulley nor lubricant. There was only raw mana. To put it in simpler terms, it was as if a human were trying to lift a mountain of rocks with nothing but their bare hands. All that was needed was to think they wanted to do it, to will it, and that thought converted into mana, allowing them to use magic.
Kundulen washed his face with a dry towel.
“You do know how other people use magic, right?”
“You really underestimate me. I’ve also completed basic magical studies.”
Yet his tone remained indifferent.
“If you know it, then why do you use such a crude method?”
Aris waved his hand in response to Mirea’s remark.
“This is easier for me. I don’t need to memorize complicated rituals.”
“Haha, how annoying.”
Sio cursed, almost as if complimenting him. Because Sio spoke so bluntly in front of Kundulen, Riviello nudged him in the side. Kundulen cleared his throat.
“Since you’ve completed the basics, let’s see how much you really know with a question.”
As Kundulen wrote the question on paper, Aris grew increasingly irritated by the tedious process, clicking his tongue secretly.
Kundulen allowed about thirty minutes, but Aris breezed through the answers and submitted the sheet in five minutes. As Kundulen read it, his brows automatically furrowed. The answers were sloppy, especially the last descriptive one, which was particularly outrageous:
[Even without a ritual, concentrating over 7,000 Ecu of mana in one spot can cause repulsion among densely packed mana, generating heat energy. This can lead to spontaneous combustion and burn geothermal energy, so a ritual isn’t necessary. No academic papers have measured using over 7,000 Ecu, so it hasn’t been scientifically verified, but based on personal experience, this phenomenon can be observed.]
Firstly, no individual could use up to 7,000 Ecu of mana, and the justification for this answer was essentially: “I did it, so it works.” Kundulen began doubting the academic knowledge he had built over fifty years. After reviewing and grading Aris’s answers, he assessed Aris’s level:
“Fourth-year level at a general academy.”
For context, the general academy had courses up to the fourth year. Typically, after completing the general courses, students moved on to a three-year advanced academy, where basic state-supported magical education was completed. Wizards who finished the advanced course then needed four years at a high-level academy to specialize in magic studies and earn qualifications. Reaching higher proficiency typically required completing doctoral studies.
“Ah, I actually stopped learning magic around that time. I got involved in a rebellion, so…”
Aris added a casual excuse, and Kundulen sighed, muttering silently to his god:
“Oh, Bobinaysier! The road ahead is endless.”
“So, what’s the maximum amount of mana you can generate?”
Laila asked. Aris thought for a moment.
“I haven’t measured it properly, but I’d say over 20,000 Ecu now.”
While Laila and Kundulen were shocked, Sio pointed out the nuance.
“Now? Was it different before?”
“When I sealed Klein with the magic sword Penidran, I used almost all my mana, leaving only enough for basic metabolic function. It took five years to recover, but I don’t think it’s fully back yet.”
That made everyone too afraid to ask just how much it had been before.
“Why the reaction? Is this your first time seeing a Derkaid?”
“I’ve never seen one.”
“Me neither.”
Responding, Kundulen spoke seriously:
“In the past 100 years, officially recorded Derkaids number 200. Unofficially, it could be three to ten times more, but not many have been properly studied. Not all Derkaids are like this, at least as far as I know.”
Kundulen had once researched Derkaids for academic purposes. Recruiting them was a huge challenge, and their history was short, so most studies were one-off. While he hadn’t reached deep insights, he was among the few scholars with verified knowledge about Derkaids—one reason Sephiros entrusted Aris to him.
Kundulen cited examples of other Derkaids, both observed and recorded:
“The first Derkaid, White Wing Nicolaus, had around 30,000 Ecu of mana even without magic stones. Later generations dropped sharply, usually around 10,000 Ecu. For normal humans, average mana with a stone is about 1,500 Ecu, and Obin slightly higher, around 2,000 Ecu.”
Sio asked:
“And dragons?”
“Dragons use mana differently from humans and Obin. The dragon gem on their forehead substitutes for a magic stone, and rituals convert internally. A single dragon is a massive magical construct, so measuring their mana is meaningless.”
Mirea explained to Sio, gesturing toward the glass bottles Aris had set up. Kundulen tilted his head.
“Aris, your mana might rival Nicolaus.”
“Why not measure it then?”
Riviello, who had been silent until now, spoke.
“We need to know the level anyway to modify the magical device.”
Laila and Kundulen agreed. As Kundulen brought out the measuring device, Aris hurriedly said:
“If you don’t want this lab to explode, we need to do it outside.”
They moved to the backyard. Aris removed his outer clothes and shirt, leaving only his undergarment. His back was fully exposed, and there was a reason for that.
“When the mana used exceeds a certain threshold, wings appear naturally. Books and papers speculate on Derkaid wings’ function, but I think they help channel mana. I tried using magic without the wings, and it felt blocked. Why wings? I have no idea.”
Aris rotated his shoulder joints to warm up. Laila placed a device with antennas and a display in front of him, her expression full of anticipation. Aris made the others step back and gathered mana at his fingertips, the easiest part of the body for visualization.
Once the mana was concentrated, he amplified it. Colliding with wandering Yeongso, blue sparks flew. Even Aris didn’t fully understand why the sparks were blue. Like all Derkaids, there were aspects of himself he didn’t fully know.
The mana spread through his body, and as he had warned, black wings suddenly sprouted from his back. Aris now appeared like lightning itself. Observers had to squint against the brightness.
“This is the range I can safely pull mana… I’ll try a bit more.”
As sparks intensified, Mirea worried he might set the area ablaze. Aris began sweating, grimacing slightly, and then retracted his mana.
“If I go any higher, my body will be drained.”
He folded his wings, wiped his sweat, and caught his breath. Laila read the display:
“Maximum output measured at 22,624 Ecu. I’ve never seen a human reach this level.”
“So this is why the chairman wanted him to learn magic.”
Kundulen stroked his beard, contemplating. Mana is mental power, and mental power expresses will. Magic is the manifestation of the caster’s intent. If a Derkaid performs magic with such strong will, could they change the world’s fate by sheer intent?
“If the Frost Goddess’s whisper truly manifests its literal meaning, calling him Black Wing is the proper interpretation. The influence he could have if properly taught magic is unimaginable.”
Kundulen glanced at Riviello, who seemed deep in thought. Noticing his gaze, Riviello turned to him and smiled. Kundulen gave a small smile in return and addressed the group:
“It may be embarrassing to call this a lesson, but we’ll stop here for today. I need to prepare for the next session, and I’ll design the curriculum based on today’s test results.”
