Chapter 59: The Tests

Arlo mused as he lowered the book onto the ground. Now, he understood the purpose behind the Cthulhu Academy. It was similar to the Orama Military Group, where cyber-transfusion pupils attended to gain better control over their cybernetics.

"Still, I’ll need to get my hands on everything I can find about Mana and the history of the Vorath, while also learning how to manipulate Vorath Mana..."

"There’s a family library in the castle. It has everything you need to know, and you should be fine after locking yourself inside for three days," Princess Milliani said.

Arlo nodded before looking down at his own hands.

"And how long would it take me to achieve at least a basic level of control?"

Princess Milliani raised her hands and began counting dramatically on her fingers.

"I don’t know about you, but it took me around four years."

"Vorath Mana usually manifests around the age of twelve in early awakeners, giving them four years to properly train before they are required to take the Cthulhu Academy entrance examination at sixteen."

Arlo’s expression immediately fell.

"Four... four years?! I only have a week left..."

"Hey, System, can I change my body back to a Warrior-type Vorath?" Arlo couldn’t help but ask. If he could do that, at least he would have a better chance of passing.

[NO!]

The System’s response immediately poured cold water over his already dim hopes.

"I can help you," Princess Milliani said, causing Arlo to turn toward her in surprise.

"But why bother?" he couldn’t help asking.

Milliani rolled her eyes.

"Don’t get the wrong idea, dummy. Isn’t that the reason Mom sent you to me in the first place?"

Arlo’s brows creased slightly, but he soon shrugged it off. She did have a point.

Queen Isadolla had specifically asked him to meet Milliani so she could help him, though he simply hadn’t expected the unruly-looking princess to be so obedient to her seemingly soft-hearted mother, much less willing to take on the role of a temporary mentor for someone like him.

"Well then, all I can say is thank you, Princess Milliani," he said.

Princess Milliani snorted before skipping over to him.

"That said, can you at least show me what you can do?" she asked.

Arlo nodded before sitting down cross-legged.

Revolve the Mana through the pathways in the body, then try to bring it into your fingertips...

He focused inward, allowing his heartbeat to gradually settle.

Slowly, dark veins began wriggling across his arms as dark gas puffed from his palms, almost as though his hands were on fire.

"Nice. Now turn it into a basic ball," Princess Milliani said.

Arlo turned toward her with a raised eyebrow.

"I mean this."

She raised her palm, and in less than two seconds, a mysterious ball of dark gas appeared above it, brimming with a slightly chaotic aura.

"Let me try..." Arlo mused.

He concentrated harder on the Mana, moving his fingers as though trying to shape it into a ball, but he was soon interrupted by Princess Milliani’s stifled laughter.

"What?"

"What are you trying to do?" Princess Milliani asked, finally stopping her laughter.

"I’m trying to form a ball of Mana."

"And you’re trying to use your fingers to mold it?"

She stared at him with an expression every bit as confused as his own, leaving Arlo completely silent.

"Let me explain the basics of Mana to you. Perhaps then you’ll at least understand what you’re trying to take control of," Princess Milliani said before beginning her explanation.

"Mana is basically a magical life force. Just as the energy within a human body allows them to move and perform physical actions, Mana allows the Vorath to create supernatural phenomena."

"In other words, Mana is the foundation of magic. Through it, one can control where magic appears and what form it takes. That process is called spellcasting."

She raised her hand toward Arlo, and dark gas slowly shot forward before taking the shape of a tiny needle.

"This. This is what broke my entire arm the first time we met," Arlo said as he stared at the sharp needle formed above her palm.

"This is basic spellcasting, and it’s called the Piercing Needle Technique. I can form it with a single thought."

"But Mana isn’t only used for spellcasting. Depending on the type of Vorath, it can also be channeled throughout the body to increase strength, speed, durability, and overall physical ability."

"Huh? Isn’t the same Mana coursing through the same body? I’m pretty sure I can also channel and reroute my Mana through my body, yet I can’t be classified as a Warrior-class Vorath," Arlo said, voicing his confusion.

"If Mana exists inside everyone’s body, why can’t everyone simply cast spells or strengthen their bodies with it?"

"Because the Mana within a Mage and a Warrior isn’t distributed in the same way," Princess Milliani replied.

"A Warrior-class Vorath has Mana spread throughout their entire body. When they throw a punch, Mana naturally moves toward their fist and strengthens it before the punch even lands. The same thing happens when they need speed or durability, making it easier for them to reinforce their bodies and rely on brute force."

"But for a Mage, most of the Mana travels through specific Mana channels, many of which eventually lead toward the arms. That makes it easier for us to project Mana outside our bodies and turn it into spells, though we have to consciously control it."

"You can think of it this way. A Warrior-class Vorath naturally manipulates Mana inside their body, while a Mage-class Vorath is better suited to manipulating Mana outside it."

"Sounds like the Warrior-class Vorath are quite the lucky ones," Arlo mused.

Much to his surprise, Princess Milliani nodded seriously.

"They do have an advantage in that regard. Their Mana moves through their bodies almost reflexively, while a Mage has to consciously control theirs before they can properly use it."

She paused before continuing.

"That’s also why around ninety-five percent of male Vorath are Warriors, while ninety-five percent of female Vorath are Mages. The females are generally weaker physically, but of course, there are exceptions."

She smiled as Arlo raised an eyebrow.

"And who are the exceptions?"

"The very high-aptitude Mages."

"Huh?"

"Every class of Vorath, whether Warrior or Mage, has different levels of aptitude."

"Take Warriors, for example. Some have Mana that moves through their bodies more easily than others, allowing them to strengthen their attacks almost instinctively. But there are those with such incredible aptitude that when a sneak attack comes without them even realizing it, their Mana automatically rushes toward the area about to be struck and hardens it, reducing the damage before they are even aware they’ve been attacked."

"Woah."

"And Mages can possess equally terrifying aptitude. Some can form a house-sized ball of destructive Mana simply by willing it into existence, almost as though it were a reflex. Those kinds of people can defeat even the strongest Warrior Vorath."

"Oh, really?" Arlo asked doubtfully.

Princess Milliani nodded seriously.

"Let me give you an example. Who do you think is the strongest person in the settlement right now?" she asked.

Arlo answered without even thinking.

"His Majesty, King Eboncrest."

Of course, the king was the absolute strongest person in any kingdom, just like how his father had been the strongest person in the entire Eclipsion Dynasty and Umbrasol itself.

"You’re wrong."

Princess Milliani’s reply came as a complete shock to Arlo, causing his brows to furrow.

"Then who is the strongest? Prince Demois?" he guessed.

She shook her head once more.

"The strongest person in the Eboncrest settlement is Queen Isadolla Eboncrest. My mother."

"WHAT?!"

Arlo stared at her in disbelief.

"Queen Isadolla is the absolute strongest? I thought female Vorath were the weaker counterparts."

"I told you, there are exceptions," Princess Milliani replied. "And my point is that she’s a Mage-class Vorath, so don’t look down on yourself simply because you’re one."

Arlo nodded.

He had never truly looked down on himself for being a Vorath in the first place. He knew very well that even among the Vorath, he was a rare breed because of his hybrid nature.

"But there’s one more thing you need to understand," Princess Milliani continued.

"When a Warrior-class Vorath wants to enter the Cthulhu Academy, they aren’t tested on their ability to consciously control Mana. Instead, they’re tested on how smoothly Mana flows through their bodies and how well they can utilize the reflexive control that comes naturally to them."

"But for a Mage-class Vorath, the examination focuses directly on Mana control."

"A basic requirement is being able to cast a spell with a thought and demonstrate the ability to progressively morph your Mana into different forms."

Arlo’s gaze immediately returned to the dark gas floating above her palm.

"So then, how do I morph my Mana into different forms?"

Arlo asked, focusing on the most important question.

"It begins with learning to properly open the Mana channels in your arms, allowing Mana to move quickly through them.

"Then comes the ability to easily release Mana from your body, something I believe you’re strangely already capable of..." Milliani said, her eyebrows creasing.

She found it strange that Arlo, who had only recently become a Vorath, could have already opened his Mana channels and learned how to absorb Mana into his body.

Just how had he obtained such knowledge?

’Could it be knowledge from his old world, Umbrasol? But this is specifically Dark Magic. Did they have ways of controlling Dark Magic back in his home world?’

She quietly wondered.