The Nature Park is a space brimming with mana.

After all, this facility itself was created for mana training.

Wherever I turned my gaze, the scenery’s beauty was secondary to the rich mana that I felt through the power of observation.

The density of mana was high. Though extremely faint, simply breathing was enough to absorb some amount of mana.

Not only was the density high, but the purity was also exceptional.

In such a park, the Ipchun class cadets were seated in various spots.

The common feature was the fist-sized crystal orbs in their hands.

The crystal orbs were transparent, with five-colored auras floating inside as if they were mixed with watercolor.

The crystal orbs used in the previous mana introduction were magical tools that aided in ‘mana resonance’.

These magical tools helped confirm spirit affinity and awaken latent affinity.

The cadets were rolling the crystal orbs around in their hands, focusing intently.

Some cadets were frowning as they fiddled with the orbs, while others held the orbs with a serene mindset as if they had attained enlightenment.

Some found it easier to focus alone and positioned themselves away from others, while close friends gathered in small groups to concentrate.

Each cadet was focusing in their own way.

The first session of the ‘Understanding Spirits’ lecture was entirely dedicated to confirming affinities.

I was also holding a crystal orb.

Normally, I would have been focusing alone or sticking close to Hong Yeon-hwa or Elia.

“It might seem like a waste of time, but it’s good to periodically check your potential.”

But today was different.

A voice from right in front of me brought me back to reality.

A person who, even in this mana-rich space, carried an overwhelming amount of internal mana.

If I closed my eyes and only sensed mana, Professor Liana felt like a massive lump of mana.

She continued explaining with a gentle smile.

“Though innate talent is important, it’s not unheard of for it to blossom later in life.”

[Is it common for talents to blossom later?]

“No. It’s not common. Such cases are rare. Usually, it manifests when you awaken mana.”

Wasn’t the average age for becoming a superhuman around 3 to 5 years old?

Generally, that’s when people are divided into humans and superhumans, and among superhumans, those with unique abilities and those without.

“Still, it’s not unheard of. Professor Atra also didn’t have a unique ability initially, and there are cases of exceptionally late awakenings, like someone we know.”

I knew who she was referring to.

My case of awakening ten years later than usual was exceptional.

It might be unusual and special, but I wasn’t sure if it made me superior.

Others had been training since childhood. I was just starting to learn because of my late awakening.

I couldn’t see the benefits, and the losses seemed significant.

Thinking that, I wriggled my fingers.

It didn’t go as I wanted.

Partly because I was holding the crystal orb with one hand, and partly because Professor Liana’s hand was supporting mine.

My one remaining arm was restricted. As a result, I had no choice but to turn on the Necklace of Confession for effective communication.

Thanks to that, I was extremely tense, on high alert to prevent a repeat of the previous disaster.

I was prepared to cut off the connection the moment the Necklace of Confession tried to spout anything bizarre again.

“It’s been a while since we had a conversation like this.”

[You even visited me at the hospital, didn’t you?]

“I just saw your sleeping face then. When you regained consciousness, I was too busy to visit.”

A soft sensation was transmitted to the back of my hand. Occasionally, her fingers would poke my hand, causing a ticklish feeling.

According to Professor Liana, it was to check my concentration.

“The atmosphere now is similar to back then, too.”

Explaining with a smile, Professor Liana suddenly seemed to recall something and spoke up.

Her gaze swept the surrounding scenery. I also observed the surroundings with the power of observation.

The slanting sun in the sky, the grass glittering under the rays.

The branches and leaves swaying in the occasional breeze.

The lake creating a dreamy atmosphere even under the thin layer of mist.

It was similar to the park where she had helped me with the mana introduction at the beginning of the semester.

Although the presence or absence of artificial structures like walking paths and benches differed, the overall atmosphere was similar.

And the gazes of Hong Yeon-hwa and others watching us were another difference.

Back then, it was just me and Professor Liana.

“How is it? Can you feel the energy well?”

Professor Liana tapped the back of my hand.

I redirected my attention to the crystal orb in response to her question.

– Thud

The crystal orb in my grasp shook. I had lost count of how many times it had done that.

The energies inside the orb were tapping against one wall.

As if wanting to escape, the energies tapping against the wall were directed towards me.

“Just as expected… you have an affinity.”

Professor Liana, looking at the trembling orb, spoke in amazement.

While others were holding the orbs and checking their affinity, I was already confirmed to have an affinity, so Professor Liana was teaching me directly.

Naturally, we were sitting face to face in a one-on-one lesson.

Her fingers tapped the orb.

“Can you see… no, feel it? The energies inside the orb.”

[Yes]

[Five different energies]

Red, light green, blue, yellow, and brown.

The five-colored energies were tapping against the wall of the orb.

“These are the energies of the basic elemental spirits. They react to the affinity of the person in contact with them… and you have an affinity with all five.”

Each representing fire, wind, water, lightning, and earth elements.

Most elemental abilities, despite minor differences, fall under these five elements.

“Now that we’ve confirmed your affinity, let me explain the contract process briefly.”

Professor Liana retrieved the orb from my hand and wiggled her fingers.

“Lower spirits have very faint self-awareness. They’re almost like cogs operating on basic instincts suited to their elements.”

I was familiar with this knowledge.

Unless the spirit was of a high rank, lower spirits had little to no self-awareness.

They simply preferred mana-rich locations and occasionally performed tasks like nature restoration, driven by instinct.

“Spirit magicians contract with such spirits to control them. Contracting with a lower spirit is quite simple; it’s a matter of the magician wanting the contract.”

In spirit magic, a contract establishes control over the spirit.

Uncontracted spirits cannot be controlled.

Just as I cannot use mana that isn’t mine, I cannot control spirits that aren’t mine.

Therefore, spirit magicians contract with spirits in numbers they can handle, based on their affinity, capacity, and mana level.

Professor Liana, with her exceptional affinity, capacity, and mana level, controlled an absurd number of spirits.

‘I wonder how I’ll do?’

Affinity for spirits…

I had a suspicion that I might have it.

Given my unique ability to be versatile, I figured I might have enough affinity to at least dabble with spirits.

But given Professor Liana’s explanation, my affinity for spirits seemed exceptionally high.

“Let’s get started then!”

Professor Liana drew her finger through the air. Mana flickered at her fingertip, leaving a trace in the air.

And then, a door opened.

‘?’

A door? Split open? Torn? Whatever you call it, it didn’t matter.

It wasn’t the power of observation.

It was the power of space, which hadn’t seen much use lately, recognizing the space opening in midair.

Following Professor Liana’s gesture, the line in the air opened horizontally.

Mana spilled out from the opened space.

Colorful auras representing various elements.

It was the same energy I felt from the crystal orb and nature.

But its quality and quantity were overwhelming.

I sensed presences. Should I call them presences? I wasn’t sure, but countless entities were definitely sensed in that space.

‘Spirits.’

I instinctively realized.

The presences in that space were spirits. Each and every one of those numerous entities was a spirit of varying ranks.

– Pop!

At that moment, one of the countless spirits slipped out.

The instant that greenish light emerged, the space split open on both sides, sealed shut again.

The green light floated above Professor Liana’s palm.

My sensitive skin could faintly feel the gentle breeze the spirit created.

“This is a spirit of wind.”

It was also perceivable through mana affinity and the power of observation.

I was sure the green light could be seen with the naked eye, too.

“This spirit is contracted with me. In other words, it’s controlled by me, and unless I sever the contract, no one else can control it.”

After briefly examining the spirit, Professor Liana continued explaining.

“I’ll sever the contract with this spirit shortly. When I do, you’ll need to contract with it. It might be difficult at first, but we have plenty of time, so take it slow.”

Professor Liana looked at me quietly, as if giving me time to sense the spirit.

It was the same approach as during the mana introduction.

I nodded with a curious expression.

[It’s amazing]

Experiencing the control of a spirit firsthand, I couldn’t help but be amazed.

[It’s incredible]

I had handled unique abilities and magic before, but experiencing spirit control was fascinating.

And.

[Is it familiar?]

It strangely felt familiar.

‘What is this?’

It was an inexplicable sensation. Was it the wonder of experiencing something for the first time that brought about a sense of familiarity?

‘Hmm…’

I observed the spirit using the power of observation.

I used the power more intricately, not just recognizing its external appearance but also observing its internal structure.

My head throbbed. It was a burdensome feeling, but I didn’t suddenly collapse in a spray of blood.

Partly because I had grown, and partly because I limited the range to a small spirit.

‘Is this the contract?’

Then I noticed a connection to the spirit.

It felt like a thread, leading to Professor Liana.

In other words, the spirit was contracted with Professor Liana.

A contracted spirit cannot be contracted by another spirit magician.

Uncontracted spirits cannot be controlled by others.

Professor Liana had explained it. That connection was the passage linking the magician and the spirit.

Through that passage, the magician’s will and mana were conveyed.

In other words, I couldn’t convey my will to that spirit.

‘Can’t I control it?’

I tilted my head.

I had no particular thoughts. I just felt a peculiar sensation.

‘Would you like to come over here?’

It was just a thought, not even a murmur, that didn’t reach anyone else.

It wasn’t conveyed to others, not even through the Necklace of Confession.

“Huh?”

That’s how it should have been.

Professor Liana blinked. Her gaze fixed on her palm.

She could see her palm. The spirit floating above it was gone.

Blinking, she lifted her head. Her gaze followed, looking at the spirit’s new location.

‘……’

The sensation of the wind felt distinctly on my palm.

“Huh?”

The spirit had moved to my palm.

Professor Liana’s mouth opened.

???

Multiple question marks floated above her head.

‘?’

Question marks floated above my head, too.

[What]

The monotonous voice from the Necklace of Confession followed belatedly.

End of Chapter