Chapter 10: CHAPTER 10 HATED BY MANA

“You are hated by mana,” I can feel teacher Drouot’s gaze over me even though my eyes are shut. “Young man, don’t ask yourself what is mana, but instead, ask who?”

At the top of the grimoire tower, I meditate while crossed legged the concept of ‘mana’.

Old man Drouot continues to lecture me about mana. “Why does mana hate you? Why can’t you connect with it? Why? For me, mana is like a daughter. It nags you, cares for you, and asks of you. Most often, she will not listen to you but when you are in trouble, she is the first one to rush in to come to save you.”

What is up with this very philosophical teaching? “U-uummm… I cannot still feel it, t-teacher Drouot, aren’t you gonna teach me about Ki?”

I hear Drouot walking towards me, and the almost inaudible clicking of his leather boots reaches my ears. Suddenly out of nowhere, the old man slaps me in the face. “O-ouch, what’s that for?”

Drouot calmly explains himself. “That’s for slapping me a while ago.”

I am in disbelief. “Why now? Is it related to Ki?”

Drouot dishes another slap. With my eyes wide open, I easily dodge the palm, but the old man is persistent. He summons a Magic Bullet, the most basic application of mana.

The magic squarely hits me on my chest causing me to fly to the edge of the tower. Only a bit more, and I would have fallen to my death now. “What is that about?”

Druout raises his hand. He didn’t dare use his grimoire as that would kill me. More magic bullets start hovering around him. “Young man, for some time, surprise-dodging-trainings like this will occur. Simply put, I will ambush you at times I feel like it.”

What is up with this Spartan training!? With my confusion clearly on my face, Drouot offers me a more acceptable explanation. “In my younger days, I was a traveling mage. The three other kingdoms, the Neutral Territory, and even beyond the seas. Hino Country is just among the few that leave a great impression in my mind. Young man, I am your teacher, that makes you my disciple. Do you know what that means?”

“…” An unprecedented seriousness colors teacher Drouot’s face. I shudder at what he is about to say.

Drouot heightens his magic power once more causing the floating Magic Bullets to enlarge. “That means you are now my disciple.”

The magic bullets rush at me. I roll on the ground in my poor attempt to dodge them. Some bullets graze my side causing me pain. I grit my teeth forcing myself not to flinch.

The attributes of the bullets are indecipherable to my eyes. First, I was thinking that it is because I lack experience. But no, that wasn’t it, the magic bullets are not causing any visible injuries to my body. Perhaps, is Druout’s attribute about pain?

I am aware that Druout is capable of communication magic. In the anime, he is the ultimate side character with the fewest appearance. In fact, I think of him more as an extra. Sigh… Who knows? In my eyes currently, this old man is too mysterious just for a side character.

All too suddenly, not as sudden as the oldie’s slap, Druout stops hurling magic bullets. “That’s enough, come back here. Continue on meditating 'who' is mana.”

I obediently follow what Drouot instructs me. I seat cross-legged once more, closes my eyes, and then start contemplating. Who is mana exactly? If teacher Drouot asks ‘where’, I might understand better, but who? Does mana have any personification at all? Perhaps, is mana a god?

Drouot’s somber and strong voice reaches me. “Do not get confused. Mana is a form of energy that exists in nature and within people. It is the source of all magic. That is the book’s definition. If it were me, I’d answer differently.”

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I feel the breeze dancing freely around me. Drouot’s tired voice echoes. “Do you feel it? As if fairies are dancing around you, you can feel this cool sensation of being loved. This is mana to me when I think of my daughter.”

I feel the warm sensation of fire enveloping me with a hug. “This is when I miss my daughter. Sometimes, I feel lonely and sad. The mana of the world pities me as such, she gives me warmth in my daughter’s stead.”

I open my eyes. I was expecting to see elements visibly moving around me just like in the anime, but before I was able to, old man Druout withdraws his mana. I was curious to see what kind of mana the old man has.

Sadly, looks like my honest desire accidentally touches a nerve. Drouot scowls at me but quickly hides it. “I told you, right? Close your eyes when you meditate.”

Old man Drouot wants to hide his attributes and I have to respect that decision. “I am sorry, I got curious.”

Drouot sadly smiles at me. In the anime, this old man is full of smiles and energy, but… not in this world. “Young man, it is fine to get curious. But I hope this will be the last time.”

Now that I am existing in this world, I realize how often the man ‘Drouot’ actually shows this vulnerable side of his. This must be what it means to be his disciple. Teacher Drouot is being honest with me.

Drouot intentionally coughs “Ahem,” to dispel the tense atmosphere. “Like what I was saying. Treat mana like a person. By knowing the ‘who’ part, you’ll be able to establish a connection with mana. The phrase ‘Hated by Mana’ is not just an idiom.”

'Hated by Mana, or Loved by Mana,' is a phrase I hear too often in the anime.

Inside the tower, Drouot and I seat on two chairs with a table separating the two of us. Drouot places a figurine of an elf on the table. “Do you know what elves are? They are distinguished through their pointy ears and enormous mana. Now, the real question is… Why do elves have enormous mana?”

I did not hesitate a second and confidently gives an answer. “Because it is in their bloodline.”

“Nice try,” Drouot casually comments. “But no, it isn’t just that. It is because they are loved by mana.”

Drouot continues, this time placing a figurine of a man. “This is the same for some humans too. They too are loved by mana. Now, a bonus question. Why do some men have low mana?”

“Uuum…” I doubtfully answer him with my best. “Because they are hated by mana?”

Drouot playfully raises his fingers. “No, you are wrong. It is because of their bloodline.”

What? Are you playing with me? I feel like I was talking to a charlatan.

…

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