Chương 58: Chapter 57 Magic Written Like Code

Karath returned to the beginning of Introduction to Magic and slowly read through it once more. Sections containing familiar words were easy enough to understand. Others were filled with unfamiliar vocabulary and proved far more difficult. Rather than forcing himself to comprehend every sentence, Karath skipped what he could not understand and inferred its meaning from the surrounding context and the information he had already learned. Rustle. Rustle.

"As expected... it really is similar." By the time he finished the book for a second time, his initial suspicion had become certainty. The contents of the roughly one-hundred-and-fifty-page book could be reduced to three basic principles. First, mana flowed through every part of the world. Second, whenever a particular natural phenomenon occurred, it produced a corresponding pattern in the surrounding mana.

Third, magic involved discovering those patterns and manipulating mana to reproduce natural phenomena artificially. The important part was that the patterns responsible for different natural phenomena could be logically combined to produce even more varied effects. To Karath, the process resembled constructing a program from different sections of code. Magic was not literally identical to programming. Perhaps he was merely translating an unfamiliar concept into the framework he understood best.

Whatever the case, its underlying principles felt similar enough to something familiar that magic did not seem as incomprehensible as it otherwise might have. More importantly, magic could accelerate the tribe's development. If the book was correct, Karath could use mana to produce various natural phenomena at will. By combining those effects with his modern knowledge, he might create objects far beyond what should have existed in a primitive society.

The machines would operate through magic rather than electricity, but their functions could still resemble modern technology. Then again, if magic could create electricity, they would technically still be electrical machines. Karath amused himself for a moment by arguing against his own thoughts. No matter how much effort he invested, he had previously believed the Iron Age might be the highest level he could reach. Forget the Information Age.

Even reaching the Industrial Revolution and creating something resembling a modern society seemed impossible. Possessing modern knowledge did not mean one person could reproduce thousands of years of human progress within a single generation. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Magic changed that calculation.

With it, Karath might be able to create a strange civilization that appeared medieval in most respects while possessing scattered pieces of modern technology. Its value would not be limited to conveniences. Perhaps magic also offered a way to kill the monster that chased him. The drake's appearance alone had convinced Karath that the Bloodclaw Tribe could not defeat it with their current strength. Being pursued by the creature had transformed that suspicion into certainty.

A single sweep of its tail had shattered dozens of trees. Even more frightening was the fact that its scales had remained completely unmarked after smashing through hundreds of trunks during the chase. If its scales were that durable, how strong were the muscles and bones beneath them? The breath it released at the end remained terrifying even in memory. Perhaps one of the spells in this place could harm it. Karath might not even need to use conventional magic.

By combining magical principles with modern knowledge, he might someday construct a modern weapon. A railgun powered by magic instead of gunpowder was one possibility. There was only one problem. Could Karath actually use magic? According to the book, the first requirement for becoming a mage was the ability to sense and manipulate mana. That ability depended entirely upon natural talent. Someone who failed at the first step had no path forward.

The other requirements were the intelligence to understand and apply magical principles, along with the perseverance to continue studying. Karath possessed more than enough of both, thanks to the memories and experiences of his previous life.

"There is only one way to find out." Having reached a decision, Karath sat cross-legged on the floor and opened the book again.

"Let us see..." Perhaps being alone without any tribespeople nearby caused the habit to emerge. Karath hummed to himself like a middle-aged man from his former world while turning the pages. Chapter Two: Mana What Is Mana? He reached the section he had marked during his previous readings. After studying it one final time and committing the instructions to memory, Karath placed the book on the ground.

"Haa." He closed his eyes and concentrated. Mana flows through every part of the world. Most people fail to perceive it precisely because it has always surrounded them. Karath recalled the sentences one by one and attempted to sense mana. Naturally, he did not succeed immediately. More accurately, he had no idea what mana was supposed to feel like. He wished someone could guide him. The book explained that most people could not recognize mana because its presence was too familiar.

Only individuals with extraordinary talent sensed it without assistance. For that reason, a teacher normally helped the student. The teacher gathered the scattered mana in the area or cast a spell nearby, making it concentrated enough for the student to recognize. Anyone who still failed to perceive it after such assistance lacked the aptitude to become a mage. Karath paused. Gathered mana? A familiar scene entered his mind.

During the Harvest Festival, the Prophecy Festival, and coming-of-age ceremonies, the tribe's shaman had used mystical powers. Each time, a translucent energy resembling heat haze flowed from the shaman's mouth and body. Could that have been mana? With nothing to lose, Karath concentrated upon the memory. He recalled the strange translucent energy he had witnessed repeatedly over the years and tried to remember exactly how it felt. Was this it? Karath did not know how long he remained focused.

Eventually, he sensed countless faint traces of energy surrounding him. They were far weaker than the shimmering power emitted by the shaman, but the sensation was unmistakably similar. Determined not to lose them, Karath maintained his concentration and cautiously opened his eyes.

"Ah..." The world had changed. Something flowed through every empty space he had previously believed contained nothing. It moved like air, invisible yet present everywhere. Karath understood instinctively. This was the mana described in the book. Now that he could sense it, he needed to proceed to the next stage. Karath inhaled deeply. As air entered his lungs, a portion of the surrounding mana traveled with it. Ordinarily, it should have left his body again when he exhaled.

Instead, Karath held his breath and attempted to interfere with the energy while remaining conscious of its presence. At first, nothing happened. The mana he inhaled escaped completely with each breath. Karath repeated the process. Again. Again. Eventually, a tiny amount began lingering within his lungs instead of leaving immediately. The book instructed him to circulate that energy through his body. Karath carefully guided the mana that remained inside him. Much of it escaped during the attempt.

Only an unimaginably small trace, no larger than a speck of dust, completed the circulation. To his surprise, that fragment did not return to nature. It settled within his body. Karath's concentration sharpened. The first success, however small, filled him with unexpected excitement. He drew another breath and began gathering mana again.