Frostbound

~~

The initial forging of the Mana Core is always the most strenuous and difficult of the process. Inexperience and ignorance play a major role in that distinction. While the next steps take more mastery and continually raise the bar for performative execution, the experience gained allays some of that.

Constructing or forging your first Circle or Star, depending on how you refer to it, is harder, but not in the same way the initial forging is.

To forge a Mana Core, one must handle the mountain of mana inside one's pool, while also supplementing more from outside, in addition to managing the regeneration one naturally produces.

It takes the skill of manipulating all the mana in your body and more, while also not letting anything slip. The sheer amount needed to keep under control is what stops many from making that first step, especially in the early Ranks where their manipulation is sloppy at best.

Since you are reading this, then that means you've already taken it and know of the process. Now, after gaining entry onto the Path, you must make your next Step.

That Step is different for many Techniques, but it can be generalized for most by Forging your First Circle. Then, you will join the ranks of First Circle Mages.

While confusing at first to reference the Second Step as the First Circle, you can gain clarity by considering the Core the Initial phase, or the Foundation. Something must be built first before it can be added on to.

Generally, the First Circle is forged when the practitioner is in the E-rank. If completed, it will allow them to retain the System's aid during the evolution.

Unlike Laws, which takes a certain Mental Willpower and stout persistence of the Mind, Mana Cultivation belongs to the Body Path and does not rely on evolutions.

It is completely dependent on Essence, or in simpler terms, stat points. The amount of Essence in what are considered the 'Magical Stats' determines when, or if, a Circle can be forged.

Generally, the First Forging should take place when at least one Magical Stat is above 250. Now, as an approximation, there is some variance for different Races. Not every Race processes Essence equally for every attribute. Additionally, that variance can change based on mastery and skill with mana manipulation, but as a rule of thumb, 250 is the threshold.

Our Magic Tower does extensive studies into the Standard Deviation and Variance of the different Races and the conclusions are quite fascinating. If you ever have the time to explore the Myriad Library I implore you to look into them.

For the First Circle, 1,000 Stat points are recommended. Skill with Manipulating Mana can lower that threshold along with other circumstances, but for this generalized text, and without getting into the mathematics, 1,000 is the threshold.

The Second Circle, 3,000. The Third, 10,000. Above that can be found in further texts.

_-Excerpt from "Mana Cultivation and Circles 1-3" by Master Arcanist Leywin. For First-Year Magic Tower Students.

~~

Abigail

With so many new books to read, it felt like there wasn't enough time in the day to read them all. She knew that she didn't need to read all of them right at that moment, but she couldn't help it.

The knowledge was right there at her fingertips. It was torture to not at least skim them for pertinent information. Like the one she was just reading.

Previously, they were only told that further Body Refinings or Mana Steps were determined by Rank. According to what she just read, that wasn't true. It was determined by stat points, or more importantly, Essence Level.

From her previous studies and knowledge on the subject, every Stat point took a certain amount of Essence. That Essence was gathered mainly from slaying monsters and then processed by the System, or manually, but no one had figured that out yet, and put towards raising a person's capabilities.

This was the first she was hearing about certain thresholds a certain number of stats unlocked.

Austin and Gabriel had both expected something to come out of reaching 1,000 stat points in a single attribute and when nothing had, they were both disappointed.

They would be happy to learn that something did come out of reaching that threshold, only it wasn't done automatically. Reaching that height only allowed the opportunity, not handed out freely.

Everything came down to personal ability and effort it seemed.

It was weird that further advancements in mana were unlocked when one stat reached 1,000. If the amount of Essence was the determining factor, why did it matter if that seemingly arbitrary value was reached?

What if only Wisdom hit it but both Intelligence and Acumen were barely above 200? Or, comparatively, if all three were just under 1,000 at 900? One was a total of 1,400 points and the other was 2,700.

Did one stat hitting 1,000 mean more than having three under that amount? Did the Essence change when it hit a certain amount?

For every new book or Technique Abigail read, there were only more questions that popped up. Instead of everything getting easier to understand with further study, it was getting more complex.

And none of it made sense.

"Honey, we're nearly there." Her husband shook her from her thoughts.

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The trip was... boring. Easier and faster than before, but boring all the same. At least this time they didn't have to worry about running into strong beasts during the journey.

They were strong enough to ignore many of the things they encountered and most ran away from them. Abigail, Jon, and Rachel added to make quite the disturbance through the woods they passed if they aimed to.

The Merchants did something as well, but she wasn't sure what. It was like they had beast repellant or something. Another new skill? Her mind whirled with more questions but she shut it off before she got distracted.

Jon was right, they were reaching the outskirts of Marcus's City already. Three months since the test and they were only just getting to The Twins now. It would be another month and a half at their current speed before they made it back.

Her heart yearned to see her babies and it hurt to be away for so long.

If they ran into any delays, they wouldn't make it back in time for Joshua's Birthday. That was unacceptable and she drove everyone at a fervent pace to make it back in time.

They even traveled through the night for a few hours to make it. Abigail knew they were pushing hard, but she couldn't help it.

Even the thought of advancing her Mana didn't stop her. There would always be time to come back to the treasure to Forge her First Circle. It wasn't worth missing her son's birthday to stop for a few months.

It would delay her evolution, as she didn't want to go through with it if there was still something she could achieve. She wasn't as lucky as Chris to gain a Legendary Class, but she at least hoped to keep her Rare one.

Especially because everything would be demoted soon.

The Evolution to D-rank was the first time it would happen but it wouldn't be the last. The first few Ranks being so close in level made it similar enough that a demotion wasn't necessary.

A Rare skill at level 20 was still considered a Rare skill at level 90. Albeit on the lower end, but still of the same rarity.

That was not the case for levels past 100.

A Rare skill gained back in F-rank was not the same as a Rare skill gained in D-rank. Nor was an Epic then equal to an Epic now.

Every Skill would be demoted. While her [Water Whip] may be considered Rare in power now, it would soon only be considered Uncommon. Or her [Water Manipulation].

Her Skill Manipulating the liquid may be Epic for her current Rank, it would only be considered Rare for her next one.

This 'demotion' happened a few times as one rose through the Ranks. D and C Rank were close enough that it didn't happen again so soon, but it did when evolving to B-rank.

After that, it came every evolution. Every further rank was so different in power that what was once above average strength, Uncommon or Rare, was only considered Common.

Intellectually and logically, she knew that a powerhouse of a skill at E-rank, either Epic or Legendary, was doubtful to be considered the same in C-rank or B-rank.

It was said people at those Ranks could literally fly, let alone have skills so much greater than what they had now.

Abigail had only just upgraded her [Water Manipulation] to Epic, she didn't want to see it drop back down so soon. Even if it did remain the same in power.

The Walls of Twin City came into view over the horizon and she called out to her retinue, "We stop for a day, no more. Resupply quickly and gather what you need, we leave in the morning."

The horses were nearly spent and needed a few more days, but that wasn't in the cards. They'd have the rest of the day and the night to catch their breath, then they would push on.

I wonder if our messenger has arrived back home yet? We sent him off right away on the fastest horse after all.

Anna

Annabeth was bored. Extremely bored. Her Mom and Dad had both left her and even Uncle Topher and Gabe did too! Without them, there was nothing to do!

She would never admit this, but she had cried after they were gone. Yes, she was a big girl now and was now eleven, but that didn't change the fact she missed her parents.

Sure, Aunt Sam, Uncle Brayden, Uncle Vincent, and Uncle Conner were still here, but they weren't the same. Plus, most of them were too busy to play with her!

Vincent spent most of his time in the stuffy fire room. It was way too hot in there!

Connor was busy with his new friend and Brayden was busy too. At least Lilly was here. It would have been torture having only Maw Maw to talk to. Well, Maw Maw and Josh, but he was annoying.

She had other friends from school, but they couldn't come over all the time.

Even Aurora was getting on her nerves. The puppy had not been pleased at Sarah's absence. Anna had to beg to let her stay and promise to watch her.

Walking her and playing with her got old, too. There were only so many times exploring the Castle was fun and she had reached that point months ago.

She wished they would come home soon.

It was during one of Aurora's walks that something new happened.

Hoooooonggggg. The Watchtower blew the horn!

What's happening? Are they back!?

Anna couldn't help herself and took off toward the Tower. She knew her Mom would be upset and tell her to stay inside the Castle, but Annabeth truly couldn't help it.

Connor and his new friend came out at the sound too! Though his friend stayed behind inside the doorway.

Hoooooonggggg.

Another one?

Anna didn't spend a lot of time with the guards, but she'd poked her head into the barracks a few times already. What do two blows mean? She'd forgotten what each blow meant.

One for Beast. Two for friend. Three for attack?

It went something like that but she was forgetting some of it. There were other rules that were hard to remember. Something about pitch and tone. Even length of the horn blast had a rule!

Anna and Connor waited for the third blow but it never came. Friend! The Gates swung open and a lone man on a horse came galloping into the City. She tried to peek through the growing crowd but it didn't take long for the Messenger to continue toward the Inner Wall.

By then, Brayden and Sam had come out to join them. The Messenger came all the way up to the gate and handed Sam the letter. It was torn open faster than Anna could see and she tried to get close enough to see it, jumping on her tippy toes.

Her Aunt took a few moments to read through it and broke down crying. Why is she crying? Is someone not coming back again?

Brayden quickly grabbed up the letter and read it himself but his reaction was totally different. He sighed in relief but looked sad the next moment. That was weird.

Connor and Vincent were next and both had similar gloomy expressions. Connor's friend wasn't given the letter to read.

"Anna, why don't you run and give this to Maw Maw," Connor said finally handing her the letter. "Quickly now."

She knew she wasn't supposed to open it, but how was she not going to? It was in her hands!

~~

Dear Sam and Family,

We were met by thousands of people...

~~

Blah blah blah, stuff Anna didn't care about

~~

We are returning home now and should arrive by the end of the year. Some of us are planning to rush back with all haste and should return by mid-November, weather permitting.

~~

Ah Hah! November was only two months away! Well, September was nearly over so that really only meant one month.

Anna was so excited she didn't even read the rest of it. It was all the boring stuff about different people they met or Factions they talked to. What did she care about all that?

Skipping happily, she zoomed through the Castle in search of Maw Maw. She usually tended the garden they set up this time of day but she didn't do that anymore. Not after Fall started.

"Maw Maw!" Anna shouted after finally finding her. She looked old! Like she did before but different.

"What's this, sweetie?" She smiled at Anna running up to her.

"A letter arrived from Mom!" Anna shouted and thrust it out in front of her proudly.

Maw Maw took it much like Sam had, snatching it up faster than Anna could watch. Her eyes darted around the paper and she huffed out a sad sigh. Having stood up after Anna ran in, she sat down listlessly after reading and tears welled up in her eyes. She looked even older now.

Why is everyone so sad? They're coming back soon!