Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 101 (Part 1)
Rodin considered himself lucky. Judging by the state beyond the walls, it seemed like the lava would reach this point in a few months. He didn’t need to check to know the books piled up on the floor would be lost.
He focused and examined one of the walls in detail. It felt like more than 10 hours had passed.
“The other side is the same.”
After checking one wall, there was no need to check the others. The same magic circles were engraved on all four sides.
The enchantment was cast directly into the walls: mana absorption from the outside, preservation of the condition inside, and defense that worked both internally and externally. There were also magic circles for restoration, but many others remained unidentified.
In any case, he committed the magic circles etched on the walls to memory. The unknown circles and runes could be researched later once he recalled them.
“There’s no sign of anything coming from outside.”
Now there was only one thing left to do. Rodin looked at the magic circles on the four sides, imprinting specific ones in his mind.
“I will break the walls.”
He didn’t mean physically breaking the wall. He was referring to eliminating the magic circle that absorbed and stored mana.
If he did that, an overwhelming amount of mana would spread out in all directions, just like what had happened to Matthew in the past. Rodin planned to subtly manipulate the magic circle, directing the flow of mana inward instead.
“Even if I don’t reach the 7th Circle, I should at least get close.”
Rodin had rapidly grown by converting the mana stored in Matthew’s body into magical power in an instant. Normally, it would have taken him at least a year in a training chamber to amass that kind of power all at once.
But the mana accumulated in the walls of this chamber far surpassed the amount that had been stored in Matthew’s body. It was possible to grow even faster than that.
However, jumping straight to the 7th Circle was still difficult.
The 3rd, 5th, and 7th Circles weren’t realms one could reach by merely accumulating power. Reaching the 7th Circle required a special kind of enlightenment and experience.
Chairman Kreate of the Special Forces Committee never managed to cross that final step, and in the end, he died as a 6th Circle mage. Countless other 6th Circle mages had failed to reach the 7th Circle because they lacked that one crucial experience.
“I don’t know about enlightenment, but experience will be necessary.”
Enlightenment was an abstract concept for a mage. Some acquired it through the smallest of experiences, while others needed something extraordinary. Some people were born with the enlightenment required for the 7th Circle, while others died without ever understanding what it was.
But it was certain that no mage could advance to the higher circles without having the experience of being a lower circle mage first. If Rodin were to become a 7th Circle mage, he needed to build up enough experience as a 6th Circle mage.
“Karis, Jena. Get inside.”
[Yes, Master.]
[Please call us again, Master. Be careful.]
Karis and Jena were sent back into their necklace.
Karis and Jena were battle dolls that moved through mana. A sudden mana storm in a confined space could interfere with their functionality.
Now alone, Rodin calmly walked around the four walls. He checked the magic circles on each wall and forcibly severed specific sections.
“Only this one left.”
He had tampered with the magic circles on three of the walls. Only one remained, and the magic circle on that last wall was trembling precariously. It was reaching its limit, trying to absorb and store the mana that the other walls had been handling.
“Let’s begin.”
Rodin manipulated the remaining magic circle.
The entire wall shook violently, then unleashed a tremendous amount of mana into the chamber. The magic circle responsible for “storing” had been deactivated.
“Ugh!”
The sheer volume of mana was overwhelming, and Rodin struggled to stay conscious. His mind went hazy, and he felt like his body was being sucked into a void.
‘No.’
With great effort, he barely managed to hold onto his slipping consciousness. At this rate, not only his body but his mind would be destroyed.
He instinctively began murmuring the rune magic incantations he had practiced more than twice a day. His arms hung limp, but his fingers kept tracing the runes.
‘Finger signs. Finger signs.’
He focused harder on his fingers, repeating the words in his head. Although he continued chanting the rune spells aloud, precisely drawing the finger signs was even more crucial at this moment.
‘Just a bit more.’
The mana rushed into him like a storm. His body was already full, but the outside mana was still trying to force its way in.
‘Faster.’
He sped up the movement of the mana. With the help of the finger signs, the mana flowed even faster.
The mana swirling around his body surged into his head and then flowed downwards, transforming into magical power. It spread evenly across the six circles he had, reinforcing each one.
‘Again.’
There was still more mana. The massive amount of mana outside his body was relentlessly targeting him.
He repeated the process several times—letting the mana in and converting it into magical power.
Then, as if tired of waiting, all the remaining mana attacked his body at once.
“Gah!”
It felt like he was going to explode. The pressure and the crushing weight made it hard to breathe.
‘Undine.’
Instinctively, he called out to Undine. Without needing a command, she immediately understood what he wanted.
Undine, keeping her distance from Rodin, began creating water. She produced as much water as she could, spraying it everywhere. This helped Rodin exhaust his magical power.
‘More. Keep going.’
Rodin continued to absorb mana and convert it into magical power. Undine used as much of his power as she could, drawing on it until she was exhausted.
The power Undine used wasn’t disappearing—it was merely being put to sleep temporarily.
By putting part of his power to sleep, Rodin kept converting mana into more magical power. He repeated this process dozens of times, until eventually, his body began to respond automatically.
His mouth recited the rune spells, and his fingers traced the runes. Just as breathing was second nature to a person, the process of converting mana into magical power had become second nature to him.
He lost track of time. He could only vaguely sense that night and day had passed countless times.
His emotions were a chaotic mess. At times, he felt so miserable that he thought about letting go of life, while at other moments, he was so euphoric that he never wanted to return to reality.
After experiencing these intense emotional swings multiple times, both his body and mind became worn out.
Just when he was about to give up, thinking he couldn’t endure anymore, the faces of those he had formed bonds with over the years came to mind.
His older sister Sierra, who had been warmer than their mother.
It had already been ten years. How had she changed? Did she still retain her beautiful appearance?
Cory, who had crossed over to the central continent ahead of him.
Had he arrived safely? That guy, who aspired to be the greatest spirit mage on the continent, was he making a name for himself?
He thought of Hedler and Lant. They had probably boarded the ship with Commissioner Kser and Commissioner Habinon. Were they free now?
He also thought of Larry and Bianca. Those kids were still young. If he didn’t look after them, they might be taken advantage of by the world. He had to stay by their side for at least a few more years.
And then there was Margaret, who made delicious meals, and Matthew, who took care of the household chores. It wouldn’t be right to just leave after having hired them without taking responsibility.
His resolve strengthened.