Maya's attitude changed noticeably as she led Morse to a certain part of the high-tech training facility. Her previous relaxed demeanor instantly turned into a stern one, as if she had become another person, showing a more serious and authoritative side. "Stand here," Maya ordered, pointing to a designated spot on the training ground. "We'll start with the basics of mana control." Morse followed the instructions and stood in the position indicated by Maya. Her sudden change in attitude aroused his curiosity, and he couldn't wait to learn from her. Maya took a deep breath, her eyes locked on Morse. "Mana is the essence of all things supernatural. It is the energy that flows through our world, and as Hunters, we harness it to perform amazing feats. Throughout this facility, you can see small particles of mana essence scattered throughout." She gestured to the faintly shimmering particles around her that seemed to dance in the air. “Under normal circumstances, there is a mixture of multiple mana types in the environment,” Maya continued. “These mana particles respond to our own supernatural energy, and hunters can manipulate them through their specialized [skills] or direct understanding.” Morse nodded, absorbing her knowledge. He watched as Maya held out her hand, and the essence of mana seemed to gather toward her, forming a swirling mass around her palm. "Skills are pre-set techniques for mana manipulation in specific ways," Maya demonstrated, her voice full of confidence. "If you have the right Skill, you can use it to channel mana and accomplish tasks without having to worry too much about fine-grained control. The Skill does the work for you." Morse stared at Maya's display with an analytical eye. He observed how the mana essence responded to Maya's control, forming different patterns and shapes at her command. Maya's gesture changed, and the mana essence spread into the air again. “But what if someone doesn’t have the right [skills]?”
Maya's lips curled into a knowing smile. "This is where mana control really comes into play. Hunters without [skills] need to learn how to manipulate mana directly. You need to understand the nuances of the different types of mana, how they flow, and how they interact." Morse's eyes became more focused, and he listened attentively to Maya's explanation. Maya's expression turned serious again. "But it's not easy. It requires a deep connection to the supernatural, an innate sense of the rhythm of mana, and the ability to channel and shape it with precision." Morse watched as Maya reached out her hand again, this time in a different gesture. The mana essence responded, swirling in intricate patterns around her fingers. "What precise control." Morse's expression became a mixture of understanding and determination as he continued to watch. Maya glanced at Morse before continuing to explain, "That's not all. [Traits], such as spatial control or affinity for a specific element, give hunters a natural advantage in mana control. But for those who don't have such [Traits], it's a challenging but rewarding process." "I see..." Morse nodded. While absorbing Maya's demonstration, he was also digesting the knowledge she said. "But not every trait is a blessing," Maya continued. "Sometimes developing a trait is much more difficult than simply controlling mana, or some traits make it impossible for people to understand and use other types of mana." Maya's words made Morse curious. He listened attentively, analyzing the information in his mind. "For example," Maya continued, "some [Traits] can grant an individual enhanced physical attributes—strength, speed, durability—but these may come at the cost of being unable to effectively manipulate external mana. Their bodies become conductors of raw power, but lack the delicacy to handle complex magical operations." Indeed, Morse knew of some people who had such abilities. There was a madman who had challenged celebrities around the world to ensure that he was the best. "On the other hand, some [Features] allow an individual to use specific types of mana that they normally can't. Such as healing magic or light mana. These [Features] allow an individual to access mana that most hunters normally can't use." Morse's eyes narrowed slightly. 'That's why I can't use fire mana to enchant my arrows.' This is why he can't use the mana in the environment to create fireballs or enchanted arrows like others can, which is why he finds it so difficult. "These types of traits are usually difficult for people because they use a lot of different types of mana, and they can't intuitively learn how to control their mana. I'm guessing this is the case with you as well." Seeing her say that, Morse saw why Maya was the number one student. Even though this knowledge was common sense, it shouldn't have been important to Maya. But she still remembered all these details, which meant that her memory was exceptionally good. Her analysis was completely accurate, and she was able to make such a prediction based on just one battle.
"Her powers of observation are also quite remarkable," Morse nodded in response. "Sure enough, that red mana isn't the type I can use, which means it should be your characteristic." Maya's mouth curled up into a satisfied smile, knowing that she had the opportunity to mentor others from scratch. 'It's like teaching a newborn baby to walk. It's so much fun.' Maya couldn't help but notice how intently Morse was listening to her. His focus never wandered. The gloomy aura around him seemed to lift slightly, as if he was actually enjoying listening to her. 'You're such a weird guy, junior.' She shook her head mentally and turned her attention back to their training, ready to guide him to the next step. "We will start with the basics of mana control," Maya began, her voice steady. "Since you cannot naturally sense other types of mana, I will teach you how to manipulate raw mana without attributes. You will first need to learn how to focus your mana." Morse watched intently, and Maya's expression grew more focused. She held out her hand, and a faint shimmering aura began to form between her palms. It was a beginner's performance, lacking the fine control Maya usually displayed. "See?" Maya said calmly, controlling the raw mana. "This is the attributeless mana, the basis of all magical energy." Morse nodded, his eyes fixed on her control, his characteristic [Insight Perception] was observing through the essence of her control. "Now, watch me focus the mana," Maya continued. The shimmering light began to gather, gradually taking on a denser, tangible form. "With practice, you can shape and direct the mana like clay." Morse's eyes remained focused on the flowing energy in Maya's palm. Maya's next move demonstrated her control over her mana. She channeled it into a thin, thread-like structure that extended from her palm. The thread swayed gently in the air, demonstrating Maya's mastery in manipulating the form of her mana. "Now, manipulating magical power is all about technique," Maya explained. "You can use it to remove objects, grab things, and even affect the environment around you. It's like having an invisible extension. Swordsmen use this technique as an extension of their sword energy to attack from a distance, or they will focus the energy directly on themselves. From the looks of it, you know how to envelop yourself in mana and enhance your weapon, correct?" "really." "However, your approach is immature. You are doing things without a clear goal and without knowing the necessary steps." Morse nodded, accepting her assessment. He realized that while he could manipulate mana in some ways, his control lacked refinement. This is something he has been working hard to improve, but it is indeed difficult to do without clear guidance. "Now, try it," Maya instructed, looking at him encouragingly. Morse closed his eyes and focused on the mana essence within him. He tried to shape it without a specific goal, just as he had before. However, this time, he felt a sense of defeat. The power seemed elusive, as if it was slipping from his control. 'This is much harder than I thought.' He understood why people were so jealous of geniuses in mana sensing. After all, Morse once had no access to any mana, and he came from a world without mana on Earth. Therefore, it was natural that he did not understand and master the first attempt of mana. Maya's keen observation allowed her to see Morse's struggle. She walked closer, her expression open. "Junior, look carefully." Maya reached out her hand in one fluid motion, pointing to a small stone on the ground. Her magic surged and gathered around her fingertips, forming a subtle but palpable aura. The aura stretched out and gently enveloped the stone, lifting it off the ground. “See?” Maya’s voice was calm, her movements controlled. “I set clear intentions and directed the mana with purpose. Not forcing it, but understanding its flow.” The stones are suspended in the air, controlled by Mayan magic.
"Now, you try," Maya encouraged, stepping back to give Morse some space. Morse took a deep breath and concentrated again. He pictured the stone in his mind and imagined his magic power extending toward it. Slowly, he tried to guide his magic power toward the stone. But the effort was in vain. The stone remained motionless, and Morse frowned, concentrating. Maya moved closer again, this time even closer to Morse. She reached out and gently touched his arm from behind. Click Morse startled slightly, feeling the unexpected touch. 'What is this woman doing? ' he thought immediately. Anyway, in his mind, Maya was not the kind of person who would touch others casually and make others feel 'uncomfortable'. Maya, however, went into her serious mode, focused on guiding him in. She ignored his initial reaction and continued to increase her grip, firmly holding his arm. "Fellow student, feel the flow of mana. Let it become an extension of your intention." Despite his discomfort, Morse felt a slight tingling sensation where Maya's hand had touched him. Her touch seemed to direct his attention, helping him to attune to the energy of his mana. 'Tsk... what was I thinking?' Morse felt ashamed to see that Maya was genuinely trying to help him. He felt something was wrong with him judging her actions when she was trying to help him. "Focus on the stone." Maya's voice was firm. "Feel the power respond to your intention." Following her instructions, Morse no longer paid attention to the distractions around him and continued as usual. He closed his eyes again and focused. With Maya's unwavering guidance, this time he could feel the faint tug of the mana, like a gentle current pulling at his senses. He focused his intention on the stone, imagining the mana flowing toward it. Then the stone trembled slightly and rose a short distance from the ground. Maya's grip on his arm slowly loosened, and she gave him a soft, encouraging smile that kept rising as she saw the thread of mana connecting him to the stone. "Very good, fellow apprentice. You are beginning to connect with the flow of mana. You have finally taken the first step."
