"Don't make me burn you, you brat."
Since words didn't seem to work, Elira decided to use threats.
'She is his sister alright.'
Kael nodded in his head.
"So how do I create that circle?"
"I know what it and the other two components do, but how do I create them in thin air? Is there a Magic Pen of sorts?"
"You use your Mana," Elira answered.
"And how do I do that?"
"Tsk, I need to tell you every little thing, don't I?"
Elira clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Try solving a Complex Calculus problem when I give you the required formulas but leave out how to use them.
If you manage that, we will talk."
"What did you say? Complex Calcu-what?"
"Leave it, you won't understand."
"Why don't you try me?"
Elira was up for the challenge.
"Teach me Magic first. Weren't you sent by the King to do that?
I thought you were the better one of the two siblings, but by now, Arlan had already taught me quite a lot."
You are a daring one, aren't you?"
Elira questioned with a wide grin on her face.
"I just wish to learn more."
Elira nodded as suddenly, Kael felt a force pushing him onto a chair. As he sat down, Elira appeared behind him.
"I'll show you the difference between me and that idiot brother of mine."
She placed her hand on Kael's back and,
"Remember the feeling of Mana flowing in your body."
As she said those words, Kael felt a warm energy entering his body. However, unlike how Althea's energy enters and heals his body, Elira's energy was different. Elira's energy was moving inside his body in a fixed path.
"Remember this Path."
Elira's voice echoed in Kael's head.
"This is the most optimal way to move Mana inside one's body. The Mana, when moved through this path is the easiest to control, making it easier to draw Runes and improve the casting time.
We call this Path a Mana Circuit."
Kael muttered as he remembered the 'path'. It mimicked the blood circulatory system in the human body, branching out to every single part of his body, spine, arms, and legs. However, unlike blood, that returns to the heart after being pumped to every part of the human body, Mana was different.
It moved towards Kael's abdomen.
Kael continued to focus, wanting to know where it would end, but suddenly, Elira's Mana disappeared, just above his navel.
Kael frowned and then, he heard Elira's voice.
"This is where your Mana Core is located."
"Yes, you cannot locate it right now. I would have helped you locate it using my Mana, but I cannot inject my Mana into your Mana Core without hurting you.
You need to locate and activate your Mana Core on your own."
What Kael didn't know was that the entire time Elira's Mana was inside his Mana Circuit, he was completely at her mercy. At any moment, Elira could completely destroy his Mana Circuit, making it impossible for him to cast magic, regardless of how high his affinity was.
Actually, the very fact that Elira was able to move her Mana in someone else's Mana Circuit without hurting him was a proof of how excellent of a Mage she was.
This required a ridiculous amount of control, control that even the advanced mages didn't have.
"Mana Circuit starts from your Mana Core, then it moves all around your body in a path that I showed you, eventually connecting to the fingertips, palms, and sometimes the feet, depending on the spell being cast.
The unused or residual Mana returns back to the Mana Core using the same Path.
For now, your first mission is to locate your Mana Core.
Once you do that, you need to activate it and move whatever little Mana you have inside it to the path I showed you.
You will then use that Mana to form the Containment Circle, the Runes, and the Directional Lines I showed you.
Elira questioned as she appeared in front of Kael, bringing her face dangerously close to his.
Kael couldn't help but notice a light smirk on her face, a smirk that, for some reason, he didn't like.
Right now, however, the only thing he could do was nod in understanding.
Elira then passed a paper to him and her smirk widened.
"These are the Runes required to cast Fireball. I have shown all of these to you before, so,
As she said those words, Elira walked away from Kael and continued,
"You compared me with my brother before, I magnanimously ignored that and continued to teach you without any bias. I told you everything you need to know, and if you still cannot cast a simple spell like Fireball by the day's end, it only shows your lack of comprehension ability."
Yes, the woman hadn't forgotten.
Althea, who was watching everything play out, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. After all, as a Mage herself, she knew how absurd Elira's words were.
Casting a Spell in one day?
Let alone Kael, who knew next to nothing about Nerathis and Magic, even apprentice mages who had been learning about magic from their childhood and knew all the theory required to cast a spell, could only successfully cast their first spell after months of practice.
Even Elira herself needed a week before she could cast her first spell.
Casting a Spell within a day?
Other than 'that person', no one else did in all of Nerathis's history. Expecting something from a man who didn't even know that something like Magic existed a day ago was simply absurd.
Court Mage Elira was clearly letting her personal feelings take the better of her.
Of course, despite thinking that, Althea didn't say anything. She had no right to interrupt the Hero's training. She was here only to observe and assist the Hero when he needed it.
Her gaze, however, seemed to have made Elira conscious of her actions, prompting her to continue.
"Of course, even if you do lack some comprehension, fret not. I will be here to aid you no matter what. If you have any questions or want me to repeat anything, feel free to as-"
I can save money on gas now,
Magic's sure is convenient~"