Chapter 8: Magic
"Good to hear," Noa said to Thalia, lowering his brows in interest.
He had a couple more questions to ask, and seeing her sparkling eyes, he didn’t even hesitate.
"What is her actual rank? And what kind of abilities does she provide to you? Is it only an attribute boost and elemental control?"
Thalia grinned smugly.
"Luna is an uncommon beast. I got lucky with her because even her progress is faster than what her species is known for."
She then frowned, patting the beast with affection.
"She gave me a 20% boost in every attribute, except agility, which is augmented by 30%.
As for my abilities, I have heightened mana perception, allowing me to create and control ice mana particles. I can also..."
As soon as Thalia completed her words, the surrounding temperature dropped rapidly.
Meanwhile, the air crackled with mana as snow enveloped her body like thick fur, forming a decent-looking shield.
She breathed slowly and steadily, guiding mana with practiced control like it was part of her domain.
Then she giggled, raising her head high.
"Cool, right? I am sure Master can do even more awesome things after he awakens," she said, locking eyes with Noa.
It was his first time seeing magic.
It was both real and impossible.
Ice was formed from nothing, shaped by will alone, and Noa couldn’t blink.
’I want to control it. I want to experience the same thing,’ he decided.
Then he posed another question, excitement betraying his calmness.
"Can I control mana before I tame the beast? I know it’s possible in theory, and many have done it before."
Thalia flicked her fingers. The layers of snow and ice vanished, leaving no trace of their existence behind.
"I-I don’t know," she said, lowering her head. "Shaping mana into spells without a contracted beast sounds impossible for me... only a selected few have done it before."
She seemed sad, as if disappointed in herself for not being enough to aid him.
Just then, before Noa could ease her worries, the voice came.
"I see Young Master is finally taking an interest in magic. What a good day to be alive."
"Darrik," Thalia called out. "What are you doing here?"
The man said nothing as he approached the pair. He looked to be in his late thirties, his dirty blonde hair tied back loosely.
A thin scar traced down his angular face, starting from his forehead and ceasing at his jaw.
It was an old wound, but not accidental.
He was a mage.
His long, deep blue robes proved that.
But something felt off about the mage, as the way mana particles stirred beside him made Noa question his knowledge.
Then it clicked.
Darrik wasn’t just a standard tamer.
He was one of them—the second kind.
The ones whose beasts couldn’t be separated from them because the beasts lived inside them.
But it wasn’t grotesque or anything like Noa had imagined.
Darrik had perfect harmony with his familiar, and he could control his half-transformation with a single breath.
Most beasts form contracts, stay outside, and grow in sync with their contractor.
But Mergers fuse with tamers and connect their mana core.
The result?
Might and a deeper emotional connection.
Thankfully, humans rarely lose control and turn into monsters.
Until their mana cores become poisoned with the wrong rituals or materials they tried to cultivate.
"I was just strolling through the courtyard when I saw you guys," Darrik explained. "I wanted to greet Young Master, but heard his question."
Lowering his head, showing politeness, the mage asked humbly.
"May I provide you with my limited knowledge?"
"Raise your head, Darrik," Noa said, keeping the man under his radar. "And share your knowledge. What do you know about magic without a contracted beast?"
Darrik lowered his brows.
He noticed a subtle change in Noa’s voice.
The Young Master seemed different—more determined, more curious, and, above all, calmer.
The mage coughed before opening his mouth.
"Mana doesn’t listen to humans. It resists. That’s why we need beasts to guide and help us. But we need to train our bodies and senses before the awakening.
So when the time comes, we can control mana and beasts alike. It’s like power we were never meant to have, and we need to be ready for that."
The man concluded his speech.
He observed the young man before him as if trying to read his mind.
Noa, however, considered the time he had before the contract ceremony.
’My body is still weak. Though he ran every morning, his body was too frail. I can’t feel official training in my muscles, nor can I sense mana particles around us.’
But Darrik could help him.
The mage was a tier 4 tamer who could at least teach him something.
It would allow Noa to at least get ready for the awakening, which would increase his strength and chances to tame Ashe.
Without wasting a single breath, Noa locked his gaze with Darrik and said, his voice soft and demanding.
"We are starting my official training. Darrik, you will help me sense mana and teach me some basic spells."
Then he glanced at Thalia, his lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"You will stay with me so I won’t get bored. Do you also have recommendations on who should train me?"
Thalia tried to ignore Noa’s first comment.
"Young Master, I think you should ask Master Kaelor and Madam Elara for help. Considering how much they adore you, I doubt they will refuse your request."
"Fair enough," Noa said. "But I don’t want to disturb them. Can you find the strongest warriors in the estate and ask them in my name to come and train me?"
"Right now?" Thalia questioned.
Even Darrik had the same expression as both of them were surprised by how their master was acting.
He had never shown an interest in strength or training before, so his request for two teachers came as a surprise.
"Yes, please. I don’t have too much time," Noa said.
The maid recognized his seriousness and departed immediately, searching for the warriors who served directly under the barony.
As for Noa, he glanced back at the mage.
He clenched his fists in excitement and said,
"Let’s start with the basics. I want to know everything about magic and how to grasp it."