In silent room Austin was practicing his meditation finally made some break through at sensing mana in his surroundings. He was able to sense mana particles all over his body and the air he breathed in, it was truly mystical. It was strange energy he didn’t know colour but he could feel it, warm and cold at the same time moving all around him. A wave of energy also swept over his body making him feel more energetic and powerful.

“Congratulations kid you finally activated your core you have some talent for magic. Now focus in the mana around you figure out the pores that let mana to go in and out try to control it. Saturate your mana around your pores that take in mana and circulate it around the mana pathways stacking it in your core. The energy will dissipate after you loose control but it helps in your cores growth and build up strong mana pathways .” Mark taught Austin general location of mana pores and after giving instructions went back to do his job.

Austin also diligently practiced all day and night after seeing the battle between his boss and cultist he knew he needed this power to survive in this world. After 3 days Austin was finally able to sense and control mana inside and outside his body but doing so would drain him mentally. It took a lot of focus and concentration. He was waiting for Mark to finish his work in lab making even more unusual drugs.

In these days meditation was not the only thing Austin did he also practiced little alchemy but his failures were very taxing on Marks pocket so it ended really fast as Mark found some excuse and made Austin read alchemy books and simple effects and properties of herbs. Austin also ended up reading potion formulas but without practice that knowledge was useless. Except few wild herbs that can be used without any alchemy.

“Good job kid now you will be able to make proper use of the rank 1 beast core take it out.” Austin who was lost in his thoughts came to his senses and took out the mana core. He couldn’t figure out what Mark was trying to do ' what do I do with this eat?’. Looking at his expression Mark began explaining again.

“ What we are about to do is some barbarian use of mana cores cause efficient modern techniques are expensive and I don’t have any for you. It’s kind of shortcut to get strong but little dangerous and also expensive . Now what you have to do is link your mana and violent mana of this core pulling it like thread than circulate it in your body which will temper your body, then around the mana core absorbing raw mana tame it and make it your own. It will hurt and you won’t be able to absorb 100 percent of it but whatever you absorb will benefit your body and core greatly. It depends upon your talent how much you can take in it’s risky so do it carefully. Or you can also directly channel it to core and absorb it, circulating is mandatory cause most mages focus in cores ”

Austin began following Mark’s instruction and took in raw mana controlling tiny amount at a time and letting it enter his body. It bough intense pain as it passed through every muscle, bone and tendons he didn’t dare to take it close to any organs fearing the damage. Finally the mana clashed with his mana inside his body like waves of water after a lot of struggle raw mana dissipated like fog with very small amount entering his core like a wisp of smoke. Austin collapsed form stress his body and mind went after completing whole cycle only once. ‘My body is really very weak. Maybe I should focus only in core too? But I only have one core and don’t have means to get more. ’ He was done for the day exhausted physically and mentally .

“kid personally I think you should chose to be a warrior than a mage your talent in magic is average but you do have better control. With how well you fight I think swordsmen, hunter, archer, assassin any will be perfect for you.” Mark said after observing Austin for so long he knew how talented he was with weapons but his advice didn’t reach Austin. Mark turned to look at Austin wondering why he won’t respond it seems he had already fallen asleep from exhaustion.