The morning after Velian reached Meridian Harmonization Level 1, an almost tangible energy buzzed through Azuris Keep—at least among its three most important residents. Velian, usually composed, was brimming with anticipation as he eagerly relayed the latest System notifications to his parents over a simple breakfast.
"…and then it said 'Ignition Sequence Available' for my Star-Forged Core, Papa! And I got a new skill—'Mana Sense (Basic)'! It says I have to consciously activate it. What does that mean? How do I do it?" His questions came in a flurry, eyes alight with wonder, sky-blue irises gleaming as his snow-white hair seemed to crackle with bottled energy.
Kaelen exchanged a glance with Elara. The "Ignition Sequence" was no trivial development; ancient texts spoke of it as a monumental step—one full of promise, but also peril. It warranted caution, perhaps even expertise beyond their own. But "Mana Sense"—that was something different. Foundational. Essential. The first glimpse into the hidden soul of magic itself.
"Mana Sense," Elara said, her voice steady despite the flicker of excitement in her chest, "is the ability to perceive magical energy—to see mana in people, nature, and objects touched by power. The texts call it the opening of an inner eye—one that reveals the hidden flow of the world."
"How do I open it, Mama?" Velian asked, his gaze intense.
"The System said 'conscious activation,'" Kaelen mused aloud. "That means it won't just awaken on its own like your telekinesis did. You must will it into being. Reach for it with your mind, the same way you learned to guide starlight."
They chose to begin immediately. Their usual meditative space in the library—with its tranquility and the comforting scent of ancient parchment—seemed the perfect place.
"Close your eyes, Velian," Elara instructed gently. "Quiet your mind. Feel the Luminaris energy within you—the flow through your newly harmonized meridians. But this time, don't just feel it. Try to see it with your inner sight. Then, expand that sight. Imagine you're seeing the air around you—not with your eyes, but with your spirit."
Velian sat in his familiar posture, breath slow and steady. He turned inward easily now, attuned to the starlight currents flowing through him. He tried to visualize them, remembering that brief moment of clarity when he first mapped his meridians. But it was slippery—like trying to cup water in his hands.
Still, he persisted. He let his awareness ripple outward like waves on a still pond, gently touching the world around him—the stones of the keep, the old wooden shelves, the quiet air. At first, there was nothing—just the darkness behind his eyelids and the usual ambient sounds.
"Don't force it, sweetling," Elara whispered. "Invite it. Be curious about what the world wants to show you."
He took a deep breath and reached again—this time with wonder rather than effort. And then, it happened.
Not a vision in the traditional sense, but a faint pressure in his mind—a subtle texture to the emptiness. He focused. That texture resolved into interwoven threads of light—faint, almost imperceptible, but everywhere. They pulsed with a slow, living rhythm.
[Mana Sense (Basic) Activation Attempt: Partial Success. Initial Perception Achieved.][Focus and Refine. True Sight Requires Deeper Attunement.]
"I… I think I see something," Velian whispered, eyes still shut. "It's like… glowing spiderwebs. They're everywhere. And they're… breathing."
Elara's breath caught. Kaelen leaned in, his expression sharp.
"Can you see us, Velian?" Elara asked.
Velian turned his closed-eyed focus to where his mother sat. The threads brightened, coalescing around her form. Not her physical body, but a gentle aura—predominantly soothing blue, flecked with green and silver. It pulsed with calm affection.
Then, to his father. Kaelen's aura was different—a fierce crimson core with bronzed edges, encased in a steely grey. It felt strong and protective, like a shield forged in battle.
"Yes," Velian murmured. "Mama, you're like a river under the moon—warm and flowing. Papa, you're like a fire in a forge—bright and steady."
He opened his eyes, blinking as the physical world returned. The System prompt had vanished, but the memory of the auras lingered.
[Mana Sense (Basic) Successfully Activated!][Skill Acquired: Mana Sense (Rank F)][Description: Allows the user to perceive ambient mana, the auras of living beings, and traces of magical energy. Range: Short (10 ft). Clarity: Low. Mana Cost: Very Low (Passive Drain during use).][Perception of the world has fundamentally changed. New information pathways are open.]
"It worked!" Velian beamed. "I can see… the world's breath!"
Over the following days, Velian practiced relentlessly. The world, always rich to him, now revealed a hidden layer of wonder. He observed the faint green auras of the kitchen garden's plants, the pale blue remnants of energy clinging to the keep's ancient stones, and the more complex signatures of the household's occupants. Torvin, the grizzled guard, had an aura like weathered oak—sturdy and grounded. Cook Martha's felt like warm bread—comforting and nurturing.
He learned that emotions could change auras. When Kaelen was pleased, his fiery glow flared. When Elara worried, her calm hues rippled with grey. It was an intimate, silent language—one that brought Velian closer to those he loved.
The "Ignition Sequence" for his Star-Forged Core, however, remained a more serious matter—its mysteries debated in whispers between Kaelen and Elara. The ancient writings offered only vague metaphors: "embracing one's natal star" and "forging the inner sun." Yet their warnings about failure were stark and specific.
"We can't risk it, Kaelen," Elara said one evening, as they watched Velian sleep—his aura a gentle silvery-blue in the dim light. "Not without guidance. The texts mention a 'Celestial Attunement Master'… or a 'Star-Seer.' We are his parents, his protectors. But we are not that."
Kaelen nodded grimly. "His growth is astonishing, but this… this lies beyond us. A mistake could harm him permanently." He ran a hand through his hair. "Master Valerius—the scholar—he spoke knowledgeably of celestial matters. Perhaps…"
"…he's where we begin," Elara finished. "But finding someone truly capable—and trustworthy—won't be easy. It may mean sending Velian away… sooner than we hoped."
The thought settled heavily between them. Azuris Keep had been a sanctuary, a fertile ground for Velian's gifts. But now, it risked becoming a cage—limiting what he could become.
Meanwhile, Velian continued honing his Mana Sense. He found he could detect traces of magic left on objects. Kaelen's heirloom sword held a quiet aura—echoes of old battles and loyal oaths. Elara's oldest scrolls thrummed softly with the imprints of ancient minds.
One afternoon, near the old, disused watchtower where he'd first seen a System prompt, his Mana Sense caught something new. Beneath the familiar hum of the "Dormant Earth Attunement Node" he had sensed years ago, a colder energy flickered—elusive, faint, and strangely furtive. It felt… alien, not of the land.
He narrowed his focus, brow furrowing. The energy came from a fissure in the tower's base, half-swallowed by weeds and shadows.
"What are you?" he whispered, reaching out with his senses.
The cold thread pulsed once—briefly aware, like something sleeping that stirred. Then it withdrew, burrowing deeper into the earth, leaving only a prickle of unease.
He reported it to his parents. Kaelen investigated but found nothing visible. Elara, however, grew thoughtful.
"There are stories," she said softly, "of things that slumber beneath the world—remnants of darker ages. Your Mana Sense, Velian, may show you marvels. But also secrets best left undisturbed… or approached with great caution."
The unveiling sense had opened his eyes to a broader, magical reality. But with wonder came shadow. The road to understanding his Star-Forged Core lay ahead—but so did dangers, mysteries, and decisions that would outgrow the quiet safety of Azuris Keep.