Eat The World Tree

“Depending on the person, the characteristics of mana differ. You can guess its nature from its color, talent, or even bodily changes. Even for those of the same species, the mana characteristics may vary for each individual.”

The Sage slightly lowered her head and looked at both of us.

“These characteristics may be similar, but they can never be exactly the same. After using magic, traces of it always remain. Unless the characteristics are forcibly altered or erased, you can track down the owner of the mana by following its traits. You know how in movies, they chase criminals using magic? That’s based on this.”

Saying this, she flicked her fingers and brought three stones before us. Each one had a different geometric pattern engraved in bright blue.

“These three stones each contain mana with different characteristics.”

The Sage then pulled out another stone from her pocket. Unlike the others, it had no patterns. Yet, faint mana could still be felt from within.

I assumed we were supposed to pick out which of the three stones held the same type of mana as the one in her hand.

“If you’re a wizard, you probably already know what I’m going to say.”

It was a theory I had heard from Hwangdo once. Marronie and I almost simultaneously reached out, each pointing at a stone on the table. I chose the first stone, while Marronie picked the third.

As soon as the Sage finished speaking, black mana surged from the stones we had pointed to.

“Mana, or magic power, is the fundamental essence of all things. Whether it’s in the form of waves or particles is still debated, and even with Lord Sephirot’s knowledge, it’s difficult to determine. However, with just mana, you can accomplish anything—electromagnetism, quantum gravity, space-time… quarks. All of these are, for now, merely theoretical concepts in mana studies.”

The body, too, was made of mana. From another perspective, the powers used by me, the World Tree, and Marronie were also forms of mana. It was still unclear why we couldn’t exert the same kind of power as mana in the form of abilities like dominion.

From the beginning, only a very small fraction of mana traits could be directly used by humans. It was truly a mysterious power.

“So, as a scholar, don’t place blind faith even in the knowledge I’ve taught you. Knowledge stems from endless curiosity.”

Magic was essentially the manipulation of phenomena.

It was about directly causing an effect outside your fingers or body. To understand it, even hundreds of pages of notes wouldn’t be enough. For people like me and Hwangdo, who used magic purely based on intuition, it was relatively easier compared to other wizards.

‘Not that we don’t study the theory.’

Whether you relied on intuition to trigger magic or meticulously crafted it, the amount of study was about the same. It was just a matter of aptitude.

“As I mentioned, these characteristics vary by individual. Some even say you can tell a person’s personality from their mana.”

“Personality?”

“Yes. Although it’s rare for someone to have a distinct color. Only those close to awakening or people who experience extraordinary events or unique circumstances have mana that exhibits a ‘color.’”

The Sage’s gaze shifted to me.

“For instance, Mr. Lee Shiheon’s mana is black.”

With a single gesture, mana was drawn out of my hand. A thread of black mana flickered at the tip of my fingernail.

“Domination, suppression, freedom. This is a unique mana that embodies such desires. The most recent figures who had this kind of mana were the Tree Spirit King and Cheonma.”

“…The Tree Spirit King?”

Marronie glanced at me for a moment, then turned back to the Sage.

“Um….”

Her voice carried a hint of discomfort.

“No matter how you mean it… comparing someone to that person feels a bit….”

“Ah.”

“Our generation is sensitive about that. Even if it’s just a metaphor, that person… I believe you know it very well.”

“I apologize, Marronie. And Mr. Lee Shiheon, I’m sorry too.”

The Sage cast an apologetic glance at me. Damn it. Marronie, you’re too kind for your own good.

I was the Tree Spirit King, after all, so I couldn’t exactly react easily to this.

“Cheer up….”

Marronie noticed my slightly awkward expression and gently tapped my arm with her fingertip.

“It’s fine. Let’s continue the explanation.”

The Tree Spirit King and Cheonma.

Though it was said like that, in reality, black mana had been quite common. Cheondo went searching for black mana and passed down skills to me because Cheonma’s martial arts were based on black mana. Due to its intensity and pressure, black mana had come to be seen as evidence of Cheonma. That was why.

…However, the demonic energy I learned from the past was somewhat different. Calling it simply a ‘different color’ didn’t capture it fully. I was a strange and savage power, something that almost felt wrong to call mana.

‘It clarified the ambiguous boundary of Heukdo (Black Path).’

Heukdo. It started when I first entered the academy. The black mana manifested. It first appeared while I was watching the cadet training. When I fought Lee Seonghan, Jin Dallae’s adoptive father, I thought it was the pinnacle of combat aura. In truth, when black mana enveloped the body, it demonstrated a completely different performance than regular mana.

The Heukdo that originated from that black mana began to take shape in purgatory. At the time, it was faint demonic energy that manifested unconsciously within the power of Heukdo, but by today’s standards, it’s laughable. Even though I used it in the midterms, it was hard to consider it a complete power.

Heukdo became fully realized with Cheondo and Baekdo’s final technique—the eighth movement they never taught me. Cheonma passed it directly to me when I traveled to the past, but now, it was a power I could hardly reveal due to the risk of exposure. That was where it found its final form. Since it enhanced my original strength, I suppose it could be called the second form of Heukdo. But I was not really hung up on names. Nowadays, if I felt even slightly weak, I just drew upon black mana right away.

“Mr. Lee Shiheon?”

“Yes?”

“You seemed lost in thought for a moment… should we take a break if you’re feeling distracted?”

I had drifted into my own thoughts for a while.

I shook my head.

“No, please continue. Though, I’m curious about your mana characteristics. What kind do you have?”

“Oh, right. But before mine, how about we check out Blanche’s mana first?”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“My, my mana?”

When the Sage extended her hand, pale blue mana flowed from Marronie’s body. It was a color like white paint mixed with the faintest touch of blue.

“It’s quite unique. Usually, mana is fixed in nature, and even if it changes over time, it rarely holds two different natures. However, there are rare cases where mana has the potential to split into two traits.”

White and blue mana.

“Normally, this is considered a blessed body that others can never possess. Loved by spirits, approved by the god of mana… you could call it a ‘Heavenly Body of Magic.’”

“N-No way?”

Marronie, visibly flustered, seemed unaware of her own potential.

“A level so rare that it might appear once in a century. This is likely why Blanche has become the National Tree of France.”

“…Ah, um, well…”

She averted her gaze, seemingly embarrassed. It must be quite unusual to possess mana with dual characteristics. Given that Marronie is considered a genius among wizards, it’s probably not far from the truth.

The Sage first pointed to the blue mana. It was a deeper and clearer shade than the blue mana typically associated with Mokin.

“Blue mana represents romance and longing. It manifests when one has a desire to pursue something they admire.”

“…Are you reading my fortune right now?”

“It’s just a common tendency. It doesn’t always apply.”

People with this type of mana generally fall into this category. It felt like an MBTI test for wizards.

I glanced at Marronie’s mana. The blue and white mana, split at the edges of the sky-blue hue, held an immense amount of energy.

It was a power she hadn’t used when we fought. Clearly, she had hidden most of her strength during the first trial.

“What about the white mana?”

The Sage clapped her hands at my question.

“Ah, yes. I was just about to explain my own mana traits. I also possess white mana.”

Immediately, the Sage created a white mana orb in her hand. It was so bright that Marronie’s light was momentarily overshadowed. The intensity was remarkable, as was the strength contained within.

“However, this white mana carries a lot of meaning.”

I tried to recall if I had met anyone else who used white mana. After thinking it over, I realized there had been quite a few: Baekdo and Maehwa. One was my mentor, and the other was the battle-hungry National Tree of China I encountered at the end of the first trial. And there was also Mugung, known for standing alongside Cheonma, who was also a wielder of white mana.

‘…Sigh.’

For some reason, I had never gotten along well with white mana users. Was this for real? Could I actually trust something like a mana MBTI?

It was strange how unscientific tests like this often seemed to ask oddly convincing questions. Perhaps it was because they apply broadly enough to seem plausible to most people.

As the Sage smiled, I responded with an awkward laugh.

“What meaning does it hold?”

“Purity. A desire to preserve things exactly as they are, without any changes. In a positive sense, it reflects a person’s wish to maintain their current state or to remain unwavering in their resolve.”

In other words, it’s a ‘stubborn as hell’ personality. That perfectly describes Baekdo. She’s incredibly stubborn and never backs down. Even in the past, Baekdo had been the same. She wished for Dowon to never change. When Cheondo felt threatened by the Young Demon’s rise, she trembled in fear that the world she knew would collapse.

“And in a negative sense?”

The Sage’s voice lowered as if she were confessing her own flaw, as if acknowledging her own self-inflicted suffering.

“Conservatism.”

“Hmm.”

“Once they decide on something, they are radical and action-driven, but after it’s settled, they refuse to change it. You could call it obstinacy, or detachment. Purity doesn’t always carry a positive connotation. It’s also the color of revolutionaries.”

The color of revolutionaries. At those words, Marronie suddenly shuddered.

“…”

“What’s wrong? Oh.”

It dawned on me after I asked. Marronie comes from a family of revolutionaries. She stood at the heart of those who overthrew and executed the queen, rising to a position of power above all. This description perfectly fits her family. I was starting to get a sense of things. People with white mana did seem to be a bit… unhinged. Conversely, I had never met a completely sane person with black mana either.

If there was an exception, it might be Cheondo? Our cute master had nothing to do with mana, after all.

‘…So, what about Sansuyu?’

Yellow mana. Hearing about the different colors piqued my curiosity.

“What about yellow mana? What traits does it carry?”

“Yellow mana…”

The Sage smiled knowingly, forming a crescent moon with her lips, as if she understood my intention.

“Protection. It manifests when someone wishes to protect something.”

To protect something. What exactly? I found the explanation of white mana somewhat convincing when I heard it. But the description of yellow mana left me tilting my head in doubt. Sansuyu, that carefree girl… trying to protect something? Did she really want to maintain things as they were? That felt like a bit of a stretch.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Would you like me to explain the other colors as well?”

“…I’ll hear the rest another time.”

I felt like I was getting sucked into this mana MBTI. Deciding to stop my thoughts, I focused on the next lesson.

The lessons continued without pause until evening.