END Initiated...

After a hectic day of learning new things at the institute, Kiel returned to the inn still in the process of assimilating the newfound pieces of information. Kiel had always been thinking that this new world was a laid back one depending on spells and brute force to achieve one's goal, like those depicted in the reincarnation novels on earth. But it turned out that this new world had its own technology and the research, even though they were a little backwards, well maybe a lot backwards.

Kiel felt like being a country bumpkin who had lived most of his life in a village and had just come to visit a town place where everything just felt new. Walking on the busy street, as the various loud noises around echoed beside his eardrums. The afternoon flaming the busy marketplace, as exhaustion filled the small frame of the boy walking down to his destination. The distant loudspeakers honked, as the various advertis.e.m.e.nts were broadcasted through them, giving the city its panoramic beauty.

Kiel remembered the first time when he entered the city and came face to face with such devices and the shock that filled him upon finding these speakers similar to his previous world. And finding out the scientifically backwards place could actually produce such equipment were a big surprise for him. But later on, learning that these speakers were made through special magic runes and arrays, arouse the little boy's extreme curiosity even more. Kiel now hoped the world to show him even more miracles to unravel; and to gift the world even more that it had attained till now, the d.e.s.i.r.e of every scientist.

Now coming back to the present, as the days passed by slowly, Kiel started learning more about the world through his regular visits to the WMMR, and the library.

The first day they were taught about the basic concept of mana and magic. But during the next few days, Kiel learnt about the elements, affinity and how much significance of a role they played in the life of a magician. According to the old men, everyone had an affinity towards the world they were born from, but no one could make their own affinity to the elements, on the other side, the elements would choose them. More like the world acknowledging them through the elements, giving them the power to influence the world around them.

"And the first step to being acknowledged by the world was Contracting One's Elements"

"The world has so many elements that even though the history of humans spanned through almost for hundreds of millennia, we were still not able to discover all of them. They are so diverse that there is not an end to them. Some are common, some are rare, some are on a higher level, some are special an some are actually derived from two or more elements combining together, while there were even others that came from a similar source but were not identical. So to classify them in a more understanding way, depending on the availability and their appearances, the elements were categorised into four types- Common, Rare, Unique and Legend."

[A/N: well our modern humans have a history of 200 millennia. So 100 millennia can be not regarded to be a very advanced period.]

Kiel recalled even more of what the old men even had taught him. 

The common elements included the four basic elements- Air, Water, Fire and Earth. They were the most common and 80-85 per cent of the people had one of the four basic elements. These elements form the majority of the planet and are found in the most abundant in nature. Hence they are named- primary elements

Then were the rare category elements appearing in about 5-10 per cent of the world. These rare elements were even sometimes derived from more than one of the primary elements. Some common Rare elements Kiel recalled were- Lightning, Ice, Metal, Wood and Shadow, and Magma. These elements were often called Secondary elements, as they are the most found in nature after primary elements. Those with these affinities are treated as geniuses and are respected everywhere.

Apart from these two types, there exist some elements which were classified as unique, because they only appeared very uniquely. Like one out of a billion have an affinity with these elements. They are regarded as national treasures by the kingdoms and empires. Most of these elements were uncommon. But some known unique elements included- Light, Dark, Summoning, Musics, Foresight, Soul, Space and maybe many more. Whenever these elements appeared, they were usually accompanied by some unnatural phenomenons.

Separated from the above three types, there were even rumours about another category of elemental affinity. But not much was not known about this, while only some rumours flew about. 

Kiel was very excited to learn about these elements. And even more, looked forward to the Mana Ceremony which was around the corner. But learning about the various elements, Kiel recalled his sisters. If everyone had an affinity and by being acknowledged by the world they gained their elements, why did some have no affinity at all? Kiel never believed in sinners, and after having a talk with a so-called God, he even disdained the word sinner. So there was no need to devise about something along those lines. And thinking that it was just an exception was too far fetched. Kiel thought maybe it was some disease previously.  But he needed to gain more knowledge about this matter to device anything more.

So once he asked about it to his professor. But all he got was the ridicule of everyone around him. Looking at him as a country bumpkin without any knowledge of the world. However, the professor was a little better as even though he thought that the child was seeking unnecessary attention, he still explained that those without any affinity we're like people with no tools to filter muddy water to get pure water. They had to do everything by themselves which was in itself quite a hassle. And without the proper knowledge was also quite dangerous. And these people didn't have a closeness to any element. So they could not use any element efficiently like others having an affinity to them. More likely how you would help a friend better than a stranger. 

 Although Kiel was not quite satisfied with the explanation, he had to do with it for now. Asking any more would yield no better outcome from the attitude of the instructor.

In the following days, apart from introducing the kids about the elements and their usages, the professors also taught them about the upcoming Mana Ceremony. Kiel learnt that some of the professors would inject a small amount of mana in them and let it flow through their mana nodes, unblocking them in the process. And then there would even be the Affinity testing phase. 

The various professors also introduced the various fields of magic and the many professions to the little kids. Battlemages or those proficient in one on one battles, Wizards or those proficient in large scale battles, Witches- proficient in witchcraft, Sorcerers -proficient in Curses and black magic, Magic Technician or Magi, Magus or Magic Scientists, Warlocks- proficient in bloodline magic, Warriors, Array-masters, Alchemists, Black and White Smiths, Rune-masters, Beast-masters, Commanders and many others. They also explained the various things needed to be proficient in each field. Everyone was highly motivated to learn the various ways they could build themselves up. 

Fascinated by all these, Kiel attempted to learn even more from the lectures and sometimes even asking about some doubts, expanding his sphere of knowledge even more in this new world, ignoring the bad looks he earned in the process. Kiel knew that he could not save his father. Hence, he could now only try to protect his remaining family now. And like in those novels, to protect his family, he needed power. As a former scientist, Kiel had a deeply ingrained belief that power comes from awareness. Without knowledge, utilizing what one had was incredibly arduous. So he lost himself in the studies, exploring the new world from his theories like his past self, and in the process forgetting his bad memories.

But there was something that still disturbed his genius little mind, and no matter how much he searched or no matter how he related from the concepts of mana, he could not find out about it. The origins of the energy flowing inside him, more specifically what he termed the life energy. It was not like prana(mana inside oneself) or having any relation with the mana around him, nor did it have any properties of prana. It was gentle and not violent like mana, and was self enriching not relying on elements at all. And moreover, it didn't require the usage of the mana nodes, that the professors spoke off. It just freely flowed inside his body without any restrictions, well until it faced his root chakra that is, getting all s.u.c.k.e.d up.

[A/N: prana is purified mana. Mana in a form accepted by the body, not so much violence, that it will harm the body. And did you all forget the Root Chakra? Hehe! Hold still. Cause chakra journey hasn't even started.]

But asking had its own risks as Kiel feared that telling about the energy inside him to others may end up him becoming a lab rat. So even though he wanted to know more about these. He had to wait for the right opportunity. 

***

As the little remaining days passed by, Kiel grew more accustomed to the city. But seemingly the First Mana Ceremony, he was looking forward to was just around the corner. And as the date was just a day remaining, more and more people entered the city. Most of them, however, were from rich and influential households, arriving late to show their influence. The city became even more crowded as various people from around the provincial city came to participate in the Ceremony. The WMMR also closed two days ago to prepare for the crucial day. 

Kiel was feeling a little nervous. A little because of the Ceremony and mostly thinking about what would happen if he became able to control mana, and it's various possibilities. Well, most of his tension was due to his young body not letting him out of its hormonal bindings, even if he wanted to cool down. And moreover, he had a little unrest welling within him, thinking that if there would be any consequences when his life energy came into contact with the mana. It was from his former scientific instinct to thoroughly revise everything. But soon he forgot it to the back of his mind, as he had no way of predicting what would happen.

Opening his eyes, after a customary period of breathing practice, Kiel felt the same empty feeling of his life energy being totally drained by his root chakra. Today was the First Mana Ceremony, and Kiel didn't want any mishaps to happen. So he practised diligently as usual. But there was something that was different this time, as a throbbing sensation coming off from under his crotch region, specifically from inside his root chakra. Kiel after opening two petals of his Root Chakra was not unfamiliar to this sensation.

 "Looks like another petal on the verge of awakening. Well, mostly within two to three days. Hehe, maybe this petal will allow me to control my abilities more proficiently or awaken something else in me!"

Just as he finished Kiel opened his hands and stared at a small needle around the corner. If anyone else was here, they would be surprised to see a needle flying on its own and landing on the little boy's hand, bringing a pleasant smile to the lad's face. 

"Hehe! Just wait, you all. Sooner or later you all will see that Kiel Dmitriev's family is not something anyone can touch without consequences!"

Looking ahead Kiel had his usual cute smile, as he stood up from his cross-legged position to prepare for the Ceremony. Unknown to the little fellow, later he would be so pleasantly surprised that he did his usual training today out of habit. But that's for something in the future.