After Hormizd and I chose my name, he explained magic to me—how every individual can use various types of magic, but the strength of their soul determines the number of unique spells they possess, ranging from one to five. These spells belong exclusively to them, meaning no one else can learn them.
The more Hormizd talked about magic, the more fascinated I became. I began to imagine what kind of magic I might acquire. I asked him if I could learn magic or if I already had my own unique spell. He replied, "I think you can. I have a test parchment in the cabin. Remind me tonight, and we'll try it."
What intrigued me most was that, unlike what I've seen in movies or heard in stories, people in this world don't need a specific energy source like mana. In fact, their mana could be considered infinite, as Hormizd said people here inscribe symbols on various parts of their bodies. These symbols allow them to draw energy from everything around them—light, sound, darkness, and so on—to fuel their magic.
As I understood it, the only thing they need is access to different types of spells, which aren't readily available to everyone. Moreover, each person has their own unique magic, so an individual's power largely depends on their magic and their imagination. Yes, imagination. Hormizd mentioned that anyone can create the magic they desire—they just need to know what they're doing. While people here might not have as vivid an imagination as mine, it seems that very powerful individuals exist in this world. Honestly, I'm eager to see all the different kinds of magic, but for now, I feel stuck here—and worse, I feel weak.
Oh, and while people here don't require mana, using too much magic can leave the mind utterly exhausted. It also depends on many other factors, so there's still a long way to go to grow stronger. Reflecting on it now, this world seems entirely fair. It doesn't matter where you come from or what family you belong to; ultimately, you have to become stronger through your own efforts. Even if your unique magic is weak, you can always create new spells.
When we arrived at the cabin, Hormizd called to me and said, "It seems you have a strong interest in magic. Take off your shirt. To begin, you need to choose a spot where I can inscribe the symbols for you."
I thought for a moment and asked, "Can you inscribe it on my heart?"
Surprised, Hormizd replied, "On your heart? Why? It's not impossible, but why would you choose that?"
I told him, "You said that if these symbols get damaged, the energy intake will decrease. I chose a spot that, if damaged, would mean I'm no longer alive."
He looked at me and said, "What an interesting idea—no one has thought of that before. You're truly a fascinating person."
He then placed his hand on my chest, and I felt a cold, unfamiliar energy enter my body. My heart began to ache—intensely. After that, I don't remember anything. When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on a bed. Struggling, I sat up. A few minutes later, Hormizd came in and explained that my body was absorbing energy to strengthen itself.
He told me that, in this world, people not only use magic but also possess strong bodies to engage in sword fighting, assassination, and other tasks. Not everyone becomes a mage. He explained that I could use this energy to momentarily enhance my body, and now that the symbols were inscribed on my heart, I could both have a strong body and cast spells without any issues.
His words made me extremely happy. I asked if I could now use the parchment to detect my magic. He replied, "Of course, you can. But it's better to rest a bit first—we don't want you to overdo it, right?"