I Ask You, What Is Magic?

'Damn, man. Are you seeing this?' Ryan asked in his mind, raising his eyebrows while keeping his eyes closed, astonished and barely controlling himself from walking closer to the shiny orbs and picking them up to peer deeper inside them.

He was at the back of the group, closest to the entrance, standing silently near a shelf with his eyes closed and serene expression on his face.

[I can see that, yes.] Codex replied, analyzing and comparing Ryan's vision to their previous experiments.

It was one of the things Ryan and Codex had explored over the years, Codex being able to see what Ryan saw, hear what he heard, sense what he sensed, and sometimes even better than him. Including his magical senses developed through years of focused meditative training.

But that was hardly of focus right now. Not when something so magnificent was before them.

The so-called Soul Cores were the most mana dense objects he had seen in his whole life — granted he had only been alive for five years, albeit longer ones.

Compared to the simpler, rhythmically flowing mana in the surroundings, mana inside these strange orbs was much more sophisticated and unique, moving differently in each of them.

'Just like a unique mana signature...' He realized.

[There is something else, I can't quite make it out by myself. Maybe try focusing on one of them wholly.] Codex reported.

In response, Ryan opened his eyes to once again look at the orbs, physically.

Due to the high density of mana within the Soul Cores, they registered in his limited mana sense as radiant orbs, glowing in various colors like brilliant light bulbs.

Ryan shifted his gaze, briefly catching Quin glancing in his direction. Not thinking much of it, he responded with a smile before making his way over to Oliver, who was fidgeting near a shelf across the room.

Upon reaching him, Ryan tugged at his shirt.

"Ollie, piggyback?" he asked, raising his arms expectantly.

Turning around, Oliver looked surprised for a moment before smiling and bending down with his back toward Ryan. "Sure, climb aboard."

Settling comfortably on Oliver's back, Ryan immediately shut his eyes, eager to slip into proper meditation, unaware of the gentle smile Eloise gave at the sight.

'I'll be counting on you for this, Codex,' he thought to his ever-reliable partner in crime.

[Rest assured. I'll be monitoring your senses and keep an eye on the surroundings, you just focus.] Codex assured.

Satisfied with the response, Ryan sank down into meditation, his head slumping on Oliver's shoulder.

'Huh, I didn't knew he was tired.' Thought Oliver.

Meanwhile, Tristan was making rounds from shelf to shelf with furrowed brows.

He would complete one shelf and move on to another, only to return and re-read some of the plaques once again, all the while Eloise and Quin silently watched, neither interrupting, nor aiding him.

--Melody Owl--

--Sings a pleasant tune to mesmerize its prey...--

--Twin Headed Snake--

--One head chokes the prey while the other can pump potent vemon...--

--Dark Hound--

--A canine that has a strong physique and can use its shape-shifting tail as a merciless whip...--

"There are quite an amount greater of these this year compared to the last, aren't there?" Eloise whispered to Quin, turning to inspect the Soul Cores herself.

"Indeed, Lady Eloise. Hunters have been finding more magical beasts as of late, it isn't too much trouble right now — entertaining for them, even, but it is a concerning trend." Quin answered with a practiced ease, barely seeming phased while delivering such news.

"Hmm," She replied, not trying to salvage the dying conversation.

Amidst the renewed silence, Tristan called out to Quin and asked for help, "Sir Quin, can you tell me a bit more about these two?" He inquired, pointing at two distinct Soul Cores at different locations, having agonized on which one to choose from.

Narrowing down the choices was surprisingly easier than he had expected. More than half of the present Soul Cores were not even remotely helpful in achieving his dream. Some, while having some interesting possibilities, did not align with his chosen profession of a stonesmith. Nonetheless, time had allowed him to get his nerves under control.

"I am not allowed to be biased towards any of them," He smiled apologetically, gesturing towards the shelves, "However, you may consult your mother."

Somewhat disappointed at not getting any additional information, Tristan turned to his mother, hoping for some enlightenment.

"Let's see... Stone Carapace Spider and Giantback Armadite. Not bad choices." She commended as she read their descriptions.

--Stone Carapace Spider--

--A giant spider that has all of its eight legs made of wide, hard stone.--

--Whenever it perceives danger, it gathers all its legs together and bunkers down.--

--It hunts by trapping small prey animals in earthen traps.--

--High chance of having affinity for earth magic, low chance of having affinity for poison magic.--

--Giantback Armadite--

--A mutated armadillo with a huge, smooth back.--

--Hunts prey by ramming into them as it rolls up with earthen spikes sticking out of its back.--

--High chance of having affinity for earth magic.--

"What are your thoughts on them?" She asked instead.

"Well... both of them have a high chance of possessing an earth-based magical affinity. The spider is almost guaranteed, given that it has formed traps with it, whereas the armadite could simply have a physical mutation. But I also don't want to risk ending up with a poison affinity if I choose the spider," Tristan shared his thoughts.

"Astute observations, young man." Quin praised from the side.

"Indeed," Eloise echoed, "What you missed however, is that the spider is never said to have actually used poison, magic or otherwise. The records just present the most likely outcome, and this is determined by the old data. As for the armadite, their shells are part of their bodies. It wouldn't make sense to be able to recreate or regrow the rocky spikes once they break off, without magic, that is."

Tristan took a few moments to digest her words and replied, "Understood."

After that, it only took him one final round throughout the room and a few more minutes to finalize his choice.

"I've decided," He announced to everyone, including the groggy Ryan who was rubbing his eyes with an annoyed and hurt expression on his face, "I choose to bond with the Beast Soul of the deceased Stone Carapace Spider." He completed solemnly.

With a light applause from everyone, Quin picked up the orb in question and moved everyone out, locking the door and calling a maid from the main house to deal with the orb.

"That marks four of you young ones, three more are left." Quin muttered as he sat back down on his wooden chair and started reading from where he left off, while Ryan and family walked back to their own home.

'I'll discuss it with you tomorrow. Just remembering what we saw makes my head hurt, I'll be sleeping for now.' Ryan thought, now hanging from the happy-faced Tristan's back, but in no good mood.

[Yes. I'm also consolidating the analysis.] Codex replied, but Ryan had already fallen asleep, this time genuinely.