Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

Chapter 216: The lesson (3)

Henry nodded in understanding as a gentle breeze brushed against his face, making his black hair sway - "We mages," Luna continued, her tone laced with some kind of pride - "do not rely on crude methods like coating our hearts and bodies with Mana, as you warriors do. Instead, we transform our very spirits into sigils, aligning ourselves with the flow of Mana around us and gaining the ability to manipulate it directly, outside of our bodies."

"Our spirits serve as conduits" - she continued, flicking her finger. The pressurized air arrow hovering in front of her shifted, morphing into a dense, spinning sphere. It floated between them, its wild rotation sending ripples through the air - "By transforming our spirits into sigils, we create a natural connection with the Mana in the environment. They see us as part of themselves, not a strange entity, which makes it easier to manipulate and draw."

She gestured toward the spinning ball of air - "But here’s the catch" - she said - "Our spirits tend to favor a particular element, and the sigil we create amplifies that preference. We don’t know why, but it’s an innate part of how spirits work. Take me, for example. My spirit naturally aligns with wind, making it easier for me to create sigils and manipulate Mana for wind-based magic. That doesn’t mean I’m incapable of working with other elements" - she added with a shrug - "but it would take more effort, yield weaker results, and require learning entirely new sigil patterns. It’s counter productive."

Henry stayed silent, his eyes fixed on the spinning ball of air as he absorbed her words.

"And once again, it all comes down to combinations" Luna continued, her voice steady - "By weaving Mana strands into different sigil patterns, I can create an endless variety of spells. Let me show you..."

With another flick of her hand, the spinning ball of air expanded briefly. Then, the air gathered to form into a sleek, floating sword that hovered between them, shimmering faintly. All it took was a small change in the pattern of the mana strands.

"The stronger your spirit, the more intricate and powerful your spirit sigil becomes" - Luna continued, her tone shifting to one of instruction - "A stronger sigil allows you to gather more Mana strands and create increasingly complex patterns. And once your spirit reaches a certain level, you will even be able to produce multiple sigils at the same time."

Henry’s eyes widened as the air around them thickened. In an instant, the single sword multiplied, splitting into dozens of identical blades. One by one, they materialized in the space between them, forming a deadly array of hovering weapons. It was as if an invisible army had drawn its swords, awaiting a single command from its queen.

And then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the swords vanished, dissolving into thin air. Luna’s expression darkened as her gaze shifted toward the distant Frozen Forest. Her jaw tightened, and her hands curled into fists as frustration flickered across her face.

Henry ignored her teasing - "So" - he asked - "how do I transform my spirit into a sigil?"

Luna chuckled softly, crossing her arms. "Eager, aren’t we? Well, it’s not as simple as waving your hand and willing it into existence. You’ll need a Spirit Sigil Technique, a method for shaping your spirit into a sigil. It’s a delicate process, one that requires precision, focus, and patience."

"And where would I find such a technique?" Henry asked, already expecting her answer.

Her smirk widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "That, your majesty, is the tricky part. Spirit Sigil Techniques are rare and closely guarded. I happen to have a few... but whether I feel like sharing them is another matter entirely."

Henry raised an eyebrow - "And what would it take for you to share them?"

Luna tapped her chin thoughtfully, pretending to ponder the question. "Well," she said after a moment, "I might be persuaded... if you were to, say, provide me with more of those books you promised. Or perhaps some rare materials from the Frozen Forest. Maybe both."

Henry sighed, already anticipating her demands. "I only have three more." - He said.

"Come on..I know you have one more stashed away in case you need more of my help" she said, her smirk never fading. "After all, I’m offering you something priceless. The ability to manipulate Mana, to wield magic... it’s worth a few books, don’t you think?"

Henry shook his head - "I really don’t have any left. Can’t you give me the same technique you have shared with the others?"

Luna pointed her fingers towards the trainees - "I have given them a wind based Sigil Technique and some of them doesn’t even have the talent for the wind element." - She said, looking into Henry’s gray eyes, which were looking a bit down. She sighed - "But I do have a simple Fire Sigil Technique, which I stolen from that intruder. I will give it to you".