Geometric Mage: First Spell, Circle

"They are all Bronze 3, 4, and 5 Mana Cores… how the hell am I supposed to manage this?!"

After sighing for a moment, Lian decided not to think about it and dive into his practice.

He took one of the Bronze 3 Mana Cores and inserted it into the Core Extractor. The blue light inside swallowed the Mana Core.

The device's screen lit up, and he selected the type of rune. Fortunately, he did not need a Mana Core of a specific element to create a secondary or tertiary rune; any would do.

The only thing that actually made a difference was the rank of the Mana Core. The effect of a Bronze 3 Rune was different from a Bronze 1 or Bronze 5.

"I can do this!" His hands rested on the machine's glass. He had chosen a primary rune to start. Who knows, maybe it would bring luck.

In truth, extraction was not so… difficult. At least for Lian. He only had to place his hands, and his mana would do the rest, flowing from his body to the Mana Core.

The light inside the machine shone a deep blue, almost navy, a sign that the Mana Core inside was related to the water element.

The moment he placed his hands, Lian felt his mana flow into the extractor. A faint connection formed between Lian and the rune taking shape.

As time passed, more of Lian's mana was drawn out, but at the same time, the rune took form. Unlike the day before, the connection Lian felt with this rune was different, stronger. It was as if the boy was born for this job—not exactly the greatest life—

Unlike other Rune Masters, Lian did not have to actively control the process. Providing mana was enough, and the job was done.

A few minutes later, a brilliant blue rune took shape.

"I did it!" he said with a smile on his face. The mana in his body stirred, as if displeased that he had stopped flowing into the extractor.

Absurd, is my mana betraying me? But the moment Lian thought this, he could not help but notice something.

"There is something strange… I used much more mana than what I am missing now."

Thinking about it would not get him anywhere. With a shrug, Lian grasped the rune with his mana and placed it inside one of the Runic Tablets provided by Torin.

"Now I just need to complete it with a secondary and a tertiary rune… let us get to work!"

Grabbing another rune, Lian began the extraction process again, this time selecting a secondary rune.

"Let us see, I need to select this type of secondary rune—"

Lian clicked on the screen and placed his hands on the cold glass of the extractor. The process was very similar to the previous one, but this time the Mana Core inside the blue light glowed green, indicating it was the wind element.

But it did not matter, after all, he was creating a secondary rune. The only thing that mattered was the rank.

Again, the sensation of his mana flowing into the machine was strong, but this time Lian could notice it better. The feeling he experienced was not due to the mana leaving him, but how it reacted inside the machine.

It seemed alive, capable of influencing the rune's creation in a very precise and subtle way.

"Incredible—" Lian murmured, witnessing it all. His mana was special. But most likely, it was not Lian's mana that was special, but the system itself.

To this day, despite everything he had gone through and experienced, his system behaved very passively. It did not guide him at all in anything.

(I should complain to the system's customer service…) the author thought.

A few more minutes later, the secondary rune took shape successfully. Lian's mana was still plentiful; he did not need to stop.

"Well, I think mana potions are needed to do this job best. I could ask Torin for some—" thinking of the boy, Lian furrowed his brows and closed his eyes with a grimace. "I absolutely need to take a shower when I leave here."

After placing the secondary rune on the Runic Tablet, Lian moved on to creating the tertiary one.

"The tertiary rune to select is this one, great—"

The process was identical to the previous one, and after a few minutes, Lian completed the work, placing the tertiary rune on the Runic Tablet as well.

"There we go! The first set of runes has been created successfully. Now I wonder…"

Lian paused for a moment, staring at the room where Torin had holed up. "Should I bring it to him or complete the task first?"

"Well, let us make at least a couple more before delivering them. I would not want to be scolded again…" He sighed helplessly, recalling Torin's bad temper.

Lian rolled up his sleeves as he took another Mana Core from his spatial ring. Inside the Core Extractor, there was a glimmer of green.

"Another wind element Mana Core." He murmured while selecting the primary rune again on the screen. "Let us start!"

Time passed, and slowly but surely, Lian completed two more sets of runes. Three Runic Tablets glowed with different colors: the first blue, the second green, and the third yellow, indicating it was the earth element.

"Good, I would say we can deliver them to Torin and see what he says. I hope he is satisfied with me!"

Lian reached the door of his room, taking a deep breath before knocking lightly.

Knock Knock—

"What is it, kid? Is making a simple set of runes too complicated? Are you planning to give up? I understand, the art of Rune Masters is difficult. Leave everything at the entrance, do not worry. Just know that you are weak."

Lian blinked repeatedly. His body froze, his expression a mix of perplexity and slight anger.

After a couple of seconds staring at the door, Lian let out a loud cough. "No, Torin—I have made three sets of runes. I just wanted—"

Lian could not finish his sentence before the door behind him swung open with a loud swoosh. Torin's face was incredulous as he stared at Lian. "What did you say, kid? Are you messing with me? You made three sets in just half an hour? Know that if you are pulling my—"

Without letting him continue spouting nonsense, Lian made a gesture with his hand. In front of him, three Runic Tablets glowed with different colors. Torin froze, his face painted with disbelief.

"Here you go. Were you saying something earlier?" Lian smiled faintly, a triumphant expression on his face. I embarrassed you, did I not? he thought.