The way weapon skills functioned fascinated him. Each level acted like a permission key, granting access to a vast database of collective insights on the weapon type associated with the skill.
The higher the level, the more knowledge, guidance, and insights the skill provided in wielding the weapon.
After level 10, the skill would finally start offering insights on how to infuse mana into the weapon. The information wouldn't need to be studied or learned—it would simply appear in the user's mind, like a natural thought.
"I guess we can end it early today," Joseph said, shrugging before sliding his sword back into its scabbard.
…
The greatest increase in Peter's stats over the past year had been Intelligence. He had managed to raise it to 12, a significant improvement. Mariah had been visibly surprised when he completed three years' worth of academics in just a single year.
Most of the subjects he studied included history, geography, herbology, and knowledge about common monsters, along with other essential information.
There were lessons on proper etiquette when dealing with a servant of god, the various types of sentient races in the world, noble hierarchy, debt slaves, and other societal structures.
However, there were undoubtedly gaps in his education—things Mariah herself, as a commoner, had never learned.
Peter sighed, pushing away the unnecessary thoughts cluttering his mind.
At the moment, he sat cross-legged on his bed in his room, eyes closed. Mana Sense spread outward as he surveyed his surroundings.
Now functioning as a spherical domain with himself at the center, the skill allowed him to perceive a four-meter radius in every direction at level 22.
If his own assessment was correct, the reasons behind his Intelligence stat's steady increase were his work within IDE, constant use of Mana Sense, and his daily study sessions with Mariah.
With these advantages, he could now keep Mana Sense active for as long as he was awake—without any strain on his mind, unlike before.
Peter could, of course, try to increase the radius of his Mana Sense, but doing so would also increase the amount of raw information flooding his mind.
Mana Sense wasn't designed as a clairvoyance skill; it didn't filter information at all. A true clairvoyance skill, by contrast, would automatically discard unnecessary details before presenting only relevant data to the mind, allowing for a vastly greater range.
For instance, he didn't need to perceive the exact size of each hair on an animal's body to recognize that it was a rabbit.
Maintaining his meditation, he carefully expanded the sphere of Mana Sense. Most of the time, he kept it active within a two-meter radius around himself.
It was only during his afternoon training that he attempted to push its boundaries in an effort to level it up.
While keeping a skill active at all times provided a steady stream of experience, deliberately pushing it beyond its comfort zone accelerated its growth significantly.
He halted his efforts the moment he felt strain on his mind. Almost immediately, Undying Vitality activated, working to soothe the pressure on his brain.
Under the influence of Mana Sense, Peter observed the mana in his surroundings.
It moved randomly, shifting unpredictably—sometimes adopting an elemental property, only to discard it moments later and return to its natural state.
It was like a willful child, acting purely on instinct, doing whatever it pleased.
In stark contrast, the mana within him was disciplined—like an obedient daughter caring for her parents in their old age.
Peter frowned at his own thoughts. What kind of analogy was that?
Shaking his head, he sighed and cleared his mind of unnecessary distractions.
Turning his focus back to the mana outside his body, he activated Mana Manipulation.
Several months ago, he had stumbled upon an interesting discovery.
While the mana within him was exceptionally obedient, he possessed far too much of it for someone at their first advancement. Its sheer density made it highly saturated—and consequently, much harder to manipulate.
In contrast, atmospheric mana, despite its free-spirited nature, was significantly easier to control.
Realizing this, Peter had begun training Mana Sense and Mana Manipulation together, using the surrounding mana as his medium.
…
"…and then he told me to clean it all up," David complained.
Peter nodded along as they walked toward the garrison area, listening to David vent about the work his father had assigned him that day. Both carried their weapons—David had his trusty axe, wooden though it was, yet still hefty.
Judging by the position of the sun, they had a few hours to train before nightfall.
David kept talking, but Peter was only half-listening at this point. His attention had been drawn to the distant shouts coming from ahead.
As they passed a group of older guards engaged in conversation, they stepped into the courtyard.
The training yard, reserved for the guards in the morning, was open to the children in the evening. No one in their right mind would train under the harsh daylight.
By now, several older kids had already gathered.
In the far east of the yard, a pair of archers took turns aiming at targets across from them. The rest of the children had clustered in the center, watching an ongoing sparring match between two girls.
One of them, a short-haired tomboy, wielded a spear with practiced ease, expertly deflecting a downward strike from Noelle, who fought with a sword.
The instructor noticed their arrival but quickly refocused on the fight.
Peter exchanged a look with David, who grinned back at him. Without hesitation, they joined the crowd.
Now that he was close, Peter expanded his Mana Sense to observe the spar more carefully.
Both fighters had coated their weapons in mana. Of course, simply flooding an object with mana wouldn't change anything on its own.
They were doing something more—guiding the mana with intent, shaping it under their influence.
That was the key difference between atmospheric mana and a person's mana. Atmospheric mana was free, untethered.
Mana controlled by a sentient will, however, could allow someone to cut stone with nothing more than a wooden sword.