Elian was always surrounded by the warm scent of polished mahogany mixed with the mustiness of old books. It felt like a cozy hug, wrapping around him as he wandered through the sprawling halls of Duke Thorne's grand estate. Looking out from his window, he could see the bustling city of Eldoria sprawled beneath him, The city buzzed with magical circuits humming away just beneath the cobblestone streets.
You could see the levitating trams gliding along their shimmering tracks, moving quietly while passengers were lost in their glowing, mana-powered devices, completely absorbed in whatever it was that had captured their attention. The buildings shot up like crystalline towers, with their upper floors often bathed in a soft, otherworldly light from those powerful defensive barriers. It was all so mesmerizing, a blend of magic and technology that felt like a dream.
At seventeen, Elian was supposed to be gearing up for military academies or diving into magical apprenticeships, just like any other kid from a well-off noble family. But instead, his life was this carefully organized routine of private tutors and deep dives into history and philosophy. Strangely enough, though, there was no focus on 'Magic Science' at all. And while his surroundings were all about luxury and packed with magical comforts, there was still this nagging feeling that something was missing. It was just… incomplete.
"Another beautiful day, young master," Lyra said, arranging a vase filled with magically preserved hydrangeas on his desk. She wore a warm smile, but there was a glint in her eyes—like she was always paying attention..
Elian nodded, his fingers tracing the elaborate designs on his mana-powered pen, almost absentmindedly. "Yeah, Lyra. The sunlight really is lovely today."
Still, something felt off. A strange tension tugged at him. He'd flipped through history books, seen those vivid illustrations of knights in shining armor versus mages casting spells. And then there were those whispered conversations he heard about distant wars—things like "mana exhaustion" and "attrition warfare." It made no sense. Seriously, in a world where vehicles float, communication happens in an instant, and lamps glow with energy efficiency, why were armies still swinging enchanted swords and throwing elemental spells? It was like trying to write a dissertation with a quill when a top-of-the-line quantum processor was just sitting there, waiting to be used.
According history book about this world, initially fight are performed using magic spells, like fireball, ice lance, etc, then people develop how to defense against it, since magic are actually a projection from spirit world, to shape the material world, so to block it they create a magic barrier that limit spiritual world influence to the material world, but this barrier does not affect anything from material world that is why they use sword to bypass the barrier, as the magic science evolved, they develop a barrier that could hold the sword back even though it does not stop the sword completely but its enough to prolong the battle, from there on the battle would become battle of attrition, the one who deplete its mana first will be the first to fall, and the future development of the war would be around of how effective your attack to deplete the enemies mana, and also using magic sword is one of the way to deplete the enemy barrier faster since the enemy have to use multi layered barrier to defend.
Even though he didn't quite get it, there was something essential about Eldorian magic that he couldn't ignore. You see, magic is strong and useful, but it's definitely not infinite. And it doesn't work the same way for everything. Offensive spell could be devastating sometimes, but they also eat up a lot of that precious mana so does the same with the barrier. So, you've got to be smart about how you use it. Especially in war, where life and death is decided. You can solve the problem of mana by using mana stones, to increase your storage of mana power, but there's a limit on how many mana stones you can carry, the bigger the mana stone the bigger your mana reserve, the longer you can fight.
The main issue that this world is facing, it's really boils down to something quite concerning but often overlooked: the fact that mana is limited. It's like this slow decay lurking just below the surface of all that dazzling magic. Every time someone casts a spell, keeps a barrier up, or even uses a magic tool, they were tapping into the world's natural mana or those hard-to-find mana stones. It's like, the more magic they used, the more they drained the very essence that kept their world alive. While the Spirit World constantly replenished mana, it did so slowly, and at a rate far outstripped by the demands of a magically advanced society and especially the war that have been going on between Vresta empire and its surrounding nation. This shortage is causing mana stone prices to skyrocket, strained national reserves, and a growing fear that one day, the magic would simply... run out.
Elian's parents, Duke Alaric and Duchess Seraphina Thorne, were really loving and attentive—almost doting. But, their kind of affection felt like being wrapped in an invisible cage. "The world outside is dangerous, Elian," his mother would say, while gently stroking his cheek as if to soothe him. "Your well-being is the most important thing." And then there was his father. Usually all business, serious and decisive when it came to politics, but when it came to Elian? He'd soften up. "There are… sensibilities, my son. We just want to protect you from them." It was a strange mix of love and fear, honestly.
Deep down Elian also felt that It wasn't just about danger lurking around the corner. There was something else going on, something they weren't telling him, and it left him feeling isolated. He wasn't completely oblivious to it all. He had heard the quiet murmurs about "non-magic users" – those people born without mana channels, seen as burdens in a world that values magic above all else. Was he one of those rare cases? The idea sent a chill down his spine, No, what really got to him was this suffocating sense of being kept in the dark, like he couldn't prove himself or find his place in this world.
He really wanted to prove himself, To show his parents that he could handle things on his own, and finally earn the freedom to step outside those walls. If the world was as dangerous as they all said, then he definitely needed a way to protect himself—Something solid.
So, one afternoon, he was flipping through this old engineering schematic. It was like a piece of history from a time before magic took over and reshape the world to the way it is now. And then, out of nowhere, a thought hit him like a bolt of lightning. Its an idea that seemed pretty basic and almost backward compared to what everyone else used nowadays, but it reminded him of something from a life he barely remembered. A time when mana was just a cool idea from fantasy books.
Gunpowder.
A bullet.
It was just simple mechanics, physical force, and all that raw kinetic energy stuff. No mana involved. No fancy Spirit World tricks. Just good ol' physics at its best. A weapon that wouldn't care about magical barriers or mana reserves. It was a ludicrous idea in a magic-powered world, but that was precisely why it was brilliant.
This would be his weapon, crafted from ideas that feel totally out of place from this world. It's like he's bringing a piece of his old life back with him—a life where he somewhat got a second chance, its crazy if you're imagining it.
The next day, Elian walked in with his rough blueprints, every detail carefully drawn out. The blueprints that contain the complete detailed design, and also including safety instruction, to test it out. "Master Gremory," he started, trying to sound like he knew what he was doing, "I need your help with a… unique project."
Master Gremory, the family blacksmith, was a tough guy but so-skilled. He had a reputation for making magically reinforced weapons and was one of the few people outside of Elian's family that he was actually allowed to talk to.
Gremory, a big man with hands worn and scarred from years of working with molten metal, squinted at the sketches. His brow knitted together, then lifted in confusion. "Young master? What in the world is this? A… metal tube? And these little, odd slugs?" He picked up one of the diagrams, turning it this way and that. "Where are the mana channels? The diagrams for elemental projection? The barrier resonance points?" He peered at Elian, eyes a mix of bewilderment and concern. "This… this looks like something a kid would dream up to play 'bang bang' with sticks, not a serious weapon. And what's 'gunpowder'?"
Elian paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. Wow, this was turning out to be way tougher than he'd imagined. But giving up is not an option. "So, uh, it's this new way of projecting kinetic energy, Master Gremory. Totally doesn't need mana or anything."
He began to dive into the nitty-gritty about combustion and pressure and all that technical stuff. But, let's be real—he could practically see the blacksmith's eyes glazing over. It probably sounded like he was speaking another language!
Gremory scratched at his beard, a skeptical sound rumbling from his chest. "No mana, huh? What good is a weapon that can't even get past a basic mana-dampening barrier?" He waved his hand vaguely at the barrier-infused walls of his forge.
Elian straightened up, a spark of determination shining in his eyes. "You know, Master Gremory, this time it's gonna be different," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "We're going for brute force instead of magic. I really think it's gonna blast right through it!" He paused for a moment, a quirky grin creeping onto his face. "But hey, I can't spill all the beans just yet. It's a little secret... for now."
Meanwhile in the Duke's office, Elian had no idea, that his dad, Duke Alaric, had already gotten a report from Lyra. Apparently, she was quite concerned about her young master's "quirky interest in bizarre diagrams and those wild, hard-to-grasp ideas." It's like diving into a world where nothing makes sense but everything feels exciting. Isn't it interesting how such oddities can spark our imagination? They might seem strange at first, but often, they lead us to think differently and explore new possibilities. Embracing the unusual can truly open up a world of inspiration! The Duke couldn't help but smile a little as he sat in his study. There was a mix of pride and a bit of a heavy weight on his shoulders too.
His son, after all, was a true genius—a mind that was just… well, different from anyone else in this world full of magic. And soon enough, that brilliance would shake at the very core foundations of this world.