Drift Of The Multiverse

Ethan had read in many of the books he currently owned that when a mage first absorbs energy and converts it into usable magic power, it's a critical moment that demands caution. The choice of energy is especially important, as it not only determines how effectively the mage can wield magic but also impacts the mage themselves.

For instance, elemental energy is a common starting point for new mages. Most begin by aligning with a specific element. This initial energy not only grants greater control over that element but also influences the mage's spiritual power, personality, and even physical state. In some cases, the assimilation is mild, but more extreme energies, such as fel energy, can severely affect a mage's character and thoughts. Over time, prolonged exposure to such energies might completely change who they are.

This is why, despite the theoretical ability to use any energy as a magical source, most mages avoid certain extreme or corrupting energies at all costs.

Ethan had initially considered choosing water-element energy to begin his journey as a mage. One reason was practical: the first spell he learned, Water Creation, had a natural affinity for water-related abilities.

The more compelling reason, however, was environmental. The ocean-dominated world he had been exploring, was practically tailor-made for water-element magic, which would receive substantial amplification in such a setting.

Additionally, water's ice-element variant offered incredible versatility. It was practical, powerful, and, in Ethan's opinion, undeniably stylish to wield.

Of course, real magic wasn't like a game. Choosing a specific elemental energy didn't mean a mage could only use spells of that element. Instead, the efficiency of casting other elements depended on how compatible they were with the mage's chosen energy. For instance, a mage who used water-element energy would find fire magic less efficient and more costly to cast.

That said, some legendary mages, such as Isendra, mastered multiple elements. Such mages either fully controlled elemental energy, allowing their spells to contain more than one element or based their magic on highly adaptable energies like arcane energy, which could shift to suit different spells.

"If I'm not mistaken, you intended to start your journey as a mage by absorbing water-element energy and mastering elemental magic," Merlin said.

Ethan nodded, slightly surprised by how accurately Merlin had assessed his intentions.

In the world of magic, classifications like "elementalist" or "arcanist" were largely superficial. True archmages didn't limit themselves to specific schools or energies. They strove to eliminate any weaknesses in their magical knowledge, achieving the ability to freely manipulate spells and magic attributes as needed.

However, the journey to becoming such a mage was heavily influenced by the initial energy a mage absorbed. This choice could dictate how far they could progress and even shape their ultimate potential.

"You're right," Ethan confirmed.

By now, Ethan had spent two days under Merlin's roof. During that time, Merlin hadn't begun teaching but had instead conducted a thorough assessment of Ethan's abilities. Now, it seemed, the lessons were about to start.

"There's nothing wrong with your choice," Merlin said thoughtfully. "If I were in your position, I might have chosen the same path." He paused, as if carefully considering his next words. "That said, I have a proposition for you, a path that's far more challenging but offers immense potential. If you succeed, your future achievements could be extraordinary. Would you be interested?"

Ethan frowned slightly, puzzled by the vagueness of Merlin's proposal. "How extraordinary are we talking?"

Merlin took a moment to think, likely searching for a frame of reference that Ethan would understand. Finally, he smiled and made a bold comparison.

"I can't predict how far you'll go, it depends entirely on your own determination. But if you follow this path and succeed, your achievements will at least rival my own."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. Despite his attempts to stay calm, the gravity of Merlin's statement made it difficult to suppress his excitement. Still, he managed to maintain his composure, refusing to embarrass himself in front of the legendary mage.

"Comparable to you?" Ethan asked carefully. "You mean the ability to observe endless planes, break through dimensional barriers, or even… destroy an entire plane?"

The first two possibilities seemed entirely plausible. Merlin clearly possessed the strength to traverse the multiverse, and Ethan wouldn't be surprised if he could breach even the most fortified barriers. As for destroying a plane, that was harder to gauge.

At the very least, Ethan suspected that Merlin—or someone like the Ancient One, who protected Earth from multiverse incursions could easily destroy a planet if they unleashed their full power. While this didn't mean such mages could obliterate worlds with a single spell, their vast knowledge and cunning made them unpredictable and dangerous.

For example, the Ancient One could theoretically summon Dormammu, plunging an entire plane into eternal darkness. Such an act would achieve the same result as outright destruction, showcasing the terrifying potential of powerful mages.

That was what made mages so dangerous: the sheer unpredictability of their abilities. No one truly knew what they were capable of or what lengths they might go to achieve their goals.

Ethan wanted to reach that level someday. The allure of becoming such a formidable mage made Merlin's proposal impossible to ignore.

"You should know that mages, at their core, are individuals who rely on powerful spiritual energy to manipulate magical forces and achieve their goals. Whether it's casting a fireball or performing advanced spells, the principles are fundamentally the same," Merlin began.

Ethan nodded, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Spiritual power forms the foundation of all mages. The stronger your spiritual power, the more energy you can control, which in turn allows you to cast more powerful magic and pursue greater ambitions."

Ethan was painfully aware of this. His spiritual power wasn't yet at the threshold required to qualify as a proper mage. He had been diligently working to improve it for years. Since acquiring the time-space orb, he'd also been exercising his spiritual strength through constant practice.

"But the power of spiritual energy does more than just allow mages to wield more energy," Merlin continued. "It also determines the relationship between you and magic itself."

"What do you mean by that?" Ethan asked, puzzled.

Merlin explained in detail, and gradually, Ethan began to grasp the concept. The relationship between a mage and magical energy wasn't a simple master-slave dynamic.

For a mage, understanding one's spiritual "limit" was crucial when absorbing energy. Without that awareness, absorbing too much magic could lead to severe consequences. The energy could start to "invade" the mage's mind, corrupting their thoughts and personality.

Ethan recalled examples from the books he'd read. In milder cases, the mage's spiritual energy would be "contaminated," leading to minor imbalances. In extreme cases, the mage's character and behavior would be fundamentally altered.

"For instance," Merlin explained, "if a mage's spiritual power can handle ten units of magical energy, but they try to control more than that, they'll begin to experience dangerous side effects."

He clarified that this was a simplified explanation. While the quantity of spiritual energy mattered, its quality was just as important.

Ethan started to piece it together. "So, what you're saying is, I should focus on developing my spiritual power further before trying to absorb energy and convert it into magic?"

Merlin smiled and shook his head. "Not exactly. The path I propose is far more unconventional, it requires you to avoid absorbing external energy altogether."

Ethan froze, startled. He couldn't imagine how such a thing would work. "Wait, you mean… no absorption at all?"

Merlin nodded. "You see, mages don't necessarily need to rely on external energy. They can generate their own magic power."

Ethan frowned, confused. He hadn't encountered this concept in the books he'd studied. From what he'd read, mages converted external energy into magic power and then stored it within themselves. While mages could naturally regenerate magic power over time, it was always assumed that this process was slower and secondary to external absorption.

Seeing Ethan's confusion, Merlin explained further.

"The magic power generated by a mage internally is fundamentally different from that drawn from external sources. It's purer and far more adaptable, it can be molded to fit a variety of purposes with greater ease."

Merlin sighed before continuing. "Unfortunately, by the time most mages discover this truth, their spiritual power has already been tainted by the energies they've absorbed. The magic power they generate after this point naturally aligns with the attributes of the energies they were exposed to earlier. How strong this alignment is depends on the extent of the spiritual pollution."

This was why mages referred to external energy's influence on their spiritual power as "pollution." Even with countermeasures, eliminating this contamination was a time-consuming and resource-intensive process.

Hearing this, Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. Reflecting on his previous plans, he realized how close he had come to making a grave mistake. With his still-developing spiritual power, it was almost inevitable that absorbing water-element energy would have polluted his mind. Worse, if he ever tried to incorporate other elements in the future, the conflict could weaken his ability to control space-time energy—or worse, render him incapable of it altogether.

For the first time, Ethan was grateful for the delays that had prevented him from committing to his initial plan. Merlin's words felt like a lifeline, pulling him back from the edge of a precarious decision.

"So," Ethan said slowly, his understanding deepening, "the path you're suggesting is for me to continue absorbing my spiritual power and rely entirely on it to generate my own magic energy?"

Merlin smiled, clearly pleased. "Exactly. That's the path I believe is best for you."

The implications of this path weren't lost on Ethan. It would be far more challenging than the traditional route. Without absorbing external energy, his progress in the early stages would be agonizingly slow. He'd be stuck with limited magical abilities, leaving him only marginally stronger than an ordinary person.

Merlin watched Ethan carefully, expecting him to take some time to weigh the pros and cons of such a demanding choice. To his surprise, Ethan didn't hesitate.

"I'll choose this path." Ethan said decisively.

*****

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