Chapter 32: The Source of Magic and the Kindling Spark

“To understand programmable magic, we must first delve into the very source of magic itself. Magic cannot exist without magical power, so how exactly is this power generated?”

‘The generation of magical power?’ Votila had never once considered such a question. Dragons, after all, never needed to ponder these things.

As long as their stamina endured, a dragon’s magical power would surge forth endlessly from their heart.

“Human magical power originates from the soul. Hmm…”

Mulee Hua turned, pulling a blank sheet of paper from behind her and spreading it flat on the table.

“Now, I will explain the different layers of the human soul in detail…”

“The primary vessel that carries the soul is called the Spirit Foundation,” Mulee Hua explained, pointing to the blank paper before them. “It’s much like this white sheet.”

As she spoke, Mulee Hua picked up a pen from the table and began drawing intricate lines across the paper.

“Upon the Spirit Foundation, there are these pathways, conduits designed to circulate magical power. Modern mages have come to call them—Soul Circuits.”

As the young woman continued to draw, Votila noticed that all the lines she created ultimately converged at a single point.

“This specific point is the core that connects all Soul Circuits. It is also the seat of human consciousness, and it is called the ‘Kindling Spark’.”

“It is precisely the burning of this ‘Kindling Spark’ that allows human consciousness to exist. When the ‘Kindling Spark’ is extinguished, that is when the human soul perishes.”

Upon hearing this, Votila couldn’t help but wonder. If this was true for human souls, was it also true for dragon souls?

“As for magical power, it is actually the fuel that sustains the burning of the ‘Kindling Spark’,” Mulee Hua stated, her gaze intense as she looked directly into the black cat’s eyes, her expression utterly serious.

“It is, in essence, the human soul’s—life force.”

‘…Life force?’

This time, the black cat was genuinely astonished.

Did humans truly expend their own life force when using magic?

Wouldn’t that mean the more magic they used, the faster they would die?

“Haha…” Seeing the black cat’s expression, Mulee Hua seemed to grasp his thoughts and couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’s not quite that dramatic. It’s merely the energy necessary to sustain life.”

“The magical power used for spells is simply abundant energy stored within the Soul Circuits. As long as one doesn’t overdraw, there will be no adverse effects, because the energy required to maintain the ‘Kindling Spark’ is actually very small.

Furthermore, the magical power consumed by spells will gradually recover over time or through meditation.”

…Votila suddenly felt that something was amiss.

He recalled the incurable disease the young woman suffered from: Magic Imbalance Syndrome, also known as ‘Spirit Foundation Deficiency Mutation’.

The book he had seen that day stated that individuals afflicted with this condition could not generate magical power.

Did this not imply that there was no life force in Mulee Hua’s Soul Circuits? If so, how was her ‘Kindling Spark’ being sustained?

The black cat gestured to the young woman, posing his question.

“Hmm… that’s actually a bit different. Magical power is indeed the energy that sustains the ‘Kindling Spark’s’ burning, but it has a special characteristic.

Only energy that can be consciously manipulated can be called magical power; what cannot be consciously manipulated is merely pure energy.”

“The result of a deficient Spirit Foundation is that all the energy within my soul cannot be regulated by my consciousness, meaning I have no magical power.”

So that was it…

‘Then why can’t I feel magical power? Is my Spirit Foundation also deficient?’

“Oh dear… I suddenly forgot something!” Mulee Hua exclaimed, slapping the table as if struck by a sudden realization. She then pulled a book from the bookshelf.

“The way magical beasts use magic is actually completely different from humans…”

Votila saw the title of the book in the young woman’s hand: *Records of Magical Beast Research*.

“Magical beasts do not possess a Spirit Foundation. Their magical power originates from the Beast Core within their bodies.”

He suddenly felt like hitting someone…

Votila felt his intelligence being dragged down. That magical beasts derived their power from a Beast Core was common knowledge.

But dragons didn’t have Beast Cores…

Votila couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

“The method by which magical beasts use magic belongs neither to human incantation or sigil magic, nor to the uniquely human programmable magic.”

“It belongs to a fourth, less common school among human magic branches: Bloodline Magic.”

“It stems from hidden magical talent within one’s bloodline. It is said that individuals with this talent possess unknown magical constants concealed within their blood, which guide the flow of magical power to form spells.”

Mulee Hua suddenly covered her mouth and whispered, “Apparently, some people also like to call this talent a bloodline limit.”

‘Bloodline? Bloodline!’

A flash of insight struck Votila’s mind, and his eyes seemed to gleam with newfound understanding.

That was it! The magic of dragons!

It originated from their bloodline!

Involuntarily, Votila thought of the drop of blood he had given to Mulee Hua.

‘It seems… I don’t know where it ended up being thrown.’

“Never mind!” Mulee Hua cheerfully tossed the book back onto the shelf, then clapped her hands together. “None of that is the main point for today.”

“Now! Let’s formally begin our explanation of programmable magic!”

Saying this, the young woman suddenly pulled out a large, black magic book from under the table.

She slapped it down on the table in front of the black cat with a loud thud.

Votila felt the entire table tremble, and dust seemed to softly drift down from the ceiling.

When the black cat focused his gaze, he saw several dazzling, gilded characters shining on the thick black book, which was as substantial as a dictionary: Sigagia Runes: From Beginner to Burial.

…