Chapter 150: The Mana Awakening Elixir

By the time Raymond returned to Althoff, the city had acquired another collection of scaffolding, construction wagons, and freshly paved streets.

He had barely stepped out of his carriage when Alaric approached with a stack of documents tucked beneath one arm.

"Welcome home, Your Excellency," the Chief Administrator greeted him, offering a respectful bow. "I trust the proceedings in the Royal Capital were successful?"

Raymond smiled and handed him the sealed registration documents. "Successful enough that you can finally stop worrying about the Crown rejecting our paperwork."

Alaric examined the royal seal, and his usually restrained expression brightened. "Excellent. I’ll have certified copies prepared for the appropriate Departments. The original documents should be secured in the administrative archives."

Raymond sighed dramatically. "I’ve been home for less than five minutes, Alaric. Couldn’t you at least pretend to be interested in whether I enjoyed my journey?"

Alaric looked up from the documents. "Did you enjoy your journey, Your Excellency?"

"Not particularly."

"Then I believe we’ve covered that matter," Alaric replied, returning his attention to the papers.

Cassian, standing nearby, turned his face away to conceal a smile.

Raymond shook his head before asking about the city’s progress.

Alaric reported that construction remained on schedule, the Academy continued operating, and the various Departments had encountered no serious difficulties during his absence.

More importantly, Boris and Jonathan had completed their preliminary discussions concerning the proposed military training program.

That particular development immediately captured Raymond’s interest.

"Excellent," he replied. "Arrange a meeting with both commanders tomorrow morning. Cassian should attend as well."

Alaric nodded. "I’ll inform them, Your Excellency."

After greeting the household staff and enduring Lily’s enthusiastic questions about the Royal Capital, Raymond finally retired to his private chambers.

He waited until the servants had finished their duties before securing the door.

There was something considerably more important than correspondence demanding his attention.

"System, open the Family Treasury."

A familiar translucent interface appeared before him.

[Infinite Clan Treasury System]

[Family Treasury]

Raymond navigated through the stored rewards until he located the collection of Mana Awakening Elixirs.

[Mana Awakening Elixir ×100]

He had accumulated twenty from the first development milestone, thirty from the Academy’s opening, and another fifty following the Crown’s formal recognition.

Until now, he had deliberately avoided distributing them.

Althoff lacked the organized training structure necessary to guide ordinary people through the process of cultivating Mana.

Giving someone the ability to sense Mana without providing proper instruction would be wasteful, particularly when the elixirs represented a limited resource.

Raymond selected one.

A small glass vial appeared in his palm, containing a pale golden liquid that shimmered faintly beneath the lamplight.

He raised it toward his eyes. "Let’s see exactly what you can do."

A detailed description appeared.

[Mana Awakening Elixir]

[Type: Special Consumable]

[Effect: Assists an eligible individual without awakened Mana sensitivity in perceiving surrounding Mana and beginning the process of absorbing it.]

[Limitations:]

- Does not immediately grant Knight rank or combat proficiency.

- Successful awakening requires a compatible recipient and proper administration.

- Mana cultivation requires continued training, physical conditioning, and suitable guidance.

- Individual progress varies according to aptitude, discipline, and training conditions.

Raymond read the description twice.

The distinction was important.

The elixir could open the door to Mana cultivation, but walking through that door remained the recipient’s responsibility.

A farmer who successfully awakened Mana would not suddenly become capable of defeating a trained Knight. Neither would an ordinary soldier instantly acquire the experience, physical strength, or techniques developed through years of disciplined practice.

Nevertheless, the implications were extraordinary.

Throughout Solaria, the ability to cultivate Mana separated ordinary warriors from Knights possessing supernatural physical capabilities.

Families with established cultivation traditions enjoyed considerable advantages because they could identify promising descendants and provide instruction from an early age.

Ordinary soldiers rarely possessed comparable opportunities.

Raymond turned the vial slowly between his fingers.

"An opportunity," he murmured. "That’s what this really provides."

He inspected the remaining information before returning the elixir to the Treasury.

There was no reason to expose such a valuable resource unnecessarily.

Even among his closest officials, Raymond intended to keep the System’s existence secret.

He would eventually need to explain the elixirs’ practical effects to his commanders, but their true origin would remain his private concern.

The following morning, Raymond summoned Boris, Jonathan, and Cassian to the manor’s meeting chamber.

A large map of Althoff occupied the central table, accompanied by several documents outlining existing military facilities and training arrangements.

Boris arrived wearing his conventional military uniform, while Jonathan and Cassian appeared in the formal attire of the Household Knights.

"Your Excellency," Boris greeted him, bowing respectfully. "Chief Administrator Alaric informed us that you wished to discuss the proposed training program."

Raymond gestured toward the available chairs.

"That’s right. I want to establish a formal institution capable of training promising soldiers toward becoming Knights."

Boris exchanged a glance with Jonathan.

"We’ve prepared several preliminary recommendations, my Lord," Jonathan explained. "However, the greatest difficulty remains the initial awakening of Mana. Conventional physical training alone cannot guarantee that a soldier will develop the necessary sensitivity."

Raymond nodded. "Which is precisely why I’ve called this meeting."

He reached into his coat and placed a small glass vial upon the table.

The three commanders immediately examined it.

Cassian leaned forward. "An alchemical preparation, Your Excellency?"

"Something considerably more useful," Raymond answered. "It’s called a Mana Awakening Elixir."

Jonathan’s expression sharpened. "Mana Awakening Elixir?"

Raymond explained its effects, carefully separating what the substance could accomplish from what it could not.

"It can help an eligible ordinary individual begin sensing and absorbing Mana," he stated. "However, it won’t instantly make someone a Knight. They’ll still require proper training, suitable cultivation methods, and experienced instructors."

Boris studied the vial with growing interest.

"Then ordinary soldiers who previously lacked Mana sensitivity might finally have an opportunity to cultivate it?"

"Exactly," Raymond confirmed. "But eligibility and aptitude still matter. We shouldn’t assume everyone will respond identically."

Jonathan picked up the vial after receiving Raymond’s permission. "If its effects are reliable, Your Excellency, this could fundamentally change how we develop our military personnel."

Cassian nodded thoughtfully. "Especially if the recipients are already disciplined soldiers. Their physical conditioning and experience would provide a useful foundation."

Raymond smiled. "That’s my thinking as well. Rather than recruiting only established Knights, we should begin developing our own."

Boris placed both hands upon the table. "Then I recommend selecting candidates from the conventional army first. We already possess records concerning their conduct, physical condition, training performance, and reliability."

"Agreed," Raymond replied. "I don’t want the first candidates chosen merely because they’re strong. Discipline, judgment, and commitment should matter just as much."

Jonathan considered the proposal. "We’ll also need a structured curriculum. Physical conditioning, weapon training, Mana perception, controlled absorption, and eventually practical combat applications."

Cassian added his own recommendation.

"The instructors should monitor each trainee individually. Someone who awakens Mana quickly may still struggle with control, while another candidate could progress more slowly but develop excellent fundamentals."

Raymond nodded approvingly. "Good. And nobody advances simply because they received an elixir. Advancement must be earned through training and demonstrated ability."

Boris then raised a practical concern. "Your Excellency, how many candidates are you considering for the initial program?"

Raymond paused.

He possessed one hundred elixirs, but distributing all of them immediately would be unwise.

The training institution had not yet been established, and its instructors needed time to evaluate the first recipients.

"We’ll begin with a small group," he decided. "Enough to assess the awakening process and develop proper training procedures without overwhelming our facilities."

Jonathan nodded. "That would be sensible, my Lord. We can expand the program once the first group demonstrates consistent progress."

Raymond looked toward the map.

The existing military grounds could support preliminary training, although dedicated facilities would eventually become necessary.

"Prepare a proposal covering instructors, candidate selection, training schedules, equipment, accommodation, and medical supervision," he instructed. "Coordinate with the relevant Departments before requesting major expenditure."

Boris straightened. "Understood, Your Excellency."

Raymond glanced toward the vial resting upon the table. "One more thing. Information concerning the elixirs must remain restricted. Until we’ve established their effects through supervised use, I don’t want exaggerated rumors spreading throughout the army."

Jonathan inclined his head. "We’ll ensure the necessary discretion, my Lord."

After further discussion, the commanders departed to begin their preparations.

Boris returned directly to the military headquarters, where several officers were reviewing the conventional army’s personnel records.

He requested the latest training evaluations, disciplinary reports, and service histories.

Captain Darric, visiting headquarters on a security matter, noticed the growing collection of documents.

"Planning another recruitment campaign, Captain-General?" Darric asked curiously.

Boris shook his head. "Something different. His Excellency intends to establish a training program for soldiers with the potential to become Knights."

Darric stared at him. "Ordinary soldiers becoming Knights?"

"Potentially," Boris replied, examining the first personnel file. "But only those who prove themselves suitable will receive the opportunity."

He opened the next record and began reviewing its contents.

For the first time in Althoff’s history, the conventional army was preparing to select its own candidates for formal Knight cultivation.