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  "What are you missing?" Qiren asked but Eldrian did not reply as he was deep in thought, considering everything he knew.

  'Mana…… It really is tricky to say what it is exactly. I think I was wrong in simply considering it as free energy. Sure, it is, but not always. I think I was doing something similar to considering light only a wave. But it is also a particle!'

  'If I am correct, then it is similar to how light acts as a wave and a particle. It can be either, but it isn't both at the same time. Or- how did it go?'

  'Regardless, I think mana is similar. But even more complex and split……' Eldrian paused and pondered this for a while.

  "Qiren, can you explain how light works, oh, and also how electrons work. I saw a video saying that it is also a particle and wave, like light."

  "Yes and no, you can't consider them as being true particles or waves. You see……" Qiren started to explain the difference to Eldrian from a bit more technical standpoint. Instead of focusing on the nice headlines, she focused on the practicality of these facts and what they meant.

  "But, if……", 'Mmm, if things are just different variations of fluctuating- thingies…… Does that mean mana might be the same but in a different state? Or maybe having a different plane, or space?'

  Eldrian did his best to try and explain what he was thinking, after a bit of contemplation Qiren asked if he was talking about bosons and fermions. Eldrian had never heard those words before and his confusion made that clear.

  "What are you thinking exactly?" Qiren asked, realizing that Eldrian's background in physics was far too lacking. Especially since the topic was not a trivial one, heck it was far past even the intermediate level.

  "Mmm, how should I put it?" Eldrian asked, "I am thinking that mana can be different things, but still be mana."

  "Like, if you cast a spell for example. Some of the mana is converted into the element you are casting, mimicking- matter, I guess. But, I don't think it changes into matter, instead, it stays mana. It just becomes the element."

  "And, in a similar way, it can also mimic forces. The ether of a spell, the mana which propels it, would be an example of this……"

  'And that is likely why I can't control it. It isn't normal mana, but, then why can I- Ah, I see. The mimic of an element is closer to the natural state of mana. It is also what I always focused on.'

  'That is why I can alter a spell's form through thinking about it, and why I can control it. I'm not controlling the ether, but rather I am altering its orientation due to me controlling the mana that took physical form. It just continues to propel the spell in its set direction.'

  'But, then how do I hold spells still? It isn't that the ether activated after casting since I can still stop a spell after movement. Maybe I have some accidental control over it?'

  'Anyway, auras and abilities must also use mana, but again in a completely different form. One I can't even see with mana sense since…… Since?'

  Qiren herself was in deep thought as she considered things. 'If it is true that mana is universal and reflective of our world depending on conditions. Then it would mean it is also present in everything on Gaia, thus our conclusions and the differences must be due to its presence……'

  'But wait, if light-'

  Both look at the other, Qiren with a sudden new lead and Eldrian with more questions. Luckily, Qiren didn't want to rush to try and confirm things. Instead, she wanted to see if she might gain any more inspiration from Eldrian……

  The two talked for close to four hours, after which Eldrian slowly managed to gain a rudimentary understanding of quantum physics. Truly weird stuff, and confusing as hell.

  However, thanks to it he also now understood a bit more about how things worked and he felt confident this would be the missing link.

  'I don't get everything; or even much of anything. But that never stopped me before.' Eldrian thought as he climbed back into the cabin, wishing to test his theory out. The best practice was still experimenting.

  As soon as he was back in his avatar, he immediately closed his eyes and focused on the mana inside of him. Sending his thoughts out a little way to also feel the mana just surrounding him.

  'This, I suspect is the neutral state of mana. Not the pure mana I have flowing through me devoid of elements, rather, the mana of all the elements.'

  'As such, the mana I cleaned of elements is something different. If,' Eldrian let a small stream of his mana exit his body. As soon as it did, and without him controlling it, it took on the form of random elements depending on those already in the air.

  'Yes, it is an unnatural state. Not sure why, but it might have something to do with that energy state of things wanting to be as low as possible. Can't recall the name for it…… I had thought that in elemental form mana would have higher energy, but I guess the potential of raw mana is too much.'

  Opening his eyes, Eldrian used mana sense and summoned a basic flame. 'And this would then be the active state of mana. It isn't being consumed, rather it is losing energy. And as a result heat and light are being released, and with ice heat would be removed……'

  'I have no idea how it mana is restored, but it must be else the world would be filled with-'

  'Is that maybe what is going on on Earth? Are we missing the source of energy for mana? Is it the sun, or is it something else? The simulation was made and mana was found, mana wasn't created. Which means something real, something physical -or ethereal, but real and existing- must fill this position of energy supplier.'

  "Now isn't the time to think about that," Eldrian mumbled and returned his focus to the flame. Watching the dancing fire, and the dancing elements.

  'It is like the mana ignites- right, of course, that is what is happening. It heats the surroundings as it is activated and as a result a real flame appears alongside the 'fake' flame created by my mana.'

  "Now, for the true questions." Eldrian sat down and focused into himself, finding himself before his half-elf subconscious not much later.

  "I was wondering when you were going to visit me." The half-elf said with a weird smile, a smile that made Eldrian wonder if his subconscious had any weird thoughts about himself.

  "Gross, don't even think that."

  "Hey, you were the one who decided to smile so weirdly!"

  "Fair enough. Have you figured it out yet?"

  "No, do you have the answer?"

  "I'm your subconscious, how can I have it?"

  "Because you might not have missed what I missed," Eldrian replied, the half-elf smile returning.

  "Do you think I am smarter than you?"

  "No, but I do think you are more observant as a passive entity in my mind." Eldrian countered, the half-elf looking at him in shock.

  "You consider me an entity?"

  "Well, that or I am going crazy and talking to myself. As far as I know, I am not bipolar nor do I have multiple personalities, or anything like that. Until now, I always have had only one thought-train, but you are a second, and tranquility is a third."

  "Hey! Don't lump me in with that cold-hearted icicle!"

  AN: Hope the chapter was not too confusing. Did my best to explain things without going into the subjects themselves…… Just lightly touching on some of the things that they include.

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