Science to conquer a magic world!

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in a shadowed twilight. Victor's experiment with electricity had consumed much of the day, and though he had made great progress, the reality of his situation began to weigh heavily on his mind. He had no idea where he was or how he had arrived in this strange world. Worse still, he had not seen a single person—no signs of civilization, no indication that anyone else shared this reality with him.He sighed deeply, running a hand through his messy hair. It was not the first time he had faced adversity in pursuing knowledge, but being entirely alone in this unknown world was different. He could not study it, could not learn from others. He would need to confront whatever this new reality was, and he would need to do so without the resources and methods he had relied upon for years.

But as his gaze drifted over the glowing landscape, something stirred in the distance. A sound—footsteps, maybe? The rustle of movement through the trees.

Victor's heart quickened. People? Was he finally going to encounter someone?

He moved cautiously, his senses alert as he approached the source of the sound. The air around him hummed, still charged with the remnants of his recent experiments. He could feel the mana shifting slightly in the air—he was still in control, still connected to the energy, but something felt… different.Through the trees, Victor saw the flicker of torchlight. He slowed his pace, instinctively pulling back behind the thick trunks of the forest. There, a group of figures emerged, their forms blurred by the dimming light. Victor's first thought was that they must be travellers, perhaps from a village or town. They were moving in a group, carrying torches and speaking in low voices. As they drew closer, he caught their words—strange, foreign syllables he couldn't understand. But it didn't matter. The important part was that these were people.He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at the sight. He wasn't entirely alone for the first time since he had awoken in this world. But the excitement was tempered by caution. Who were they? What did they know of this world? Of magic?Victor stayed hidden in the shadows, watching them as they passed by. The group was small—only four or five people, garbed in simple, rough-hewn clothes. Two of them were carrying large, ornate staffs that flickered with some sort of magic, while another held a pouch that seemed to shimmer with the same eerie glow that had filled the forest when he first arrived.As they moved, they stopped briefly before a large boulder, seemingly inspecting the rock for unknown reasons. One of the figures, a tall man with dark hair, raised his staff and muttered something under his breath. The air shimmered, and the stone seemed to glow faintly before a sudden, sharp crack echoed through the clearing. The boulder split apart, revealing a collection of objects hidden inside.Victor's brow furrowed as he watched. The group's magic seemed familiar—rudimentary, based on raw force and will. It was a far cry from the precise, controlled methods he had been developing with mana. They were wielding magic like a tool, not understanding its true nature as he did. Their movements were erratic and impulsive. They did not approach magic scientifically; they used it as a means of survival.His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden realization that one of the figures had looked in his direction as though sensing his presence. The figure's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch out.

Victor's mind raced. He couldn't reveal himself until he understood more about these people. If they were magical practitioners, they would likely see him as an outsider—perhaps even a threat.

He turned and quietly retreated into the forest, keeping a careful distance. He had not gone far when he heard a voice—sharp, almost commanding."Is someone there?" the voice called.

Victor froze. There was no mistaking it. They had seen him. Or rather, they could sense him.

Taking a deep breath, Victor turned slowly, stepping into the clearing. He had no choice now. He had to make contact, but he needed to clarify that he was not dangerous. He needed to test their understanding of magic. Perhaps he could find an ally—or, at the very least, some insight into how people in this world thought about mana.
The group stopped when they saw him, their eyes widening in confusion. The tall man with the staff took a cautious step forward, his staff glowing with a soft light. His companions tightened their grip on their weapons, watching Victor closely.
"You're not one of us," the tall man said. His voice was firm but not unfriendly. "Who are you?"
Victor's mind raced. He had to respond carefully. If he showed weakness or ignorance, they might turn hostile. But if he could speak their language and show that he understood some of their magic… perhaps he could avoid a confrontation."I'm… lost," Victor said, his voice steady despite the unease bubbling within him. "I come from… far away."The tall man studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You've been touched by the mana, haven't you?"

Victor's heart skipped a beat. They could tell? He nodded slowly.

"I've been… trying to understand it," he said cautiously, keeping his words vague. "It's unlike anything I've seen before. It's… difficult to control."The tall man's eyes narrowed. "It's not difficult to control—it's a matter of will. We are taught to shape it, to wield it as an extension of our power. You will learn in time."
Victor was about to respond, but the man's companions exchanged uneasy glances.
"You speak of mana as if you've never seen it before," one of the women in the group said, her voice sceptical. "Is it possible… you don't know how to harness it properly?"
Victor held back a smile. It was exactly as he had suspected—they had no idea about the true nature of mana. To them, it was a mystical force, something to be worshipped and controlled. To him, it was science—an energy that could be measured and understood.
"I'm not sure about your methods," Victor replied, calm but firm. "But I know that mana is a force of nature. It's not something to be feared or revered, but something that can be studied and controlled.
"There was a pause, and for a moment, Victor thought the group might laugh at him. But the tall man just studied him, intrigued. "Perhaps you've been exposed to something… different. We'll see."
The next morning, Victor found himself once again standing before the group in the Council Hall, the centre of the village. Zarek, the tall man who had spoken to him the night before, had suggested that Victor prove his understanding of mana. With the group still sceptical, Victor had accepted the challenge, eager to show them the power of science.
The room was dimly lit, the stone walls adorned with rough-hewn tables and scattered scrolls. The crackling of a nearby fire filled the silence as Victor stood before them, his thoughts already calculating his next steps.
"You said you could control the mana differently," Zarek said, calm but stern. "Show us."
Victor took a deep breath, his mind whirring with scientific principles. He would show them that mana was no different from any other energy—it could be measured, understood, and manipulated.
Victor focused, his hands moving slowly as he began to shape the mana around him. The air hummed with energy, the mana reacting to his presence as he calculated the necessary chemical reactions. He began manipulating the elements, calling upon the oxygen in the atmosphere and using the mana to trigger combustion. Soon, a fireball, controlled with scientific precision, hovered before him.The group stood in stunned silence, the fireball flickering brightly, its heat radiating in controlled intensity. The woman named Elira, who had been most sceptical, stepped forward."This… this is different," she murmured, her voice full of awe and suspicion. "How did you do this?"
Victor allowed the fireball to dissipate. "It's not magic. It's chemistry. Mana can be controlled and directed using the laws of nature. It's no different than manipulating any other form of energy."The group exchanged looks, unsure of what they had just witnessed. But Zarek's voice broke the silence."If you are correct, this will change everything," he said, his expression contemplative. "Perhaps you are right. Mana is not a gift—it's a force of nature, waiting to be understood."
Victor nodded, his excitement barely contained. This was only the beginning. There was still so much to prove.