The following days passed differently from anything I had ever experienced.
In the Arcane City, time seemed to follow a different rhythm. The sun still rose and set like anywhere else in the world, but the hours in between were filled with something I had rarely done in life.
Training without fighting.
Every day we walked to Aurelius' mansion early in the morning. The iron gate always opened by itself when we approached, as if the property itself knew who we were.
The archmage was almost always already waiting in the training field.
Sometimes he stood still, observing the sky. Other times he analyzed some magical object or ancient scroll. But when we arrived, his attention turned completely to us.
Training began to follow a clear routine.
First, concentration.
Then, control.
Finally, release.
At first, it seemed simple.
In practice, it was extremely difficult.
That morning, we were once again sitting on the stone field, eyes closed, trying to feel the mana circulating through our bodies.
I breathed slowly.
Inhaled.
Exhaled.
The faint vibration I had felt the day before returned slowly.
It was like a distant flow.
Something small, but present.
I focused my mind.
I imagined that energy traveling down my arm.
The sensation increased slightly.
I raised my hand.
An extremely faint glow appeared in my palm.
It lasted only a few seconds.
But this time I managed to hold it for longer.
I opened my eyes.
Lyannis was watching.
"You did it again."
Rai'kanna noticed as well.
"It's more stable."
The small light disappeared.
Aurelius walked over to me.
"Good progress."
I looked at him.
"But it still disappears quickly."
The archmage nodded.
"That's normal."
He continued walking through the field.
"Controlling mana requires patience."
Lyannis raised her hand shortly after.
A small blue spark appeared.
But it exploded like an uncontrolled flash and vanished immediately.
She sighed.
"That was awful."
Rai'kanna gave a small laugh.
"At least it appeared."
Elara seemed to be advancing well.
A soft layer of energy began forming around her palm whenever she concentrated.
It wasn't strong, but it was stable.
Liriel was also improving.
Mana appeared like a clear, delicate light, similar to the very light magic she used.
Vespera remained silent.
But her control was impressive.
The energy appeared slowly and remained there longer than anyone else's.
Aurelius observed everything carefully.
"No progress is the same for everyone."
He pointed to Elara.
"Mages usually master control faster."
Then he pointed to Rai'kanna.
"Warriors usually take a little longer."
Rai'kanna shrugged.
"As long as I can use this in combat, I don't mind."
Lyannis crossed her arms.
"I just want it to work properly."
The archmage looked at me again.
"Takumi."
I nodded.
"Yes."
He pointed to my sword.
"Now try using mana along with the blade."
I took the sword.
The metal reflected the sunlight as I lifted it.
I took a deep breath.
I focused the energy inside my body again.
The vibration returned.
Stronger than before.
I imagined the mana traveling down my arm and entering the sword.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then a very faint light traveled along the blade.
Lyannis smiled slightly.
"Now we're talking."
Rai'kanna tilted her head.
"Interesting."
The light disappeared quickly.
But the sword had reacted.
Aurelius seemed satisfied.
"That means the connection exists."
I looked at the weapon in my hands.
"But it's still weak."
The archmage replied calmly.
"Because your control is still at the beginning."
He rested his staff on the ground.
"The power of the sword doesn't respond only to mana."
Liriel seemed curious.
"So what does it respond to?"
Aurelius answered.
"Mastery."
Elara understood immediately.
"Perfect control of the flow."
The archmage nodded.
"Exactly."
The following days continued like this.
Training.
Concentration.
Attempts.
Failures.
Small progress.
Each day we managed to maintain the mana for a few more seconds.
Each day the control improved a little.
Lyannis finally managed to maintain a small stable sphere.
Rai'kanna learned to form enough energy to wrap her fingers.
Elara could already mold small streams of mana.
Liriel began making the energy shine like pure light.
Vespera maintained silent and precise control.
As for me…
The sword reacted more easily each time.
There was still no golden armor.
No explosions of power.
But the blade began to respond to the flow of my mana.
That afternoon, the sun was already descending on the horizon when we finished training.
Aurelius walked to the center of the field.
"Your progress is good."
Lyannis stretched her arms.
"Good?"
Rai'kanna smiled.
"For a four-hundred-year-old archmage, that must mean excellent."
The archmage only laughed lightly.
I looked at the sword again.
The sensation of mana was still present in my arm.
Weak.
But steady.
I took a deep breath.
After so many days of trying…
I was finally beginning to understand the flow of energy within me.