The training field behind Aurelius' mansion was silent that morning.
The light-colored stone covering the ground still held the chill of the early hours. Ancient trees surrounded the entire space, forming a natural barrier against the wind from the hill. Small arcane circles were engraved in the ground at different points, forming complex patterns that glimmered faintly when sunlight touched their lines.
We remained sitting on the ground, just like in the previous training.
Eyes closed.
Slow breathing.
The exercise of feeling the mana was still being repeated.
For several minutes I tried again to sense that energy within my body. I focused my mind, controlled my breathing, and tried to imagine the flow of mana circulating through my veins as Aurelius had explained.
For a moment, I felt something.
A faint vibration.
Almost like a weak current passing through my chest.
But the sensation disappeared quickly.
I opened my eyes.
Lyannis also opened hers at the same moment.
"I think I felt something."
Rai'kanna responded without opening her eyes.
"You said that yesterday."
Lyannis huffed.
"But now it was different."
Elara still remained completely focused.
Liriel breathed calmly, keeping her eyes closed.
Vespera was motionless like a statue.
Aurelius walked slowly around the field.
The sound of his staff touching the ground marked the rhythm of his steps.
He stopped in front of us.
"Feeling the mana is only the first step."
I looked up at him.
"What's next?"
The archmage replied calmly.
"Control."
He raised one hand.
A small blue sphere of energy appeared in his palm.
The mana spun slowly, like a living flame made of light.
Lyannis watched with interest.
"That looks easy when you do it."
Aurelius smiled slightly.
"After four centuries of practice, some things become natural."
Rai'kanna opened her eyes and stood up.
"So what exactly are we supposed to do?"
The archmage closed his hand, and the sphere disappeared.
Then he gestured for all of us to stand.
"Come."
He walked to the center of the field.
We followed him.
When we stopped in front of him, Aurelius extended his hand again.
The mana appeared once more.
But this time he slowly dimmed the energy's glow.
"Mana responds to the user's will."
He moved his fingers slowly.
The small sphere deformed, changing shape like water being molded.
"First, you gather mana."
The sphere grew slightly.
"Then you control it."
The energy spun slowly.
"Finally, you release it."
He opened his hand.
The sphere dissipated into the air like luminous dust.
Elara watched with great attention.
"Control, concentration, and release."
Aurelius nodded.
"Exactly."
He looked at me.
"Takumi."
I stepped forward.
"Yes."
The archmage pointed at my hand.
"Extend your palm."
I obeyed.
He spoke calmly.
"Now concentrate the mana there."
I looked at my own hand.
It looked ridiculous.
To concentrate something I could barely perceive.
Still, I tried.
I took a deep breath.
I imagined the energy inside my body flowing to the palm of my hand.
Several seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
Lyannis watched with her arms crossed.
"This is going to take a while."
Rai'kanna laughed.
"Probably."
I continued trying.
Slow breathing.
Concentration.
Flow.
Suddenly I felt that vibration again.
This time clearer.
Like a small current passing through my arm.
For a moment, I thought something was about to happen.
But the sensation disappeared again.
I lowered my hand.
"Nothing."
Aurelius didn't seem surprised.
"It's normal."
He looked at the rest of the group.
"Now, all of you."
Lyannis sighed.
"I knew this would happen."
Still, she extended her hand.
Rai'kanna did the same.
Liriel raised her palm calmly.
Elara already seemed completely focused.
Vespera silently imitated the movement.
The field fell quiet again.
Six people trying to concentrate mana in their own hands.
Several minutes passed.
Lyannis was the first to complain.
"I don't feel anything."
Rai'kanna responded.
"Concentrate more."
She herself kept trying.
Elara seemed closest to achieving something.
A faint breeze of energy began forming around her hand.
Aurelius observed.
"Good."
Elara opened her eyes in surprise.
"I felt it."
The energy disappeared quickly.
But it had happened.
Liriel also seemed close to reaching something.
Lyannis still looked frustrated.
Vespera remained completely focused.
I looked at my hand again.
I took a deep breath once more.
Concentration.
Flow.
Mana.
The vibration returned.
Stronger this time.
For a moment I felt the energy gather in the palm of my hand.
An extremely faint glow appeared.
Almost invisible.
But it was there.
Lyannis noticed first.
"Wait."
She pointed.
"His hand."
Rai'kanna looked immediately.
"I saw it."
Elara too.
The small light disappeared a few seconds later.
But it was already too late.
Everyone had seen it.
Aurelius watched with a small smile.
"That is the beginning."
I looked at my own hand.
The sensation of mana still echoed through my arm.
Weak.
Unstable.
But real.
The archmage rested his staff on the ground again.
"Mana control doesn't happen in a day."
He looked at all of us.
"But today you took the first step."
The sun was already high in the sky.
I took a deep breath.
That small spark of energy might have seemed insignificant.
But for me, it meant something much greater.
It meant that I was finally beginning to learn how to control the power that existed within me.