Six months had passed since the start of the training. Jasper had changed a lot. His eyes, which he once considered a curse, were now under his control. He could activate and deactivate them without significant pain. The mana flowed properly around his pupils and maintained a constant regeneration. His vision was clearer, more precise, and his fatigue had decreased noticeably. He was not yet at full mastery level, but he was progressing every day.
That morning, the sun filtered gently through the leaves of the World Tree. Jasper stood at the center of the training clearing, facing Grandmother Norah. She wore a simple dress of brown fabric and stood straight, with her hands behind her back.
"Today, we are moving on to real practice," she said in a calm voice. "Attack me without holding back. Show me what you have learned."
