The sun had barely risen when I found myself standing on the training ground once again. My muscles ached from yesterday’s brutal session, but there was no time to rest. Today, Ryoji was going to teach me how to control my mana properly.
I stretched my arms, feeling the cool morning breeze against my skin.
“Alright, brat,” Ryoji’s voice boomed as he approached, carrying a wooden staff over his shoulder. “You’re finally going to stop swinging that sword around like a headless chicken and start understanding how mana actually works.”
Kaito stood next to me, yawning loudly. “Why do we have to train so early?”
Ryoji smirked. “Because you two are weak. And if you want to survive in this world, you’ll need to be stronger than just a bunch of flashy moves.”
I clenched my fists. I wasn’t about to argue with that.
The Fundamentals of Mana
Ryoji pointed at a rock nearby. “Mana is the foundation of all magic. Every person has a mana core within them, but how they use it depends on their affinity.”
He continued, “Fire is destructive, aggressive, and powerful. Lightning is wild, unstable, and hard to control. Wind is free, fast, and adaptable. Water is fluid, calm, and versatile.”
Kaito perked up at the mention of lightning. “Wait, so my mana type is lightning… does that mean I’ll be able to summon storms or something?”
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Ryoji chuckled. “Storms? You can barely make a spark right now, kid.”
Kaito pouted. “Hey! I can do this!”
He ran to a small pond nearby, raised his hand, and focused his energy. A few sparks flickered around his fingers before he shot a small bolt of lightning into the water. Instantly, several small fish floated to the surface, stunned.
“…That’s not exactly impressive,” I muttered.
“It’s useful for fishing,” Kaito grinned, picking up a fish and waving it in front of me.
Ryoji sighed. “You’re hopeless.”
Feeling the Flow of Mana
Ryoji turned back to me. “Hiroshi, before you can master wind magic, you need to learn how to feel mana. Close your eyes and focus on the air around you.”
I did as he said, shutting out the sounds of nature, the rustling trees, and even Kaito mumbling about grilled fish.
At first, there was nothing. Just darkness.
Then… something shifted.
I felt it—a faint presence, like invisible threads flowing around me. The air moved, not just with the wind but with energy. My skin tingled as if I was standing in the middle of a storm without any rain.
“Good,” Ryoji’s voice cut through my focus. “That’s mana. It’s everywhere, but only those who train can control it.”
I opened my eyes, breathless. “I… I think I felt it.”
Ryoji nodded. “Now, try drawing it into yourself.”
The First Step to Mastery
This time, I focused harder. I imagined the mana around me as threads of wind, pulling them into my body.
For a brief second, I felt something rush into my chest. It was light, fast, almost intoxicating.
But then—
“GAH!” I staggered back, coughing.
Kaito laughed. “Wow, that was pathetic.”
“Shut up,” I grumbled, wiping my mouth.
Ryoji smirked. “Not bad for a first attempt. But you’re trying to take in too much at once. Your body isn’t used to it yet.”
I took a deep breath and tried again, this time drawing the mana in slowly. The energy wrapped around me, settling into my body without resistance.
I grinned. I was finally getting it.
Kaito crossed his arms. “Alright, if he can do it, so can I.”
He closed his eyes and concentrated. Sparks flickered around him, but unlike me, his mana was unstable. The air around him crackled with electricity, uncontrolled and dangerous.
Ryoji frowned. “Kaito, stop.”
But it was too late.
A bolt of lightning shot from Kaito’s hands, striking a nearby tree. The entire thing exploded into flames.
We all turned to look at the burning tree.
“…Oops,” Kaito muttered.
I sighed. “We’re so screwed.”
Ryoji rubbed his temples. “This is going to be a long training session.”
