Sai woke up, looking out the window to see the first light of sunrise. He opted not to sleep, as his mind was restless with thoughts of the previous events. He had come far since arriving in this world, yet he knew he was still at the starting line of something much greater. His body ached from the previous day’s training, but he couldn’t afford to rest now.

  Once done, he made his way to the training grounds. As he arrived, he noticed the place was quiet—except for two figures standing in the center. One of them was Selena, her arms crossed as she observed him with an amused expression. Beside her stood a tall man clad in deep blue robes, lined with ancient runes that faintly glowed. His posture radiated confidence, and as their eyes met, the man smirked. Sai instinctively knew that trouble was about to begin.

  "Sai, meet your new instructor," Selena announced, gesturing to the man. "He will be handling your magic training from now on. You’ll still do physical training, of course, but it’s time you learn to wield mana properly."

  The man stepped forward, his sharp gaze appraising Sai. “Before you can use magic, you must first learn to sense mana. Close your eyes and breathe. Forget everything else.”

  Sai hesitated for a moment but complied. He sat down cross-legged, taking a deep breath. The man’s voice guided him. “Mana is everywhere, flowing like an unseen river. Do not force it—feel it. Let it come to you.”

  Minutes passed, then after a few hours. At first, he felt nothing. Frustration built up, but he pushed it aside, focusing solely on his breath. Then, faintly, he sensed it—a presence, subtle yet constant, weaving through the air and the earth. It wasn’t something he could see, but something he could feel.

  “Good. Now, visualize,” the man instructed. “Picture the mana as threads of light, moving with the wind. Try reaching for them, not with your hands, but with your intent.”

  Sai did as told, imagining countless thin strands of energy drifting around him. He extended his will toward them, but they slipped away like sand through his fingers. He furrowed his brows, trying again, adjusting his approach. Instead of grabbing, he tried guiding, letting the energy flow toward him rather than forcing it.

  A tiny flicker of warmth brushed his skin. His eyes snapped open, and for a brief moment, he saw a faint shimmer around his fingertips before it faded. His heart pounded. He had done it—he had touched mana.

  The man, seeing Sai’s frustration and determination, stopped him before he could harm his foundation further. He nodded approvingly and said, “That is the first step, and you need to familiarize yourself with it. Let me demonstrate.”

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  Sai barely had time to react as the man flicked his wrist, sending a small arc of fire toward him. Instinctively, Sai threw up his arms, expecting the worst—but the flame stopped inches from his face, dissipating harmlessly.

  “Magic isn’t just power; it’s understanding,” the man continued. “A sword is useless without control, and magic is the same.

  He walked forward, producing four sleek bracelets engraved with arcane symbols. He handed them to Sai. “These are not just weights. They restrict your mana flow slightly while training your body. Wear them at all times.”

  Sai frowned, slipping the bracelets onto his wrists. Immediately, he felt their effects—his movements became sluggish, and the mana he had barely begun to control now felt even more distant.

  “Now, run ten laps around the training ground, followed by 100 pushups and 100 squats,” the man ordered.

  Sai groaned but complied, his breath already ragged after the first few laps. The weight and mana restriction pushed his endurance to its limits. By the end of the session, he collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat.

  Selena smirked as she walked over. “Not bad. But you’re nowhere near ready.”

  Sai panted, his body aching. He had spent so much time running for survival in the past, yet this was different. Here, every action had a purpose. Every step, every movement was a foundation for the strength he needed.

  He opened his status screen out of curiosity:

  [Name: Sai][Race: Human][Power Level: Unawakened][Abilities: ???][Emotion Detection: Active][Level: 3][Strength: 30 ][Agility: 28 ][Intelligence: 21 ][Endurance: 37 ][Charisma: 6 ][Perception: 15 ]

  [Skills:]Novice CombatNovice Mana Sensing

  [Equipped Items:]Training Bracelets (4) - Arcane-engraved weights that restrict mana flow and increase physical strain during training, enhancing endurance and mana control.

  Sai’s eyes widened. His magic control had started growing. The pain and exhaustion didn’t matter—he was finally moving forward.

  The man crossed his arms. “Rest. Tomorrow, we push even harder.”

  Sai lay on the ground, staring at the sky. His journey had only just begun, but for the first time, he felt the spark of true growth. He wasn’t just surviving anymore—he was becoming something more.

  The next day, Sai’s training intensified. His instructor made him repeat the mana sensing exercise, forcing him to refine his control. Each time, Sai was pushed to his limit, forced to maintain a delicate balance between his body’s exhaustion and his mental focus.

  He began incorporating movement into his mana sensing, training to channel mana while dodging and attacking. This was where Novice Combat training came in. Selena personally sparred with him, forcing him to react under pressure. Her movements were fast, precise, and completely beyond his level, but she wasn’t aiming to defeat him—she was teaching him the fundamentals.

  The days blended together, a relentless cycle of pushing past limits. The training bracelets ensured he never got comfortable, constantly testing his strength and endurance. He noticed his Perception skill growing, his awareness of surroundings becoming sharper.

  After weeks of grueling training, his status updated again:

  [Name: Sai][Race: Human][Power Level: Unawakened]

  [Abilities: ???]

  [Emotion Detection: Active]

  [Level: 4][Strength: 35 ]

  [Agility: 33 ]

  [Intelligence: 24 ]

  [Endurance: 42 ]

  [Charisma: 7 ]

  [Perception: 22 ]

  [Skills:]Basic Combat ,Novice Mana Manipulation ,Novice Mana Sensing

  Sai could feel it. He was growing. He was getting stronger.