The school bell rang, marking the beginning of another day. Alex trudged into the classroom, his shoulders slumped with a sense of boredom. Arithmetic and literature awaited him, subjects he had mastered long ago in his past life.

As he settled into his seat, Alex sighed. Mr. Thompson began the arithmetic lesson, but the numbers and equations felt repetitive. The teacher's voice droned on, but Alex's mind wandered, seeking something more engaging.

Next came the literature class with Mrs. Adams. The students eagerly flipped open their books, but for Alex, the stories seemed predictable and unexciting. As the class analyzed characters and themes, he doodled in his notebook, yearning for a challenge.

Finally, the much-anticipated moment arrived. Mrs. Larkin, the teacher for Mana Control, stepped into the room, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. Alex's spirits lifted. Mana class was his sanctuary. "Finally something fun."

"Good afternoon, young sorcerers," Mrs. Larkin greeted with a twinkle in her eye. "Today, we will continue with your circulation."

Alex's ears perked up, and a spark of excitement flickered in his eyes. He had been eagerly awaiting this lesson, the chance to dive deeper into the realm of magic. He glanced at Tristan, his best friend, who returned the knowing smile.

Mrs. Larkin held up the small, shimmering orb from the previous class. "Tristan, Alex, you already managed to circulate mana with the beginner orb, so we've got a harder one with less conductivity that the older kids use to practice their circulation."

As the class watched, Alex and Tristan couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. They knew they had a head start, having successfully circulated their mana perfectly through the first orb after a couple of sessions.

Mrs. Larkin observed the duo with a mixture of surprise and pride. "Good job, boys. These ones will be a bit harder, so don't feel discouraged if you don't get it right away like you did last time," she said, her voice filled with gentleness.

Tristan's mischievous grin widened. "Well, Mrs. Larkin, we can't help it if we're a couple of magical prodigies," he teased, earning a playful swat on the arm from Alex.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Alex, though hiding it behind a modest facade, felt a secret joy bubbling within him. It was invigorating to be acknowledged for his unique abilities, even if he couldn't fully reveal the extent of his knowledge.

The classroom buzzed with excitement and inspiration. The duo's proficiency in mana control became a beacon of possibility for their classmates, igniting a spark of competition and rivalry.

Alex could feel a slight resistance as he began circulating his mana through the orb. The effort required to light up the previous orb now barely lit the new one. With a smile on his face, he reminisced about the times he trained with his batch and team, racing every morning around the barracks to see who would get a new time, repping through pull-ups until the other person dropped.

As Alex browsed through the memories of progress through pain, a sharp light entered his field of vision. Glancing upwards, he saw a cheeky grin, ear to ear, completely covering Tristan's face as he just fully lit the new orb he was handed.

Mrs. Larkin gasped at Tristan's achievement, her eyes filled with awe. "Well done, Tristan!"

Tristan couldn't help but puff out his chest, his mischievous grin intact. "Thank you, Mrs. Larkin! Seems I've got a knack for this magic stuff. Must be the result of my extraordinary awesomeness," he said, giving Alex a playful wink.

Alex rolled his eyes but couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, there's no shortage of confidence in you, is there?"

Tristan laughed, showing off his perfectly executed mana circulation. "You know it, my friend. Watch and learn!"

Alex playfully shook his head, ready to show Tristan that he wasn't the only one with tricks up his sleeve. He concentrated his energy, feeling the familiar tingle in his fingertips as the mana flowed through his veins. With a determined look, he channeled his power, and a warm glow enveloped the orb, matching Tristan's display.

"Oh my goodness," Mrs. Larkin exclaimed, her voice filled with astonishment. "You two... That was incredible! I've never seen such mastery of mana control from students so young."

Tristan, unable to contain his delight, grinned proudly. "Told you we were prodigies, Mrs. Larkin. We've got magic flowing through our veins."

Alex blushed at the unexpected praise, his heart swelling with a sense of validation. He had grown accustomed to downplaying his abilities, but the recognition from Mrs. Larkin meant the world to him.

Lily, who had been watching their display with a mix of awe and jealousy, couldn't help but speak up. "That's amazing, but... What about me? Am I not special too?"

Mrs. Larkin's eyes softened as she turned to Lily. "Oh, Lily, you are special too. We all have our own unique talents and abilities. Just because you haven't fully awakened your mana yet doesn't mean you're any less extraordinary."

Lily's expression softened, her jealousy giving way to a flicker of hope. "But how do I do it? How do I awaken my mana like Alex and Tristan?"

Mrs. Larkin placed a reassuring hand on Lily's shoulder. "It takes time and practice, Lily. Just like Alex and Tristan, you have the potential within you. With patience and dedication, you'll discover your own magical abilities."

Alex, sensing Lily's unease, stepped forward with a supportive smile. "Don't worry, Lily. We'll be here to help you every step of the way."

Tristan, unable to resist his mischievous nature, chimed in with a sly grin. "And who knows, maybe you'll even surpass us someday. Wouldn't that be something?"

Lily's eyes brightened at the challenge, and her competitive spirit ignited. "Oh, I definitely will! Just you wait and see."