Several more months passed, during which my connection to magic grew deeper, and my mastery of it became more confident. Yet, increasingly, I sensed that on the path to perfection, the obstacles would not only be external. Every day, my parents became not only mentors but also unseen guardians of the calm and confidence I needed at this young age.
One evening, Roan set me a new task that seemed simple at first but turned out to be unexpectedly difficult.
"Ellard, imagine you're in a battle and can't use magic at its full strength. Your goal is to learn to control your energy so it supports your actions, not as an offensive force," he explained, his voice serious and focused.
He showed me how to create something like a shield around myself, using only a small portion of my mana. I began to immerse myself slowly in the process, trying to understand how to reduce the flow of energy and direct it solely toward defense. At first, everything went smoothly, but soon I felt resistance, as if a barrier within me prevented me from holding the shield for long.
Elana was watching, and noticing my tension, she quietly said,
"Don't try to overcome this barrier with force, Ellard. If you can't hold the shield, it means you need to understand where the weakness lies and how to strengthen it."
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After several attempts, I realized that I couldn't sustain the shield properly. This was unexpected for me, as my training in magic had generally gone smoothly until now. Facing this inner barrier, I felt frustration and even anger. Deep down, a thought arose that maybe my powers weren't as strong as I imagined.
"Can I truly master magic completely? Or is there a limit I won't be able to surpass, no matter how hard I try?"
These doubts forced me to reconsider my path. I remembered Elana's words about harmony with nature and realized that even the strong cannot always reach their goal through persistence alone. Perhaps the journey to mastering power does not always involve control.
Later, sitting by the fire with Roan and Elana, I shared my thoughts. Roan listened carefully, then said,
"Ellard, no path to mastery is ever straight. Your powers are a gift, but remember, true strength lies in accepting your weaknesses and learning from them."
Elana added gently,
"Magic doesn't yield to force. It requires understanding and sensitivity. Maybe you're too focused on proving something to yourself instead of letting the mana show you its true direction."
After this conversation, I realized that my abilities would be tested not only by tasks and training but by the internal boundaries I would have to overcome. I now understood that the path of a mage is one of constant self-development, not just a battle with the world around.
"True strength isn't always about success; it's in the ability to learn from your mistakes."
This failure became an important lesson, helping me understand that every step in this world is tied to patience and acceptance of my own limitations.