For four hours, Elyan focused intently on encapsulating his intent and voice into the surrounding air-type mana. The cool evening air around the cave buzzed with potential as he concentrated, attempting to shape the energy into a coherent message.

His goal was simple: to master the basics of the communication spell before attempting to send it to Zenith, who would act as the receiver. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he struggled to maintain the delicate balance between control and release, his breath steady and measured.

Elyan's hands trembled slightly, not from exhaustion but from the sheer effort of channeling his emotions and words into the unseen currents of mana. The forest around them was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of creatures, as if the world held its breath in anticipation of his success.

Once again, Elyan's attempt faltered, leaving him nearly drained of mana. Noticing this, Zenith raised his hand from a distance to get Elyan's attention. "Take a break, Elyan!" he shouted, hovering towards the boy who had now collapsed onto the ground, taking sips from his canteen.

"Aaaaahh!" Elyan let out a cry of frustration, sprawling on his back. "I thought I understood the concept, Zenith. What did I do wrong?"

Zenith floated closer, with a gentle smile on his face. "To be honest, you did nothing wrong for someone just starting to learn," he replied. "That's just how the learning process goes. Understanding the theory and applying it in practice are two very different things."

Zenith floated towards the cave entrance, observing Elyan's struggle with a sympathetic gaze. "When you're ready, rest inside the cave," he advised, his voice calm yet insistent. "Even with Solaris's blessing, you still need to pretend to be affected by the heat when you're outside.

It's important not to draw unnecessary attention." With that, Zenith disappeared into the cave's cool, shadowy interior, leaving Elyan to contemplate his words.

"Do I even have the time to be a beginner?" Elyan muttered under his breath, feeling the weight of his inexperience. He stared up at the sky, searching for any leaves or foliage carried by the wind.

Observing nature's subtle dance had helped him grasp the concept of encapsulating information into air-type mana, but now, it seemed like a distant echo of understanding.

As Elyan attempted to push himself into a seated position, a sudden gentle summer breeze swept over him, carrying with it a mixture of sand and dust.

The particles stung his eyes, causing him to flinch and blink rapidly. He rubbed his eyes, trying to alleviate the irritation and muttering under his breath, "Sigh, just great."

Feeling the grit still clinging to his skin, Elyan stood up and made his way toward the nearby river, eager to wash his face and find some relief from the unexpected discomfort

As Elyan finished washing his face, he wiped it dry with a cloth, blinking furiously to shake off the lingering irritation. Just as he felt some relief, another gust of wind blew into his face, carrying more dust and sand.

"Aaah! Really?!" Elyan exclaimed, frustration creeping into his voice. He crouched down to rinse his face again, but as he bent over the water, a soft, giggling sound reached his ears.

He paused, holding his breath, and listened intently. But there was only the gentle chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Elyan frowned, shaking his head in disbelief. "Did I push myself too hard this time? I swear I heard someone giggling, and it definitely wasn't Zenith." He muttered to himself, scanning the area for any sign of the mysterious sound.

Suddenly, a small whirlwind formed a few steps ahead, swirling dust and sand into the air before dissipating just as quickly. Elyan's eyes widened with sudden inspiration. Watching the tiny vortex, he realized something.

"Maybe this could work?" he mused aloud, excitement building. "Instead of pouring my mana and intent like water, I should try to blend them together, grain by grain, like the sand and dust!" The idea sparked a new determination in him, giving him a fresh perspective on how to tackle the spell.

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Elyan's new found inspiration led him to ponder the properties of sand and dust in the wind, and how they interacted with the air currents. Unlike water, which flows continuously, sand and dust are composed of individual particles that move together yet remain distinct. This observation gave him the idea to approach his communication spell differently, by breaking down his mana and intent into smaller, more manageable components, just like the grains of sand.

He took a deep breath, centering himself as he stood by the river. Elyan focused on the sensation of the wind against his skin, tuning into the subtle shifts and flows of the air around him. He held out his hands, palms open, and began to gather his mana, not in a single, cohesive mass, but in small, discrete packets. He envisioned each packet as a grain of sand, light and independent, yet part of a greater whole.

As he continued to focus, Elyan carefully infused each mana packet with his intent. He didn't try to force his thoughts into the mana; instead, he allowed his emotions and message to settle naturally into each "grain," like sifting flour into a bowl. He thought about the message he wanted to send—a simple "hello" to Zenith, infused with the eagerness and determination he felt. It wasn't just about the words; it was about the feeling behind them, the desire to connect and communicate.

Elyan visualized the tiny mana grains carrying his message, each one a small vessel of thought and emotion. He gently nudged them into the air, coaxing them to move with the breeze. It was a delicate process, requiring a fine balance of control and release. Too much force, and the mana grains would disperse too widely, losing their coherence. Too little, and they would remain stagnant, failing to take flight.

He closed his eyes, feeling the mana grains lift off his palms, carried by the wind. Elyan opened his eyes just in time to see the grains shimmer faintly in the sunlight, a subtle, almost imperceptible glow. The sight filled him with a quiet exhilaration. He had managed to infuse the air type mana with his message, breaking it down into smaller, individual particles.

Elyan watched as the mana grains drifted towards the cave entrance and went inside where Zenith was. He held his breath, unsure if his experiment would succeed. The grains swirled and coalesced, following the wind's current. They gathered in front of Zenith, who seemed to sense the incoming message. The grains hovered momentarily before merging, forming a coherent wave of intent that resonated with the simple greeting Elyan had imbued them with.

Zenith's eyes lit up as he received the message. A small smile formed on his lips as he rushed outside to see Elyan. "You did it! I told you to believe in yourself, didn't I? Hahaha!"

Elyan felt a surge of pride and relief. His idea had worked; he had successfully sent a message using the air-type mana, breaking it down into manageable pieces just like the grains of sand.

Elyan knew there was still much to learn and practice to do to perfect it. This new approach required fine-tuning and a deeper understanding of how to manipulate the air currents and mana more precisely.

However, he had taken a significant step forward in mastering the communication spell. The experience taught him the importance of patience and the value of breaking down complex concepts into simpler, more digestible parts.

As Elyan reflected on the process, he realized that this method could potentially be applied to other forms of magic. The concept of breaking down mana into smaller components could offer new ways to control and manipulate different types of magic. Elyan felt a thrill at the prospect of exploring these possibilities, his mind racing with ideas and potential applications.

He decided to practice this technique further, refining his control and exploring its limits. Elyan was determined to master the communication spell and prove to himself and Zenith that he was capable of handling the challenges ahead. This new method was just the beginning, a stepping stone on his journey to uncover the truth about his connection with Zenith's creator and the world around him.

With renewed energy, Elyan prepared himself for the next steps in his training. The goal this time was to send a longer message over a greater distance. The whirlwind of inspiration had given him not just a new technique but a fresh perspective on his abilities and potential. As he stood by the river, watching the water flow, Elyan felt a deep sense of purpose and resolve. After previously doubting his abilities, he finally felt like he was on the right path.

It was almost sunset, and the sky was painted in hues of orange and red. The sounds of migrating birds filled the air as they made their way back to their nests. Elyan continued his training, though his progress was slow in terms of the length of the messages he could encapsulate and the distance he could send them without losing focus. Feeling satisfied with his progress for the day, Elyan prepared to start the campfire and get ready for dinner.

"...Wait... I feel like I've forgotten something," Elyan muttered to himself as he struck a spark to light the fire. "What was it again?"

A gentle gust of wind brushed against his face, this time free of sand or dust. The breeze seemed to carry a subtle reminder, and Elyan suddenly recalled what he had forgotten. "Hehehe," a soft giggle broke the silence.