Spring, age 7.

GASP!

I'm heaving for air, blue in the face.

Alfred is standing in front of me, slowly shaking his head.

``This can't go on you know, this isn't healthy.'' [Alfred]

``I know Alfred, but I don't see another way. I know we haven't made much headway, but I simply have to do this. And I can pour mana in a lot faster now.'' [Nathan]

``There are other things you can do with your life Nathan. I mean, I know imprinting appeals to you, but when your parents teach you magic a whole new world will open up to you.'' [Alfred]

``I know. But I feel like if I don't do this, a path will close itself for ever. And I'm not ready to give up yet.'' [Nathan]

``.. Alright. We'll keep going. Get back up on the chair and lets go again.'' [Alfred]

I sit in the chair and put my hands on the crystal as I have so many times before. I stopped holding it in my hand some time ago, and instead put it down on the table on put my hands on top of it. Makes it easier for Alfred to break me out of the trance when i turn blue.

The world turns grey.

My body tenses up as the time slows down, and I manually take a few breaths before I get started.

I imagine the recipe in front of me. A swirling vortex with a string extending up to a glowing sphere.

I dive deeper.

The pattern emerges. I have stared on this pattern so many times, I have it completely memorized. Could draw it out by hand if I had to.

I start pouring mana into it. I've gotten a lot better at it, and it goes a lot faster now.

But that just makes it more complicated. Doing it normally is like balancing sticks in each hand, which I have been doing a lot.

Doing it fast is like walking at the same time and dodging obstacles. My hope is that eventually I can do it slowly and breathe at the same time.

Whenever i try breathing, I'm pulled right out and all my progress evaporates.

So right now I'm just trying to get it done in time.

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I weave my magic through the maze as I've done so many times before.

I'm getting closer to finishing. My vision starts narrowing. Alfred must be giving me extra time before pulling me out.

I continue weaving. The tunnel closes in on me, and I feel a pressure in my chest. I push on, trying to make it before he pulls me out.

Almost there.

I'm so close, but I can hardly see rest of the pattern because of the tunnel.

Isn't he supposed to pull me out?

I give it a last push before the tunnel closes on m-

I'm on the ground...

My head hurts like crazy.

Something hit me, hard, and I'm lying on the cold pavement.

My vision turns red, there's blood in my eyes.

Someone is kneeling over me, screaming for help.

I don't know him.

I slowly turn my head to the side, and see my bike.

It's a wreck. I wonder what happened to it.

My vision narrows, and my consciousness slips away..

There are colors everywhere.

I've been here before, I don't remember when.

My body is all wrong. It's small, like that of a child. And it has this.. This pool of energy. It's located right below my solar plexus, and it has these.. flows, extending outwards like veins.

They are pulsing with energy. Like the pool is another heart, and it's pumping the energy outwards, to the tips of my fingers, the bottom of my feet, and my-

It's not pulsing into my head. There's a vein going to my head, but.. It's blocked..

There's a.. Clog.. Of sorts.. It's not really a solid mass, it's more of a shadow.

I focus on the energy in my stomach, and push it up to the clog, pushing it into the clog in short intense pulses.

The shadow slowly disappears, blending into my body, spreading across the pulsating veins.

Power suddenly wells up in my head, spreading to every part of my being.

Slowly, everything around me turns white

And the world snaps into focus as I open my eyes.

I'm lying on my back in Alfred's shop.

My father is sitting next to me, pouring magic into me.

``He is awake.'' [Shale]

``What happened?'' [Nathan]

``Your father walked in and told me to let you pass out. Said he'd make sure nothing happened.'' [Alfred]

``Well I got rather far this time, but beyond that I do not really think much happened. I kind of blacked out, and I think I may have had some weird dream, but I am not entirely sure.'' [Nathan]

``Worth a shot I guess. Want to go one more time before we call it a day?'' [Alfred]

``Might as well, let me just get up.'' [Nathan]

I get back in the chair, close my eyes and put my hands on the crystal.

``You may as well just go get the boat ready Shale, this part always takes a while you know.'' [Alfred]

I open my eyes. Everything is in color, and I'm breathing normally.

``Alfred, I think that might have done it.'' [Nathan]