The Trials of Mana Deficiency
Aethyr entered the inner chamber, his steps cautious but steady. The grand hall was shrouded in an eerie, palpable tension, one that made the hair on his neck stand on end. He had come here for advanced training, but what awaited him was far beyond anything he could have prepared for.
Suddenly, out of the shadows, Master Alious appeared, his face stern and his eyes gleaming with urgency.
“No time! No time to waste—come quick!” Alious said sharply, grabbing Aethyr by the arm and pulling him toward the training chamber.
Before Aethyr could fully grasp what was happening, Alious raised his hand and began casting a spell. A sickly green light filled the room, and Aethyr’s body jolted as an invisible force took hold of him. He could feel it—his mana, his very life essence, being ripped from his core. His knees buckled, and within moments, Aethyr collapsed to the ground, his body devoid of energy.
“GET UP! GET UP, BOY!” Alious roared, his voice harsh and unforgiving. “You’re stronger than this! Use your spirit! Do you want to live?”
But Aethyr’s limbs felt like lead, his mind foggy and unresponsive. It was as though he had become a hollow shell, his body detached from his will. The sensation of mana deficiency was agonizing—a suffocating emptiness where his strength once was. He tried to stand but crumbled, the world around him fading as he lost consciousness.
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DAY 1: COLLAPSE
The first day of training was a disaster. Aethyr could barely last ten seconds under Alious’ mana-draining spell. As soon as the energy was pulled from him, he collapsed, unable to move or even breathe properly. He was rushed to the medical chamber, where healers worked frantically to restore his strength.
“This is madness,” one of the other masters muttered, shaking his head. “Alious is pushing him too far, too fast.”
“I agree,” said another. “This method is dangerous. Mana deficiency like that can cause permanent damage—or worse.”
But Alious was unyielding. “He has to learn,” he said firmly. “If he can’t survive without his mana, he’ll die when the leech undead come for him. This training is necessary.”
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DAY 2: ANOTHER FAILURE
The second day wasn’t much better. Aethyr barely managed to stand before the spell struck him down again. His soul was torn from his body, leaving him gasping for air, his vision blurred and his limbs heavy as stone.
“AGAIN!” Alious shouted, not letting up. “You will get stronger, Aethyr, but only if you push through!”
But once again, Aethyr blacked out, unable to withstand the strain. The healers revived him, shaking their heads as they laid him on the bed.
“This is reckless,” Master Kaldor said, his voice thick with disapproval. “Alious is going to break the boy before he learns anything.”
But Alious ignored their protests. “The world won’t wait for him to be ready. Neither will his enemies.”
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DAY 5: A SLUGGISH VICTORY
By the fifth day, something shifted. The spell was cast again, and Aethyr felt the familiar drain pulling at his core. His mana was sucked away, leaving him weak and hollow. But this time, he didn’t fall.
His legs trembled, his arms felt like they were weighed down by iron chains, but he stood. Sweat dripped down his face as he took one slow, unsteady step forward, then another. His movements were sluggish, his vision swam, but he remained on his feet.
Alious observed him silently, a rare flicker of approval crossing his stern face. “Better,” he said curtly. “But you’re still too slow.”
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DAY 7: RESILIENCE
On the seventh day, Aethyr was no longer collapsing instantly. He could feel the mana being drained from him, but his body and spirit had begun to adapt. Each time the spell hit him, his muscles remembered, and he fought harder to stay upright.
Though his movements were still slow, he had learned to focus, to channel what little strength he had left. He began using the environment around him—the ground beneath his feet, the air that surrounded him—to steady himself. He was starting to understand the essence of survival without mana.
“You see?” Alious said, turning to the other masters, who had gathered to watch with skeptical eyes. “He’s learning.”
But the other masters were still unconvinced. “He’s barely standing,” one scoffed. “What good is this?”
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DAY 10: MASTERY OF WILL
By the tenth day, Aethyr’s transformation was remarkable. Alious cast the soul-draining spell again, but this time, Aethyr moved with fluidity. Though his mana was gone, he had learned to rely on his physical strength, on his willpower, and on the environment. He dodged and parried, his body in sync with his surroundings.
Alious nodded approvingly. “You’re ready.”
Aethyr, panting but standing strong, felt a surge of pride. He had done it—he had endured the impossible.
“What you’ve learned here will save your life,” Alious said. “The leech undead will use Soul Drain to strip you of your mana. But now, you know how to survive without it. Remember—your spirit is your true strength. Mana is a tool, but it’s not everything.”