Military School of Peacius, Nation of Peacius, 13th Seudi 1325
After a few days of gruesome mana manipulation and body strengthening training. A steady supply of punishments (gravity restricted push-ups mostly), demanding repetitive routines, some bit of sparring with my father and delectable meals to charge me up again. Father finally decided that it was time that we start on fire magic lessons.
Right before I went down to the parade square where I’ll be having my daily training that starts early in the morning. Henri briskly walked to me and randomly grabbed me hard by the shoulders.
“Now, do not treat this like a good thing having a personal trainer to yourself,” warned Henri with a surprising worried look. “The only reason for this is that time is running out faster than before. So, I need you to work harder than before.”
“What is coming such that we are rus-” I tried to ask but to no avail. Henri was long gone in a blink of an eye.
Annoyance was seemingly the only feeling that was gradually building up within my heart as I continued my life here.
I walked out into the parade square and stared at the still dark blue sky with the faint sparkling of distant stars. I thought about what Henri suddenly told me. Just why are we rushing? I am already working as hard as I can, what else could I do? My train of thoughts was derailed when Father shouted at me to hasten my footsteps.
“Your classmates may still be sleeping at this time, but they are much more proficient than you at magic already!” said Levi as he stretched his body as per usual. “To make matters worse, you were terrible at mana manipulation.”
I simply looked down at my feet as I was being berated by Father. Unfortunately, my feet could only wriggle the toes and not comfort me.
I didn’t realise that he was preventing me from getting on a high horse.
“Never mind that, let us get started with Fire magic.”
“Yes, sir…” I replied with a rather faint voice.
“Tch…” Levi clicked his tongue as he looked to the sides with a frown. “You’re still mentally weak. Easily affected by comments. Come on, it is getting closer to your coming of age ceremony. Wake up your idea.”
I couldn’t refute that statement as I know that it is true. However, something else that I know is that I must get stronger. No matter the cost. No matter the pain. No matter the time required.
I clenched my fists and teeth and braced myself mentally to start the training, with my newfound determination.
“Father, I-I am ready now. Please forgive my inabilities.”
“Remember what I said the other day about results. I care not of your inabilities but the end. Now, let us begin, cadet.”
“Yes, Fath-” I paused immediately having been stabbed by Levi’s death stare. “YES, SIR!”
“Before, we begin on fire training. I want to see how well you are able to use mana after the training sessions. Remember the presentation examinations? Present to me your skills again.”
Upon hearing the words “presentation examinations”, I let loose a few droplets of sweat and my heart started to beat faster. What if I fail this again? I was worried about disappointing my father yet again. Clouds of doubt covered my mind. Just as I was about to wallow in self-pity again, a light shone through those clouds. It was the fresh memories of how much I practised this past few days and my determination to get stronger.
*Huuuuuu*
I took a deep breath and thought about what to present. I immediately remembered seeing Liroi’s presentation with his choreographed spar. Without hesitation, I condensed some of my mana on my skin. Covering my body with azure blue flames.
Feeling that the flames have fully covered my body, I immediately separated the flames from myself. Thus, creating an exact replica of me. It wore the same kit as me. Though the humanoid figure was totally blue and glowing. Seeing how I have succeeded in creating a replica of me. I tried to form an astral connection between us.
Remembering the lessons from before. To form a connection with an outside source of mana. I had to release some of my mana in the form of a thread and try to get the thread to connect to the source.
Like a spider releasing its silk to spin a web, I carefully guided a thread of mana to the chest of the mana body. Finally, I managed to form a connection. Now, the hard part is to not break the connection as the connection is nought but a mana thread.
“Hoh. You decided to use a thread instead of something more visible but harder to break, like a rope?” Levi exclaimed proudly.
“I have to push myself, after all, a thread is harder for people to see making it hard for them to break as what Sir said two days ago.”
Levi simply nodded his head in satisfaction hearing my explanation.
Now comes the controlling of the mana body. Multitasking is the way to go. I treated the body as a puppet and my hands controlled it. If I moved my fingers moved a certain way, the body will move a certain way as well. It is like a script.
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Thus, with the controls settled. The choreographed spar began. To start off, I made the mana body do a roundhouse kick while I dodged by taking a step back deftly. Continuing its combo, the mana body leapt forward while I sidestepped and punched it in the liver.
“Uuuuu~”
I squeezed my face as I look at it stagger after the punch. With that punch, begun my counter attack. With the mana body trying to get his composure back. I leapt at it and grabbed its right arm with my left arm and its “shirt” with my right arm. I threw its right arm across my shoulder and flung him in front of me as I forcefully turned my body.
*BOOM*
It slammed into the ground and knocked up some dust before dissipating into mana sparks. Its physical reaction to impacts was so lifelike such that I cringed knowing that it was a replica of me.
*Clap. Clap. Clap.*
“Well done, Cadet Teiga. Impressive. Even in the examinations, Liroi didn’t create such a detailed replica. But it would have been nice if you only used only your consciousness to control it instead. It is okay as you are still only 12.”
“Yes, sir!”
I was satisfied with myself knowing that Levi has accepted the presentation but a little disappointed at the same time as I couldn’t control the mana body with just my consciousness.
“Now that you are all good to go with man control. Let us go on to fire!” exclaimed Levi.
I could his burning hot passion for fire magic with that sentence. The fiery passion soon spread to me as well.
“YES, SIR!”
“Now, listen here. Fire magic is going to take much longer to learn and teach due to the risks it involves but the rewards for being able to use it is rich. So, be prepared.” warned Levi with passion still burning in his eyes.
“Yes, sir!”
Levi began to lecture me on the basics of mana. I’ve already heard of the theories weeks ago in the theory lessons but yet I paid close attention to him. Maybe it was because of the fiery passion to learn that was still burning within me.
Mana is an omnipotent element, substance and existence. Users can change their form just by their consciousness. But humans have a limited amount of mana and most only have enough to use to master 2 types of magic. As after specialisation, a certain amount of mana in one person changes itself to fit the user’s specialised magic better. Each type of magic takes up a fixed amount of mana.
To help me visualise better, Levi told me to imagine mana as a plot of land and I am the owner. I use 40% of the land for farming and the rest for housing. Now those percentages for the use of the land is permanent, unlike real life where the use of land can be changed. And each person has their own unique “plot of land” that differs in sizes.
Levi’s explanation was a hundred times better than my teacher’s.
“That being said. If I were to compare your land and other people’s land. Your land is the size of an empire and normal people’s the size of a town or two.”
My eyes lit up hearing that I have such a quality.
“But don’t get too excited. They may be just towns but they can control their land easier as it is small. Just like how a typical villager’s life is much easier than an Emperor’s or King’s. There will come a day when your land goes out of your control.”
Hearing the disclaimer, I was slightly upset but nonetheless, I was more ecstatic with the knowledge of how many types of magic I can learn and master.
“Back to fire training after that theory. I shall show you an example of a basic fire spell, Fireball.”
Levi raised his right hand and opened his palms. Almost instantly, a ball of reddish-orange flames burst out on his hands and hovered on it. With all his strength, he launched the fireball up into the still dark blue sky and the fireball exploded like a firework. The firework bathed the whole parade square in warm yellow light.
“See that? If thrown at a person, it can set him or her on fire.”
“Wow… Oh. YES, SIR!” I was still admiring the beauty of the explosion.
“Fire is definitely going to be my favourite magic!” I thought to myself with a bright smile on my face.
“Now, I want you to try forming a fireball like that one and throw it up into the sky by strengthening your arm.”
I nodded my head as I was too anxious to even utter a single word.
“An advice; Try to imagine dying your blue mana red and condense some of the red mana in the form of a ball on the palms of your hand. A good magician must have a good imagination.”
Heeding Levi’s words of advice. I tried to imagine the steps. Before long, yellow sparks started to appear on my right hand. More and more sparks appeared. I tried even harder to imagine a ball of flames.
*FWOOOOMMMM*
A pole of flames suddenly erected itself on my palms and I staggered back as I gaped at the flaming pole.
“Control yourself, Cadet Teiga! Fire is a good servant but a bad master! Make your imagination clearer in your mind!”
With his advice again, I tried to sharpen the image of a fireball in my mind. In response to my imagination, the pole of flames shrunk into a ball of flames.
“AHAHAH. YES! I DID IT!”
Finally, I was able to use magic. Tears of accomplishment welled up in my eyes as I remembered how I was ridiculed by my classmates for not even being able to control mana. I was contented. And I felt like I could do anything in the world.
“Woi! Where’s. Your. Throwing.” demanded Levi with his hostility increasing with each word.
“YES, SIR!”
I directed some mana into my right arm and pulled my arm back in preparation to throw. Sensing that my arm has been charged with enough mana. I flung the ball of flames into the sky before it exploded in a smaller firework compared to Levi’s.
“Good job. Now do 10 sets of it.”
“Yes, sir!” I happily obliged as my morale was at an all-time high.
*krak…Krak…KRAK…KRAKKKK…*
After spewing out a handful of fireworks. I finally felt the toll on my body. It became increasingly hard to multitask. Trying to direct mana into my arms and trying to maintain the fireball. My mind was definitely becoming more and more drowsy with each set.
*KRAKKKK~*
Finally, I finished the last set. I stretched my neck to stay awake by looking around the parade square and back up at the dorms. The dorms that had dark windows when I first came down were now lit up. Some silhouettes stood behind the windows looking down on me from their rooms. I thought to myself. This shall be the only time that I allow people to look down on me.
*grumbling…*
My stomach vibrated as I stopped stretching.
“That was a nice alarm clock for your fellow schoolmates. The morning sun has risen. Let us go get some breakfast. We shall continue after breakfast.”
That being said. Levi and I left for the canteen where delicious breakfast awaits.
***
Palace of Stars, Empire of Verserius, 13th Seudi 1325
“What a truly eventful morning, isn’t it? My brother, Prince Zachs?”
“I couldn’t agree more… My brother, Emperor Josepf of Verserius.”
“AHAHAHAH. Set the Plan Annexation in motion now,” commanded Josepf as he quickly changed his laughing face to a poker face.
This time, the gears of war increased in speed while Teiga only just started to pace himself properly…