AN: Chapters will be like this in length hope it’s not too short.

Thank you for your feedback!

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The next morining when the first rays of light began shining upon the village, everything came to life: everyone began waking up and in the meantime Linsang was already walking to the Lu-river where he met Doggax.

Linsang was thinking about his life, about how harsh it was because noone takes him seriously and his reasons why he asked for the old man's help. The biggest of all is his curiosity: he wanted to know more about this mana-thing. The second reason is that he's currently being bullied and he's gotten sick of those who bully him.

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After 15 minutes walking

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When I saw Doggax leaning against a tree he looked at me with a piercing glare that made me stop walking.

Dogg said:”You know Linsang you are late. We’ll need to fix that habit of yours but for now, follow me.”

I began walking behind Dogg and we went into the forest.

While we were going north he suddenly asked:"Linsang, do you want to learn all my skills? The trainings will be harsh for a five-year-old"

I was surprised by his sudden question and now I thought about it: am I ready for who knows what this old man wants to teach me?

Am I even strong enough? What if I'm not?

Will I be doomed to live with the fact that I'm weak?

Will I be bullied for the rest of my life?

The last question gave me the resolution to say: "Yes, I AM ready for this."

I looked up to see Dogg and I could've sworn that there’s a smile playing on his face that’s hidden from me right now.

We arrived at a clearing and I saw some large wooden dummies standing in the middle.

On the other side of the clearing I saw two pairs of swords.

I looked from the swords to Dogg and he grinned to me: “Those are for another time. But now, we’ll start with the basics. Do you know how to meditate?”

Lingsang: “Medi-what? What does that mean?”

Dogg: “Holy gods have mercy on this old man, what do you mean, what is that?

Meditation is the fundamental part in controlling your mana, most people use it to relax but we will use it to get stronger.

First things first this is how pure mana looks like.”

He lifted his right hand and emitted a white current it seemed solid but it wasn't it seemed to have a form but it was formless this was a weird sensation that is just the same as when he melted that rock.

Linsang:”So that’s how mana looks like?”

Dogg:”Yes, this is how it looks like, and I will teach you the basics to gather it in your dantian.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

First sit down, close your eyes and visualize the current you just saw going from the earth to your dantian: that’s a place just beneath your navel which works as a container: it fills up with mana that you can use later on.”

Linsang:”Wait what? How do I know when I have a grasp on this current??”

Doggax:”Well, It depends some feel a light tingling and others feel themselves becoming heavier again others feel warmth or a chill. So it depends on its user.”

Linsang:”Alright I’ll try... “

Doggax:”Don’t try but do. You won’t get anywhere if you try but don’t do it.”

I sat down on the grass and tried to concentrate on visualizing that current but I couldn't feel mana at all…

I felt exhausted after concentrating for four hours straight and because I had no results I stood up and asked Doggax:”Why can’t I feel my mana?”

Doggax replied:”You weren't concentrating enough. You need to focus only on feeling mana not thinking about that current that I showed you. And you don’t need to see mana as something solid since it’s formless, so go do it again.”

I did it again and followed his instructions, at first I felt something forming around my feet but it faded away when I tried to understand what it was, I came to the conclusion that THAT was mana.

I reflected on what I did. This time I repeated it and grasped for the feeling with my mind I sent it to my dantian. But it dispersed right before it entered. I was confused and enraged but at the same time I was happy that I was making progress. After doing this for another 2 hours I could gather it and store it in my dantian and when I did it the first time I heard Doggax say:”Well done kid, you just stored mana in your dantian! Now do it again and try to minimize the wasted mana.”

So I meditated for another hour and then it was time to eat after this tiring process.

My belly was grumbling the fourth hour but my teacher said that I should keep going.

The old man rewarded me with some cooked salmon which gave off a delicious smell the last hour.

Dogg:”You did pretty well for the first time, I myself had to do it for a week before I got the feel of it.

Tommorow we will do it again and I’ll teach you methods to gather mana faster so that you can strengthen your body before I will teach you fighting.”

My eyes began to twinkle from joy when he said that.

Because it means I could kick some bully-ass.

Doggax saw my joy and said while smirking:”Don’t get overexcited since it will be harsh.”

Linsang:”I hope not harsher than this, since I hate being hungry.”

Dogg:”Believe me when I’ll train you hand to hand combat being hungry will be the least of your worries.”