I sat in my cave, the air around me humming with the ambient energy of the world. The stone walls were adorned with glowing runes—reminders of my studies in various magical disciplines. But today, my focus was on something entirely new: nature magic. Unlike the elemental forces of lightning, water, and air that came naturally to my kind, this magic felt distant, elusive. And yet, as a variant dragon with an innate connection to the arcane, I felt a pull—a deep resonance with this magic that I couldn’t ignore.

My blue scales shimmered faintly as I flipped through the worn pages of an ancient tome I had acquired on my travels. The book detailed the flow of nature mana—how it stemmed from life mana, which in turn was born from light mana. It explained how this magic allowed users to control plant life, heal, and even create new life in the form of trees, flowers, and other natural wonders. This magic was the domain of green dragons and elves, but I was determined to master it, even though I was the only one in my clan who had any interest in doing so.

I exhaled deeply, the flicker of frustration evident in my movements. I had spent weeks studying the intricacies of this form of magic, yet my progress was slow. Every time I tried to tap into nature mana, it felt as if I was only skimming the surface, unable to dive into the depths where true mastery lay. The connection was there, but fleeting—just beyond my reach.

My deep connection with magic had always set me apart. While my fellow blue dragons excelled in controlling ground, air, and lightning, my connection went further. My variant nature allowed me to touch all forms of magic in ways my kin could not. And yet, this deeper bond was both a blessing and a challenge. It gave me access to knowledge that others lacked, but it also left me standing alone in my quest.

No other dragon in my clan had even considered learning nature magic. "Why would they?" I thought bitterly. The others thrived on power, dominance, and sheer elemental force. But I craved something more. There was beauty in creation, in nurturing life. I could feel it in the very air around me—the gentle pulse of mana that flowed through the trees and plants outside my cave. It called to me, and I was determined to answer.

Closing my eyes, I reached out once more with my magic, seeking the life force that thrummed in the forest surrounding my home. I had tried controlling it before, bending it to my will like I did with storms and lightning. But nature magic wasn’t about control, I realized—it was about harmony.

My breathing slowed as I reached out, not to dominate but to listen. The subtle flow of mana in the plants around me felt like a distant echo at first, but the more I allowed my magic to blend with it, the clearer it became. I could sense the life in the roots of the trees, the steady growth of leaves as they stretched toward the sun. It was as if the forest was breathing with me, sharing in the pulse of existence.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “So this is how it works,” I murmured to myself. Nature magic wasn’t something to be commanded—it was something to be understood.

With that realization, I opened my eyes and extended a clawed hand toward the ground in front of me. My blue mana swirled around me, mixing with the faint green glow of nature mana that seeped up from the earth. Slowly, the ground shifted, and a small sprout pushed its way through the soil. I watched in awe as the sprout grew taller, its leaves unfurling in the soft light of my cave.

But then, just as quickly as it had begun, the connection faltered. The sprout stopped growing, its vibrant green hue fading slightly. I clenched my jaw, feeling the familiar frustration rising within me. I had only just begun to touch the magic, and already it was slipping away.

"Patience," I reminded myself, though the word felt bitter on my tongue. Nature magic required patience—something that did not come easily to me. In my clan, power was everything, and speed was often the measure of success. But this... this was different. This was slow and deliberate, and it demanded a kind of discipline I hadn’t yet mastered. all although I have been working on it with my study of other magic, especially ice magic.

I let out a long breath and stood, deciding that perhaps a change of scenery would help. The forest was alive with nature mana—perhaps being closer to it would strengthen my connection. I stepped out of my cave and spread my wings, the leathery membranes catching the light as I took to the sky.

The forest stretched out beneath me, a sea of green that pulsed with life. I descended slowly, landing in a clearing surrounded by towering trees. The air here felt different—thicker, more vibrant. The mana of the earth was strong in this place, and I could feel it coursing through the roots beneath my feet.

I sat down in the center of the clearing, closing my eyes once again. This time, I didn’t try to command the magic. Instead, I let my own mana flow out, mingling with the natural energy around me. I could feel the life force of the trees, the plants, even the small creatures that scurried in the underbrush. It was all connected, all part of a larger whole.

I breathed in deeply, feeling the magic settle around me. My heart beat in time with the pulse of the forest, and for the first time, I felt truly connected to the magic of nature. Slowly, I raised my hand again, letting my mana flow gently into the ground. The earth responded, a soft glow spreading through the soil as new life began to stir.

This time, the sprout that emerged was stronger, its leaves greener and its growth steady. I watched in awe as the plant grew taller, its roots digging deep into the earth and its branches reaching toward the sky. I had done it—not by force, but by understanding.

A sense of pride welled up in me, but it was different from the pride I felt when mastering other magics. This was quieter, more fulfilling. I wasn’t just a master of nature mana—I was a part of it.

I stood, feeling a new sense of purpose. I was the only one in my clan learning this magic, and that made me unique. My deep connection to all magic gave me the potential to master even those disciplines that others ignored or deemed unnecessary. I wasn’t just a variant dragon—I was something more. And now, with the understanding of nature magic slowly blossoming within me, I was ready to take the next step in my journey.

The world was full of magic, and I intended to master it all.