Closing the book Katelyn had given to read with a snap, Caius sat for a few minutes trying to martial his thoughts to make sense of all that he had just read. The world was a very interesting place with magic as the foundation of it all. Magic was complex, to say the least. The introduction chapter answered some questions but had created a million more. Magic, it seemed, or rather mana, was everywhere in the world, just invisible. Mana is the fundamental piece of what makes the natural world.

Caius knew he needed some answers and immediately moved to a position in the still-moving cart near Katelyn before saying, "Okay, Katelyn, I have about a million questions, and that chapter did nothing to solve that."

Katelyn sighed before saying, "What's your first question?"

Caius immediately asked, "So is magic and mana the same thing? The book wasn't too clear on a defined distinction between the two."

Katelyn nodded, "Good question; mana is the source of all magic; it is in the air, the rocks, the trees, and even you. You should consider mana to be a natural resource. Did the book cover the fact that mana is not equally found?"

Caius shook his head before Katelyn continued, "Some people or objects, or even regions of the world, have more mana than others, as everything has a natural absorption limit. Finding out one's capacity and absorption rate is one of the most important aspects of learning to wield mana."

Caius immediately asked, "How do you measure your capacity for mana and your mana absorption rate? Can either measurement be improved with a low capacity or absorption rate?"

Sighing, Katelyn responded, "That is something that each mage must figure out for themselves. You must find the mana within yourself and feel how much there is. Also, practicing using your mana will help you get a feel for your limits and how fast you may recover. Practice is also the best way to stretch your limits in your capacity and absorption. It's like regularly stretching; the more you do, the more flexible you will be able to become." Tapping her chin, Katelyn continued, "Although you still won't be able to drastically change your starting point in terms of capacity and absorption, it's one of those things that you either have or you don't."

Caius nodded his understanding and flipped to the section of the chapter regarding runes. "Can you help me better understand why runes are required in the casting?"

"Runic formations are the framework of any spell. The rune guides the mana into the desired shape that equates to a spell. For example, the rune formation that I used during the attack shaped my mana into fire, and the exact structure of the rune also shaped the fire into a wave instead of a fireball." Explained Katelyn.

"So if I were to form the same rune with my mana, could I produce the same spell?" asked Caius.

"Yes and no," said Katelyn. "There are many smaller aspects to magic that may result in a different outcome than the wave of fire. For one, you may have a different affinity or your understanding of the element of fire may be greater or lesser than my own."

Confused, Caius asked, "There are affinities? And what do you mean by one's understanding of the element?"

"Simply put, every person may have an affinity for a certain brand of magic like fire or water magic. You could even have a natural affinity. What I meant about a mages understanding of an element is that the more you know about an element the greater the control you will have on the structure of the spell and mana." Said Katelyn. "That is enough questions for today. We can talk more later, but that should be enough for you to think about for now."

Caius was excited. He desperately wanted to learn to cast spells and throw great magics around. He knew that, just like his practice in the way of the sword, that learning magic would not be a simple task. It would take hard work and dedication to even scratch the surface of what magic was possible, let alone trying to master it. Nevertheless, Caius felt determined to master both the sword and magic, and he started to feel a familiar tug in his chest. Closing his eyes, Caius slowly calmed his mind and steadied his breathing. Once he felt centered, he opened his eyes to see familiar tendrils of gossamer gold around him.

Caius immediately noticed that some of the golden tendrils seemed to have brightened since the attack as if they were more powerful. Following these threads, Caius realized that the brightest threads lead directly to Silas and Katelyn. It made Caius once again wonder at the meaning of the threads. Leaning back on the cart, Caius silently observed the threads until slowly they blinked out of existence.

Caius was suddenly caught in the idea that the threads must be some form of natural magic. There could be no other explanation for it, but this raised another question. Why was Caius able to see it? And why did it appear that nobody else could?

Letting out a sigh, Caius felt that it was just too much too soon. He had just woken up in the forest a day ago, had already been through it, and learned a lot. Closing his eyes and leaning back, Caius fell into a deep sleep, letting the exhaustion of the sword training and the day's excitement wash him away. He was jolted awake a few hours later as the cart came to a bumpy stop.

Silas called Caius, "Caius, help me set up our campsite while Katelyn feeds and waters the horses." Jumping off the cart, Caius started looking for a nice plat area to set up the tents and the campfire. Clearing some brush from a small area a few paces away from the cart, Caius waved Silas over, and the two men started preparing the site. Silas set up the tents while Caius gathered firewood in the trees nearby.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, dancing shadows across the forest floor, a crackling campfire emerged as the centerpiece of a tranquil evening. Its flames, a vibrant dance of orange and yellow, flickered and swayed, casting a warm, inviting glow upon the surrounding area. Like tiny stars, the embers glowed soft, ethereal light, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

The campfire's symphony of sounds was equally captivating. The rhythmic crackle and pop of burning wood filled the air, accompanied by the occasional hiss of moisture evaporating. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl added to the serene ambiance. The scent of the campfire was a comforting blend of smoky wood and charred embers. The aroma lingered in the air, creating a sense of warmth and nostalgia. As the night deepened, the campfire's glow became even more enchanting, casting a magical spell over the forest.

Katelyn, Silas, and Caius all partook in the evening's tranquility as if silently hoping tonight would be significantly less eventful than the previous one. The caravan had traveled several miles that day, and few expected to run into any monsters, as the scent of blood at the previous campsite should have captured the attention of any predators.

Katelyn was the first to break the tranquility of the campsite by asking Caius, "I think that if you wish to learn magic and the sword, then we should set a schedule for the duration of our travels. What do you think of this?"

Caius was surprised and asked, "Magic training? Are you going to teach me magic?"

Katelyn snorted, "Yes, I'm going to teach you magic. That power you showed the other night should be studied, and I want to be one of the first to try and replicate it myself. The best way to do that is to teach you what magic is and how to wield it so you can teach me."

Caius frowned before saying, "I don't know if I can teach you what I did… but I am willing to at least try as a thank you for taking me in."

Rubbing her hands together as if she had been waiting for this moment to dig into his power, Katelyn asked, "First things first, we need to understand what you are working on within the mana department. So, I want you to close your eyes and search for your mana. It should feel like a well or a pool of power."

Closing his eyes, Caius took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind, and started to search. At first, nothing was noticeable; he felt normal, with no spark of power or mystical energy. Opening his eyes, he said, "I don't feel anything."

Rolling her eyes, Katelyn asked, "Did you think you would get on your first try? It took me nearly three weeks to finally feel my mana pool."

"It took me nearly two months!" chimed Silas. But I'm terrible at magic, so I focused on the sword."

"Oh…" said Caius, "I just thought it would be one of those instinctual things."

"It eventually does," said Katelyn, "But first, you have to find it and practice accessing your mana. Only then will it become like second nature to you."

Nodding, Caius closed his eyes and continued his search for his mana. For the rest of the evening, Caius searched. Eventually, a yawn escaped from him, interrupting his concentration. Opening his eyes, he realized Silas and Katelyn had headed to bed, and the fire was slowly dying. Putting a log on the fire and stirring the ember, Caius sat back down and gazed at the flickering flames. In his mind's eye, a beautiful face floated before him with emerald green eyes. The woman's eyes almost playfully said, "Catch me if you can." Sighing and shaking his head, Caius turned and headed to his tent, still picturing the beautiful silver-haired elf.

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A sun-drenched path winds its way through the Emerald Forest. The air is thick with the scent of bark and damp earth. Elara and Alec maneuvered their steeds through the dense foliage. Alec was still gripping about being forced on this adventure but had still accepted Elara's pie peace offering. Glancing around the forest, Elara wiped the sweat from her brow as she took in the falling sun to the west. "I don't know how much further we can go. With the sun setting, we risk hurting the horses."

Looking just as sweaty, Alec said, "I'm with you. Plus, this humidity is going to be my death."

Rolling her eyes, Elara started to hunt for a good place to sleep for the night. They continued down the forest path, scanning the forest for a suitable spot. Suddenly, Elara spotted a small clearing nestled among the trees. "There! Look over there."

They make their way to the clearing. It's a small, peaceful spot surrounded by towering trees. A gentle stream trickles nearby. "Now, this is perfect. We can set up camp here." Said Alec as he hopped off his horse and stretched. Being her brother, Alec was blessed with their family's signature silver hair and emerald eyes, but Elara and her brother still had a stark difference. Alec had a twinkle in his eyes that Elara had somehow lost through the years. Alec's personality lit up any room, and his infectious laughter could brighten even the darkest day.

This was made clear as the pair began to unpack their gear, pitch their tents, and gather firewood. Alec constantly joked and playfully prodded Elara about making him play bodyguard. However, as they worked, they heard the distant hoot of an owl and the rustle of leaves in the wind.

It was at this moment that Elara finally smiled. Alec also shared a knowing smile as they found the forest their special, peaceful haven. As darkness fell, they sat by their campfire, sharing stories of their many adventures and escapades with their many family members and otherwise enjoying the tranquility of the night. The flames danced and crackled, casting a warm glow on their faces.

Finally, Alec stretched, getting up before saying, "Whelp, I'm off to bed. Make sure not to stay up too late. I know you are eager, but slow and steady is key."

Grinning, Elara said, "Oh yes, thank you wise one. I will indeed head to bed soon."

Rolling his eyes, Alec slipped into his tent, and it wasn't long before the rhythmic sound of his breathing could be heard. Elara continued to sit by the fire and gaze at nothing. Ever since starting the journey this morning, she couldn't seem to get the image of the young man out of her head.

Mumbling, "What are you doing, Elara? Thinking of a man you've never met!" Sighing, Elara slowly got up and headed to her tent; maybe Alec was right. She needed sleep.