Aiden sat at one of the long wooden tables in the library, the heavy tome—The Fundamentals of Magic—resting in front of him. The room was silent, save for the occasional flicker of light from the enchanted candles that lined the walls. Aiden ran his hand over the leather cover, feeling the warmth it gave off, as if it were alive, waiting for him to unlock its secrets.

He opened the book slowly, the aged pages crackling slightly as they turned. The text inside was written in a flowing, elegant script, the letters illuminated with delicate flourishes of gold ink. Aiden skimmed the introduction:

Magic is not a force to be mastered, but a living energy to be understood. It flows through all things—through the earth, the air, the stars, and, most importantly, through the living. To touch magic is not to control it, but to become one with it. Only then can its power be truly harnessed.

Aiden read the passage again, frowning slightly. The words sounded poetic, but they didn’t exactly help him understand how to feel this magic. He turned to the next page.

To begin, one must first learn to sense the flow of magic in the world. It is like a current beneath the surface of reality, ever-present, yet invisible to the untrained. Close your eyes and feel the world around you, not with your senses, but with your mind. You will find that magic exists not in the things you see, but in the spaces between.

Aiden set the book down and leaned back in his chair, staring at the text for a moment. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but it sounded like the key to everything. Feel the magic in the spaces between? How was he supposed to do that?

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as the book instructed. He tried to focus on the world around him—the soft flicker of candlelight, the faint hum of the Castle, the distant rustling of the wind outside. He sat in the stillness, waiting to feel something… but nothing happened.

Aiden’s brow furrowed as he concentrated harder, trying to reach out with his mind. He focused on the air, on the floor beneath him, on the very air he was breathing, willing himself to feel the magic hidden in the world. But all he felt was the weight of the silence pressing in on him.

After a few long minutes, he opened his eyes, feeling a wave of frustration. “What am I supposed to be feeling?”

He flipped to another page in the book, hoping for more concrete instructions.

For beginners, magic may seem elusive, but patience is key. Do not force yourself to seek it. Instead, let magic come to you. The more you push, the more it will evade you. Begin by calming your mind, focusing not on the magic itself, but on the essence of life around you. Feel the pulse of existence—the heartbeat of the world.

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Aiden sighed, rubbing his temples. He wasn’t sure if the book was being cryptic on purpose or if he was just too inexperienced to understand what it was trying to tell him. He glanced back at Regis, who stood nearby, watching quietly.

“How am I supposed to do this?” Aiden asked, his voice edged with frustration. “I don’t even know what I’m trying to feel.”

Regis stepped forward, his expression as calm as ever. “It is difficult at first, Master Aiden. Magic is not like anything you have encountered before. It cannot be grasped like a physical object. Think of it as a sensation, something beneath the surface of your awareness.”

“But I don’t feel anything,” Aiden said, slumping in his chair. “How do I know if I’m even doing it right?”

Regis smiled faintly. “In time, you will. Magic is not something that reveals itself to impatience. Your grandfather had similar struggles when he first began his studies, but he, too, learned that magic requires a certain stillness of mind.”

Aiden huffed, not feeling particularly reassured. “What did he do to figure it out?”

“He allowed himself to be present,” Regis replied, his voice gentle. “He focused not on the desire to control magic, but to simply experience the world around him. He let the magic reveal itself, rather than seeking it.”

Aiden flipped back to the passage in the book and read it again. Let magic come to you.

He closed his eyes once more, trying to clear his mind of all the thoughts swirling around. It wasn’t easy—his head was full of questions and doubts, and the more he tried to push them away, the louder they became. But he tried again, focusing on his breath, on the rhythm of the Castle’s quiet energy, and on the faint hum in the air.

Minutes passed, but still, Aiden felt nothing. No pulse of energy, no magical currents running through the world. Just silence.

After what felt like an eternity, Aiden opened his eyes and sighed heavily. “I don’t get it.”

Regis nodded, though there was no disappointment in his expression. “It will take time, Master Aiden. You are trying to connect with something far greater than yourself. Magic is vast and deep, and it requires patience.”

Aiden ran a hand through his hair, feeling a bit defeated. “I thought I’d at least be able to feel something.”

“You will,” Regis said reassuringly. “But it is not a matter of effort. It is a matter of allowing. For now, perhaps it would be wise to step away from the book and let the experience settle. Magic often makes itself known when we least expect it.”

Aiden looked down at the open book, the flowing script still teasing him with its cryptic wisdom. He nodded slowly, closing it gently and setting it aside. “Maybe you’re right.”

He stood up, stretching his arms and shaking off the lingering frustration. “I guess I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Regis bowed his head slightly. “That would be wise, Master Aiden. Magic reveals itself when the time is right.”

Aiden nodded, though he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. He had hoped to unlock some hidden potential, some spark of magic that would confirm everything Regis had told him. But instead, all he felt was tired.