Aiden felt a rush of excitement as he and Lyla spun around the library, their shared laughter echoing off the towering shelves of ancient books. For a brief moment, he forgot where he was—forgot the grand Castle of Wisdom, the magical world of Astralis, and all the responsibilities that came with it. It was just him and Lyla, celebrating like kids, free and happy.

But as his breath caught up with him, Aiden felt a slight twinge of embarrassment. Here he was, a grown man, jumping around like a child. He glanced over at Lyla, still beaming with joy, and his embarrassment faded, replaced by a warmth in his chest. Maybe it wasn’t so bad to let go once in a while.

"That was amazing!" Lyla exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yeah, it really was," Aiden agreed, still grinning. "I can’t believe it actually worked."

Charlie barked, his little tail wagging as if he, too, were sharing in the excitement. Aiden bent down to give the dog a quick scratch behind the ears before turning to Lyla. "Come on, we’ve gotta tell Regis!"

Without another thought, Aiden bolted from the library, his feet barely touching the ground as he sprinted down the long corridors of the Castle. Lyla and Charlie followed close behind, their laughter and barking filling the quiet halls.

When they reached Regis, who stood near the grand staircase, Aiden was almost out of breath but couldn’t contain his excitement. "Regis! I did it! I felt the magic! And it’s all thanks to Lyla!"

Regis turned, his charcoal-black eyes lighting up with approval. He gave Aiden a slight bow of acknowledgment. "Congratulations, Master Aiden. It seems you are already beginning to awaken your power."

Aiden beamed, still catching his breath. "It felt… incredible. Like something clicked inside me. What’s next?"

Regis smiled faintly, always calm and composed. "The next step, Master Aiden, is to understand how the magic flows. Feeling magic is but the first part. Learning to guide and channel it will take time, but it is essential if you wish to use it with purpose."

Aiden’s curiosity piqued, and he nodded eagerly. "I’m ready for that."

Lyla, bouncing with excitement, tugged at Aiden’s sleeve. "Let’s go back to the library! We can learn together!"

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Aiden chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Alright, let’s keep going." He turned back to Regis. "I’ll start with the books again."

Regis gave a respectful nod. "Very well, Master Aiden. Remember, magic is as much about feeling as it is about knowledge. Trust yourself."

With that, Aiden hurried back to the library, Lyla and Charlie following close behind. His earlier hesitation had faded, replaced by a newfound confidence. For the first time since arriving in Astralis, he felt like he was beginning to understand this strange, magical world—and his place within it.

Back in the library, Aiden found the section on magic and selected another book, flipping through its pages. Lyla settled beside him, leaning in to read over his shoulder. "I haven’t learned how the magic flows yet, either," she admitted, her voice filled with determination. "Let’s do it together!"

Aiden smiled at her. "Alright. Let’s figure this out."

The book’s pages were filled with flowing script, explaining the concept of magical currents—how magic existed in the world as an invisible force, much like water flowing through a river. It described how every living thing, every element of nature, was connected to this magical current, and how a skilled magic user could tap into it to guide it through themselves.

To feel the flow of magic, one must first quiet the mind and connect with the pulse of the world. Close your eyes, and breathe in harmony with the natural rhythm of life around you. The flow will reveal itself in the spaces between your breath and thought.

Aiden read the passage aloud, and he and Lyla exchanged a determined look. Together, they closed their eyes, sitting cross-legged on the floor of the library. The vast silence of the Castle surrounded them, but Aiden could feel the subtle hum of energy in the air, like a faint vibration just below the surface.

He breathed in slowly, focusing on the steady rise and fall of his chest, trying to find that space the book had described. For a moment, his mind wandered, but then he felt it—a faint sensation, like a ripple through the air around him. It was delicate, like the flow of water trickling through the world, weaving through everything.

"I think I feel it," Lyla whispered beside him.

Aiden smiled, though his eyes remained closed. "Me too."

They both sat there for a few more moments, letting the sensation wash over them. The magic didn’t feel like something to be controlled; instead, it was something to be understood, something that was always there, flowing around and through them.

Slowly, they opened their eyes, sharing a look of triumph.

"We did it!" Lyla exclaimed, her face glowing with excitement.

Aiden laughed softly, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. "Yeah, we really did."

They stood up, grinning at each other, the success filling them with a sense of childlike joy. Charlie barked again, as if sensing their excitement, and they both laughed.