As Kael dusted off his hands and prepared to leave the training grounds, Lumia’s gaze followed him.
He was always like this—calm, driven, and relentless in his pursuit of improvent.
Her violet eyes flickered with an emotion she couldn’t quite na as she stood up, brushing the dirt from her clothes.
"Wait," she called out, her voice soft yet firm.
"I’m heading out too."
Kael turned slightly, his erald-green eyes eting hers.
He nodded without a word, adjusting his posture.
Lumia fell in step beside him, her strides matching his as they walked across the dimly lit training field.
The cold night air wrapped around them, but Lumia hardly noticed.
Her thoughts were elsewhere.
I wasn’t supposed to stay this late, she mused, glancing sideways at him.
She’d planned to finish her training by 11:00 p.m., sticking to the strict schedule she always maintained.
But seeing Kael earlier, seated in that ditative pose with mana swirling faintly around him, had shifted sothing within her.
Why did I stay? Was it just to match his effort? Or...
The thought trailed off as she bit the inside of her cheek.
As they walked in silence, she cast him another glance.
His erald eyes seed distant, lost in thought, and the faintest smirk played on his lips.
It annoyed her how effortlessly composed he always seed.
Does he even realize how much pressure his presence puts on others?
How much I feel the need to keep up with him...or surpass him?
She clenched her fists subtly at her sides.
No, it’s not just that. I stayed because... I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want to miss this mont.
They continued walking, their conversation light but their thoughts heavy.
Lumia’s mind refused to quiet.
Why does it feel like I’m always chasing him? And why...why does it feel like I don’t mind?
She kept her face neutral as they approached the dormitory.
The night air was crisp as Kael and Lumia reached the entrance to the girls’ dormitory.
"Goodnight, Lumia," Kael said.
Lumia nodded, her violet eyes lingering on him for a mont longer than necessary.
"Goodnight, Kael."
As Kael turned and walked away, Lumia stood there for a mont.
____________
"Hey, fucker," Marcus snapped, nudging Ren with his elbow.
"If you’re so eager to answer everything, why don’t you get up there and fuck yourself on the first seat?"
Kael, sitting nearby, stifled a laugh.
He didn’t expect anything less from Marcus, whose sharp tongue had beco both a source of entertainnt and occasional tension in the group.
Ren shot him a glare but chose not to escalate things further.
Serena’s presence at the front made it clear she wouldn’t tolerate any disruptions.
Unfortunately, Marcus hadn’t gotten the mo.
Serena’s sharp voice cut through the murmurs.
"Marcus, since you seem so lively this morning, why don’t you answer this question for ?"
The class quieted down as all eyes turned to Marcus.
He stood up.
He confidently began his answer:
"Mana circulation? Oh, yeah! It’s when you...uh...push all your mana to your hands to make them glow super bright and punch things harder, right? Or maybe you spin it in a circle inside you to, you know, charge up like a magical tornado or sothing?"
The class erupted into muffled laughter, and Serena’s expression remained unreadable.
Kael covered his mouth to hide his grin.
Ren raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, while Aelina sighed audibly.
Serena, unimpressed but mildly amused, finally held up a hand.
"Enough, Marcus. Sit down. I’ve got it from here."
Marcus plopped back into his seat, grinning sheepishly as the class chuckled.
Serena, however, quickly brought everyone’s attention back.
Her tone grew serious.
"Now, listen closely, everyone. Today’s lesson is critical, especially for those of you preparing for the who can’t control their mana."
"We’ll be discussing the basics of mana circulation and its application in battle."
"This isn’t just theory—it could an the difference between survival and failure during the trial."
The room fell silent as Serena’s words sank in.
Even Marcus straightened up in his seat.
"Mana circulation," she began, "is the process of directing mana through your body to enhance physical and magical abilities. Without control, even the most gifted individual will waste energy or, worse, damage themselves in the process."
She drew a diagram on the board, illustrating the pathways of mana flow.
"The key is balance. Too much energy in one area can overheat your core, while too little leaves you vulnerable. Rember, your mind and body must work in harmony with your mana."
As Serena continued, Kael leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued.
He already had experience with mana circulation, but there was always room for refinent.
Serena’s lesson was thorough, filled with practical advice and examples.
By the ti she finished, the class was buzzing with renewed determination.
Kael’s thoughts lingered on her words.
.
As the class wrapped up and students began to disperse, Kael noticed Serena gathering her notes at the podium.
Most of his classmates had already left, but
Kael stayed behind, his mind preoccupied with questions that had been simring since the lecture.
Taking a deep breath, he approached her. "Professor Serena, may I have a mont of your ti?"
Serena looked up, her expression calm but curious. "Kael, of course."
"In class, you ntioned that a mage’s ability to channel mana efficiently depends not only on their core’s strength but also on the precision of their intent," Kael said, his erald-green eyes focused.
"But how do you asure intent? Is there a way to train yourself to sharpen it beyond instinct or natural talent?"
Serena tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful.
"Ah, an excellent question. Intent is one of the most abstract and yet critical components of magic. Unlike mana control, it’s not sothing that can be quantified easily. It stems from your will and clarity of purpose. Why do you ask?"
Kael hesitated for a mont before replying. "When I practice, there are monts when my spells feel... incomplete. Like they’re not reflecting what I want them to achieve. I can’t tell if it’s a lack of control or if my intent is too scattered."
Serena smiled faintly
"That’s a common challenge, especially for mages who are still refining their skills. Intent requires more than just focus—it requires understanding the essence of your spell. Tell , Kael, when you cast a fire spell, what do you envision?"
Kael thought for a mont.
"I think of the flas, their heat, their movent. But I guess... I’m more focused on controlling them than letting them reflect my intent."
"There’s your answer," Serena said with a nod.
"Control is vital, but magic isn’t just about power or precision. It’s an expression of your will. The next ti you cast, focus not just on the flas but on what you want them to do. The clearer your intent, the more natural the spell will feel."
Kael’s expression turned thoughtful.
"That makes sense. I’ll try to work on that."
Kael nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Thank you, Professor Serena."
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