The academy was peaceful in the morning. I had lessons so I made my way through the halls of the academy in the early morning where there was dew on the grasses, and the dim light would reflect on the garden. Most of the students wore a kind of uniform of blue and indigo colors. Those who came here to further their studies did not follow the uniform code, personalizing their uniforms to their liking. I still wore my mantle, my sword hanging on my hip, and I now wore a pair of gloves.
I went to the library where my tutor was. The student who was beginners went to the classrooms to be taught magic and science, alongside common knowledge. There were only a few in the library, however, there were booths in the library where a student and a tutor could conduct the one-on-one lesson. My teacher, though I found it amusing, was the newly robed Meris who had been assigned to prove herself.
"Good morning teacher."
Her frown was visible. "I was hoping for a much more enthusiastic student, not a fool like you. Seat down," she pointed at the seat next to her. "At least I'm being paid now."
"I would have paid"
She sighed. "Let's start with the same techniques"
I began my lesson on prana control. The difference before was that she had references now. It took my best effort not to burn my new gloves. For two hours I did nothing but control my prana.
"Your prana reservoir is large, even though you are afflicted by this prana draining essence in you that keeps refining your body. Even at the third layer, your reserves are above average."
"Above average, huh."
Meris crosses her legs. "Your control of prana isn't necessarily bad considering that you are handling such raw prana. While I say that most pranas are like large ponds, your is a great lake, and even if a great lake is reduced to a lake, your power is that of a lake."
I had massive reserves of prana even back then. Because of said power, I was able to survive because it naturally gave me a new spell-skin that prevented me from harm. Hell, they dropped a guillotine on my head six times before they could go through my neck.
"This essence of yours is rather interesting," Meris threw a sudden spell at me. Her spell probed my innards, soul, and mind for a moment. Her spell did not even dare to touch my wraith's essence. Not only that the spell wouldn't be able to do, and before long it dispersed.
"It is truly interesting how something can refine you continuously. Even if you do not work, it will keep your body to the peak of your power, and continue to do so as long as there is a chance that it will. It seeps on muscles and bones, continuously molding them into proper shape. I don't know if this is a great fortune or a great curse."
"Both," I told her. She inspected me for a moment, then sighs.
"Your business is yours. I will not meddle. However, if you asked me as a teacher, then I think that you should try to steer this power of yours to the direction that you want to," she picked a book. "Prana-weaving is similar to sewing, your tailor it to your liking, and hope that you would get a better result. Hmm, you are following the same patterns, evoking the right words of power, however, your prana is like a bull. You would need to have the ability to hold on to it."
She made movements on her fingers, then offered her palm. A sunflower appeared on her hand naturally. The fire of the sunflower seemed to heat the room. "This is the fire that I make myself. It is what I call the heart of my prana. I have not told you this."
"I should have paid you."
"Heh," she smirked. "It's best that you keep your customers wanting. I had been doing this rodeo for years now. Alas, let us be clear here, if you manifest your symbol then you might be able to steer that prana of yours."
"A symbol?"
"What you hold dearest? This is what most instructors would teach you. Forming a symbol of prana is critical to the symbol of your lineage. It is the symbol that one would think of when facing dangers."
"Can it be a circle?"
"…A circle?" she looked at me like I was the fool.
"Yes, I think a circle is easy to imagine."
"Indeed it is, but may I ask why?"
"I just think that being able to imagine a circle is faster."
"Some think of their symbol as that of the fiercest animals. It is to represent the strength and fierceness of the symbol they bear in their hearts. It is the very heart of your prana, Kiran."
"I know. Listen to me, teacher. I think that the circle is a wheel. A wheel that turns perpetually. I just think that if my symbol is similar to that of a week. Wouldn't it be faster to think like that? Just how a wheel of a boat is used to steer a ship, I think that having a wheel or a circle to represent my prana would be far easier for me."
"You could have said you wanted a wheel. Very well, you shall have the circle to be your prana symbol."
"I get the feeling you wouldn't accept it, Teacher."
"Symbols represent those who think of them. I believe that you have the right to have such a thing as a symbol. And please say that you thought of this and you insisted."
"Ah, you are still on probation?"
Meris grunted. She opened a book, flipped through a page, and then suddenly closed it. "I am. Thankfully, in a way, I have someone with who I have acquainted as a student. I must say that teaching you have to gain me insights during our travel. And now excuse me, Kiran Irvin. I still have more students."