After finishing dinner,Alex quickly prepare himself for tonight's training and lessons.And after finishing his preparation he was ready to head out.
"Mom I'm headed out"
"Don't come home too late sweetie"
"Oh i might come home late though"
"Hmmm and why is that?"
"We're gonna learn some basics of mana and practice how to use them.Stephen says we're allowed to join him...so we thought we might just join him....and its free"
Mana utilisation can be taught by any hunters,but not all hunters have complete knowledge of it.Some hunters are simply satisfied knowing how to use their elemental powers,and they neglect other elements.
This often led to their loss when fighting against other elements.
Of course no humans,not even the other race has complete knowledge of how mana works,but no one else knows better than Researchers of Mana mostly called wizards or sorcerers.
And Stephen's teacher happens to be one of the sorcerers,and he is the only sorcerer the town of Agnor has.The town govern by Stephen's family, The Agnesis family.
Alex's mom also knows that this is a rare chance and even though she was reluctant to allow him.His determination soon soothe her mind.
"Okay but be careful out there,and don't go around causing any trouble,you know not all hunters are like your uncle Patty"
"I won't,and if anyone tried to do anything to me... I'll just scream as loud as i can"
Alex's mom dazed by his carefree behaviour just let out a sigh.
"Alright I'm going then,don't wait for me okay,as i said i might come home late"
Just when he was about to head out.
"Wait Alex...i wanna come with you.!"
Camille running towards him
"Camille!!your brother's gonna practice so he's gonna be busy"
Alex's mom grabbing Camille and trying her best not to let her go.
"I won't disturb him... I'll just sit and watch"
"No means no little girl,and Alex hurry up and go your friends are probably waiting for you"
Camille feeling really sad wave at her brother as he leaves.Him waving her back,he felt a little guilty always leaving her behind.
She and Alex would always play together when they were younger,even when Alex goes out with his friends,she would always try to follow her,until Alex awaken his mana.Camille would always follow Alex around wherever he goes, whether it was training with Hanji or going out for groceries.
So for her,seeing her brother leaving every now and then,and her not being able to follow him,made her very lonely.
**********
Luke's house is at the outskirt of Agnor,but really close to Alex's village.After walking for a while Alex finally reached Luke's house.
The house wasn't so big,but compared to Alex's house,it is a little bigger.It was like a cottage with with stone walls.
Luke was just done preparing too,he was just coming out of his house.His families just like Alex's family wave him goodbye and just like Alex's little sister, Luke's little siblings were also chasing him.
Alex let out a chuckle seeing Luke's little siblings being dragged in.
After seeing Alex he happily greeted him,and they both set out towards their friend's house.
**********
After walking for a while,they finally reached their friend's house.A manor surrounded by walls and in front is a gate about the size of two grown adults.The pathway was lighted up with lanterns on each side.
Stephen was standing infront of the door waving at them,anyone could tell he was eager to meet them .
Ever since he awaken his mana,his parents have been locking him up in their house making him train non-stop.We could rarely see each other nowadays.
"For once you guys arn't late"
He said with a mocking face.
"What??is your old master not here yet"
Luke replied
"He is, he's been here since morning"
"Ugh must be annoying"
"Yeah but you know how strict my parents are,i can't even rest at night.My desk are filled with books,and they'd ask me everything again in the morning"
"Sounds fun"
Alex jokingly said laughing
While the three friends were busy chatting,a maid comes out of the house.Greeted them and ask them to come inside.
"Where are your parents?"
Alex asked looking around the hallway.
"Oh you know they're always busy with land stuff at night,and my brother and sister are out traveling."
"Must be nice being strong and wanted by everyone"
"Yeah and now because of them,my parents are are expecting me to be even higher then them.Like dude they're A rank hunters,what do they want me to be,an S rank???"
"Hahaha come on we never know what's gonna happen,maybe you'll even surpass S rank"
"Bah no way,thats gonna be too much work"
After walking around the house,they finally reached their training room.They opened the door,inside was an old man holding a staff glowing in blue colours.
"Oh kids... you've finally arrived"
"Good evening Mr.Tobias"
The three greeted the sorcerer.Then he pointed a spot each of them has to sit on.After taking their seat,they all were waiting for their next instructions.
"Alright i know you guys have just recently awaken your manas,and you still have no idea how to use it.I won't be teaching you much tonight,only the basic of the basic"
He sat down on a red carpet with red spot just like where they sit on,in front of them.And he closed his eyes,he look like he was meditating,but all of a sudden they all felt something pushing them down.To them it was like a huge lion was giving them a hungry glare.
"Arghhhhhh"
It was the old man releasing his Aura.They couldn't move or make any sound,just whimper and all they could do was bow and try to breathe.Their visions blurred and their head started to hurt.
The old man then stopped and gave them time to recover.They were heavily breathing,shaking from fear,that was the first time each of them has experienced an Aura and a killing intent.
Soon after they recover,they went back to their seats,the old man smiling and looking at them all prideful.
"What you experienced just now was my Aura and a little bit of killing intent.It was just a little bit but it seems none of you have learn how to enhance your body.Cause you'll be able to endure much more than that with enhancement alone."
"Of course not,this is the first time we're learning anything about mana"
Luke replied still covered in sweat and his hands were still a little shaky.
Stephen on the other hand knows fully well what it was,he was taught many things about mana before,just wasn't taught how to use them.
" Hahaha don't cry little one,that was just the beginning.Now I'm gonna ask you to meditate.Think and try to feel your mana.And once you get a feel of it,try to control it"
Now just like he said they made the same pose he made,and they started meditating.
After a while they could began to fell the mana inside them.
Stephen could soon feel his mana,but he doesn't know how to control it,let alone release aura.
"Once you feel it, controlling it may not be easy.So for tonight you will learn how to release your aura...."
Luke was also able to feel it and soon after Alex did too.
"Now to release aura,try compressing it in the corners of your manapool.The more you compress the mana in your manapool,the more it will be released outside.But remember not to overdo it"
"Overusing mana can cause nausea and it'll become hard to breathe.But once you learn how to do,it will be as easy as breathing.Now i want you all to try it"
They began trying to compress their mana,but whenever they try to squeeze it,it would move around their manapool.
"Do not just force it from one side,try forcing it from all directions except for the part where it will be released"
After multiple attempts and about an hour and half,Alex was able to release some of his aura.Even though it was faint,he was the first one to release it.
The sorcerer was kinda amazed,Alex was the one with the least amount of mana,and less mana means that it would be harder to compress it as the mana have lots of space to move around.But seeing him release it sooner than the other two,he was impressed.
Alex was already at his limit after letting out a small aura,and he begins to feel dizzy.The sorcerer quickly rushed over to him and made him lay down.
After a while the sorcerer would sense it,an aura much fierce than the first one.It was a reddish aura,so he knew exactly whose it is.Stephen was also able to release his aura.
Tobias was their family teacher for a long time now,and he taught both the Stephen's sister and brother.He was sure Stephen's aura was much more stronger than the his other two siblings when they first release it,so he had a very high expectations from him.
Now the only one left was Luke.He seems like he was still trying to compress it,so to make things easier for him,Tobias create a little barrier to cover him.Now he was not disturbed by anything around his surroundings.
All thats left now was to wait for Luke to release his aura.And just when Tobias was about to sit back in his spot,he felt an aura of a Beast.
Not many knows how an aura of a beastmen felt, because they would always hide it so it makes them hunt a lot easier.Since not many beastmen possess an elemental powers,body enhancement was their strongest traits.
Tobias was shocked at first of how powerful a beastmen aura was,if not for the barrier he might accidentally fire a spell on reflex.
Now that all of them has learnt how to release an aura.He was sure the lesson for tonight is done.
Stephen and Luke were still releasing their aura,but soon stop because their mana started depleting.Alex on the other hand was still laying down fully awake.Tobias gave them some mana potions and let them repeat it several times.
Since this type of things were now known everywhere,even the youngest kids could easily learn how to do it.
It was about five hours since they started training and they were all pretty tired.Their breathing became heavy and their mouth was numb from drinking so many potions
The old man was pretty happy seeing them put so much effort and not complaining any of his instructions.It was really late now and he decided that it would be rest to end their training for now.
"I am very impressed by your efforts and obedience tonight.I thought that you would start complaining when I made you drink the potion for the third time,but no... you keep on drinking it without any complaints or any sign of disapproval."
"I am very happy with you kids tonight, especially you two"
Pointing at both Alex and Luke.
"If you wanna keep joining Stephen's training session,i can ask his parents for you.Sure its gonna cost a lot of mana potions teaching you all,but your dedications are what matters."
"Who knows,maybe someday you'll all become one of the Royal Grand Knights or even the Royal Grand Mage"
"Hahaha you're expecting a little too much from us Mr.Tobias"
Alex replied still breathing heavily and all tired.
Tobias was looking at Alex.Somehow seeling Alex made him a little sad.The kid puts more effort than the other two even though he was always the first to fall after releasing mana.Teaching him would be a burden but just letting go of such determined kid would made him feel very guilty.
While the three were chatting, laughing at each other.Tobias made up his mind.
"Alright from tomorrow onwards, I'm gonna need you three in the forest next to the graveyard every afternoon.There we'll practice how to control mana,if any of you are late,we will not wait for you, we'll go on with the lessons with or without you."
After he said those,both Alex and Luke expression brighten up.They both were very happy to be able to continue training under Mr.Tobias.
Stephen was also shocked,he was happy for his friends and now that he's able to train with them he was really excited for the training.
"Now i want you to head home and rest.Remember resting is also part of training,do not overwork your body."
The two kids were now leaving,saying goodbyes to both Stephen and Mr.Tobias.And they slowly went home chatting with each other.
Just when Stephen was about to head in ,Tobias, still standing outside went in with him.
"There's something strange about your friend."
"Who..... Alex?"
"Yes, him.I can sense that he has one of the smallest amount of mana but with a huge manapool.But for some reason,even when I tried to secretly inject my mana in him,i couldn't.His body kept ignoring my mana."
Stephen was shocked to hear those.Injecting one's mana into someone else is not a common occurrence,and for Tobias to try it on Alex was really surprising.
"What do you mean you can't?, doesn't that mean there's something wrong with his manapool"
"Yes,that can be it.But i should be able to sense such things,when i was checking his manapool,everything was fine."
"And when people depletes their mana,they can either drink potions or meditate to get back their lost mana.The mana they restore can be the exact amount they used up,and for some whose manapool hasn't been filled,it can even increase their mana a little bit."
"But when Alex recover his mana,it was always the same amount as before.While yours and Luke's mana increase a little bit each time."
Stephen was again surprised by what his teacher is saying.He now felt bad for Alex.
"But lets not lose hope shall we,with hard work everythings possible.As the saying goes 'Hard work beats talent',so he might even beat you someday"
Trying to relieve him, he pat on his shoulders and told him to go sleep.
Stephen slowly walks away,still thinking about it.
Tobias also went to his room,lay down on his bed still thinking of how he can help Alex.