In the tranquil corner of the inn's backyard, Pao and Amukelo settled themselves on the cool, soft grass. Pao instructed Amukelo to close his eyes and mimic her posture of calm attentiveness. "Start by calming down," she gently suggested, her voice soft yet clear. "Focus all your attention on your heartbeat. Listen to it, feel every beat."
Amukelo obeyed, taking slow, deep breaths. The surrounding sounds faded away, leaving only the steady rhythm of his heart and Pao's guiding voice piercing the quiet.
"Now, imagine the blood flowing through your body," Pao continued, her tone soothing. "Visualize it being pumped through your veins by your heart."
Amukelo concentrated, picturing the blood traveling to his limbs and returning, a vivid circulation that energized every part of his body.
Pao's next instruction came as a deeper challenge, "Now, envision this blood turning into an invisible force." Amukelo's face tensed slightly, betraying the effort of his imagination.
Once she sensed he was ready, Pao added, "Try to control this force. Hold it still, within you, under your command."
Sweat began to bead on Amukelo's forehead as he wrestled with the concept, struggling to harness the imaginary energy coursing through him.
Pao's voice then broke the intense concentration, "Prepare to release it on my count. One... Two..." She paused deliberately between the counts, allowing him to prepare himself, "...and THREE!" she finally exclaimed.
Amukelo released all at once, his breath escaping in a heavy gasp as his eyes snapped open. Pao, observing closely, shook her head, a gentle indication of his need for more practice.
"Let's try again," she suggested. Amukelo, catching his breath, responded with a mix of exhaustion and determination, "That's more difficult than I expected."
"That's why many people never even try," Pao explained her tone understanding yet encouraging. "It requires a lot of practice and effort, often without immediate results."
Amukelo nodded, a resolute smile forming on his lips, "Then that means it's worth it. Nothing good ever comes easy."
With Pao's guidance, Amukelo immersed himself again in the meditative process. He steadied his breathing, focusing intently on the rhythmic beat of his heart, feeling it resonate through his body. He visualized the blood flowing, vivid and life-like, before mentally transforming it into an invisible, potent force. Sweat beaded his brow as he struggled to contain and control this energy within him, a clear testament to his effort and concentration.
"Ready?" Pao's voice was calm yet expectant. "One... Two... Three!" She counted, her voice a gentle prompt in the quiet of the afternoon.
Amukelo released the force he had mustered, but once again, he felt no shift, no release of power as he had hoped. He exhaled sharply, a mix of frustration and fatigue in his breath. Despite the setback, his determination didn't waver. "Let's try again," he insisted, resetting his stance and mental focus.
They went through the motions repeatedly. Each attempt seemed to drain a little more energy from Amukelo, his breaths growing heavier and his periods of rest shorter. Pao watched with a mix of admiration and concern as Amukelo relentlessly pushed himself, her voice steady as she led the counts, her eyes sharp for any sign of progress.
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the backyard, a silent witness to Amukelo's unwavering resolve. "Amu, I think we should call it a day," Pao finally interjected after yet another unsuccessful attempt. "You're tired, and you've already done so much today."
"No, I think I'm slowly getting it," Amukelo protested, his voice thick with exhaustion but spiked with hope. "Let's try a few more times."
With each new attempt, the weariness in Amukelo's movements became more pronounced. The fluidity of his earlier efforts was replaced by a certain stiffness, a sign of his physical limits approaching.
As the sky began to turn a deep orange, heralding the evening, Pao's concern grew. "Amu, I really think we should end this for today," she insisted more firmly.
"Just one last time," Amukelo pleaded, gathering what little energy he had left for a final attempt. They went through the process once more, his focus deepening, his breathing measured. "One... Two... Three!" Pao counted.
Amukelo tried with all his might to release the mana, but as the effort peaked, his strength faltered, and his consciousness wavered. "Okay, Pao, I think that's..." His words trailed off as exhaustion finally claimed him, and he slumped forward, losing consciousness.
Quickly, Pao moved to cushion his fall, guiding him gently so that his head rested on her legs. She brushed a strand of hair from his face, her expression softening to a tender smile as she looked down at him. He was completely spent, his face peaceful in sleep, a stark contrast to the intense effort that had marked his features moments before.
In the quiet that followed, Pao sat still, cradling Amukelo, watching over him as the sun set, bathing them in its warm, fading light. Her heart was filled with a mix of worry for his well-being and pride in his dedication—a dedication that, she knew, mirrored the heroes of the stories he cherished.
As the twilight deepened into night, the group gathered around Pao and the still-slumbering Amukelo created a scene of mild amusement mixed with concern. Bral, Idin, and Bao stood peering curiously as Pao explained Amukelo's exhaustion-induced collapse.
"Why did you come here?" Pao's voice held a hint of protective concern as she adjusted Amukelo's head slightly on her lap, making sure he was comfortable.
"I saw you two from the window," Bao explained, her eyes flickering with a blend of curiosity and sisterly concern. "It looked like you were training intensely, so we thought to check in on you," she added, casting a glance towards Amukelo's peaceful expression.
"What happened to him?" Bral queried, stepping closer to get a better look.
"He just passed out from exhaustion," Pao replied, her tone soft but filled with a touch of pride at Amukelo's dedication.
Idin chuckled lightly. "Ah, what a lucky man," he teased, nodding towards Amukelo's head resting in Pao's lap.
Bao shot Idin a sharp look, her eyebrows knitting in disapproval. "Seriously?" she scoffed.
"I'm joking, I'm joking!" Idin raised his hands in defense, a grin still playing on his lips.
As they were discussing the situation, Amukelo's eyes fluttered open. The first thing he saw was Pao's concerned face looking down at him, framed by the dusky sky above. Confusion mingled with embarrassment as he realized his head was resting on her lap. He sat up quickly, his cheeks flushing a bright shade of red.
"What happened?" Amukelo's voice was groggy as he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to piece together the events that led to his unexpected nap.
"You exhausted yourself," Pao explained gently, avoiding his gaze as she too felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "You passed out, so I let you rest here for a bit."
"Thank you..." Amukelo muttered, his gratitude mingled with embarrassment.
Bral and Idin exchanged amused glances, a silent communication of their amusement at the situation. Bral then clapped a hand on Amukelo's shoulder, helping him to his feet. "Well, I think we should get some food in you," he suggested, leading the way to the pub.
As they walked, the air between Amukelo and Pao was thick with unspoken words and shared smiles. Once seated at the pub, Amukelo turned to Pao, "This feels much more natural," he admitted, referring to the casual setting compared to the previous night's elegance.
"Right," Pao agreed, "but I can't deny that I enjoyed yesterday's restaurant too."
"Me too," Amukelo smiled, and the two shared a look that didn't go unnoticed by Bral, who coughed loudly to break the moment. "Alright, you two, enough flirting for now," he joked.
"So, what were you training for?" Bral inquired, turning the conversation towards the day's earlier activities.
"Pao was teaching me the basics of magic, but I'm struggling with them," Amukelo confessed.
"Magic?" Bral looked surprised. "Why do you want to learn that?"
"To get stronger, of course," Amukelo responded, his voice firm with resolve.
Their conversation flowed easily from there, touching on dreams, aspirations, and the magic of the mundane. As they finished their meal and the night grew deep, they retreated to their rooms, to get some well-deserved rest.