The next morning, Lysander woke up with the first light of dawn, his body still aching from the previous day's training. He yawned deeply, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness. His grandmother, Victoria, was already waiting for him in the garden, her posture straight and her expression as stern as ever. She gave him a brief nod, and with a wave of her hand, they were teleported just near the border of Aurelia.
"Since you have mastered basic mana control, I will teach you the advanced version of it," her voice was usual, calm but commanding. Internally, she was immensely impressed by the speed of Lysander's advancement. Most people took a week to grasp the basics, and even geniuses needed at least three days. She chose not to voice her admiration, fearing it might make Lysander conceited and less cautious about his power.
"I'm ready," Lysander said, yawning as he tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. He still felt the strain from the hard training the previous day.
"You better be ready, brat. This will be different than usual," Victoria said with a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She seemed eager to see just how far she could push Lysander's limits.
"Today, we'll start with expanding your mana pool and improving your control over it," Victoria announced. "Sit down and clear your mind. You need to reach a deeper state of focus than before."
Lysander sat cross-legged on the grassy field, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths. He felt the mana within him, a gentle hum that seemed to resonate with his heartbeat.
"Visualize your core again," Victoria instructed. "But this time, imagine it expanding and contracting, like a muscle. With each breath, draw in mana from the surroundings and let it merge with your core."
As Lysander followed her instructions, he felt the mana around him, like a river flowing into a reservoir. It was a slow and steady process, requiring intense concentration. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he maintained the flow.
Victoria watched him closely, noting his progress. "Good, now maintain this flow for as long as you can. The goal is to increase your capacity without losing control."
Hours passed, and Lysander's body trembled with the effort of maintaining the constant influx of mana. By the end of the day, he was exhausted but felt a noticeable difference in his mana capacity.
"You did well today," Victoria said, a rare note of praise in her voice. "Rest now. Tomorrow will be even more challenging."
The second day dawned bright and clear. Lysander, still feeling the aches from the previous day, forced himself out of bed and joined his grandmother at the training ground.
"Today, we focus on precision and flow," Victoria said. "Mana control is not just about having a large pool; it's about using it efficiently. You must be able to direct your mana with pinpoint accuracy."
She handed him a set of small, intricate carvings. "These are mana conductors. They will help you practice directing your mana into precise forms. Try to fill each one with your mana without overflowing."
Lysander took the conductors, feeling their cool surface in his hands. He closed his eyes, focusing on directing a thin stream of mana into the first conductor. It was like threading a needle, requiring immense concentration and control.
At first, his attempts were clumsy, the mana spilling over the edges of the conductors. But with Victoria's patient guidance, he began to improve. By the end of the day, he could fill each conductor with a steady, precise flow of mana.
"Excellent progress," Victoria acknowledged. "Remember, control is key. The more precise you are, the more powerful your spells will become."
The final day of training arrived, and Lysander felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. He knew today's training would be the most difficult.
"Today, we integrate your light affinity with your advanced mana control," Victoria said. "Light is a rare and powerful element, and you must learn to wield it with precision and strength."
She instructed Lysander to stand in a circle of runes inscribed on the ground. "These runes will help channel your light mana. Focus on drawing your light affinity from within and let it flow through your enhanced mana channels."
Lysander took his position, feeling the familiar warmth of his light affinity. As he focused, he could feel the light mana intertwining with his controlled mana flow. The runes began to glow softly, responding to his efforts.
"Good. Now, direct the light mana into the runes without letting it dissipate," Victoria instructed.
The task was incredibly demanding. Lysander's body ached, and sweat poured down his face as he struggled to maintain his balance. The light mana was volatile, eager to burst forth uncontrollably. But with each attempt, he grew more adept at channeling it precisely.
By the end of the third day, Lysander stood within the circle of glowing runes, his light mana flowing smoothly and steadily. He felt a deep sense of accomplishment and exhaustion.
Victoria approached him, her face softened with pride. "You've done exceptionally well, Lish. Your control over your light affinity has improved significantly. This is just the beginning, but you've made remarkable progress."
Victoria's stern expression softened with a mix of pride and disbelief. "You did well today," she said, a rare note of praise in her voice.
Lysander smiled, feeling a profound sense of achievement. "Thank you, Grandmother. I'll continue to work hard."
She muttered to herself, "I've never seen anyone progress this quickly. His potential is truly extraordinary."
Victoria nodded, her eyes twinkling with approval. "I have no doubt you will. Now, let's head back. You deserve a rest and a good meal."
With a wave of her hand, they were once again enveloped in darkness and transported back to Aurelia. The journey had been grueling, but Lysander felt stronger and more capable than ever.
As she walked away, she couldn't help but think, "If he continues at this pace, he might surpass us all."