Alfred stood in the courtyard, the cool morning air carrying the faint hum of mana that seemed to ripple around him. Alex watched him closely, his katana resting at his side, the anticipation clear on his face.
"Today, we'll begin with an introduction to spells and skills," Alfred said, his voice steady and commanding.
"Now that you've reached F rank, you should be able to expel mana outside your body. This is the foundation of all spellcasting for mana path cultivators."
Alex nodded, eager to begin.
"Spells," Alfred continued, "are categorized by rank, just like cultivation stages: F through SSS. Most cultivators rely on pre-established spells, molding their mana into patterns developed by others. But you won't be taking that path."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
Alfred gave him a small, knowing smile. "Because of your unique affinity, you'll walk a path that only true talents can tread. The Mana Harmonization Path."
The name hung in the air, weighty with promise.
"What makes this path so special?" Alex asked, intrigued.
Alfred's expression turned serious. "While most mages expel mana and shape it into pre-designed forms, the Mana Harmonization Path requires you to connect your mana to the natural mana in the air. By harmonizing your mana with the world's, you can bend it to your will, creating spells entirely your own."
Alex's eyes widened. "So, I'd be making my own spells? That sounds... incredible!"
Alfred nodded. "It is. Through this path, you won't just replicate spells—you'll create them. You could even mold spells of other elements into forms aligned with your space attribute. Your mother walked this path and left behind many unique spells that only she could wield."
"Why doesn't everyone do this if it's so powerful?" Alex asked.
"Because," Alfred said simply, "it requires a level of creativity and talent that most lack. While pre-made spells are reliable and efficient, the Mana Harmonization Path is unpredictable and demands both time and effort."
Alfred stepped closer, his tone softening. "I believe you have what it takes to succeed. But first, you must master the basics: controlling mana outside your body."
With a flick of his wrist, Alfred produced a small, shimmering object. It was a cube, its surface covered in glowing runes that shifted and pulsed faintly.
"This is a Mana Cube," Alfred said, holding it out for Alex to inspect.
"It's a training device developed by the Astral Academy. Your task is to expel mana from your body, connect it to the cube from a distance, and lift it. Once you've lifted it, you must manipulate it through specific motions until it's solved, much like a puzzle."
Alex frowned, taking the cube and turning it over in his hands. "That doesn't sound easy."
"It's not," Alfred replied. "But it will teach you precision and control. Take your time."
Alex placed the cube on the ground and took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he focused on expelling a thread of mana from his core. The sensation was strange, as if he were reaching for an invisible thread within himself and pulling it outward.
The first attempt was a disaster. His mana fizzled out the moment it left his body, the connection snapping instantly.
[Wow, impressive,] Nova teased. [Didn't even last a second.]
"Not helpful," Alex thought, narrowing his eyes as he tried again.
The second attempt lasted longer, but when he tried to connect his mana to the cube, it wobbled and fell flat. Each subsequent attempt brought marginal improvements, but the cube remained stubbornly grounded.
Hours passed as Alex continued, sweat dripping down his face. The courtyard echoed with his frustrated grunts and the occasional sarcastic remark from Nova.
"Enough for today," Alfred finally said, stepping forward. "Take the cube with you and practice in your own time. This is just the beginning."
After a short break, Alfred began explaining the next step. "Before you can create your own spells, you need to understand the process. It begins with visualization."
"Visualization?" Alex asked.
"Picture the effect you want your spell to have," Alfred said. "Then release your mana, much like with the Mana Cube. Blend your mana with the natural mana around you and take control of it. Shape it into the form you imagined."
"That sounds… complicated," Alex admitted.
"It is," Alfred agreed. "But start small. Create a sphere of blended mana no larger than your fist. As you improve, you can expand the size and complexity of your spells."
Alfred's tone grew more intense as he added, "With enough mastery, you'll be able to create something far greater—a domain, where your control extends over a wide area. But that's a long way off."
Alex's mind raced with possibilities. The idea of creating his own spells—and eventually a domain—lit a fire in his determination.
Satisfied with the lesson on spells, Alfred shifted to the topic of skills.
"Skills are simpler to learn," Alfred said. "They're imprinted knowledge stored within skill books. These books are a mysterious creation, released by academies and guilds. No one knows exactly where they come from, but it's rumored they're found in ancient ruins. This might also explain why technology has advanced so much in recent years."
Alex leaned forward, intrigued. 'If that's true, how are they producing so many skill books? And how are they keeping it all under wraps?'
[Probably with a lot of money, secrecy, and maybe something else…] Nova quipped. [But hey, ancient ruins with futuristic tech? Sounds like a conspiracy worth digging into.]
"Regardless," Alfred continued, "skills are as varied as spells. They can be active, passive, or supportive, and like spells, they're ranked from F to SSS. While rumors of spell skill books exist, they're unconfirmed and likely only accessible to the highest echelons of power."
After the lessons on spells and skills, Alfred gestured for Alex to draw his katana.
"Now, let's see how your swordsmanship has progressed. I'll teach you new forms today."
Alex grinned, the weight of the katana in his hands familiar and comforting. He moved into his stance, and the sparring began.
Alfred came at him with fluid precision, his movements a blur as Alex struggled to keep up. The clash of blades rang through the courtyard as Alex transitioned between the basic forms: Jodan-no-kamae for aggressive strikes, Chudan-no-kamae for balanced defense, and Gedan-no-kamae for counterattacks.
"Good," Alfred said, his strikes unrelenting. "Now try this."
He shifted his stance and demonstrated a sweeping horizontal slash, his movements seamless. Alex mirrored him, his form slightly off but improving with each attempt.
As they continued, Alfred introduced two more forms:
Hasso-no-kamae, a side stance that allowed for quick transitions between attack and defense.
Waki-gamae, a low stance emphasizing surprise strikes.
Alex practiced tirelessly, his muscles screaming in protest. Alfred's relentless pace left no room for rest, and every mistake was met with a sharp counterstrike that forced Alex to adapt.
At one point, Alfred feinted high before striking low, catching Alex off guard. The blunt side of his blade slammed into Alex's gut, sending him flying backward.
Alex hit the ground with a groan, the air knocked out of him.
"That's enough for today," Alfred said, lowering his blade. "Your progress is steady, but there's still much to learn."
Alex lay on the ground, panting and staring up at the sky. "A long way to go," he muttered.
[At least you're not dead,] Nova teased. [So, progress?]
Alex couldn't help but laugh, despite the ache in his body. He sat up, his determination renewed.
"Yeah," he said. "Progress."