On the fifth day of his training with John, Sam had a breakthrough. He had been practicing for hours, his concentration honed to a razor's edge. John had him balancing on a narrow beam, focusing his mana to maintain his balance while also channeling energy into his hands.
It was a difficult exercise, one that required both mental and physical coordination. But as Sam concentrated, he felt something click inside him. The flow of mana became smoother, more natural. It was as if the energy within him had finally found its rhythm.
John, who had been observing closely, nodded in approval. "You're getting it, Sam. Your control is improving rapidly. Now, let's take it to the next level."
Sam hopped down from the beam, eager to hear what John had planned. "What's next?"
"Now that you've got the basics down, we're going to start working on something more advanced—shaping your mana," John explained. "This is the first step toward creating your Arcon."
"Shaping my mana?" Sam repeated, intrigued.
"Yes," John said, motioning for Sam to follow him. They walked over to a clear area in the training ground, where John conjured a small flame in his hand. "Watch closely."
John focused, and the flame in his hand began to change shape, transforming into a small, detailed figure of a bird. The bird flapped its wings and chirped, looking almost lifelike.
"Wow," Sam said, impressed.
"This is the kind of control you'll need to develop," John said, letting the bird dissolve back into flames. "But it's not just about creating shapes. It's about infusing your mana with intent, giving it a purpose. When you create your Arcon, you'll be doing something similar, but on a much larger scale."
Sam nodded, understanding the challenge ahead. "Alright, let's do this."
For the next several days, Sam practiced shaping his mana. It was a meticulous process, requiring both creativity and precision. John guided him through various exercises, starting with simple shapes and gradually moving on to more complex forms.
There were moments of frustration when the shapes wouldn't hold or when the mana seemed to rebel against his control. But with each failure, Sam learned, adapting his technique and refining his focus.
One afternoon, as Sam was practicing, Sara and Masha approached him. Sara had a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Hey, Sam," she called out, catching his attention.
Sam looked up, a grin spreading across his face. "What's up?"
"We were just wondering if you could show us some of those shapes you've been working on," Masha said, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Of course," Sam said, always eager to impress. He concentrated, summoning a small orb of mana in his hand. He shaped it into a flower, the petals delicate and glowing with soft light.
Sara and Masha watched in awe as Sam created more shapes—a butterfly, a star, and even a small dragon that breathed tiny flames.
"Wow, Sam, that's amazing!" Masha exclaimed.
"Yeah," Sara agreed, but there was a hint of something else in her tone—jealousy.
Sam noticed it and decided to have a little fun. He shaped the mana into a heart and floated it over to Sara. "This one's for you."
Sara's cheeks turned pink, and she huffed, trying to hide her flustered reaction. "You're such a flirt, Sam."
Sam laughed, enjoying her reaction. "Only with you."
Sara rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress a smile. "You'd better be careful. Keep that up, and I might start believing you."
Sam winked. "Maybe you should."
Masha giggled at their banter, but she couldn't help but feel a bit left out. Sam noticed this and quickly shaped a pair of wings, sending them to Masha.
"Don't worry, Masha," he said with a grin. "You're part of this too."
Masha smiled, her spirits lifted. "Thanks, Sam. You're pretty good at this, you know."
"Just wait until I create my Arcon," Sam replied confidently. "Then you'll really be impressed."