The sun had not yet risen, but Orion was already awake. At the age of seven, he knew that each day was an opportunity to learn and improve. Lyra often reminded him that his time was limited, and he couldn't afford to waste a single minute.
He sat up in bed, feeling the morning chill on his pale skin. His white hair, messy and unruly, fell across his forehead. He quietly rose and slipped into his black training robe, made of light but durable fabric. The robe was designed to allow for a full range of movement, essential for the magical and physical exercises he was about to undertake.
As he descended the stairs of the manor, he felt the protective aura of the place envelop him. Lyra's enchantments covered the manor, watching over him like an invisible mother. He arrived in the large training hall where she was already waiting, her expression as serious as ever.
"Good morning, Orion," she said in her usual emotionless tone. "We'll start with meditation today. Sit down and close your eyes."
Orion sat cross-legged on the mat, closing his eyes and beginning to breathe deeply. Meditation was essential for mastering Occlumency, an art he needed to perfect in order to control his thoughts and temper his emotions, which, according to his tutor, were far more unstable than those of his peers. His emotions were a constant burden, as he felt everything with far more intensity than normal, and Lyra tried to teach him mental disciplines so that he could channel them rather than repress or succumb to them.
An alarm rang, signaling the end of the meditation. Orion opened his eyes, feeling calmer and more centered. Lyra rose gracefully and gestured for him to follow.
"Now we move on to dueling exercises," she said, heading to a cleared area in the training hall. "Today, we will focus on your reflexes and precision."
Orion positioned himself at the center of the training area. Lyra summoned several moving targets around him. "You must break the targets before they disappear. Focus. I don't want a single missed shot."
Orion took a deep breath and pointed his hand at the first target. A faint flash of silver light shot from his fingertip, striking the target dead center. He moved quickly, casting spells with increasing speed.
Lyra watched closely, correcting his stance and timing when necessary. "Good. You didn't miss any targets, but you failed to destroy them all. Do it again," she commanded.
The training session lasted an hour, leaving Orion drenched in sweat and panting, though satisfied with his progress. He felt a sense of pride in having been fast enough to destroy all the targets without losing accuracy, but he knew Lyra would always expect more from him. Her constant demands were both a burden and a source of motivation.
They then moved on to theoretical lessons. Lyra led him to the manor's library, a room filled with ancient tomes and magical artifacts. She taught him about the history of magic and the Maga family. He was required to read all the notable research and discoveries tied to his lineage.
"Read this chapter on protective enchantments," she said, handing him a thick book. "We'll discuss it afterward."
Orion immersed himself in the reading, absorbing every word. Protective enchantments were complex, but he was determined to understand them. If he wanted to honor his vow to become the greatest martial wizard in his family's history, no effort or knowledge was superfluous. Despite his aversion to books and theory, Lyra had made sure he understood that raw power without knowledge or strategy was utterly useless.
He often recalled Lyra's words: "A true martial wizard must be capable of far more than just defense and attack. He must be able to plan, react, and anticipate. The cunning and knowledgeable will always triumph over mere talent and brute strength." She had recounted many examples of exceptionally gifted wizards who were killed by betrayal, ambush, or simple traps. This idea was deeply ingrained in him. Though he didn't excel in intellect, much to Lyra's dismay, he did what he could to compensate for this weakness with knowledge and experience.
After several hours of theory, another alarm rang, signaling lunch. They went to the dining hall, where a simple yet nourishing meal awaited them. Lyra rarely spoke during meals, allowing Orion to reflect on what he had learned. Today's meal consisted of warm soup, fresh bread, and fruit. Orion ate in silence, appreciating the momentary calm before returning to his studies.
However, today, Orion could not contain his frustration. "Lyra," he began, setting down his spoon. "I understand the importance of theory, but shouldn't I focus more on practice, which is my strength?"
Lyra raised her eyes from her plate, her piercing gaze fixed on Orion. "Do you believe that practice alone will make you the greatest combat wizard, Orion?"
Orion clenched his teeth, frustrated. "I don't want to abandon theory. I understand it's just as crucial as combat training. But between mental arts and theory, I barely practice the martial arts. I'm powerful, right? I have a large magic reserve, and I can cast any spell I try with ease."
Lyra sighed, setting her spoon down carefully. "Orion, you are powerful, that's true. But there are many reasons to avoid martial training for now. First, your magic is too powerful, and your body is suffering from the strain you impose on it. Training magically would only worsen the situation. As I've already told you, you must wait for your body to strengthen because you are too young and fragile to undergo worthwhile training. Second, you seem blessed by magic. Not only do you not need a wand, but you can cast spells without worrying about the learning process the rest of us must go through. Since you're so talented with magic, the time spent on it can be drastically reduced. A wizard's power depends on three domains: the body, the mind, and magic. You may be strong in magic, but you are abysmal in the mind, and your body is weakened by your own magic."
Orion burned with humiliation. As Lyra said, his emotions were too volatile, making him mentally unstable and weak. He thought his magic more than made up for this flaw, but it seemed he was wrong.
He looked at her, shocked and wounded by the harshness of her words.
"If I had to describe you," she continued mercilessly, "I'd say you might have the potential to become the most powerful wizard to walk this earth, but you're also stupid, predictable, impatient, incapable of creativity, and devoid of strategy. If you want even a small chance of becoming the most powerful wizard in your prestigious family, you either need to excel in all three domains or have a decent foundation in one and be unbeatable in the other two."
Lyra leaned forward, her piercing green eyes locking onto his. "Knowledge is essential, Orion. Without it, you'll be just another powerful wizard among many. If you want to stand out, you must not only understand as much magic as possible but also master it. Know when and how to use it—and, most importantly, how to counter it."
Orion lowered his eyes, reflecting on her words.
"You must compensate for your weaknesses by cultivating yourself," Lyra added, her tone softening slightly. "I will ensure you face every imaginable situation to gain as much combat experience as possible. But you will need to continue your education because I won't be able to prepare you for every scenario."
She straightened, resuming her meal. "Now, eat and rest for a bit. We still have much to do this afternoon."
Orion nodded, finally understanding the importance of what Lyra was teaching him. He knew he still had much to learn, but he was determined to follow her guidance and become the greatest combat wizard in his family's history.
The afternoon was dedicated to defensive spells and potions. Lyra took him to the manor's laboratory, where various ingredients were neatly arranged on shelves. Orion watched closely as Lyra demonstrated how to grind herbs and mix ingredients with precision. He followed her instructions to the letter, mentally noting the crucial steps. Once the potion was complete, he looked with satisfaction at the shimmering liquid in the flask.
At the end of the day, Orion retired to his room, exhausted but content. Before falling asleep, he took a moment to meditate again, calming his mind and preparing his body for the next day. Life wasn't easy, but he knew that each day brought him closer to his goal. He would become the greatest combat wizard in his family's history—to honor Isolde's memory and prove that he was worthy of the Maga legacy.