The following days passed in a blur, and Kiyoshi found himself training within the forest. He Spent most of his morning alone, honing his techniques, with his control over mana improving, albeit slowly. Though frustrating, it felt rewarding to see his progression as the days passed.
But things would eventually change, with his usually lonely morning turning into a more enjoyable time as Celosia began coming around. She stays true to her word, no longer watching from the shadows, and instead joins him openly. Offering advice and experience to help Kiyoshi, she never went out of her way to impose or interfere in his training, but her presence slowly became a comforting addition.
"Try not to force it," Celosia advised one morning as she watched as Kiyoshi attempted to create more items from his mana. "You're pushing too hard."
Kiyoshi grunted, frustrated as he paced back and forth, his fist clenched tightly as mana began to flicker around like sparks. "It's not that simple."
Celosia chuckled softly as she watched him struggle. "It's not meant to be. But you've already gotten most of the basics down; it's more of you just letting it naturally flow. As you know, it's more about feeling, as it is control."
Kiyoshi wiped the sweat off his face as he looked up at her. "You make it sound so simple."
"It's not," she admitted as her eyes met his. "But you'll get there; just be patient."
Patience wasn't something that Kiyoshi was particularly good at, but for her, he decided to go along with it. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He began to focus the mana within him; the raw, untamed power began to swell inside him. Though this time he didn't force it, rather he allowed it to come naturally, like water flowing downstream.
Slowly, he started getting the same sensation he had before, a tingling sensation within his fingertips. It was a faint feeling at first, but as he concentrated, he could feel the flow turning into something more. A small orb of light flickered in his palm, glowing ever so softly in the morning light.
Opening his eyes, he was pretty surprised to see a ball of mana floating in the palm of his hand. He finally was starting to get the hang of manifesting his mana without it sputtering out.
"See?" Celosia said with a warm smile. "You just needed to relax."
Kiyoshi grinned, his chest swelling with pride. "I did it."
"Yes, you did." She agreed, her smile widening as she watched him celebrate. "I knew you could."
For the first time in days, Kiyoshi actually felt hope. Maybe he could finally master everything Ceng-tae has taught him.
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Later that day, Kiyoshi and Celosia sat by a small stream on the outskirts of the village. The gentle sound of water splashing quietly over the smooth stones filling the air and the rustle of the leaves of the forest. The sun began its descent, beginning to set, casting a warm, golden light over the landscape, which turned the leaves into a soft amber hue.
"Do you ever wonder what else is out there?" Celosia asked, brushing her hand through her hair.
Kiyoshi glanced at her, surprised by the sudden question. "Out there?"
She nodded, her gaze turning to the horizon, far beyond the village borders. "Beyond the village. Beyond the forest. There's a whole world out there, full of magic and mystery. Don't you want to see it?"
Kiyoshi thought for a moment; his mind drifted away. He had no idea where he came from or who he really was, but the thought of venturing beyond the village both intrigued and terrified him.
"I don't know," he said softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I guess… I haven't really thought about it."
With a faint smile, Celosia stared at Kiyoshi, her facial expression showing a slight hint of longing. "I have. I've always wanted to explore. To see the world and learn about the different kinds of magic that exist. There is so much more to discover than what we have here."
Kiyoshi looked at her with a confused look on his face. "So what's stopping you?"
Shed sighed, her smile fading as his gaze dropped to the stream. "My family... the village… they expect me to say here, to live a quiet life. But sometimes, I feel like there's something more for me out there. Something I need to find."
Her words were warm and comforting for Kiyoshi; he felt something deep inside, something he hadn't been able to explain. He, too, was searching—searching for answers, for purpose. But where should that search begin? And what would he find if he were to uncover the truth?
"I get that," Kiyoshi murmured. "It's like... you don't know what you're missing until you find it."
Celosia nodded as she began to draw patterns on the surface of the water. "Exactly."
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As the evening grew darker and they returned to the village, Kiyoshi noticed an unusual buzz in the air. Villagers murmur to one another, their voices carrying an undercut of excitement. The once typical quiet town seemed to be brimming with excitement an anticipation, like something or someone was coming.
Kiyoshi glanced over at Celoisa. "Sooo… what's going on?"
She paused, listening to the scattered conversations around them, then turned back to Kiyoshi with a knowing look. "It sounds like someone rather interesting is coming back."
"Who?"
"Rajieru."
The name hung in the air as he looked a bit puzzled. Kiyoshi hadn't recognized it, but he could sense the subtle shift in Celosia's demeanour. Her usually normal calm persona now carried a tinge of anticipation and something else—perhaps wariness. It was as though this Rajieru person's return would bring with it a change neither one could predict.
Kiyoshi eyebrows raised slightly, sensing the undercut tension. "Soooo… who's Rajieru?"
Celosia hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice quieter than before. "He's... someone from the village. You'll... uhhh... meet him soon enough."
Kiyoshi looked at her, confused, but decided not to push any further. He could feel the tension building as they neared the village square. His instincts told him that this Rajieru wasn't just another villager, not if Celosia was reacting the way she was. The way the villagers whispered his name, the way they all awaited his return, it felt as though something big was about to happen.
And deep down, Kiyoshi couldn't shake the feeling that the peaceful days he had come to know were about to change.
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