The morning air was cool as Yuuto made his way through the forest to meet Thalia for another session of magical training. His newly forged dagger, the result of Juno's teachings, was tucked securely into his belt, but today wasn't about physical weapons. Today, it was about mastering the flow of mana inside him, a skill that had become increasingly important as Yuuto learned more powerful spells.
Thalia had warned him after their last lesson: "Raw power is dangerous without control. If you can't maintain a steady flow of mana, you'll either run out too soon or collapse under the strain."
The memory of those words lingered in his mind as he arrived at Thalia's clearing, where she stood waiting. Her sharp eyes caught sight of him, and she gave a slight nod, her hands already glowing with a soft aura of magic. There were no pleasantries today—only the serious business of learning to control the very force that powered all his spells.
"You're on time," she said, her tone brisk but not unkind. "Good. We'll need every minute today. What I'm about to teach you is essential if you're to survive in this world."
Yuuto straightened up, feeling the weight of her words. "I'm ready."
Thalia gestured to the ground where a series of small, glowing stones were arranged in a circle. "Sit inside this circle. Today, we focus on Mana Control—the art of maintaining balance between the mana you draw in and the mana you release. Mastering this is the difference between casting a few spells and being able to sustain magic through an entire battle."
Yuuto nodded and did as instructed, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the circle. He closed his eyes, taking in the natural flow of mana around him, just as Thalia had taught him before.
Thalia's voice was calm but firm as she began to guide him. "Feel the mana around you, the energy of the world itself. Draw it into you slowly—don't rush. You're not casting a spell right now. You're simply becoming a conduit."
Yuuto focused, reaching out with his senses, feeling the ebb and flow of magic in the air. The mana felt like a gentle current, swirling around him. Slowly, he pulled that energy into himself, allowing it to fill his body without letting it spill over.
"Good," Thalia said quietly. "Now hold it there. Keep the mana inside you steady, like a calm river. Don't let it build too fast or slip away."
Yuuto concentrated, keeping the flow of mana steady, but as more energy gathered inside him, the pressure began to build. His body tensed, his breathing grew shallow, and his head started to pound. The raw power of the mana was like a storm building within him, and controlling it felt like holding back a flood with his bare hands.
"I can feel it…" Yuuto muttered, his voice strained. "It's too much."
"You're fine," Thalia said sharply, stepping closer to watch him. "You need to control it. Don't let it control you."
Yuuto gritted his teeth and tried to focus harder, but the more he tried to maintain the balance, the more unstable the mana became. It surged within him, pushing against his control, threatening to break free. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, and his muscles tensed as he fought to keep the mana from overflowing.
"Thalia, I—"
"Focus!" Thalia snapped, her voice cutting through his panic. "Don't lose control! Let the energy flow naturally. Breathe."
Yuuto tried to follow her instructions, but it was too late. The pressure inside him was too great. Before he could stop it, the mana surged out of him all at once, a violent torrent of energy that erupted from his body in an uncontrolled blast. The glowing stones around him flared brightly before shattering, and Yuuto felt himself thrown backward, his vision blurring as his body hit the ground with a painful thud.
For a moment, everything went dark.
Yuuto groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, blinking against the sunlight that filtered through the trees. His body ached all over, and his head pounded with the aftermath of the mana surge. He tried to sit up, but the effort left him dizzy, and he collapsed back onto the ground with a frustrated sigh.
Thalia stood over him, her arms crossed and a disapproving frown on her face.
"You lost control," she said flatly. "And you paid the price."
Yuuto winced, both from the pain and the harshness of her tone. "I—I'm sorry. It just… it all happened so fast."
Thalia's expression softened slightly as she knelt down beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's not about speed, Yuuto. Mana is powerful, but if you don't learn to control it, it will tear you apart. You're strong, but strength without control is more dangerous than weakness."
Yuuto closed his eyes, feeling the weight of her words sink in. He had thought that learning spells and gaining power through the Ascendant System would be enough, but he had underestimated how difficult it was to control that power. The mana had felt wild, like a force of nature, and no matter how hard he had tried to contain it, it had broken free.
"I… failed," Yuuto muttered, his voice heavy with disappointment.
Thalia shook her head. "No. You learned. And that's what matters."
She helped him to his feet, steadying him as he swayed slightly. Yuuto's body was still weak from the collapse, but he forced himself to stand, determined not to let this defeat weigh him down.
"You won't master mana control overnight," Thalia continued, her voice softer now. "But with practice, you'll learn to hold that power without letting it overwhelm you. The key is balance—drawing just enough mana to sustain yourself without losing control."
Yuuto nodded, the lesson settling in his mind. It wasn't about how much power he could gather; it was about how well he could manage it. The raw strength of his spells was meaningless if he couldn't sustain them over time.
Thalia gave him a small, encouraging smile, her sharp eyes softening for the first time since their lesson had begun. "You've got potential, Yuuto. I wouldn't be wasting my time if I didn't think so. But remember this—mastery takes patience. Learn to walk before you try to run."
Yuuto managed a weak smile in return. "I'll get it. I just… need more practice."
Thalia nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit. Rest for now. Tomorrow, we'll try again—this time with a little more focus and a lot more patience."
That night, back in the village, Yuuto lay in his bed, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling. His body still ached from the mana collapse, but his mind was sharper than ever. He replayed the events of the day in his head, analyzing every mistake, every moment where he had lost control.
I have to get stronger, but I can't rush it, Yuuto thought to himself. If I'm going to protect Ravenwood, I need to master my power—not let it control me.
He closed his eyes, determined to get back up and try again the next day. The path to mastery was long and difficult, but Yuuto was more determined than ever to walk it.