The following morning, Yuuto was back in Thalia's clearing, his body still sore from the previous day's failure. The lesson in Mana Control had humbled him, revealing just how difficult it was to maintain the delicate balance of drawing and releasing mana. But Yuuto was determined not to let that failure stop him.
He stood in the same spot within the circle of stones, the memories of the uncontrolled mana surge still fresh in his mind. This time, however, Thalia had not immediately launched into another mana control exercise. Instead, she seemed to be assessing him silently, her piercing gaze tracking his every move.
"I can see the determination in your eyes," Thalia said finally, breaking the tense silence. "But determination alone won't help you master spellcasting. Yesterday, you lost control because you were too focused on the outcome—on the power you were trying to wield. Today, we'll focus on the process."
Yuuto nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. He had spent the entire night thinking about the lessons he'd learned, and though his body still felt the effects of the mana collapse, his mind was sharper. He needed to learn patience, to respect the flow of mana and not force it to do his bidding.
"Today, we'll work on spellcasting again, but with smaller spells," Thalia continued, her voice steady. "Instead of pulling as much mana as you can and forcing it into a single spell, you'll focus on smaller, controlled bursts of magic. Simple spells, like Mana Bolt or Arcane Bind, should be your training ground."
Yuuto nodded, already feeling the weight of the task ahead. "Got it. I'll take it slow."
Thalia crossed her arms, watching him carefully. "Good. Let's see if you can keep your mana steady this time."
Yuuto took a deep breath and closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses just as he had before. He felt the familiar flow of mana in the air around him, and this time, he was careful not to draw too much at once. He let the energy trickle into him slowly, deliberately, and felt it build inside him without the pressure that had overwhelmed him the day before.
Opening his eyes, Yuuto raised his staff, focusing on the simplest spell he knew—Mana Bolt. The spell was a basic one, but even basic spells required focus and control. Yuuto visualized the bolt forming at the tip of his staff, gathering just enough mana to create a small, focused projectile of energy.
"Mana Bolt," he whispered, releasing the energy with a flick of his wrist.
The glowing blue bolt shot forward, streaking through the air and striking a tree at the edge of the clearing. The impact was small, barely leaving a mark on the bark, but the spell had worked. Yuuto felt the mana drain from him in a controlled, measured way, leaving him with plenty of energy to continue casting.
Thalia gave a small nod of approval. "Better. You controlled the flow of mana and released it without wasting energy. Now do it again, but this time, don't stop at one. Keep the mana flowing and fire a series of bolts."
Yuuto's brow furrowed as he nodded. This would be more difficult. Firing one spell was easy enough, but keeping the mana flowing while maintaining accuracy and control would be a true test of his skill.
He took another deep breath and called the mana to him again. This time, he didn't stop after forming the first Mana Bolt. Instead, he kept the energy flowing, allowing another bolt to form as soon as he released the first. One after another, bolts of blue energy shot from his staff, each one striking the tree with increasing accuracy.
The fourth bolt, however, wavered.
Yuuto felt the mana flicker inside him, the flow becoming unstable. He tried to compensate, to pull back just enough energy to keep the spell going, but the sudden shift in focus caused the bolt to misfire, veering off course and dissipating harmlessly into the air.
"Stop," Thalia commanded, stepping forward with a sharp tone. "You're losing focus."
Yuuto lowered his staff, frustration bubbling up inside him. "I felt it slipping. I tried to hold on, but…"
"That's exactly the problem," Thalia said, her eyes narrowing. "You can't 'hold on' to mana like it's a physical object. Mana isn't something you can control through brute force. You have to allow it to flow through you naturally. The moment you try to force it, it slips away."
Yuuto clenched his fists, feeling the frustration mounting. It had seemed so simple at first—just draw the mana, cast the spell, and release it. But every time he thought he had a handle on it, the mana would slip from his grasp or become too wild to control.
"I don't get it," Yuuto muttered. "I'm trying to stay calm, to keep the flow steady, but every time I start casting more than one spell, it feels like the mana is slipping away from me."
Thalia's expression softened slightly as she walked closer, her voice gentler this time. "You're thinking too much about the magic itself, about the mechanics. Magic isn't just something you do—it's something you feel. You need to trust your instincts, let the mana guide you as much as you guide it."
Yuuto blinked, absorbing her words. Feel the mana? It was hard to wrap his head around the idea of letting the mana guide him, but maybe that was the problem. He was so focused on controlling every aspect of the process that he was forgetting the natural flow of energy.
Thalia sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Magic is about balance. You've learned how to tap into it, but now you need to learn to let it flow without forcing it. That's why you're struggling."
Yuuto nodded slowly, feeling a bit more centered. "So… I need to stop trying to force the spells."
"Exactly," Thalia said with a firm nod. "You're not a machine. Magic is part of who you are now. The sooner you understand that, the sooner you'll stop struggling."
Yuuto took a deep breath and closed his eyes once more. This time, instead of focusing on the mechanics of casting the spell, he let himself relax. He felt the mana around him, the natural flow of energy in the air, and he let it come to him without forcing it. The mana was warm, comforting, and he allowed it to fill him slowly, gently.
When he opened his eyes, the world seemed clearer, the energy around him more vibrant. Raising his staff, Yuuto focused on casting the Mana Bolt again, but this time, he didn't force it. He let the mana flow through him like a stream, guiding the spell with his intent rather than brute force.
The first Mana Bolt formed perfectly, streaking through the air and hitting its target. Yuuto didn't stop there. He let the energy continue to flow, casting another bolt, and then another. The magic felt more natural now, more like an extension of himself rather than something he was trying to control.
One, two, three, four—each bolt hit its mark, and with each spell, Yuuto felt more confident, more in tune with the mana around him.
Thalia watched him carefully, her expression unreadable as Yuuto continued his practice. Finally, after releasing a final bolt, Yuuto lowered his staff, his breath steady, his body still humming with the energy he had channeled.
"Well done," Thalia said, her voice quiet but filled with approval. "You're starting to understand."
Yuuto smiled, feeling a surge of pride and relief. "I think I am. It feels different now. More… natural."
"That's because you stopped fighting the mana," Thalia explained. "You let it flow. That's the key to all magic—finding harmony with the energy around you."
Yuuto nodded, the lesson sinking in fully now. He had been so focused on the technical aspects of spellcasting, on controlling the mana, that he had forgotten that magic wasn't just about power. It was about balance, about feeling the flow of energy and working with it.
As the day came to a close, Yuuto felt a renewed sense of purpose. There was still much to learn, and the path ahead was filled with challenges, but he was beginning to understand what Thalia had been trying to teach him all along.
Magic wasn't about force. It was about control—gentle, deliberate control. And with each step forward, Yuuto was growing closer to mastering that control.