'All right, let's begin.'
I opened the book and started reading. The first few pages explained the concept of magic, noting that it was fueled by a mysterious energy called Mana. According to the book, Mana could be used to improve life or to wield power in battle. Everyone is born with a different amount of Mana, which gradually grows as one becomes more knowledgeable and attuned to it.
'Well, if I start learning now, I should be able to increase my magic power faster than most people, right?'
I also learned that magic is divided into different natures and subtypes. The most common nature is water, followed by earth, then fire. One of the rarest, however, is wind, which is said to be extremely difficult to control. But if mastered, it grants the user formidable strength and skill. The book also mentioned that some people are born with multiple natures, while others can learn to wield multiple types through practice.
'I wonder what nature I have… maybe even more than one? Okay, don't get ahead of yourself, it's just the beginning. Let's keep reading.'
The book looked quite old, so some information might be missing, but for now, it was enough. I continued reading and found out that combining certain natures could create new types of magic, and advanced techniques could even allow a person to channel multiple natures simultaneously. As I read on, I reached a section on basic magic-gathering and control techniques. The gathering technique sounded a bit like a cultivation method, requiring me to relax, clear my mind, and focus on sensing the magic around me and within.
"Okay, let's try this gathering technique. Just relax, clear my mind, and try to feel the magic flowing around and inside me."
But what if Amara sees me? I glanced at her, only to find that she had fallen asleep.
'Well, I guess the coast is clear.'
As I began the technique, it was hard to feel anything other than the air, but gradually, as I focused more, I started sensing a faint energy surrounding me. One of the strongest sources was Amara herself, I could sense her Mana radiating gently around the room.
With patience, I slowly began to feel the surrounding Mana seeping into my body. Feeling this strange, new sensation, I tried to pull in more. As I concentrated, though, everything suddenly went dark.
When I woke up, I realized I had fainted. Looking around, I saw that Amara was still fast asleep beside the crib. I felt my own Mana more strongly now, like a new awareness inside me, and I could more easily sense the Mana surrounding me. I checked the clock, it was nearly five o'clock in the afternoon, close to when Lyra would return. I read as much of the book as I could before she arrived.
When the door opened, the sound woke Amara, who quickly realized she'd been asleep. Startled, she grabbed the book from me, hurriedly put it back in its place on the shelf, and nervously straightened up to greet Lyra.
"You look tired, did you two play a lot?" Lyra asked, smiling at Amara.
"Y-yeah, we did." Amara replied, a bit flustered.
"Lucian seems happy too, it looks like you both had a great time. Will you stay for dinner?" Lyra asked as she picked me up from the crib.
"No, thank you, I have to get home, it's getting late." Amara said, and then dashed out the door.
Lyra watched her leave, bemused. "She must have something on her mind. Well, what about you, Lucian? Are you hungry?"
Meanwhile, down the road, Amara was running home, muttering, "How could I have fallen asleep? I'm a disgrace to my family!"