It was another day of training. Our group would have an independent training session today. Vera was having Petra help her accessing her mana after being able to feel it out yesterday. Ever since I recovered enough to move last night, I've been constantly trying to move my mana around my body. I wanted it to be something that feels second nature to me.
Having already consciously succeeded releasing it once, moving it around came much more easily. This left me with some time to kill under the effects of Professor Ilmarë's mana while moving my own mana internally. It was a bit too boring just sitting around though.
It should be fine for me to show that I can stand up now, right? I mean, even Vera did it yesterday.
The only problem with that was our other teammate. She still hasn't shown signs of being able to stand. Had she did, I wouldn't have any qualms of moving around.
I closed the distance between us while trying to make it seem like I had difficulty walking. Honestly, I think I did a poor job at it. But, oh well.
When I got to about an arm's length, she finally opened her eyes, revealing pale green eyes. "What do you want?"
I raised both hands in surrender to show friendliness. "Uh, since today's an independent session, I just thought we could share pointers or something."
Her eyes wandered to Vera and Petra, "Why not talk with your friends?"
"Vera's having Petra teach her, I'd just be in the way."
"She already managed to walk yesterday, no? What more does she have to learn?"
Oh, so she did notice. "Ah yeah, she did. She's still having trouble so she's asking for some pointers from our friend."
"Who's she?"
"An alum who's tagging along with us."
"And why are you coming to me? When I'm clearly doing worse than you?"
"Okay, fine. I'm just bored and I don't want to disturb Vera."
"And you're fine bothering me?"
"Kinda, yeah? Okay, fine. Think of it like this. I can try and help you? Some how, some way, or the other."
"Fine."
Finally having wrangled her consent, I sat down in front of her. Her eyes narrowed at me.
"Well then?"
It was time to speak bullshit and hope for the best.
"Can you tell me what you're trying to do?"
"Professor Ilmarë said to just keep moving mana around my body if I want to be able to stand up."
"Yeah, but like, what path is your mana taking when you move it around?"
"Path?"
"Like, are you spreading it all out evenly and circulating it or are you doing it in small parts?"
She looked down in thought.
"Can you explain more?"
"Do you know what phenomenon the professor is emulating?"
"No, I don't."
"She's emulating Dungeon Mana Pressure. She's releasing a lot of mana to saturate the atmosphere a little bit and having it press down on us. It's not exactly a one to one comparison since she's just having it press down on us, whereas real Dungeon Mana Pressure presses on you from every direction."
"So I just have to circulate mana and focus it on the parts being pressed down on?"
"Basically."
She went silent for some time before she started to show some progress. Gradually, she started rising up, little by little, until she could finally stand on two feet.
"Thanks for the help."
"See? I told you I could help you."
"Yes, yes. You're right. All of my thanks goes to your highness." She looked past me. "I think you better scram. Someone's looking for you."
I turned my head and saw Vera and Petra waiting on me for lunch. "Since we're groupmates and all, want to have lunch with us? I can introduce you to them."
She raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I'm exactly welcome."
"Nonsense. Think of it like this. You can meet someone who already graduated from the academy and someone who has even better feel for mana than me. You could learn a lot from them, couldn't you?"
"Fine."
I grinned. I think I've got the handle of how to deal with her already.
I waved to the pair as I walked to them, with the beastwoman struggling close behind. Oh shit, I forgot to act like I'm struggling to walk like her! Eh. Should be fine.
"Petra, sorry for not asking beforehand, but can she eat with us?"
"Yes."
We probably had extra food since the professor wouldn't be eating lunch with us this time. We sat down around the large tree stump that's acted as our de-facto table for the past few days now, and started eating after Petra laid everything out.
Petra was looking at me a bit too long than normal. "What is it?"
"Introductions."
"Ah right! Vera, Petra, this is..." I paused. I actually didn't get her name yet even though we've had all morning to introduce ourselves.
"Reina." Thankfully, she took the memo and supplied her name in-between bites.
"Reina. Reina, this is Vera and Petra."
"Nice to meet you."
Petra nodded, and I looked at Vera expectantly. Catching my gaze, she nodded as well. She was really keeping to herself. She was probably just being wary as usual. I thought this would've been a good opportunity for her to get to know more people. To have more friends. Not that I had more friends than her, but I was much more confident in getting to know others compared to Vera.
Reina's eating manners were incredibly refined, completely contrary to the stereotype. It was much better than mine. You really shouldn't believe in the stereotypes, huh.
"And you?"
"What about me?"
"Obviously, your name. Are you daft or something?"
"Dina."
She was right. That was obvious. This isn't like me. I'm being too absent-minded for this to be normal. I quickly changed the subject. "Vera, how was your progress this morning?"
"It's been good! I can walk around, no problem at all! It's pretty simple after all!"
"I'm still having trouble with spreading out enough mana to counter-act the down force." Reina piped in.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm focusing on spreading the mana on the areas affected by the professor's mana. Is that not what I'm supposed to do? That's what Dina taught me earlier."
"It is, but that's just a shortcut and not really the main point of the exercise. You just need to spread your mana to each part of your body evenly and then have it circulate through your mana circuits while making sure to keep an even spread. Too little mana and you won't be able to resist it. That's probably what you were having trouble with. Next time, if you ever need help with something related to mana. Approach me right away instead."
I had to double-take at Vera's extensive reply. I guess I didn't need to worry about her making friends after all. Reina would probably take Vera's offer considering how I managed to bait her twice.
"See, I told you Vera has a better feel for mana than me! You don't regret coming along with me now, do you?"
"Yes, yes. You're right. All of my thanks goes to your highness." A smug smile formed on my lips.
"Reina, was it? You're free to join my session with Petra later after lunch."
"You wouldn't mind?"
"Not at all."
"Am I still excluded from it?"
Lunch ended uneventfully and they quickly kicked me out of the group, leaving me all in my lonesome.
I guess it's fine since, this way, I can figure out why I'm so distracted.
Was it because I've been circulating my mana the whole time?
Maybe, but I've never experienced this before. Is it because I'm using more of my mind while using mana? Probably.
I have two options in front of me. Either improve my mental acuity and mental processing to stupid levels or just keep doing it until my mana feels second nature to me. One was not like the other.
What if I just... yeah. That's a good idea.
I started stretching. I had hours to kill anyways and my main problem is manipulating my mana. If I wanted my mana to feel just like my muscles, what better way than to develop my muscles while circulating my mana while inside the area filled with Professor Ilmarë's mana.
I started jogging around the field, focusing only on the rhythm of my breaths and the movement of my mana. With each step I take, the sight in front of me melted. With each step I take, the sounds around me faded. With each step I take, the wind brushed past me. With each step I take, I felt lighter and lighter.
What used to take two, now took one. It felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I couldn't even feel the pressure coming from Professor Ilmarë's mana.
I felt... free.