The night was still, the sky clear and dotted with stars that twinkled like distant jewels. A full moon hung low on the horizon, casting its pale light over the Eldarion estate, illuminating the grand stone walls and the expansive courtyard where Dark now stood. He liked the quiet of the night, when the world was asleep, and he could practice without interruption.
Dark stretched his hand out, his fingers brushing the cool night air. He could feel it, the mana, swirling unseen around him, flowing through the earth, the sky, and everything in between. It had taken him years to understand it, but now, at eight years old, he could manipulate it in ways that far surpassed what any child, or even most adults, should be able to achieve.
He glanced at the center of the courtyard where the large statue he had failed to lift earlier in the week stood, now fully repaired. Its stone figure loomed over the space, a silent reminder of his limits. The weight of the statue, the precision it had required to lift it, it had been too much for him. But that was days ago. Dark had been refining his technique, studying the flow of mana more intensely, breaking it down into a series of patterns and variables that he could manipulate with more precision.
Tonight, I'll succeed.
The statue, a massive representation of an ancient warrior, was his challenge once again. Dark had decided that if he could master controlling such a heavy, dense object, he could manipulate anything. It was a test of his will, his control over mana, and his ability to push beyond what was considered possible.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the flow of mana beneath the earth, the deep roots of energy that connected everything in this world. He had learned that magic was more than just casting spells, it was about understanding the source, the energy itself, and how it interacted with the environment. The statue, though made of stone, was still part of that flow. It was connected to the earth, to the mana that ran through everything, and if he could tap into that connection, he could control it.
Dark opened his eyes, his focus sharp and unwavering. He extended his hand toward the statue, feeling the weight of it pressing against the mana that flowed beneath it.
Lift.
For a moment, nothing happened. The statue remained still, as if mocking his effort. But Dark didn't waver. He could feel the resistance, the heavy flow of mana pushing back against his command, but he had learned how to overcome that. Instead of forcing it, he guided it, like a programmer writing a complex line of code. Each line had to be precise, each command carefully placed.
Lift.
The statue trembled slightly, the stone creaking as it began to shift. Dark's heart raced, but he kept his breathing steady, his mind focused entirely on the task. The statue lifted a few inches off the ground, hovering in the air, its base casting a long shadow across the courtyard.
Dark's muscles tensed, his focus sharpening as he pushed the mana further, commanding the statue to rise higher. Slowly, inch by inch, the massive figure ascended, until it hovered nearly a foot above the ground. Dark could feel the weight of it pressing down on the flow of mana, but he held it steady, refusing to let it collapse like before.
Higher.
The statue rose again, another few inches, its shadow stretching longer across the stone floor. Dark's brow furrowed in concentration. His control over the mana was stronger now, more refined, but the weight of the stone was immense. It pressed down on the flow of energy, threatening to break his hold.
Just a little more.
He clenched his fist, his mind pushing the mana harder, commanding it to obey. The statue wobbled slightly, the mana beneath it straining under the pressure. Dark could feel it slipping, the balance of energy teetering on the edge of collapse. But he didn't give up. He adjusted his focus, carefully redirecting the flow of mana to stabilize the weight.
For a brief, shining moment, the statue hovered two feet above the ground, perfectly balanced, the mana flowing smoothly beneath it.
I've got it.
But then, just as quickly as it had lifted, the mana faltered. Dark felt the shift before it happened, the weight of the stone becoming too much for the flow of mana to bear. The statue shuddered, and before Dark could regain control, it crashed back to the ground with a thunderous impact, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
Dark took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest, his breath coming in shallow bursts. He stared at the statue, now firmly back on the ground, unharmed but unmoving. The courtyard was silent, save for the soft rustle of the wind in the trees.
So close, Dark thought, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. He had been so close to controlling it, so close to succeeding. But the weight of the stone, the density of the material, it had been too much for him to maintain.
Still, he had lifted it. He had succeeded where he had failed before. That was progress.
I'll get it right next time, Dark told himself, his hands dropping to his sides. He wasn't discouraged, just more determined. Each failure was a step toward mastery. He had learned more about the flow of mana in these past few weeks than he had in years, and he knew he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
As the dust settled around him, Dark's thoughts shifted to the Arcane Academy. His parents had spoken about it often in recent months, excited for the day when he would be sent to study among the most talented young mages in the kingdom. They saw it as a great honor, a chance for him to refine his abilities under the tutelage of the best instructors in the land.
But Dark saw it differently. He didn't need their lessons. He had already surpassed what most of the mages at the Academy could teach him. The spells they would offer him were outdated, inefficient. He had learned that magic, like programming, could be optimized, refined, improved.
The Academy is just a stepping stone, he thought, his gaze still fixed on the statue. I'll go, but I won't stay long.
Dark turned his back on the statue, his mind already moving on to the next challenge. He had more to learn, more to experiment with before he left for the Academy. He hadn't yet mastered the more complex spells from the forbidden tomes he had taken from the family's hidden library, and there were still elements of magic that remained elusive to him.
Time and space, he mused as he walked toward the house. Those are the forces I need to master.
His experiments with elemental magic had been successful, but Dark knew there were deeper forces at play in the world. The forbidden tomes had hinted at it, magic that could bend time, reshape reality, alter the very fabric of existence. That was the power Dark sought, and he was determined to find it.
As he approached the entrance to the house, the door creaked open, and a figure stepped out, a tall, imposing man with silver streaks in his dark hair and a stern expression.
It was Lord Eldarion, his father.
Dark stopped, his face betraying nothing as his father's sharp eyes settled on him. There was a moment of silence between them, the weight of Lord Eldarion's gaze heavy in the air.
"Practicing again, I see," Lord Eldarion said, his voice measured, but with an underlying edge of authority. He glanced past Dark toward the statue in the courtyard. "And not with simple spells, I imagine."
Dark kept his expression neutral. "I'm refining my control over earth magic."
Lord Eldarion raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on the statue for a moment before he turned back to his son. "You've always been ambitious, Dark. But remember, power without control is dangerous."
Dark inclined his head slightly, though inwardly, he bristled at the implication. His father had always been a strict adherent to the traditional ways of magic, believing that power should be cultivated slowly, through years of disciplined study. But Dark had no interest in following tradition. He had already surpassed the limits his father had set for him, and he wasn't going to slow down.
"I understand," Dark said, his tone calm and respectful.
Lord Eldarion studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "Good. The Arcane Academy will be a challenge, but I have no doubt you will rise to it."
The Academy isn't a challenge, Dark thought, though he kept his face neutral. It's just another step.
Lord Eldarion gave him a final nod before turning and disappearing into the house. Dark watched him go, his mind already shifting back to his own plans.
Control, he thought, echoing his father's words. He knew control was important, but it wasn't just about limiting his power. It was about mastering it completely, bending it to his will without hesitation. He was close, closer than his father could understand.
And soon, he would go beyond anything the world had ever seen.