The early morning light filtered into the cave, casting long shadows as Shiv sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, deep in concentration. Beside him stood Veylin, the greatest mage of this world, his ghostly form observing quietly. Today marked the beginning of Shiv's training—a journey into magic that would challenge the very limits of what Veylin thought possible.
"Magic begins with mana," Veylin said, his voice calm yet instructive. "For a mage, it takes years to truly control it. Your first task is to feel the mana in nature. It's all around you—in the air, in the earth, in every living thing. Focus on drawing it into yourself and storing it in your heart."
Shiv nodded, taking a deep breath as he prepared to begin. Veylin had explained that, due to his unique connection with the dragon's heart, his heart would act as his mana pool—a place to store and channel energy. He needed to form his first mana circle, a task that would typically take a normal mage an entire year.
Veylin watched intently as Shiv closed his eyes, focusing on the flow of mana around him. At first, Shiv struggled to sense it, his mind reaching out but finding nothing. But slowly, he began to feel it—a subtle pulse in the air, like the faint hum of an invisible current. He could feel the life energy around him, and as he focused harder, he started to draw it in, pulling the mana toward him.
"Now, breathe it in," Veylin instructed softly. "Let it enter your heart."
Shiv imagined the mana flowing into him, his heart beating in rhythm with the energy of the world. He could feel the warmth of it filling him, a strange and invigorating sensation. It wasn't overwhelming, but steady, like a river flowing into a reservoir. The dragon's heart within him pulsed, absorbing the mana with ease.
"Good," Veylin said, watching closely. "Now channel it through your veins. Feel it spread through your body, but keep control. Form a circle of mana around your heart. This circle will be your first step toward magic."
Shiv focused harder, feeling the mana circulate through him. It flowed like liquid fire, moving through his arms and legs, then back to his heart. Slowly, he visualized a circle of energy forming around his heart—a glowing loop of pure mana that hummed with potential.
To his surprise, the circle completed itself almost effortlessly. A wave of energy passed through him as the first mana circle solidified in place, its presence unmistakable.
Shiv opened his eyes, feeling the power surging within him. "I did it," he said quietly, still not fully believing it himself.
Veylin's expression shifted to one of pure shock. "You... you've formed your first circle already?" He stared at Shiv in disbelief. "That's impossible. It takes a normal mage an entire year to form their first circle. You did it in minutes."
Shiv was equally stunned. "Is that bad?"
Veylin shook his head slowly, awe flickering in his eyes. "No... no, it's remarkable. I've trained many mages in my lifetime, but never have I seen someone progress this quickly. I spent decades mastering the nine mana circles, and you've just taken the first step in record time."
Unsure of what to make of it, Shiv simply nodded. He didn't know how or why he had formed his mana circle so quickly, but the dragon's heart clearly played a role. The immense power it contained was far beyond what he could comprehend.
"Let's move on," Veylin said, still processing what he had witnessed. "We'll start with something simple: fire. Magic is rooted in imagination. To create fire, you must first visualize it clearly in your mind. A mage's power is only limited by the clarity of their thoughts."
Shiv closed his eyes again, this time imagining the delicate flame of a candle. He thought back to his childhood, to the small candle his mother would light during power outages. With that image in mind, he channeled a small amount of mana into his hand. When he opened his eyes, a tiny spark flickered in his palm—a small, dancing flame.
"Good," Veylin said, his voice impressed. "Fire is the most basic element, but it requires control. For now, keep it small."
Shiv stared at the spark, his scientific mind whirling with possibilities. He understood fire in ways Veylin didn't. It wasn't just a mystical force to him; it was a reaction of heat and energy. With that knowledge, Shiv decided to push further. He imagined a blue flame—the kind produced by a gas stove, where the flame burns hotter and more efficiently.
To Veylin's astonishment, the tiny flame in Shiv's hand transformed. It grew brighter and more intense, burning a brilliant blue, the heat it radiated far stronger than before.
"A blue flame?" Veylin muttered, his disbelief growing. "That... that's not possible for a first-circle mage. You've just created something far beyond your level."
Shiv, emboldened by his success, wasn't done yet. He poured more mana into the flame, imagining it expanding. The blue flame flickered and grew, transforming into a ball of fire, which hovered above his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he threw it across the cave, where it exploded in a burst of light.
Veylin's mouth fell open. "That was a fireball. Third-circle magic. You just created it with a single circle."
Shiv blinked, trying to process what he had done. "Is that... not normal?"
"Not even remotely," Veylin said, his voice a mix of amazement and confusion. "No mage at your level should be able to do that. Something about you... is different."
Veylin didn't yet know that Shiv came from another world, a place governed by science and logic rather than magic. Shiv's modern knowledge of elements and physics gave him an edge that no mage in this world could have anticipated.
Over the following days, Shiv continued his training, progressing rapidly through the basic elements—fire, water, earth, wind, and spirit. Each time, he surpassed Veylin's expectations. His water magic flowed stronger, his earth magic more precise, his wind faster and sharper. He mastered the elements at an unprecedented pace.
Veylin, a nine-circle mage, had never seen anything like it. As the greatest wizard of his world, he had spent years mastering the nine circles of magic, yet Shiv was achieving feats that should have taken decades.
As Shiv's confidence grew, so did his creativity. Using earth magic, he shaped furniture out of stone, creating a comfortable living space within the cave. He crafted a magical stove that ran on fire mana, a glowing orb to provide light at night, and even a pair of boots enchanted with wind magic to help him run faster. His scientific knowledge fueled his imagination, allowing him to blend modern ingenuity with ancient magic.
One afternoon, while experimenting with water and air, Shiv accidentally froze a stream of water in mid-air. Fascinated, he began to explore ice magic, eventually mastering it alongside lightning, which he crafted from wind mana. His experiments resulted in the creation of various magical devices—boots that allowed him to move swiftly, night glasses that enhanced his vision, and even a small, magical flashlight.
Shiv's bond with magic deepened further when he stumbled upon a Ferrir cub—an injured creature being attacked by a pack of monsters. Using his newfound powers, Shiv fought off the monsters and saved the cub. Over time, the Ferrir grew attached to him, and under Veylin's guidance, Shiv learned the art of monster taming, forming a strong bond with the young creature.
As the month of training neared its end, Shiv had far exceeded Veylin's expectations. He had not only mastered the basic elements but had also innovated in ways that Veylin had never seen before. By the end of the month, Shiv had reached the second circle of magic—a feat that would have taken most mages years.
On the final day, Veylin stood before him, his spectral form flickering with pride. "Shiv, I have trained countless mages over the centuries, but never have I seen someone progress like you. You've surpassed every expectation I had."
Shiv smiled, the weight of his journey settling on him. He had come so far in just a month, and yet, he knew this was only the beginning.
The world of magic had opened to him, and with the power of the dragon's heart, he was ready to face whatever came next.