It's been almost a year since I started my training. To be honest, I haven't progressed as quickly as Zirael has. It's absurd because I trained day after day, trying to increase my energy with every practice until I nearly passed out. Now, I can create a fireball the size of a tennis ball, but the problem is, I can only do it once before I'm exhausted and collapse. While I can create smaller spheres several times, it still feels lacking compared to what Zirael can do.
He showed me that he can summon a sphere the same size as mine, with the difference that he doesn't end up exhausted after the first try.
I have a lot to improve. According to Zirael, my progress places me at an intermediate level. Initially, I thought levels were based on mastering a specific skill, but I learned it's quite the opposite. Levels reflect the number of skills mastered and the ability to use them more efficiently and with greater power.
In my case, to advance and learn new skills, I still need to gather more energy. Every day, I face the reality that, although I've made progress, the path ahead is still long and full of challenges. But if there's one thing I've learned during this time, it's that perseverance, even if slow, will take me where I want to go.
The good thing is that within our group I am the second best in magic control, which is an achievement considering that the girls have a year more experience than me. In theory I should be last, but fortunately I had the advantage. Thanks to the book I managed to learn to read, or at least understand the basic concepts and adequate development for learning at the first levels.
"It's okay Kaini, tomorrow we can go," my cousin said with all the confidence in the world.
"And how did you convince her? My mom doesn't want me going near the town," I asked, surprised.
"Of course, that's exactly what she told me. But I explained that we wouldn't go to the town but rather to a meadow a little way away from it."
"So… you lied?"
"No, I didn't lie. I told you we'd go to that place near the town; I never mentioned we'd go directly into the town."
And that was that. A few days ago, Zirael had told me it was time for both of us to take a step forward in our training. To achieve what he had in mind, we needed a large, open space, so Luna suggested a location she knew, a bit further than usual. The problem was it would take us around three hours to get there on foot, which wasn't very convenient.
Zirael, dissatisfied with that idea, decided the meadow near the town would be a more suitable spot. It was close yet far enough that we wouldn't technically be within the town. In the end, everyone agreed on this idea since it would just be in and out.
"Well then, I'll get ready for tomorrow," I told him, still a bit curious.
"Yeah, I'll come early with everything ready, just wait."
"Alright, but one question before you go... What's this thing you're so excited to show us?" I asked, trying to get a hint.
Zirael leaned in close and whispered in a mysterious tone, "You'll see. Now go to sleep and rest well; you're going to need all your energy."
This is ridiculous, I thought. He was taking it like a game, enjoying the thrill of keeping it a secret until tomorrow. It seemed like his ridiculous ego was at its peak. Maybe he just wanted to show off in front of Rina and Luna, or maybe his intentions were something else. How could I know?
Or maybe… could I?
An idea popped into my mind as I lay down.
He had finally accepted my request. Could I finally learn another spell?
It had been a dream of mine since I started practicing with him. I had proposed learning more than a simple flame, but he'd forbidden it until I mastered it entirely. I asked him why he focused so much on one spell. Why not start with something less risky, like a water spell? To which he replied that fire, though dangerous, was a simpler skill to handle, as the body's warmth helped channel it.
That didn't make sense to me. The very book I'd read said otherwise—fire was difficult to control, especially when it overflowed.
Now I wonder what would have happened if I'd started my practice in the most normal way. Well, that's something I'll leave for another day. I need to sleep and be ready for whatever Zirael has planned.
"Good night."