When Luther reached the group, Marcus stepped forward and stuck out his foot, causing him to trip. Before Luther could fully fall, Marcus grabbed his arm, feigning concern. "Careful, buddy," he said with a mocking laugh, keeping him upright. "We wouldn't want you getting hurt before we even start."
The laughter from the others grew louder, and the mocking murmurs didn't stop. Luther, hiding a deep look of hatred, forced a smile and replied, "Thanks… Marcus." He straightened himself and joined the group, trying not to show any emotion.
While the other leaders finished forming their teams, the atmosphere in the square was a mix of nervousness and excitement. Some of the summoned looked at the stronger teams with envy, while others seemed relieved they hadn't been picked by someone like Marcus.
When the teams were complete, a sudden silence fell over the square. Everyone turned to look in the same direction, where Princess Selene approached with an imposing grace. Her presence seemed to draw in all attention, and the murmuring that had filled the air vanished entirely.
The princess, dressed in a white tunic adorned with golden details, stopped in front of the group and regarded them with a mixture of authority and serenity. Her mere presence seemed to calm the tensions, but it also commanded absolute respect.
The princess moved forward with confident steps, flanked by Alaric, who was still trying to maintain his composure after his earlier blunder. Her presence was serene yet powerful. Her tunic, adorned with golden accents, gleamed under the afternoon sun. All the young summoned fell silent as she arrived at the center of the camp. Even the murmurs seemed to dissipate into the wind as they waited to hear what she had to say.
"Welcome to the training camp of the Kingdom of Aether," she began, her voice radiating calm and authority simultaneously. Her eyes swept over the group of summoned, pausing briefly on each one. "You are here to learn to control the mana that flows through this world. This skill is essential for your future and for passing the entrance exam to the Royal Academy."
"You have been summoned to this world with an artificial mana core," the princess continued, pacing slowly as she spoke. "These cores are temporary and will not allow you to use mana effectively. Your first goal here will be to transform that artificial core into a natural one."
The princess paused for a moment and raised her hand, where a small sphere of bluish light appeared, floating gently. The sphere rotated slowly, pulsing softly as if it were alive.
"The mana core is the source of power that every living being in this world possesses. Its growth follows a process that moves from a latent core to a refined one, passing through the awakened and expanded phases. At this moment, the artificial core inside you is not even considered a latent core. To begin your real training, you must first create mana circuits that allow this energy to flow through your body."
"To form these circuits," the princess continued, "you must practice channeling mana through your body. This will gradually open the pathways, creating the energy veins that will allow you to use your abilities. This is the first step."
"The training will last seven days. Each day, you will come closer to completing your mana circuits, and at the end, when you have created a level 2 latent core, you will be ready for the final test," the princess concluded, nodding slightly.
"That will be the Academy's entrance exam!" Alaric exclaimed, regaining his usual enthusiasm. "But be warned: only those who pass the test will be admitted. Those who fail will have to fend for themselves."
Luther listened closely to every word, though most of it seemed to echo distantly in his mind. His eyes wandered briefly to the ground as the murmurs of the summoned surrounded him.
"Twilight… I wish you were here," he thought, his mind recalling the voice that had always guided him. Since arriving in this world, he hadn't felt its presence even once.
"The manipulation of mana is essential," the princess continued, interrupting Luther's thoughts. "Every day, you will train with your teammates under the supervision of your instructors. Today, we will begin with the first exercise: learning to feel mana flowing through your body."
Luther watched as the princess gestured to Alaric, who nodded and began handing out small crystals to the summoned. Luther took his carefully, feeling its cold surface against his skin.
"This crystal will help you channel mana," the princess explained. "You must focus and allow the mana to enter your body through the crystal. Let it flow through every part of you, but be careful. Mana can be unstable if not handled properly."
The young trainees sat on the ground, each holding their crystal, preparing for the exercise.
When Luther began to concentrate, a strange sensation washed over him. The crystal in his hand started to warm slightly, and he could feel a stream of energy flowing into him. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the sensation of mana moving through his body. However, instead of feeling a smooth, controlled energy, it was as if a violent surge crashed through him, like an overflowing river forcing its way through.
The pain hit him immediately. It felt as though his body couldn't withstand the pressure of the mana, as if it were trying to carve its path too quickly, breaking everything in its way. Luther's face twisted in pain, and he gritted his teeth, trying to endure it. He could feel the mana tearing through him as it tried to form the circuits.
The princess, supervising the exercise, quickly noticed what was happening. Her eyes locked on Luther, and she hurried to his side, extending her hand toward him. A gentle glow enveloped her fingers as she murmured a healing spell.
At that moment, Luther felt a comforting warmth that soothed the pain. The mana, once an uncontrollable force, seemed to calm down. Without opening his eyes, Luther let the warmth flow through him, easing the unbearable pressure he had felt moments before. He didn't realize how close the princess was until he felt her presence right beside him.
When he opened his eyes, he found the princess's face very close to his. Her eyes were filled with concern, and her golden hair fell gently around her face.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft, with a small, reassuring smile.
Luther, surprised by how close she was, blushed instantly, averting his gaze shyly. "Uh… yeah. Sorry, I didn't realize, hahaha…" he said nervously, laughing awkwardly.
The princess smiled again, amused by his reaction. "Your affinity with mana is much stronger than it seems. That's why it was so painful for you. But don't worry, I'll be here to help you."
Luther looked at her with surprise and gratitude. He wasn't sure if he was overwhelmed by her beauty or simply because he had never interacted much with women before. The fact that the princess offered her help made him feel both uncomfortable and grateful—it was a new experience for him.
"Thank you…" he murmured, still overwhelmed by the princess's closeness.
She nodded, then stood and returned to the center of the group. "You can all rest now. Tomorrow, we will continue the exercises."