Nanima allowed Ranav to read until lunchtime each day. Once he closed the books, she would send him home to rest and keep up with his family. He spent the entire week poring over the chapter on Light and Darkness, taking countless notes and absorbing Bhadrakali's profound understanding of these elements. "Amazing, simply amazing," he muttered to himself one day as he read. "Atharvana Bhadrakali's insights into mana flow in a patient's body are unmatched. Only now do I understand why she combined these two elements in one section. Light and Darkness aren't separate; they're two sides of the same coin. Darkness is critical for healing diseases and congenital conditions. Coming from Earth, I was thinking of Darkness as evil. If anyone finds out, they'll laugh at me for sure."
His excitement grew as he re-read the section several times until he was confident he hadn't missed anything. Then, he moved on to the other elements, focusing intently on the basics he knew would be vital for his future studies. Although his magical power hadn't increased, his understanding had deepened to a new level. By the end of the month, Nanima was pleased to learn he had finished the entire book.
That day, she brought Ranav to her home after closing the shop. She handed him several meditation manuals, each containing different perspectives on how to tap into the world's mana.
"Mages meditate in countless ways," Nanima explained, "but one truth is universal: meditation is the foundation for mastering all elements. Meditation connects us to the world's energy—some mages call this mana—which is essential for casting spells. Through focused meditation, you align your own mana with the world's."
"From now on, you'll come to my house in the morning every day. You can meditate here, uninterrupted. No need to go to the shop. I'll guide you whenever I'm home."
Ranav spent the following weeks attempting to enter the "dark, cosmos-like space" described by Nanima and the meditation guides. Despite trying all the techniques he read about, he couldn't quite reach it. He knew what he was supposed to do, but something seemed to be missing.
One day, he thought back to his past life, recalling the meditation techniques he had learned in Aikido. "Maybe I have to find my own approach to meditation," he thought, and after discussing this idea with Nanima, she agreed to let him try. She told him to visit her house once a week for updates but suggested he pause further reading until he advanced to the Novice stage.
Back home, Ranav began searching for the ideal place to meditate, something close to his house. After searching for about an hour, he found a place to his liking. It was near their family farm, where his father, Trinav, spent much of his day. The farm lay on the northern edge of the village's farmlands, close to the vast forest known as Doon Valley. About ten minutes' walk from home, a small hill stood nestled within the forest, surrounded by dense greenery. It was not a dangerous area, as the village relied on the forest for timber, and its outskirts were well-protected by hunters and villagers alike. The hilltop felt charged with energy, and Ranav sensed a vibrant flow of mana in the air as he approached.
Climbing to the hill's peak, he found an old Ashoka tree with thick, spreading branches. Its shade blanketed the hilltop, giving the place a peaceful aura, sheltered from the open sky and secluded. As he stood beneath its branches, he felt an undeniable surge of mana from the ground up through his body, as though he were breathing in energy itself. The location was perfect for his meditation.
The next morning, Ranav informed Naveena of his plan. "I'll be meditating on the hilltop in the woods," he told her. "If you need me, come to the forest's edge by our farm and shout my name. I'll hear you." With her permission, he set off, excitement filling his chest.
Upon reaching the hilltop, he sat cross-legged beneath the Ashoka tree. After observing his surroundings for some time, he began the Aikido breathing technique. Almost immediately, he felt an invigorating surge as the world's energy filled his lower abdomen. As he directed the energy along the pathways his old dojo instructor had taught him, a sharp, unbearable pain shot through his body. He gritted his teeth, determined to push through, and forced the energy along each acupoint with deliberate breaths.
"Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself," he chanted softly, using the mantra to stabilize his focus. Gradually, his inner vision sharpened, and he could feel every organ, each cell, humming with energy. He pushed the mana forward, even as the pain lingered. Hours passed in this trance-like state until the setting sun reminded him of how late it was. Excited and exhausted, he hurried home, anticipating his next session.
Each morning, he returned to the Ashoka tree, focusing his breaths and pushing the energy, also called mana, through his body. As he continued, the pain began to subside, replaced by a sensation of vibrant energy. On the fifth day, there was no pain in his body. Still, no stars appeared in his inner vision, which he knew was a hallmark of entering the Novice stage.
After a week, he decided to attempt something different. Recalling a higher level of meditation from Aikido called Kotodama, he decided to incorporate chanting. He closed his eyes, adjusted his posture, and began with a slow, resonant "Om…", as he exhaled, he visualized mana flowing along his pathways, vibrating with the sound and sending ripples into his surroundings.
Something remarkable happened. Though he hadn't yet seen his star cluster, he found that his awareness had expanded outward, as if his senses were now intertwined with the world. He could see vigorous mana flowing through the Ashoka tree, gentle streams of mana flowing through the grasses and plants on the hill, and even faint streams of mana coursing through the air. He glanced around with his inner vision and caught sight of a bird in flight, its body glowing faintly with mana. Fascinated, he shifted his focus downward, seeing the intricate details of the grass and tiny ants crawling along the ground. Everything glowed with energy, visible only to his enhanced senses.
Though he hadn't yet reached his goal, Ranav felt he had uncovered a unique ability, one he had never read about in Nanima's books. He continued to explore this new sensory awareness each day, his range growing slightly with each session, though he could never see beyond the base of the hill.
By the end of the week, he hadn't seen the stars in his inner vision but felt more energized with each breathing cycle. The pain he had once felt was entirely gone, replaced by a new, heightened vitality. Ranav knew he was close, yet still missing some key piece of the puzzle. Unsure of what to do, he decided it was time to consult Nanima.