The next day, Ranav started following Nanima's rigorous training routine. First, he worked on expanding his Mana Sense. Internally, he made significant progress. He could now clearly perceive his bodily structures: bones, heart, lungs, muscles, liver, kidneys, and even the blood coursing through his veins. Focusing on a specific organ allowed him to observe it in greater detail, like watching the rhythmic flow of blood through his heart's chambers.
However, his external progress was slow. His Mana Sense barely extended beyond two feet from his body.
Next, he turned his attention to controlling the mysterious purple stars. This time, they didn't resist as violently as before. After considerable effort, he managed to grasp one. Yet, when he tried to place it in a fixed position, it slipped away, eluding his control.
"Not much progress, but it's a start," Ranav thought, sighing. "The connection between the ring and the purple stars might be real. Since bonding with the ring, the stars have become less aggressive. But what is this ring, really?"
He recalled his father's stern warning: "You must not speak about the ring to anyone; not Nanima, not your mother, no one." The seriousness of his father's tone had unsettled him. "A family secret… but why not Mom? Doesn't she count as family? This ring has created a divide between Dad and the rest of us. It makes me even more curious. What is its true nature?"
Ranav pushed those thoughts aside and resumed training. As exhaustion set in, he used his breathing technique to recharge himself. But this time, something was off. His improvement felt slower than usual.
Frowning, he observed his energy flow closely. As he inhaled, world energy flooded into his body and gathered in his lower abdomen, as expected. From there, it spread throughout his body.
"No, something's different," he muttered. "Almost half of the energy is flowing to my right hand."
Following the trail, he realized the energy was vanishing into his ring finger. His eyes widened. "Oh no! The ring is devouring my mana! What kind of ring is this? None of the books I've read mention a ring that leeches mana from its user."
Despite his frustration, this realization brought clarity. At least now I know where my energy is going. Calming his thoughts, he recharged himself diligently.
Ranav then moved on to casting light magic, draining his mana reserve repeatedly. Each time, he used the breathing technique to replenish it, then emptied it again through casting. He cycled through this process until afternoon, following Nanima's routine to the letter. Finally, exhausted, he returned home and rested for the remainder of the day.
Over two weeks passed in this manner. One evening, after returning from work, Trinav called him. "Ranav, Nanima wants you to visit her house tomorrow morning," he said.
"Okay, Dad," Ranav replied, feeling a flicker of anticipation. "Nanima must have returned from the capital. Maybe there's good news for me."
The next morning, after breakfast, Ranav made his way to Nanima's house. She greeted him warmly but quickly got down to business, as always.
"I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" she asked.
"I prefer the bad news first," Ranav replied.
Nanima nodded. "I searched through several libraries in the capital, but I couldn't find any trace of purple stars or related magic. The only place that might have this knowledge is the Armed Forces Library. But gaining access is nearly impossible. Only high officials of the army or the royal family can enter, and it holds many classified books, manuals, and spells."
"I understand, Nanima," Ranav said evenly, though his mind churned with determination. That library must hold invaluable knowledge if it's kept so secret. One day, I'll find a way to gain access.
Nanima misread his calm demeanor as disappointment. "Don't be disheartened," she said gently. "You're not the first person to face an unknown element. Every element was once a mystery. Learning takes time and patience."
"Now, the good news," she said, handing him a thick, old book with a slightly worn cover. "This is the book I promised for your Mana Body Training. I just received it yesterday from the merchant. Read it in the study. I can't guide you on this since I'm unfamiliar with the technique. But if you run into problems, come to me. I may not know the specifics, but I can help troubleshoot."
Ranav took the book, his curiosity piqued. "Thank you, Nanima. I'll start right away."
Nanima smiled. "Good. I'll be busy at the shop until lunch. We can discuss more then."
Settling into the study, Ranav opened the book titled "Mana Forge: The Ultimate Guide to Body Training for Warriors" written by "Saint Nguyen Lan". The first page caught his attention immediately.
"I, Nguyen Lan, also known as the Sword Saint, am writing this book for future members of my clan. It is a guide to strengthen our lineage and ensure our clan remains among the strongest in Airavata Kingdom."
Ranav's eyes lit up. A clan-specific training manual! If their clan was strong enough to publicly claim superiority, this must be a top-tier technique.
He continued reading, absorbing every detail. The training was divided into three levels: Fighter, Transcendent, and Saint. Each level had multiple stages, with detailed explanations for progression.
"This is perfect for me," Ranav thought. "I don't have a master, but this book is so detailed, it's almost like having one."
He focused on the Fighter level, particularly the first stage: Forging Breath. After reading it carefully he finalized that he was now at this level. The next stage is Dantian Formation.
"The Dantian is the core where mana is stored and refined," Ranav read aloud. "Located two inches below the navel, it is formed by visualizing a glowing sphere in the lower abdomen and channeling energy into it. The trainee must control the energy, forcing it to condense into a stable core. This step is critical for future growth."
"I need to read more before trying to create Dantian. The book said it is the most important step for future growth," He thought.
He spent hours pouring over the section, committing every instruction to memory. By the time he finished, Nanima had returned home.