The morning sun barely lit the horizon when Ranav arrived at the knight training ground with his father. Dew glistened on the grass, and the air carried the crispness of early dawn. Tenali Raman was already there, overseeing workers as they prepared the training area.
Seeing the father-son duo approach, Tenali offered a warm smile. "Good morning! Ranav, let's start with three laps around the field. That should wake you up."
Trinav exchanged pleasantries with Tenali before heading off, leaving Ranav to his training.
Ranav jogged steadily, the cool air filling his lungs as he completed the laps. Once done, he dove straight into the familiar rhythm of physical training under Tenali's watchful eye.
Afterward, Tenali handed him a wooden katana. "Yesterday, we focused on the basics of sword technique for both defense and offense. Today, we'll spar. But listen carefully: you are only allowed to use the basic sword art. No extra movements or improvisations."
"Yes, Sir," Ranav replied, gripping the wooden sword with determination.
They began their duel. Tenali attacked with deliberate intent, each strike testing Ranav's technique. As they clashed, he corrected every misstep Ranav made, pointing out flaws in his form and teaching him how to adjust.
Unbeknownst to Tenali, Jessica was also guiding Ranav from within, subtly correcting his movements and fine-tuning his defense to counter Tenali's strikes. Though Tenali was holding back to match Ranav's age and experience, within half an hour, he realized that he couldn't easily penetrate Ranav's defense.
Impressed, Tenali increased his speed to defend against Ranav's strikes. "You're improving quickly," he admitted, stepping back. "That's enough for today."
Ranav beamed with pride, bowing respectfully.
After returning home, Ranav freshened up, ate breakfast, and set out for his training spot atop the hill. Today felt different. Excitement buzzed through him like electricity. Jessica noticed his energy.
"Are you excited?" she asked.
"Of course! A stronger breathing technique means I can advance to the next level!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself," she warned. "It's still a theory, and theories can fail."
"Why do you doubt yourself?"
"It's not doubt," Jessica replied thoughtfully. "It's caution. Let's wait for success before we celebrate."
"Fine," he muttered, his excitement dimmed.
At the hilltop, the training began. Jessica's tone turned serious. "According to the Mana Body Training Manual, your next stage is Body Tempering. After selecting your breathing technique, you'll need to fill your Dantian with mana and then circulate it throughout your body to temper it. This process will strengthen you from within."
Ranav nodded, pieces of his earlier confusion falling into place. "That explains why my Dantian always feels empty no matter how much I train."
"Exactly. But we'll focus on upgrading your breathing technique first. Show me the original version of Aikido you learned from your original master. I need to analyze it carefully."
Ranav took his stance. Feet shoulder-width apart, he bent his knees, sitting on his legs with his back straight. Slowly, he demonstrated:
"Exhale completely, bending forward to empty the lungs. Focus on the lower abdomen. Breathe in through the nose for four seconds, straightening your posture. Hold the breath for eight seconds, feeling the flow of energy through the body. Exhale through the mouth for sixteen seconds, bending forward again. Repeat."
Jessica watched intently, analyzing every movement and mana flow. "Good. Now stop and listen carefully."
Ranav straightened up, waiting for her instructions.
"When you hold your breath, at the first second, move your mana from the Dantian to the world energy you've inhaled. Mix the two, like casting a spell, and then guide the mixed energy back into your Dantian. I'll show you how spells work first. Let me take control of your body."
Ranav yielded, focusing solely on his mana flow. Jessica stretched his right hand outward, forming a glowing light ball in his palm.
"Pay attention," she instructed. "See how your mana flows from the Dantian to your palm? It combines with the world's mana, but not all of it. For light magic, only light elemental mana binds with your energy; the rest dissipates. Now, observe this."
The light ball in his palm turned transparent. "I'm mixing your mana with the entire spectrum of the world's energy. Nothing is wasted."
The demonstration ended, and Jessica relinquished control of his body.
"Now it's your turn," she said. "Mix your mana with the world energy as I showed you, but only during the holding step of your breathing exercise. Start slowly."
Ranav sat cross-legged and began. He inhaled, held his breath, and moved his mana toward the world energy he had drawn in. As he attempted to mix the two, the mana grew denser, heavier, and harder to control.
"Stop!" Jessica's voice rang sharply. "Send your mana back to the Dantian!"
Ranav obeyed, forcing the energy to return. A sharp, searing pain erupted in his lower abdomen, spreading through his body like fire. He collapsed onto the grass, gasping.
Jessica's voice was laced with guilt. "I'm sorry. I should've warned you. You only needed to mix your mana once, not repeatedly. The pain will subside, it's confined to your Dantian. There's no permanent harm."
Ranav winced but listened as she continued in a lecturing tone.
"Think of it this way: your body is accustomed to drawing in air with tiny amounts of water vapor. I asked you to draw in more concentrated vapor to optimize the process, but instead, you tried to consume pure water. Your body isn't ready for that level yet. You need to adapt gradually."
"So, I did it correctly but tried to handle more mana than I could manage?"
"Exactly. For now, focus on mixing the energy and guiding it to the Dantian in small amounts."
Ranav nodded. "The pain's easing up. Can I try again?"
"No," Jessica said firmly. "Rest first. Let the pain subside completely. Pushing too hard too soon will only hinder your progress. For now, let's call it a success."
"A success?" Ranav asked, curious.
"My first theory worked. But I have another one waiting to be tested when you're ready."
Ranav smiled despite the lingering pain. "I'll rest. But I'm eager to hear about this second theory."
Jessica chuckled. "Patience, Ranav. All in good time."