Ranav rested against the Ashoka tree, his chest rising and falling rapidly as the sharp pain in his body gradually subsided. His earlier attempt at mixing mana had been reckless, but he was determined to succeed.
Jessica's voice echoed in his mind, firm but understanding. "Are you ready to try again, or have you had enough excitement for one day?"
Ranav wiped the sweat from his brow and straightened up. "I'm ready. But this time, I'll follow your instructions exactly. No funny business."
"Good. Start with just one second of mana mixing. Don't overdo it, no matter how tempting."
Ranav nodded, taking a deep breath before closing his eyes. Carefully, he drew mana from his surroundings, focusing intently as he mixed it for a brief moment before sending it to his Dantian. This time, there was no pain, only a steady, almost soothing flow of energy.
"That worked," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Of course it worked. I told you, patience is key," Jessica replied with a hint of teasing. "Now, gradually extend the duration. Let's try two seconds."
Step by step, under Jessica's vigilant guidance, Ranav increased the duration of mana mixing. When they reached three seconds, she stopped him.
"This is your limit for now. Any longer could strain your body."
Ranav exhaled deeply and maintained the three seconds limit. He could feel his Dantian filling steadily, the swirling vortex of energy growing stronger with every breath. A thrill of accomplishment surged through him.
"I think I can fill my Dantian completely now," he said eagerly.
But Jessica's voice came sharp and firm. "Stop! Don't fill it completely."
Ranav's eyes snapped open, confusion plain on his face. "Why not? Isn't that the whole point?"
Jessica sighed, her tone softening. "Because advancing to the next stage isn't as simple as just filling your Dantian. Each stage transforms your body significantly. If something goes wrong, I won't be able to help you. I have no healing abilitiy until you reach Star Circle Level-1."
Ranav frowned, his excitement dimming. "The book didn't mention anything about danger during advancement."
Jessica acknowledged. "But the book doesn't cover every possibility. I'd rather not take unnecessary risks, especially when your body is about to undergo a major transformation. Let's wait and let her supervise the final step."
Ranav slumped against the tree, clearly disappointed. "You could've warned me earlier. Do you enjoy crushing my hopes at the last moment?"
Jessica chuckled softly. "Don't be so dramatic. The good news is, you're ready to advance anytime. That's something to be proud of."
Ranav gave a half-smile. "I suppose. So, what now?"
"Now, we shift focus to your Light magic. Advancing your Star Circle requires consistent practice. Each star in your circle must level up individually, and only after all seven stars reach their peak can the circle itself advance."
She paused before adding, "There is another method, but I doubt it's feasible for you right now."
That piqued Ranav's curiosity. "Another method? What is it?"
"Soul binding," Jessica explained. "If you collect the souls of specific levels and merge them with your stars, they'll upgrade. For example, to upgrade your current Level-0 stars, you'd need Level-1 souls."
"Soul binding?" Ranav's brow furrowed. "How do I even do that?"
"You don't," Jessica said bluntly. "Soul binding is a specialized profession. Soul Binders can collect and store souls in containers, which are then sold to those who need them. But it's expensive, and you're... well, let's just say you're not exactly rolling in gold."
Ranav sighed heavily. "Great. Just another reminder of how poor I am. Looks like I'll be sticking to the good old-fashioned method of practice."
He stood up, brushing the dirt off his tunic. "Might as well get started."
"Good," Jessica said approvingly. "But don't just mindlessly cast spells. Pay attention to the mana flow, observe how each spell works. That's the difference between an amateur and a true mage."
Ranav began casting his Tier-0 Light spells, one after another. Jessica's voice guided him as he practiced.
"Feel the mana as it moves through you. Watch how it forms the spell matrix. Every detail matters."
After hours of meticulous practice, Ranav's confidence grew. But Jessica wasn't done teaching. "The books I've read suggest that advanced mages don't just cast spells, they refine them. Some even create their own."
Ranav paused mid-spell, intrigued. "You mean I should try to create my own spells?"
"Not yet, it's a long way to go," Jessica said quickly. "First, master the spells you already know. Understand them completely- every nuance, every variation. Only then will you be ready to innovate."
The next morning, Ranav resumed his sword training with Tenali Raman.
"I have a new technique to teach you," Raman announced, his tone serious. "It's perfect for your single-bladed sword. This style emphasizes calmness, precision, and the ability to strike decisively in an instant."
He drew his sword in a single fluid motion, demonstrating a swift horizontal slash before returning the blade to its scabbard.
"This is the foundation," Raman explained. "The technique revolves around drawing, striking, and sheathing the sword in one smooth motion. Variations include horizontal, diagonal, and vertical cuts, but the principle remains the same."
Ranav watched intently as Raman performed the sequence four times, each cut precise and deliberate.
"Master the basic cut first," Raman instructed. "The others are personal adaptations I've developed. With time, you'll discover your own variations."
Ranav spent the morning practicing, each swing of his blade bringing him closer to understanding the technique's essence.
For the next two weeks, Ranav settled into a steady routine: sword training in the mornings, studying at Nanima's house before lunch, and practicing magic in the afternoons. Jessica continued to read Nanima's extensive library, searching for advanced knowledge.
Finally, after days of relentless study, Jessica voiced her frustration. "Nanima's library is excellent for the basics, but we need more advanced material. I've read that every county's magic school has a library. We need access to one."
Ranav smirked. "What kind of school doesn't have a library?"
Jessica's tone turned thoughtful. "We need a way to get you into one of those libraries. The knowledge there could make a big difference."
Ranav nodded, thinking about how to talk about it with his master.