The sun had set below the horizon and darkness covered the room slowly, as Ranav continued his lessons on magic. He lit the candle on the holder hanging on the wall. His two sisters, Vivita and Camilla, sat cross-legged on the bed, their eyes fixed on him with unwavering attention. The atmosphere was charged with curiosity and anticipation.
Ranav took a deep breath, a mix of excitement and nervousness running through him. He thought to himself, "In my previous life, I always thought I was terrible at teaching. I still remember the time when my professor asked me to conduct a lecture for first-semester students at the university. It was supposed to be on 'Applications in Steady-State and Transient Systems,' a topic I had excelled in previously. But I messed up so badly that the professor had to redo the entire lecture the next day. What a disaster!"
His thoughts were interrupted by Jessica's voice, her teasing tone cutting through his self-reflection. "That's because you sucked at public speaking. And when it came to Sarah, you always thought with your… well, let's just say, not with your brain."
Ranav flushed with embarrassment and shot back, "Why are you listening to my thoughts? That's a complete invasion of privacy!"
Jessica laughed, a mischievous edge to her tone. "I didn't invade anything. Your thoughts were so loud and dramatic that I couldn't help but overhear."
"Alright, alright. Just shut up for now," Ranav muttered, trying to regain his composure. He cleared his throat and asked, "By the way, I forgot to ask… what about Vivita's mana core?"
Jessica answered promptly, her voice tinged with pride. "Vivita has a deep yellow mana core. It's better than most non-mages. For reference, your father and mother both have bright red cores, and your master's core is a light cyan. That covers everyone you might be curious about."
Ranav nodded, absorbing the information. "What about my teaching style? Am I doing okay this time?"
Jessica's tone softened. "You're doing just fine. Both of your sisters are listening carefully. But I think it would help if you had them take notes. It'll make them more engaged and help them retain what you're teaching."
"Good idea. Thanks," Ranav replied. He turned his attention back to his sisters, who were watching him expectantly.
He cleared his throat and said, "If you want to take notes, there's paper and pencils on my desk. Feel free to use them."
The two sisters hurried to grab the supplies, then returned to their spots with the eagerness of obedient students. Ranav suppressed a laugh as they looked up at him, their expressions a mix of focus and determination.
"Alright," he began, "let's talk about meditation. This will be your first exercise in your magical journey. No matter what type of mage you become, meditation is the cornerstone of a mage's daily life."
He paused, making sure he had their full attention before continuing. "Meditation isn't just about relaxation… it's a purposeful act. It allows mages to focus their mind and spiritual energy, connecting with the elemental planes. Think of it as tending to a garden: just as plants need water to grow, your magic needs meditation to thrive. Over time, it strengthens your spiritual world, the internal space where your elemental stardust resides, and increases your mana capacity."
Ranav stood and began pacing as he spoke, his tone measured and authoritative. "Natural awakening, which is what I'm aiming for with you two, requires a strong connection to magic or extraordinary circumstances. Meditation is the first step in this process. It strengthens your spiritual world, making it more receptive to elemental energy. If you meditate diligently, there's a chance you'll awaken your magic naturally."
He turned to face his sisters, his expression serious. "For meditation to trigger an awakening, several factors need to align. First, some people have strong spiritual potential, even if it's dormant. Meditation can unlock this potential. Second, the meditation must be deep and consistent to build the necessary spiritual energy. Third, meditating in a place rich with elemental energy increases the chances of connecting to an element. Finally, a moment of intense emotion or clarity during meditation can act as a trigger."
Vivita raised her hand, her curiosity evident. "How exactly does meditation help someone awaken their magic?"
"Good question," Ranav said, nodding approvingly. "When you meditate, you focus on your inner world, calming your mind and harmonizing with your surroundings. As your spiritual energy strengthens, it subconsciously reaches out to the elemental planes. If the conditions are right, your energy will connect with an element, forming your stardust and triggering an awakening. It's a deeply personal and transformative process."
He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. Then he continued, "I'll share my own experience with meditation. Although I was awakened at birth, my master taught me how to enter my spiritual space and connect with my stardust. It wasn't easy. I failed many times before I finally succeeded. The breakthrough came when I managed to let go of all my emotions… completely."
Ranav's voice softened as he quoted his master. "She once told me, 'The activation of magic consists of three simple steps: meditation, control, and activation. When you close your eyes, your mind will wander. But if you can empty your mind and remain undisturbed, your inner world will become a blank space. After awakening, a star cluster corresponding to your element will appear in that empty space. Focus on it, and you will discover your magic.'"
He turned to his sisters, his gaze steady. "That's how I learned to meditate. I focused all my attention between my eyebrows and let go of every emotion: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, love, regret, all of it. Only then could I enter my spiritual space. It's not easy, but once you master it, it becomes as natural as breathing."
Vivita raised her hand again. "I have school, homework, and other responsibilities. When should I meditate?"
Ranav smiled. "Good question. Since your dominant element is light, it's best for you to meditate at night. After finishing your daily tasks, spend at least half an hour meditating before bed. It'll be even more effective if you meditate when the moon is directly overhead."
He then turned to Camilla. "Big Sis, your dominant element is fire. You should meditate near a fireplace. Half an hour each day is enough, but consistency is key."
Camilla nodded thoughtfully. "I'll meditate at night, too. That way, I won't have to worry about anything else."
"That's a good plan," Ranav said, nodding in approval. "I want you both to study together as well. That way, you can finish your schoolwork faster and have more time for meditation. If you ever need my help, just ask."
Vivita hesitated before saying, "Lil Bro, don't you think we should tell Mom and Dad about this? They might get worried if they see us meditating all the time."
Ranav considered this for a moment, then nodded. "You're right. I'll explain everything to them. It's better if they hear it from me."