The days at Lord Draymir's estate began to settle into a rhythm. Morning lessons in mana control were followed by afternoons spent learning the foundations of magical theory, and evenings filled with individual practice. For Mikel, it was a playground of endless possibilities. For Leon, it was a mountain he struggled to climb every day.
"Today," Lord Draymir announced, his stern voice cutting through the morning air, "we will build on your mana control exercises. You will attempt to move the orb, not just light it."
Leon stared at the wooden orb in front of him, his stomach twisting. He still struggled to make the orb glow consistently. Now he had to move it?
"Easy," Mikel said with a grin. He crouched beside his orb, his hands hovering over it as he concentrated.
Leon glanced at him, envy prickling in his chest. For Mikel, magic seemed as natural as breathing.
It took Mikel less than a minute to get the orb rolling across the floor. His golden mana shimmered faintly around it, forming an almost playful aura as the orb spun in neat circles.
"Look at that!" Mikel said, grinning as he guided the orb back and forth with ease. "It's like a little pet!"
Draymir observed with a critical eye. "Your control is decent, but your mana is leaking. Tighten the flow, or you'll exhaust yourself on larger spells."
"Yes, Grandpa," Mikel said, though his tone was far from serious.
"Don't 'yes, Grandpa' me," Draymir snapped. "Sloppiness in training leads to failure in battle."
Mikel sighed, but he adjusted his posture, his playful grin fading into focus. The orb's movements grew steadier, smoother, and the faint glow around it dimmed to an efficient hum.
"Better," Draymir said curtly.
Leon watched silently, the knot in his stomach tightening.
"Now you," Draymir said, turning his attention to Leon.
Leon swallowed hard and knelt beside his orb. He closed his eyes, trying to find the flicker of mana within him. It took longer than usual, his nerves making it difficult to focus.
When he finally felt the familiar warmth, he guided it toward the orb, his hands trembling slightly. The orb flickered, glowing faintly, but it didn't budge.
Draymir frowned. "You're holding back. Magic requires intent. You must want the orb to move. Show it your will."
Leon nodded, his jaw tightening. He took a deep breath and tried again, pushing more mana into the orb. For a moment, it wobbled, rocking slightly on its axis.
"Come on," Leon muttered under his breath.
The orb tipped over but remained stubbornly in place.
Draymir's frown deepened. "You're letting doubt cloud your focus. If you don't believe in your magic, it won't believe in you."
Leon bit his lip, frustration building in his chest. I'm trying. Why isn't it working?
After the lesson, Leon stayed behind in the practice hall. Mikel had run off to the garden, claiming he needed a break from Draymir's endless critiques.
Leon knelt beside his orb, staring at it as if it might offer him answers. He raised his hands, closing his eyes as he tried again. His mana flickered weakly, sputtering out before it could reach the orb.
He slumped back, his shoulders sagging.
"Still here?"
Leon turned to see Mikel leaning against the doorway, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"I… wanted to keep practicing," Leon said quietly, his voice barely audible.
Mikel walked over and plopped down beside him. "You know, Grandpa's always like that. Grumpy, demanding. But he's only hard on you because he wants you to get better."
Leon glanced at him, doubt clouding his gaze. "What if I can't get better?"
"Of course you can!" Mikel said, his grin wide and confident. "It just takes time. You're already way better than when we started."
Leon looked down at his hands, his chest tightening. "But I'm still so far behind you. It's like… it's easy for you, but for me, everything feels impossible."
Mikel's grin faded slightly, replaced by a thoughtful look. "Well… maybe it's harder for you. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. You're the most stubborn person I've ever met, Leon. If anyone can figure it out, it's you."
Leon's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Thanks."
Mikel nudged him playfully. "No problem. Now come on! Let's go find something fun to do before Grandpa makes us study again."
Their plans for fun didn't last long. They had barely made it to the garden when Lord Draymir appeared, his robes billowing in the afternoon breeze.
"Have you forgotten about the theory lesson I assigned you?" he asked, his tone sharp.
Mikel groaned. "Theory's so boring, Grandpa. Can't we take a break?"
"Magic is not about what you find enjoyable," Draymir snapped. "If you don't understand the theory, your practice will amount to nothing."
Mikel sighed dramatically but turned back toward the mansion. Leon followed quietly, his earlier frustration resurfacing.
That evening, the boys sat in the library, surrounded by towering shelves of dusty tomes. Draymir had assigned them a chapter on rune structures, and Mikel was already halfway through the text, doodling idly in the margins of his notebook.
Leon stared at the page in front of him, the dense paragraphs swimming before his eyes. The symbols and diagrams made no sense, no matter how many times he read the same lines.
He glanced at Mikel, who was now sketching a crude caricature of Draymir in his notebook. "How are you already done?" Leon asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Mikel shrugged. "It's just easy to remember stuff when it's interesting."
Leon sighed, his shoulders slumping. He turned back to his book, forcing himself to read the next line.
Later that night, after Mikel had fallen asleep, Leon crept back into the library. He sat alone at the long table, the dim light of an enchanted lantern casting a soft glow over the pages of his book.
He traced one of the rune diagrams with his finger, muttering the descriptions under his breath. It was slow and painstaking, but eventually, something clicked.
Leon sat back, a small spark of pride warming his chest. It wasn't much, but it was progress.