The air in the training grounds buzzed with anticipation. Rows of enchanted dummies stood in neat lines, their surfaces inscribed with faintly glowing runes. First-year students gathered in clusters, their hushed whispers carrying a mixture of excitement and nerves.
Leon adjusted his bag, his eyes drawn to the dummies. Unlike Mikel, who practically radiated energy, Leon felt a quiet unease.
"Relax, Leon," Mikel said, cracking his knuckles. "Worst-case scenario, we just stare at those things until they fall over from boredom."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "That's not how it works."
"Not with that attitude," Mikel shot back, grinning.
Professor Althea arrived, her silver braid gleaming in the sunlight as she surveyed the gathered students. Her expression was as stern as ever, her sharp gaze cutting through the chatter like a blade.
"Silence," she said, her voice carrying effortlessly.
The training grounds fell quiet.
"This is your first practical session in mana exercises," she began, pacing slowly in front of the dummies. "It is imperative that you understand the purpose of this academy. You are not here to cast spells, nor to wield flashy powers. Those come later—if you prove yourselves worthy."
Several students exchanged uneasy glances, but Althea continued.
"The junior academy is about discipline, control, and understanding. Mana is not a tool—it is a part of you. Without mastery over your mana, you are nothing more than a danger to yourself and those around you."
She stopped in front of a dummy, resting a hand on its surface. "Today, you will focus on mana transfer. The goal is to channel your mana into the dummy steadily and evenly, activating the runes on its surface. This exercise will teach you control and precision. Begin."
Leon knelt in front of his dummy, his hands hovering over the faintly glowing runes. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the familiar flicker of mana within him.
Beside him, Mikel crouched dramatically, his fingers wiggling in exaggerated motions.
"What are you doing?" Leon asked, glancing sideways.
"Summoning the spirit of the mana," Mikel said, his tone dead serious. "I read somewhere that you can trick it into working harder if you act like you're having a great time."
Leon sighed. "You didn't read that anywhere."
"No," Mikel admitted, grinning. "But it sounded convincing, right?"
Mikel placed his hands on the dummy, his expression suddenly turning serious as he began channeling his mana. The runes flickered weakly at first, but with a bit more focus, they began to glow steadily.
"See?" Mikel said, sitting back on his heels. "Master of all things mana-related."
The moment he removed his hands, the glow flickered out. He frowned, then slapped the dummy lightly. "Work, you lazy hunk of wood."
The runes remained dark.
"That's on you," Mikel muttered, wagging a finger at the dummy as if scolding a disobedient pet.
Leon tried to ignore Mikel's antics, placing his own hands on the dummy. He took a deep breath, letting the world around him fade as he focused inward.
The familiar flicker of mana stirred in his chest, faint but steady. He guided it forward carefully, letting it flow into his arms and toward his palms.
For a moment, the runes on the dummy glowed faintly, their light pulsing unevenly. Leon gritted his teeth, trying to steady the flow, but the light flickered out before he could gain control.
He sat back, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Not bad," Mikel said, leaning over to inspect the dummy. "At least it blinked. That's more than some people can say."
Leon gave him a look. "That's not exactly encouraging."
"Hey," Mikel said, nudging him. "You're getting better. Slowly. Like a really determined snail."
"Thanks," Leon muttered dryly.
Nearby, Rurik stood in front of his dummy with a look of intense concentration. His short, stocky frame was hunched over as he muttered under his breath, his hands hovering uncertainly above the runes.
"Come on," Rurik said to himself. "Just... flow."
The runes sputtered briefly before going dark. Rurik let out a frustrated growl, slamming his hand against the dummy.
"Careful," Mikel called out, smirking. "You might scare it into working."
Rurik shot him a glare. "I don't need your commentary."
"Sure you don't," Mikel said, wandering over. "But let me guess—you're overthinking it. You've got to treat it like a stubborn goat. Gentle, but firm."
"...What?" Rurik said, looking genuinely baffled.
"Trust me," Mikel said, giving him a wink. "Goats respect confidence."
Leon buried his face in his hands.
As the session wound down, Professor Althea walked among the students, her sharp gaze assessing their progress—or lack thereof.
When she reached Leon, she paused, watching as he made another attempt. The runes on his dummy flickered faintly before sputtering out.
"You lack consistency," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "Your mana is steady at the start, but you lose focus too quickly. Discipline is key."
Leon nodded, his chest tightening. "I'll work on it."
"See that you do," Althea replied before moving on.
When she reached Mikel, she raised an eyebrow at the sight of him lounging casually beside his dummy.
"Something to share, Mr. Draymir?" she asked coolly.
Mikel grinned. "Just appreciating the craftsmanship of this fine dummy. The woodwork is stunning, really."
Althea's expression didn't change. "Ten laps around the training grounds. Now."
Mikel's grin faltered. "What? Why?"
"For being distracting," Althea replied simply.
Leon watched as Mikel trudged toward the edge of the field, muttering under his breath about "unreasonable elves."
As the students packed up and prepared to leave, Mikel jogged back from his laps, only slightly winded. "Worth it," he said, collapsing onto the grass beside Leon and Rurik.
"Why are you like this?" Leon asked, shaking his head.
Mikel shrugged. "Keeps things interesting."
Despite himself, Leon smiled faintly. Mikel's antics might get them into trouble, but at least they made the endless training a little more bearable.