"Now all you have to do is stabilize the energy source and balance your internal energy with the energy you give out," Ragon instructed, standing with his arms crossed as he tutored Thera.
Thera was focused, trying to stabilize the small flame flickering in her hands. It was a fundamental skill for any mage, but it required control rather than brute effort. The ability to connect with and manipulate the elements was far more critical than memorizing countless spells—at least, according to Ragon.
"So you really think this method will work for me?" Thera asked, glancing at Ragon. Her brow furrowed as she concentrated, the flame wavering slightly in her palm.
Ragon didn't answer immediately, his calm gaze fixed on her progress.
Thera had read many books on magic, and from everything she'd learned, mages relied heavily on spells and incantations. Yet, here she was—after a full week under Ragon's training—and he hadn't taught her a single spell. The idea of controlling raw energy directly, without spoken words or runes, was unfamiliar and exhausting.
Her legs trembled from fatigue as she squatted, her arms extended, holding the flame in place. "Ragon… isn't this more of a punishment than training?" she complained, her voice strained.
Ragon, who was leaning casually against a nearby tree, smirked. "If it were punishment, you wouldn't be standing right now."
Thera groaned and finally gave in, rising to her feet. As she stood, the flame in her hands sputtered and vanished. She winced, placing her hands on her waist to ease the ache from holding that position for so long.
"I've been doing this for an entire week," she said, panting slightly. "When am I actually going to learn something useful?"
Ragon pushed off the tree and walked toward her, his silver eyes calm but unrelenting. "You're already learning something useful. You just don't realize it yet."
Thera looked up at him, frustrated. "But this isn't what mages do! They chant spells—they don't stand here holding flames until their legs go numb!"
Ragon raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered by her complaints. "And that's why most mages are weak. They focus on words and rituals but ignore their connection to the energy itself. Control is everything, Thera. Without it, spells are meaningless."
Thera frowned, her stubbornness flaring. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one squatting for hours with your arms in the air."
Ragon chuckled softly. "You'll thank me when you stop burning your eyebrows off every time you summon fire."
"That was one time!" Thera shot back, but her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Ragon stood and extended a hand toward her. "Get up. I'll show you."
She hesitated before grabbing his hand and pulling herself to her feet. Before she could steady herself, Ragon stepped back, raising an eyebrow. "Now, dodge."
"Dodge? Dodge what—?"
Ragon flicked his wrist, and a small pulse of flame shot toward her. Thera yelped, stumbling sideways as the flame missed by inches. The flame in her palm flickered violently as she scrambled to regain control.
"Ragon! What are you doing?!" she shouted, trying to regain her balance.
"Training," Ragon replied simply, conjuring another flicker of fire. "If you want to control the flame, you have to trust yourself—and it. Move with the energy, don't fight it."
Thera clenched her fists, her frustration but she felt like being angry, but Ragon was her king after all she didn't want to seem rude,
"Your maje-Ragon that's intense"
"Maybe. But this works." Another flame shot toward her, forcing her to dive to the left. "Stop thinking so much!" Ragon called. "Feel where it's coming from."
Thera gritted her teeth, pushing her body aside as she dodged again. She started to anticipate his attacks as she felt a had a deeper understanding now,
"Better," Ragon said, "Now hold the flame while you move."
"What?!" Thera cried, barely keeping her footing.
Ragon didn't repeat himself. Another pulse of fire shot toward her. Thera threw her hands out in desperation, summoning a small flame that flickered wildly in her palm. She dodged again, her heart pounding as she focused on keeping the flame alive while moving.
"Breathe. Focus. Let it flow."
Ragon's attacks came faster, yet Thera's flame grew steadier. Her body moved with a rhythm she didn't know she possessed, dodging strikes while maintaining her connection to the fire.
"That's it," Ragon commended her.
Thera didn't reply. Her mind was clear, for the first time, the flame didn't feel foreign or unruly—it felt like hers.
Suddenly, a pulse of energy surged within her, spreading from her core to the tips of her fingers. The flame in her hand flared, turning brighter and hotter than before. It swirled upward, forming a controlled arc of fire that danced around her like a living entity.
Ragon stopped, his silver eyes narrowing in satisfaction. "You did it."
Thera froze, her breathing heavy as she stared at the flame that hovered just above her palm. It no longer flickered weakly; it burned strong and steady. "I… I did it?"
Ragon nodded, his expression calm but pleased. "You've broken through. That's the first step."
Thera looked at him, still in shock. "But… I didn't chant anything. I didn't do anything."
She stared at her hand, the flame still burning as though it belonged there. "I thought magic was supposed to be complicated."
"It usually is," Ragon said, smirking. "But you're learning it my way."
Thera looked up at him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "And here I thought you were just torturing me."
"I still might be," Ragon teased, stepping back. "But you'll thank me later."
"Now, I can leave you in charge of the other responsibilities. I've already informed them about my arrangements, and trust me, they will show you the same respect they offer me. After all, you're the only one-star mage in this entire community—and that's something worth boasting about if anyone tries to disrespect you," Ragon said with a faint smile.
Thera blushed deeply at his compliment, her cheeks turning pink. "I will definitely do my best," she replied, bowing her head slightly in acknowledgment.
********
Ragon stood at the outskirts of the village, where a crowd had gathered to see him off. The villagers waved goodbye in admiration as they watched their leader prepare to leave.
Thera stood prominently in the crowd, her posture straighter than before. Beside her, the orc leader stood bound in heavy chains, his expression blank. Like a tamed beast, he followed Thera's lead obediently.
Ragon had taught her the basic spell needed to control his core—an almost unheard-of feat for a one-star mage. No one could have imagined that a mage of her level would possess the ability to dominate a three-star warrior's core. Yet with Ragon's vast knowledge—gained from a thousand years of experience—he made the impossible seem trivial.
"Take care, everyone," Ragon said, his voice calm but resolute. He clutched the map tightly in his hand, his eyes set on the shadowy expanse of the dark forest that stretched beyond the village. For decades, the villagers had feared this forest, its borders marking the edge of their known world. None of them had dared to cross it before.