Adam stood trembling under the crushing weight of the mana bands, his breaths heavy and uneven. Sweat dripped from his forehead, pooling on the ground as his arms hung limply by his sides.
Despite his best efforts, his body refused to obey him. The mana bands consumed his energy relentlessly, pulling his arms downward like anchors.
Jordan stood calmly in front of him, observing the struggle with a neutral expression. He didn't offer encouragement or scold Adam for his failure.
Instead, his tone was steady as he said, "Focus, Adam. Divert your mind to something else. When you fixate on the weight, it consumes you. Redirect your thoughts to something manageable."
Adam listens to Jordan and thinks to himself, "It is very easy for you to say this, but I am not able to bear it." He clenched his teeth a lot and tried to think of something to divert his attention.
Adam closed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he fought to concentrate. He tried to recall Jordan's advice, searching for a focal point within himself.
Slowly, he focused on his core, imagining the center of his being. The sensation was strange at first, but soon he began to picture his mana swirling in a circular motion within his abdomen, a glowing sphere rotating steadily.
This trick starts working for Adam unexpectedly, and very quickly the mana that is coming out of Adam's body starts decreasing slowly.
This visualization gave Adam a sense of control. He felt the flow of mana from his body slowing, as though he were pulling it back into the imagined sphere. His trembling subsided, and the weight of the bands eased slightly.
Jordan's sharp eyes didn't miss this. A faint smile flickered on his lips as he nodded in approval.
"Good. You're getting it. Do you know how rare it is to see progress this quickly? Even prodigies take a week to grasp the basics of aura and mana control. But you…" He paused, his expression shifting to something more serious. "You're not just talented. You're going to bring a storm to this world."Jordan is thinking all these things in his mind.
Then Adam remembers that his villagers, his parents, everyone has their hopes pinned on him, his village is at stake, if he does not show courage then everyone will be killed in front of his eyes.
Adam felt a surge of determination. His muscles ached, and his body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to stand upright. The weight still dragged at his arms, but he managed to steady himself.
Jordan observed him closely, his smile returning. "I had planned to train you with just these two bands, but seeing your progress, I've changed my mind."
Adam's eyes widened in surprise as Jordan reached into his pocket and pulled out two more mana bands. The sight of them made Adam's stomach drop.
"Master Jordan," Adam stammered, panic creeping into his voice, "what's the point of adding more? Isn't this already enough?"
Adam feels that even if he adds an extra device, it won't make any difference because he has almost sealed his mana, so Adam doesn't understand why Jordan wants to add an extra device.
Jordan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he crouched down, wrapping the new bands around Adam's ankles before securing them tightly.
As soon as they were in place, Adam's legs buckled, and he fell to one knee. The weight from the additional bands was almost unbearable.
The strain was immediate. Sweat poured down Adam's face, and his entire body trembled under the added pressure. His breaths came in short, shallow gasps as he tried to adjust to the new load.
"This," Jordan said, standing up and stepping back, "is why I told you to sleep early last night. Today's training isn't child's play. You need to be prepared, both mentally and physically."
Adam clenched his fists, his focus slipping as the weight overwhelmed him. His visualization faltered, and the mana began leaking uncontrollably from his body.
The bands grew heavier in response, dragging him closer to the ground.
"No!" Adam muttered to himself, shaking his head as he tried to regain control. He forced his thoughts back to his core, imagining the swirling sphere of mana once more.
Slowly but surely, he regained his focus, and the weight lessened slightly.
Jordan watched silently, his expression unreadable. Adam's breathing steadied, and though his movements were slow and strained, he managed to shift his weight and stand upright once more.
He looked at Jordan, determination blazing in his eyes. "Master Jordan, how will this training increase my mana? How will I grow stronger?"
Jordan's demeanor shifted. His gaze grew serious as he stared directly at Adam.
"Listen carefully, Adam. The more your body uses mana, the more it will adapt to gather and store it. This is the natural process of growth. Your body will strive to collect as much mana as possible to compensate for the drain. The more you endure this training, the stronger your capacity will become."
Adam is very surprised to hear this, then Jordan says again, "Although I am not a magician, I am doing the training that swordsmen do and I think that training is very good."
"I think magicians must be training like this too, although I don't know what their training methods are like, but I guarantee that I will definitely increase your mana reserve."
Adam's eyes widened as he absorbed the explanation. It suddenly made sense why Jordan had gone to such lengths to push him to his limits. This wasn't just about surviving the moment—it was about unlocking his true potential.
The weight of the bands still bore down on him, but Adam's resolve solidified. His fists clenched tightly, and he straightened his posture.
Despite the strain, he focused his mind completely, determined not to let the pressure break him.
Jordan watched the shift in Adam's demeanor and nodded approvingly. "Good. You're beginning to understand."
Adam's voice was steady as he said, "Master Jordan, I'm ready. Tell me what I need to do next."
Jordan's words echoed with a calm finality as he said, "Alright then, let's go."
Adam, still struggling under the crushing weight of the mana bands, blinked in confusion. "Go? Where, Master Jordan?" he asked, his voice carrying both curiosity and unease.
Jordan glanced back at him, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't I tell you? We need to arrange our breakfast."
With that, Jordan turned and began walking, his pace steady and unhurried. Adam stared at his master's retreating back, his confusion deepening. Breakfast? What did he mean by arranging breakfast?
Realizing he had no choice but to follow, Adam took a deep breath and pushed himself forward. Every step was a struggle.
The mana bands on his wrists and ankles sapped his energy, making his movements slow and cumbersome.
Even though he had managed to control the mana release to a minimal amount, the residual drain still weighed heavily on his body.
Adam is trying his best and using all his strength to take each step as if he weighs 100 kilos on each step but he is not stopping himself and is continuously chasing Jordan.
Jordan occasionally glanced at Adam from the corner of his eye but said nothing. His silence was deliberate.
He wanted Adam to endure the discomfort without complaint, to build both physical and mental resilience.
As they walked deeper into the forest, Jordan's thoughts wandered briefly. Normally, I'd run to make it in time to hunt for breakfast. But with Adam's current condition, running isn't an option. I'll walk this time.
Jordan is dealing with Adam with full patience, I know this training is not easy at all, in his clan the kids start such training from childhood.
The forest ahead was dense, with towering trees blocking most of the sunlight. The ground was uneven, riddled with roots and loose stones.
For Adam, it was a treacherous path. Every few steps, he stumbled, his balance thrown off by the heavy bands. His knees buckled more than once, and he fell to the ground repeatedly.
Adam has fallen on the ground several times due to which his clothes have got stained and there is mud all over his body but this is not the only problem for Adam, the mosquitoes present in the jungle are also chasing him.
Each time, Adam gritted his teeth and forced himself back up. His breathing grew heavier with each fall, but he refused to give up.
Jordan, who walked a few steps ahead, didn't offer a hand to help. Instead, he stopped momentarily, observing Adam with a calm expression before continuing forward.
Jordan wants to teach him a lesson and get him into the habit of helping himself instead of depending on anyone else.
Adam understood the silent message: No one is going to save you. You must get up on your own.
The trek grew increasingly difficult as they ventured deeper into the forest. The terrain was unpredictable, with steep climbs and sudden descents.
Adam's legs burned with exertion, and his muscles screamed in protest. Yet, despite the pain, he pressed on.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached a denser section of the forest. The air here was cooler, and the sounds of birds and insects seemed distant. Jordan suddenly raised his hand, signaling Adam to stop.
Adam halted immediately, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. He watched as Jordan crouched low, moving behind a thick bush for cover.
Confused but obedient, Adam lowered himself into a crouch as well, crawling quietly toward his master.
As Adam reached Jordan, he whispered, "Master Jordan, what is it?" His voice was barely audible, each word labored as he fought to control his breathing.
Adam is very surprised to see Jordan's actions and he thinks "What did the master see that he immediately hid himself and is asking me to hide as well"
Without looking at him, Jordan gestured toward a specific direction with his finger. "Raise your head just a little and look over there," he said quietly.
Adam nodded, following Jordan's instructions. Keeping his body hidden behind the bush, he cautiously lifted his head and peered through the foliage.
His eyes followed Jordan's pointing finger, and when he saw what lay ahead, his breath caught in his throat.
In a small clearing stood a magnificent creature. It was a deer, about five feet tall, with pristine white fur that shimmered faintly under the filtered sunlight.
Its antlers were unlike anything Adam had ever seen—massive, crystalline structures that resembled the icy branches of a frozen tree.
The creature's four glowing yellow eyes scanned the surroundings with an eerie calm, exuding both grace and danger.
Adam gets scared after seeing the deer and this fear is clearly visible in his eyes.
Adam ducked back down behind the bush, his heart racing. "What is that?" he whispered urgently, his voice trembling. "It looks… dangerous."
Jordan turned to him, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he said, "That is our breakfast. We're going to hunt it."
Adam's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?" he blurted out, louder than he intended. Realizing his mistake, he clamped a hand over his mouth, glancing nervously toward the deer. Fortunately, the creature hadn't noticed them.
Jordan frowned slightly at Adam's outburst but didn't comment on it. Instead, he waited for the boy to settle down before continuing.
Adam, still in shock, peeked through the bush again, observing the deer with a mix of awe and apprehension. Its sheer size and the otherworldly glow of its eyes made it look more like a mythical beast than an ordinary animal. He quickly ducked back down, his mind racing.
How are we supposed to hunt that? It doesn't look like something that would go down easily.
As this thought consumed him, Adam turned his gaze to Jordan, who appeared calm and focused. Whatever plan Jordan had in mind, Adam wasn't sure he wanted to hear it.
The chapter ends here.