Chapter 20: The First Lesson
Sylas lay sprawled on the forest floor, his body battered and bruised from the harsh sparring session with Diamante. Every breath felt like a struggle, and his vision blurred with exhaustion. The air around him seemed to grow heavier as the pain in his muscles and wounds intensified. But amidst the agony, Diamante's voice cut through like a sharp blade.
"Listen carefully, Sylas. The first thing you need to understand is that healing through mana arts isn't as mystical as it sounds. Every life begins with a single unit—a cell—that multiplies over time. This process drives growth and healing in all living things. With mana arts, you'll accelerate this natural mechanism. But," Diamante paused, his expression stern, "the severity of the injury determines how much mana you'll need to use."
Sylas struggled to process the explanation, but his curiosity pushed him forward. Weakly, he asked, "How… how do I know how much mana I have left?"
Diamante smirked, crouching beside him and placing a firm hand on Sylas's forehead. "Mana is stored in the brain for most people. It's why so many remain stuck at the Violet Ring stage—they never learn to circulate it properly. To advance further, you need to channel mana through pathways in your body known as mana channels."
Sylas blinked slowly, barely able to respond. "Mana channels?"
"Yes. They're the conduits through which mana flows. There are two types: life channels and death channels. To learn mana arts, you'll need to use the life channels. It's delicate work, and for your first attempt, I'll guide you."
Diamante shifted his weight and stared deeply into Sylas's eyes. "Close your eyes. Relax. Ignore the pain, no matter how overwhelming it feels. Trust me."
---
Sylas obeyed, shutting his eyes and focusing on his breathing. Gradually, the world around him faded, and he felt a strange sensation of weightlessness. When he opened his eyes, he found himself floating above an endless, shimmering sea. The waters were calm, glowing faintly with an ethereal light.
"This, Sylas, is your domain of consciousness," Diamante's voice echoed, seemingly from everywhere at once.
Sylas turned to see a translucent figure materializing before him—a projection of Diamante, crafted entirely from mana.
"This is a manifestation of me," Diamante explained. "It's a part of my mana, but let me be clear: never allow anyone into this space unless you trust them with your life. This is your sanctuary, your fortress, and you are its sovereign. Within this realm, you have absolute control."
Sylas nodded instinctively, a strange sense of authority washing over him. This space felt deeply personal, like an extension of his very soul.
"Now," Diamante continued, "look to the edge of the consciousness sea."
Sylas turned his gaze and spotted two colossal gates in the distance. One exuded a foreboding aura, dark and ominous—the Death Gate. The other radiated a warm, golden glow—the Life Gate.
"You've already opened your Death Gate," Diamante said, his tone even. "That's why your mana flows to your Ring. But your Ring not activating is another issue entirely. For now, we'll focus on opening the Life Gate."
"How do I open it?" Sylas asked, his voice steady despite the surreal nature of the experience.
Diamante's projection smirked. "Simple. Imagine the sea beneath you as a force you can command. Pull its waves toward the Life Gate and crash them into it. You control this space, Sylas. Bend it to your will."
Sylas closed his eyes, focusing intently. The still waters below began to tremble, small ripples growing into larger waves. The sea seemed to respond to his will, as if it were alive.
"Good," Diamante said, watching closely. This kid... he's grasping it faster than I expected.
"Now," Diamante commanded, "unleash it. Crash the waves into the gate!"
Sylas opened his eyes, his resolve firm. With a thought, he directed the surging waves toward the Life Gate. The waters roared as they slammed into the massive doors. For a moment, the gates shuddered but didn't budge. Sylas gritted his teeth, focusing harder.
"Put everything into it!" Diamante's voice echoed.
The waves surged with renewed intensity, slamming into the gates once more. With a resounding crash, the Life Gate creaked open, golden light spilling out in radiant beams.
---
Diamante's projection stepped forward, his expression serious. "Opening the gate was just the first step. Now, we need to guide the mana through your life channels to begin the healing process. This is delicate work, Sylas. Watch closely—I'll guide you this time, but you'll need to memorize the process."
The projection melded with the mana waves, surging toward the open Life Gate.
"Let go of your control," Diamante's voice instructed.
Sylas hesitated but finally relinquished his grip on the mana. Instantly, Diamante took over, steering the flow of energy through intricate pathways within Sylas's consciousness.
In the physical world, Sylas's wounds began to heal. Bruises faded into smooth skin, and deep cuts closed, leaving only faint scars.
After a few moments, Diamante's projection withdrew, and Sylas opened his eyes, gasping for air.
---
"Now it's your turn," Diamante said, his tone sharp. "You've seen the process. Heal yourself."
Sylas nodded weakly and closed his eyes once more. He focused on the mana flow, recalling the channels Diamante had guided him through. Slowly but surely, the energy moved, repairing the damage to his body.
Ten grueling minutes later, Sylas sat upright, his body healed but utterly exhausted.
"Hahaha!" Diamante laughed. "Not bad for your first try, but your efficiency is abysmal. You've drained most of your mana pool already."
Sylas frowned, wiping sweat from his brow. "How can I replenish mana faster? I know it naturally refills, but that's too slow."
Diamante smirked. "There's a faster way, but it involves the Death Gate. Let me warn you, though—using the life and death channels too close together is dangerous. It can cause severe deterioration in your body."
"But what about in battle?" Sylas asked. "Wouldn't that limitation make mana arts useless?"
Diamante chuckled. "Not useless, just challenging. That's why efficiency is critical. And remember, I said you can't use the two channels consecutively without a gap. I never said you couldn't use them simultaneously."
Sylas's eyes widened. "You mean..."
Diamante nodded. "Yes. You can use them at the same time, but the mana consumption will be enormous. That's why so few master mana arts. But those who do... they become unstoppable."
---
Diamante's tone grew serious. "To survive the trials ahead and claim the artifact, I estimated you'd need three months of intense training. But after seeing your progress today…" He trailed off, his thoughts unreadable.
Sylas clenched his fists, his determination solidifying. If this is what it takes to protect what I hold dear, I'll endure it.
He bowed his head. "Please teach me, Master."
Diamante smirked, his respect for the boy growing. "Then let's get to work."
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End of Chapter