Chapter: 6
Jayden strode through the dimly lit halls of the estate, a small, content smile replacing his usual neutral and cold expression. He was heading toward the baths, where Abigail should have already drawn the water for him.
It's funny... something they call forbidden makes even a decrepit place like this look beautiful, he mused, still relishing the sensation of mana flowing through him.
Just as he turned a corner, a voice called out from behind.
"Good afternoon, younger brother."
Jayden halted mid-step, his brief moment of peace shattering. The content smile vanished, replaced by his usual unreadable expression as he turned to face his elder sister.
"Elder sister," he greeted coolly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
There was barely concealed hostility in his tone, and Liana, ever the master of deception, responded with a saccharine smile.
"Why the hostility, little brother?" she asked, feigning innocence.
Jayden's patience was thin. "Cut the act. What do you want?"
Liana's false smile disappeared just as quickly as it had come. "Good," she said, her voice crisp. "I was hoping to drop the charade sooner rather than later."
Jayden crossed his arms, his expression unwavering. "Why are you here?"
Liana stepped forward slightly, lowering her voice. "I would watch my tone if I were you… especially since I know your secret."
A flicker of tension passed through Jayden's body, though he kept his face neutral.
What? How? What does she know? How much does she know?
He forced himself to keep his voice steady. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Liana's smirk widened, sensing his unease. "Oh, really? Let me jog your memory… Your sparring sessions with Princess Celina. Ring any bells?"
Jayden's jaw tightened. His mind raced, but he kept his expression calm. "What… do you want?" he asked, reluctant but knowing he had little choice.
Got you, Liana thought smugly.
"It's simple. In four days, the family will be attending a grand ball."
Jayden frowned. "And what does that have to do with me? Even if I wanted to go, 'our dear' mother and father wouldn't allow it. And why should I help you?"
"I was getting to that," Liana said, her tone laced with condescension. "For all your skill with a blade, I would have thought you'd have learned some manners."
Jayden narrowed his eyes, unimpressed.
"As for why you should help me…" Liana stepped closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. "Unless, of course, you'd prefer I tell Mother and Father your little secret?"
Conniving bitch.
Jayden barely resisted the urge to curse. He had spent years keeping his true capabilities hidden, and if Liana had even an inkling of his mana abilities… this could be dangerous.
"Get to the point," he said, his voice clipped.
"My point is that you will attend the ball—as my personal bodyguard."
Jayden raised a brow. "You have knights for that."
Liana scoffed. "The knights meant for bodyguard duty have grown complacent. And as much as I loathe to admit it… none of them are as skilled as you."
Jayden folded his arms. "Even if I agreed, Mother and Father wouldn't let me go."
"Oh, they will."
She turned on her heel, her confidence radiating as she walked away. "Four days, Jayden. Don't be late."
Jayden stood there for a moment, watching her leave. A deep frown settled on his face as he let out a quiet sigh.
"Great. My week is now ruined," he muttered before continuing toward the baths.
A few hours later, Jayden sat alone in his dimly lit room, deep in thought. The events of earlier weighed heavily on him.
"How did I get so careless?" he muttered, his frustration evident. "I assumed no one else except Abigail, Celina, and myself ever went to the old training field. Reckless."
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
"And now, I'm trapped in a situation I can't get out of… at least, not yet."
There was nothing he could do about Liana's blackmail for now, but there were other matters that demanded his attention. With a sigh, Jayden rose and walked over to a hidden compartment in his room. From within, he pulled out an old, leather-bound book—Introduction to Magic.
Returning to his bed, he flipped open the worn pages to where he had last left off.
Chapter 2: Mana Manipulation and Usage
For the next hour, Jayden sat cross-legged on his bed, his eyes scanning the text, absorbing the knowledge. When he felt ready, he placed the book aside and closed his eyes, focusing inward.
Mana manipulation at its core is a simple task hidden beneath layers of unnecessary technical jargon. But, to put it simply, there are three key things needed: high concentration, a good imagination, and strong visualization. Master those, and magic becomes fundamentally easier.
He took a slow breath, letting his mind and body align.
Then, he opened his eyes.
A soft glow emanated from his palms as wisps of white mana coiled between them. Slowly, the energy coalesced, forming a small, flickering orb of pure mana. Jayden watched it hover, shifting and swirling like liquid light.
"Holding this in my hands… it still feels so surreal."
His grip tightened slightly, but the orb remained stable.
And yet, the book never mentions the importance of imagination or visualization. It only emphasizes focus and concentration. The descriptions in the diagrams are vague, contradictory even. If I hadn't figured this out on my own, it would have taken me far longer to even reach this stage.
His eyes narrowed as he willed the orb to shift. It changed, stretching into the shape of a small cube, then an elongated oval. The process was smooth, effortless—almost natural.
He exhaled slowly, allowing the mana to dissipate.
"It's a miracle I even got this far with such limited guidance. If this is how magic is taught, I can't help but wonder… just how many people have tried and failed, simply because they were given the wrong information?"
Jayden leaned back onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. A deep frown settled on his face.
Though as exciting as this is, it's not enough.
His hands clenched into fists.
"I need to get stronger… much stronger."
Chapter 6: End