The orphanage nursery, with its rows of cribs and constant cacophony of infant noises, seemed an unlikely place for magical training. But Elian was nothing if not resourceful. He understood that his time in this confined space was limited, a mere stepping stone to a larger destiny. He would use it wisely, honing his skills, expanding his knowledge, preparing himself for the challenges that lay ahead.
His first priority was mastering his control over his Magic Affinity. The 60 points he had achieved were a significant improvement over his initial F-rank status, but he knew it was just a start. He needed to learn how to channel this energy, how to direct it, how to wield it with precision and power.
He began with simple exercises. He would focus on a specific object – a plastic toy, a cloth diaper, even a stray dust mote – and try to manipulate its Material Energy. He would start by trying to levitate it, just a few inches off the mattress. It was harder than he expected. He could feel the energy flowing through him, but controlling it, directing it to the object, was a different matter entirely. He would often lose focus, the object would fall back down, and he would have to start all over again.
He discovered that visualization was key. He had to clearly picture the object levitating in his mind, feel the energy lifting it, see it floating in the air. The more vivid the image, the easier it was to control the energy.
Slowly, painstakingly, he began to make progress. He could levitate small objects for a few seconds, then a few more. He practiced every day, whenever the caregivers weren't watching, using the quiet moments between feedings and diaper changes to hone his skills.
He also experimented with different types of energy. He tried to connect with the Fire Elemental Energy in the oil lamp flame again, but it was still difficult. He could feel the warmth, the potential, but he couldn't seem to control it. He realized that he needed a more consistent source of Fire Elemental Energy, something more substantial than the flickering lamp.
He thought of the sun, which streamed through the nursery window during the day. It was a powerful source of energy, radiating warmth and light. He tried to connect with it, to draw its energy into himself. But it was too much. The raw power of the sun overwhelmed him, making him feel dizzy and disoriented. He realized that he wasn't ready for that kind of power yet. He needed to start small, to build his strength gradually.
He turned his attention back to Material Energy. He practiced manipulating the properties of different objects. He would try to make a plastic toy softer, a cloth diaper more absorbent, a wooden block lighter. He discovered that he could even combine different materials, creating simple tools or objects from scraps he found around the nursery.
One day, he found a small, broken mirror under his mattress. He focused on it.
[Item: Broken Mirror Shard]
[Properties: Reflective, Fragile, Contains Trace Amounts of Light Elemental Energy]
Light Elemental Energy? He hadn't sensed that before. He focused on the mirror shard, trying to connect with the Light Elemental Energy. He felt a faint tingling sensation, a familiar drain on his energy reserves.
[Attempting to Draw Light Elemental Energy]
[Energy Cost: 5]
He felt a faint warmth spreading through his tiny body, a pleasant sensation. He could feel the Light Elemental Energy within him now, a tiny spark of power.
He tried to control it, to shape it, to make it grow. He imagined the spark expanding, becoming a beam of light, shining from his hand. But nothing happened. The spark remained small, flickering weakly.
[Insufficient Control. Requires Practice and Understanding of Elemental Manipulation.]
He needed to learn how to control this energy, how to shape it, how to wield it. He needed guidance, instruction. But where could he find it? He was a baby, trapped in a crib.
He thought of the Crimson Hand, their promise of guidance, their belief in his destiny. He would seek them out. He would learn from them. He would become the legend they believed he could be. But first, he needed to master these small steps. He would learn to control the light within him, just as he would learn to control the world around him.