CHAPTER 9 — The magic lessons (1)
The dojo grounds were quiet — unusually quiet.
A small training courtyard behind the Darve Dojo, tucked between bamboo pillars and rune-etched wooden beams.
The morning breeze carried a chill, brushing past two figures sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor.
Rowan.
And the Vice Master.
—whose name, as he proudly declared earlier, was Eldric vayne.
Eldric tapped the ground with a wooden stick, clearing his throat like a professor about to lecture a lifetime's worth of wisdom.
"Alright, kid. Listen carefully. This… is the foundation of mana and magic."
Eldric pointed the stick towards the black board behind him.
Rowan leaned forward with sparkling eyes.
At first his eyes were sparkling with curiosity of learning magic but —
Thirty seconds later, his spark dimmed.
Two minutes later, his eyes drooped.
Five minutes later, his soul left his body.
Eldric continued passionately,
"…and that is why the interaction of Mana particles forms the basis of—"
Rowan's expression was frozen in the universal face of
I understood NOTHING.
Eldric finally clapped his hands.
"So… understood?"
"…No."
Eldric stared at his defeated student.
"Were you even listening?!"
Rowan puffed his cheeks.
"Yes! I did! But I didn't understand anything you were yapping about all this time. Can't you make it simple?"
Eldric slapped his forehead so loudly a bird flew away.
"By the gods… you are such a dolt."
"I'm… what?"
"Forget it." Eldric sighed.
"Okay, listen. The first step of learning magic: mana is everywhere. In the air, in the trees… even inside you. You just need to feel it."
"Feel… how?"
"Sense, my boy. Sense."
"…Okay so… how am I supposed to do that?"
Eldric pointed at him.
"Just breathe the air and tell me what you feel."
Rowan inhaled deeply.
"…So, tell me what do you feel?" Eldric asked.
"Feels like air."
"Anything else?"
"No."
Eldric scratched his head aggressively.
"Okay, just try. Close your eyes and try to feel mana."
Rowan closed his eyes and started breathing.
Hhuhh-huhh... Huhh-huhh...
Eldric nodded. "Good. Keep that up."
---
Rowan vs. Mana
30 minutes later
Rowan opened one eye.
"Mister mage… it's not working."
Eldric didn't even turn around.
"Keep going."
2hours later
Rowan groaned loudly.
"Mister mage! It's STILL not working!"
Eldric stared at him dryly.
"What? You want me to pour mana into you or something?"
"No…"
"Then keep trying."
4 hours later
Rowan looked dead inside.
Eldric looked bored.
Still, nothing.
---
Night — Back at the Inn
Eldric enjoyed another drink, swirling the cup like a noble scholar.
Rowan had his face buried flat on the table, groaning into the wood.
"Come on," Eldric pat his back. "Don't sulk. You'll get it eventually."
Rowan didn't move.
---
Next Morning — Back to Attempt #174
Rowan sat down cross-legged again.
Deep breath.
Another breath.
Rowan suddenly burst out,
"AHHHH! WHY CAN'T I FEEL MANA?!"
He whipped his head toward Eldric.
Eldric was watching him… arms folded, eyes sharp.
"Are you sure this is the right method?!"
Eldric hummed thoughtfully.
"Hmm… strange. Tell me again — what do you feel when you breathe?"
"Just… air," Rowan said miserably.
"Anything else?"
Rowan thought deeply.
"…Air filling my lungs?"
Eldric's face dropped into hopeless disappointment.
"Yeah. Brilliant. At this rate, you'll be a world- class mage."
Rowan lit up.
"Really?!"
"No, you idiot."
Rowan deflated.
Eldric rubbed his forehead.
"Alright, let's try it a different way… Tell me. Do you feel anything different when you do something?"
Rowan blinked.
"Something I do… and feel different…"
He thought.
Thought again.
And thought again.
After sometime his eyes widened.
"WOOD CUTTING!"
Eldric blinked.
"…Wood cutting?"
"Yeah! When I cut wood… I feel different! Like there's this… something. Something flowing into me. Like some kind of power seeping in."
Eldric stared blankly.
"Well, that something is mana. But… wood cutting?! Really? Like what are you... a lumberjack?"
"Yes." Rowan replied nodding his head.
"Oh... Like seriously." Eldric just stood there with blank expression.
Rowan nodded, excited.
"So what should I do now? Should I start cutting wo—"
"No no NO!" Eldric quickly cut him off.
"We're NOT bringing axes into mana training."
Rowan scratched his cheek.
"Then what?"
Eldric exhaled, then pointed.
"Close your eyes. And try to feel that same sensation. Imagine you're cutting wood."
Rowan closed his eyes.
"Okay… I'm cutting wood…"
Eldric spoke gently.
"Imagine it. Feel it."
"I'm cutting wood."
"You're cutting wood."
"I'm cutting wood."
"You are cutting wood."
"Yes, I'm cutting."
"Cut. Cut. Cut. Feeling the mana, cut —
"Eldric said like chanting some spell.
Rowan suddenly opened his eyes.
"It's not working."
Eldric raised a finger.
"I think it did."
Rowan blinked.
"What do you mea—"
Then he froze.
His eyes widened.
He felt it.
The same sensation.
The subtle pull.
The faint warmth.
Like invisible threads brushing over him.
"Y-Yeah…! I felt it! That same sensation! Like something slipping into me when I chop wood!"
Eldric crossed his arms, a rare tiny smile pulling at his lips.
"Good. Very good. Now you can finally feel mana."
Rowan beamed.
"So now what?!"
Eldric tapped his forehead.
"Now? Practice. Get used to that feeling. Until you don't need to imagine wood cutting anymore."
---
Chapter ends.