I stared at Asher as he gazed outside my balcony with a frown on his face. The reason? Well, it's because the priests in the Ciera Temple refused his decision of unsealing his little sister. So, we ended up postponing it. Sir Kiernan, Sir Abel, and my Dad are still talking about how they're going to convince the priests to agree.
"Really. The audacity of those—"
"Asher, isn't it my magic class today? Shouldn't you be teaching me magic? Are you neglecting your duties, Your Divine Highness?" he sighed andsher sighed as he gazed outside my balcony with a frown on his face. The reason? It's because the priests on the Ciera Temple did not agree to his decision of unsealing Athalia. So, Dad and Sir Kiernan had decided to think of ways to convince them.
He clicked his tongue.
"The audacity of those fuc–"
"Asher, isn't it my magic class today? Are you neglecting your duties? Your Divine Highness?" I spoke, just trying to cut his words off. How dare this guy address our priests like that?
He turned to me and then rolled his eyes. Seriously?
"Yeah, but why is that guy here?" Asher asked, looking at Ziel like he's his mortal enemy. What's wrong with him? He really doesn't like Ziel, huh? Does he hold a grudge because Ziel disrespected him two years ago?
"You pain me, Your Divine Highness. I thought we became closer after you came and picked me up yesterday," I saw how Asher's face crumpled after hearing Ziel's response. I blinked a couple of times as I looked at Ziel and then Asher.
I'm a bit confused where the gentle boy Ziel went. I mean, he's still gentle… but don't you think he's getting more brave as the days pass by?
"You're simply a pawn. Don't get ahead of yourself," Wow… a pawn, huh?
"I am aware, Your Divine Highness. I admit, I'm fine with being the Princess' pawn," Eh? Me?
"Tsk…"
"Anyway, leave. This is the Princess' personal class, you are not needed here," Asher snapped his fingers, and then Ziel vanished right away!
"That lime's getting bold, huh?" Asher said, sighing in disbelief.
"Asher, you said Ziel is hiding something… what is it? And how is it related to him being strong? Wha— don't tell me he's actually an Astra too—"
"No? It's kinda irritating hearing that he's our equal. True, he's hiding something, but he isn't one of us, duh?" What's with those reactions? He's like one of those mean girls in the movie I watched in my previous world.
"Okay, I'm sorry… but, why won't you tell me anything about it?"
"I already told you before," Hah, right…
He's actually being considerate to Ziel.
"Though… It looks like he barely remembers anything as of now. Surely, he'd get even more annoying if he fully recovered his memories," Memories?
"If you're not gonna tell me about it anyway, don't say more words that will make me curious. Let's just begin with your lesson…" I said, turning my head to the sleeping Avi on the center table. Asher said that even in her sleep she's naturally absorbing my overflowing mana.
"Yeah, sure. Let's go," and in just a blink of an eye we're already at the magic training grounds.
"Avi, wake up ~ we're gonna practice magic!" I said, gently poking Avi's little cheek with my pinky finger. She slowly opened her eyes and yawned as she flapped her wings and floated.
"I'm ready, Master!" She replied cutely, flying towards the top of my head. I felt her sitting on my head but I didn't even feel her weight.
"Okay…" Asher took a seat on the floor and tapped the space in front of him.
"Come sit here and face me," I nodded my head and did as he asked me. I took a seat in front of me, facing him.
"Close your eyes," I shut my eyes and gulped. Why do I feel so nervous? How is he going to teach me magic?
I didn't know why but suddenly, it felt like something's warm feeling that's moving in every vein of my body. Is this what 'mana flow' feels like? Additionally, the usual heaviness of my body that I got accustomed to has now faded…
"Good, it looks like your mana flow has become stable after having Avi. Great job, guardian, oh, and you can open your eyes now," Asher spoke, praising Avi. I heard her giggling as she thanked him, and I opened my eyes as he said.
I gaped as I saw tiny glowing dots flowing around the magic training ground. Their sizes vary and I'm pretty sure what I'm seeing right now are mana particles. I haven't really seen any of this in my entire life here. But woah…
"Are you seeing them now?" I repeatedly nodded my head as I roamed my eyes around the area. It looks so beautiful. Is this what every magician is seeing? Their world really is so amazing, huh?
"Those are mana particles. You're seeing them now thanks to the amazing me, but it won't be like this for life," Oh, I thought it'll be like this forever.
"Anyway. Let's start. Your body's still fragile, so forcing you to contain all those excessive and overflowing mana will be dangerous for your body and core. As of now, your mana flow has been stabilized by yours truly—however, you'll have to practice controlling your mana flow on your own," Asher explained. I kept my eyes on him as I listened carefully. Everything seems complicated, but I see that he has now become good at explaining things.
"Question, Your Divine Highness!" I said, raising my arm. He only nodded his head and it looks like he's enjoying this.
"What does it look like when my mana flow is not controlled?" Because I am genuinely curious.
"With your uncontrolled mana flow, the mana within you spreads all over your body. Not flowing correctly to where it should be. It's like you're a jar full of water, and that excessive water is overflowing from you. Once you control it, it'll now flow properly. The mana that comes from your mana core will go through the mana channels spread throughout your body. These channels act like veins that guide your mana to specific points instead of letting it spill chaotically," He paused, and I just nodded my head again, quietly listening to him. So, there are mana channels within us where our mana should go through. But because I have no idea how to control mine, it spreads all over my body?
"When uncontrolled, it leaks everywhere which causes pressure on your body and core. However, once it is regulated, it flows smoothly, gathering at designated nodes, and can be released safely," he ended. So that's why mana flow is really important, huh? I'm pretty sure the body anatomy of the humans in this world has become more complicated than ours on Earth.
"Soo… mana core is like a heart? And the mana channels are like veins? Without proper control, it'll burst out like… uhmm blood from a ruptured vessel. But if I am able to control it, it'll circulate in my body smoothly?" I asked. Asher smiled and snapped his fingers.
"Exactly," So that's how it is!
"So… how am I supposed to control my mana flow?" I asked.
"How about trying to feel your mana inside you right now? The way it flows, you just have to get used to that. Once you've got it, we'll proceed with how you'll control your mana and its flow," Huh? Hmm… huh?
"Just close your eyes and try to feel that flow of mana within your body," I ended up giving him a nod and closing my eyes.
The feeling of my mana flowing…
When I turned my focus inwards, there was… silence.
Unlike when I feel so heavy, my body feels light right now. The mana inside me doesn't feel rushing or pressing, it simply flows out of my core in a steady and careful rhythm. I can feel how it moves within these thin paths, probably the channels that Asher mentioned. They flow smoothly and uninterrupted, like water following a course unfamiliar to me.
The flow felt warm and light. I won't be able to notice it if I don't pay attention. Wherever my mana passed, there was a faint unfamiliar feeling that I couldn't describe at all. However, this feeling was like an acknowledgement, acknowledgement of something that has always been there but never properly aligned.
My excess mana slowly drifted away naturally, like it always has. But I didn't have to think about it at all, because Avi's handling it well, allowing the resting mana within me to circulate without any resistance.
As the flow continued, everything inside my body finally settled.
I don't feel any strain. There was no imbalance. Just… a calm, even movement from my core towards the mana channel and to the mana points that Asher told me, it flows like a repeating cycle, and for the first time… it feels like my mana is finally synchronized with my body. No feeling of heaviness, it's not uncomfortable anymore.
So, this is what it feels like when my mana flow is controlled… unlike when they were just spread out in my body.
I slowly opened my eyes, and I saw Asher looking at me with a smile on his face.
"What do you think? How does it feel?" I roamed my eyes and I can still see the mana particles around me. I know that these things exist, but this is actually the first time I've seen them, and it's really amazing!
"It felt amazing… I feel light. My body always feels so heavy whenever you're not around, but it was different right now. I felt my mana flowing accordingly towards my mana channel, and then to the mana points you mentioned. So, this is what it felt like to have a controlled mana flow!" I replied, I'm beyond happy! Just for today, my mana flow is controlled, and I'll do everything I can to have it under my own control!
Daaang, this is so coool!
I waited for Asher's response but he's just staring at me, and he's actually smiling genuinely at me. Wow, is this a character development?
"Okay. Now that you've felt it, I'm sure you can try and control it on your own now. Make sure to begin by controlling the mana that flows out from your core. Controlling it would result in a domino. If the mana that flows out from your mana core properly enters the right mana channel, it should flow properly until it reaches your mana points," I nodded my head repeatedly.
"I'm releasing the magic I casted. Are you ready to start?"
"Yes, sir!"
"That's the spirit," he then snapped his fingers and I slowly felt the heaviness, once again enveloping my whole body.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
Feel my mana.
The mana core is with the heart, it covers the heart. I should start by feeling the mana that flows out from there.
I can do this…
No, I will do this!
***