Chapter 15: Fire Mana Mastery.
The night ended peacefully. The soft veil of darkness lifted slowly as the horizon began to glow with the faint light of dawn. A cool breeze brushed gently across the village of Aldia, carrying with it the scent of dew-soaked grass and the distant chirping of birds that had just awakened from their slumber. The air was fresh and calm, painting the start of a new day filled with warmth and promise.
As the morning came, Aiden stirred awake. His eyes suddenly opened, still heavy from sleep. He rubbed his eyes gently, blinking a few times as sunlight entered through the windows of his room. The soft golden light danced across the walls, illuminating the neat little space that had become his sanctuary.
Aiden yawned softly and sat up. His small body felt light, his mind refreshed from the peaceful night's rest. He stretched his arms, the faint creak of his bones echoing faintly in the quiet room. A faint smile appeared on his lips — another day had begun, another day to grow stronger.
He got off the bed, his bare feet touching the cool wooden floor. Moving with quiet steps, he went toward the washroom. There, he splashed cold water on his face, the chill waking him completely. He brushed his teeth, combed his messy dark hair with his fingers, and washed his hands again. When he looked into the small bronze mirror hanging near the sink, he saw the reflection of a young boy — determined eyes, faint traces of maturity far beyond his age, and a calm expression that didn't belong to someone merely seven years old.
After washing up, Aiden changed his clothes — a simple brown tunic and black trousers. Then, he stepped out of his room and walked toward the kitchen.
The moment he entered, the warm aroma of freshly baked bread and fried eggs entered his nose it leaving him even more hungry. His mother, Sara, stood near the stove, her silver hair tied neatly behind her head as she prepared breakfast. The light entering through the window made her seem radiant, graceful, elegant, almost angelic. Jonathan, his father, sat at the wooden table, his posture straight and composed, as though he had been waiting for his son to arrive.
What caught Aiden off guard, however, was the sight itself. His father — Jonathan — was already sitting at the breakfast table before him.
It was the second time in his life that Aiden had seen his father up earlier than him. Usually, it was the other way around.
For a moment, he stood still, blinking in mild surprise. Then, regaining his composure, Aiden smiled brightly as he said, "Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad."
Sara turned from the stove, her soft eyes meeting her son's. "Good morning, dear," she said gently, her voice warm as always.
Jonathan looked up, the faint edge of a smile forming on his lips. "Good morning, son," he said in his deep, steady tone. "How are you feeling?"
Aiden replied with his usual calm politeness as he replied, "I'm fine, Dad. How are you?"
Jonathan chuckled lightly, a glint of pride in his eyes as he answered. "I'm fine as well. Come, sit and have breakfast."
Aiden nodded and walked over to the table. He sat down neatly and reached for the bread. "Dad," he asked as he began eating, "why did you wake up so early in the morning? Are you going somewhere again?"
Jonathan replied calmly while lifting his cup of water, "No, I don't plan on going anywhere. I woke up early because I have to train you. So hurry and eat after that, we will get straight to training, so be prepared."
Aiden paused for a second, his expression thoughtful. Then, lowering his voice slightly, he said, "Dad, sorry for making you go through all this trouble."
Jonathan looked at him with a teasing smile. "Why are you apologizing?" he asked. "I did it because I wanted to. And how can I not be excited? I always wanted to teach you how to fight and be strong, so now is my chance, and how can I not be serious? My son has done far too many miracles. How can I slack off when training him?" he said, his voice brimming with pride, "I'm really proud of you."
Aiden's lips curled into a smile as he said softly, "Thanks, Dad."
The air in the room felt warm and peaceful as the family enjoyed their breakfast together. Sara served the food lovingly, placing extra portions on Aiden's plate. Jonathan watched quietly, content. Aiden ate more than usual, remembering his father's words about the training that awaited him. He didn't know exactly what was coming, but he was determined to face it with all his effort.
After they finished eating, Jonathan wiped his hands with a cloth and stood up from the table. His expression turned more serious.
"Let's go to the lawn," he said firmly. "Today, we begin your real training. I will tell you everything about the mana spells of a stage 1 cultivator, so be attentive. Let's go"
He paused for a moment, glancing toward Aiden. "We'll be training your fire mana spells. It will be hard for you, so try to eat some more food and be ready."
Aiden nodded. "Okay, Dad."
They left the kitchen and stepped out into the open lawn behind the house. The morning air was crisp, the dew still remaining on the grass. The sun had risen fully now, painting the landscape in shades of orange and gold. The distant hills shimmered faintly, and the gentle hum of mana in the air could almost be felt as if nature itself was watching them.
Jonathan stopped in the center of the lawn, turning toward his son. His expression was calm yet commanding, his voice carrying a tone that demanded focus as he said.
"Aiden," he began, "every Stage One mana cultivator has a few spells they can use. The more you advance, the more enhanced those spells become — and with each new stage, new spells appear as well. For the next few months, we will only focus on training fire mana spells."
Aiden listened intently, his eyes shining with determination. As he replied, " Yes, Dad."
Jonathan continued. "Now, there are a few spells that you can use at your current stage. These include the Fireball, the Fire Blade — though at your level, it's not condensed enough to cut through enemies. It can only burn the opponent's skin and cause damage. The third spell is Flight, using the power of fire to propel yourself. You can also create a Wall of Fire around you for defense, or use fire to trap others — like a Cage of Flame. There are more, but we'll focus on these for now."
He crossed his arms. "Now, let's start with the Fireball. I've already taught you how to use fire mana. To make it into a fireball, you have to think about turning your mana into a sphere at the exact moment you release it from your body. The timing has to be perfect. If you release it too early or too late, the attack will weaken or fail. Understand?"
Aiden nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, Dad."
"Good," Jonathan said with a nod. "Now give it a try."
Aiden took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He began to sense the heat inside his body — the warmth that pulsed faintly from his mana heart. Then, using the breathing technique his father had taught him, he began guiding the mana toward his palm.
As the energy gathered, his hand tingled with heat. He concentrated, thinking about forming a fireball. But when he released it, the result wasn't what he expected. As soon as the mana left his body, it turned into a strange, misshapen cluster of flame — irregular and weak. It dissipated almost instantly.
Jonathan observed calmly as he said. "You thought about turning your mana into a fireball too late," he said. "That's why this happened. Try again — and again — until you master it. Once you do, I'll teach you how to use it in combat."
Aiden nodded again, determination filling his eyes.
He tried again. And again. Sometimes, he was too early — the mana burst before forming shape. Other times, he was too late — the energy fizzled weakly.
Time passed. Sweat covered his forehead. His breathing grew heavier, but his focus remained firm.
Jonathan watched silently, his arms crossed, pride slowly building in his chest as he saw his son, who refused to give up.
Finally, after an hour of relentless effort, Aiden's movements began to flow smoothly. His breathing synchronized perfectly with his mana. He guided the heat to his palm, focused his mind, and just as he released the mana, he thought of a perfect, round fireball.
The moment it left his body, a sphere of flame appeared in front of his hand — bright, vibrant, and alive.
Aiden launched it toward the wooden training dummy ahead. The fireball shot through the air with a faint whoosh and struck the dummy dead center.
Boom!
The impact made a small hole in the wood. Smoke curled upward, the scent of burned wood filling the air.
Aiden's eyes widened in surprise and joy. His heart raced as he turned toward his father, a smile spreading across his face. "Dad, I did it! I did it!"
Jonathan's stern face softened into one of pride. He clapped his hands lightly and said with genuine praise, "Excellent. You learned it in just an hour. It took me three days to get the timing right, and I was even older than you at that time." He smiled faintly as he said. "Alright, now I'll teach you how to use it in combat."
The next hours were filled with movement and training. Jonathan showed Aiden how to use the fireball while moving, how to dodge while casting, and how to combine basic techniques to attack efficiently.
Days passed as father and son trained side by side. Jonathan's strict guidance and Aiden's determination made each session productive. The sound of crackling fire filled their garden day after day.
Days turned into weeks, then Weeks turned into months. The seasons shifted slightly, the air growing warmer. And by the time four months had passed, Aiden had mastered the fire element completely.
He could summon fire at will — shape it, control it, and wield it with precision. His flames no longer flickered weakly; they burned with power and discipline.
That day, standing beneath the open sky, Jonathan looked at his son with quiet awe. Aiden's hands were steady, his gaze unwavering — the boy who had once barely formed a spark could now command the fire like it was an extension of himself.
Four months. That's all it took for Aiden to master what took most adults a year to achieve.
Jonathan placed his hand on Aiden's shoulder, pride gleaming in his eyes.
"You've done well, Aiden," he said softly. "You've truly done well."
And though Aiden didn't say it aloud, deep inside, he felt the same — a quiet flame of pride, burning brighter than any fire he had ever conjured.
Author's Note / Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and settings are purely fictional. Any resemblance to real individuals or situations is purely coincidental.