Chapter 16: Water Mana Spells.
Jonathan stood there, his tall frame firm and unmoving, his eyes filled with unmistakable pride. A calm yet powerful presence surrounded him, the aura of someone who had walked the path of cultivation for many years. His gaze rested on his son — the boy who had achieved in months what took others a year.
"You have mastered fire mana and all its spells," Jonathan said, his voice deep and steady. "Let's have a spar. After that, we will start learning water mana."
The corners of his lips curled slightly upward — a faint, approving smile of a proud father.
Aiden nodded, his face calm but his heart beating with excitement. "Ok, Dad," he said, his voice steady, though a spark of thrill flashed in his deep black eyes.
The father and son stepped toward the center of the garden. The morning sun hung high now, spilling warm rays over the green grass. The faint smell of dew still lingered in the air. The gentle wind that had been blowing through the estate now carried a faint tension — the anticipation of a duel between a master and his student. A father and his son.
Sara stood at the far end of the garden, watching quietly. Her silver hair shimmered faintly under the light, her hands folded behind her back. There was pride in her gaze, but also a hint of concern. This was Aiden's first real spar after mastering fire mana, and though she knew Jonathan would never harm him, she also knew he wouldn't go easy on him either.
Jonathan and Aiden both took their positions. They stood a few meters apart, facing each other, their feet firm and their bodies slightly lowered — they tooka fighting stance as they were preparing for combat. The wind swirled softly between them, moving the grass.
Sara raised her hand and said in a loud, clear voice, "Begin!"
The instant the word left her lips, Aiden moved.
A rush of heat surged beneath his feet as he channeled fire mana through his legs. His body shot forward with incredible speed — he used Flight — leaving faint trails of glowing embers in his wake. He darted toward his father like a streak of light.
Jonathan's sharp eyes tracked his every move calmly. But just as Aiden neared, he suddenly twisted his body, rotating sharply mid-air and moving off to his father's left. His movement was fluid, controlled, and strategic.
As Aiden moved to the left, flames gathered rapidly in his right hand. In the blink of an eye, a blazing fireball formed — its surface swirling with volatile energy. Without hesitation, he launched it toward his father.
The fireball burst through the air, leaving a faint scorch in its path.
Jonathan's gaze flickered, but his expression remained composed. With a swift sidestep, he moved out of the fireball's range. The projectile missed him narrowly, crashing into the grassy ground behind and erupting into a burst of flame.
Before Jonathan could even stabilize, Aiden's next move came.The boy had already conjured a fire blade in his left hand — a sharp crescent of crimson energy that burned fiercely. He swung it horizontally with precision.
The air sizzled as the fiery slash tore through it toward Jonathan.
But Jonathan, a seasoned cultivator, moved effortlessly. His body glided to the side, the attack slicing through the air where he had just stood. The grass beneath the blade's path instantly turned black, smoke curling from the cut.
The father's calm voice carried through the field, "Good. You're improving your flow. But don't let me read your rhythm."
Aiden didn't respond — he was too focused.
At that exact moment, Jonathan's eyes widened slightly his expression was full of surprise. Around him, flickers of flame began to materialize in a perfect circular formation.
A firewall.
In just seconds, Aiden had conjured a blazing barrier around his father, trapping him within a dome of swirling flames. The air shimmered with heat, distorting Jonathan's figure inside the fiery prison.
A small gap formed in the wall's surface — just large enough for an attack. Aiden thrust his hand forward, launching multiple fireballs into the gap one after another.
The explosions inside the wall were rapid and violent. But from within the inferno, Jonathan's composed voice could still be heard.
He smiled faintly as his body moved in swift, precise motions. His hands glowed with energy as he parried each incoming fireball with ease, dispersing their flames before they could detonate near him. Each motion of his hand was smooth, carrying the grace of decades of training and combat mastery.
Outside the wall, Aiden's eyes narrowed. He didn't stop. Instead, he moved quickly, circling around the fiery dome. His small body moved low and silent, every step calculated. Then, without hesitation, he conjured another fire blade — this one sharper and more condensed than before.
He suddenly dispersed the fire wall completely. The flames that had trapped his father vanished in a burst of sparks, leaving Jonathan momentarily open — and that's when Aiden launched the fire blade from behind.
It was a perfect strike — fast, unexpected, and aimed from a blind spot.
Jonathan's eyes widened slightly again — the second real sign of surprise. The timing and strategy were flawless. His son had set a trap within a trap.
But Jonathan was not an ordinary opponent. His years of experience kicked in instantly. In a swift motion, he twisted his torso, his hand shooting up to deflect the incoming flame. The blade of fire passed dangerously close, missing his shoulder before dispersing harmlessly into the air.
Before Aiden could recover from his attack stance, Jonathan moved.In an instant, he closed the distance between them, grabbed Aiden's wrist, and with a smooth motion, pinned him to the ground.
The grass bent beneath them as Jonathan's calm but firm voice echoed."I win again."
Aiden exhaled softly, not in pain, but in recognition of defeat. "Yes," he said quietly, his tone honest and calm. "I lost, Dad. You're too strong for the current me."
Jonathan loosened his grip, standing up straight as he smiled down at his son. "Don't be disappointed," he said gently. "After a few years, I believe it will be possible for you to beat me. And with your planning and strategy, you're already better than ninety percent of Stage One mana cultivators. So don't be disappointed, okay?"
Aiden looked up at him with determined eyes and nodded. "Yes, Dad."
Sara, who had been watching silently from the side, finally approached. Her steps were light, graceful, and her hands glowed faintly with a warm light. She knelt beside Aiden and placed her hand over the small bruises on his arm.
In moments, healing light spread from her palms, closing the cuts and soothing the soreness. Aiden could feel the warmth — soft, gentle, like the embrace of sunlight.
Once Aiden was fully healed, Jonathan spoke again, his tone returning to the calm authority of a teacher.
"From today onwards," he said, "you will learn water mana and its spells. Water mana also has different techniques — like a condensed water stream that can create holes in dummies, a water wall similar to the fire wall, and even a water prison that can trap opponents. You can also condense water around your opponent's body to suffocate them."
He paused, watching Aiden's attentive expression. Then continued, "To conjure a water stream, you will have to think about a fast-flowing water current as you release your mana. You must release the mana from a single point in your palm to create a condensed stream — and just like with fire, you have to time it perfectly. Okay? Now practice until you can conjure a proper water stream."
Aiden nodded immediately, his small fists clenching slightly with resolve. "Okay, Dad."
He took a few steps forward, stopping near the practice dummies. Closing his eyes, he inhaled slowly. He began to imagine it — the endless blue ocean, the sound of waves crashing against the shore, the sensation of cold water flowing freely through his veins.
He could feel his mana heart pulsing softly, the energy circulating within him. Using the breathing technique, he began guiding that mana through his body, focusing it toward his palms.
He tried to release it — but instead of a condensed stream, a small splash of water spilled from his hand and evaporated immediately.
Aiden frowned but didn't stop. He tried again, as he failed,. He tried again and again.
Dozens of times.Each attempt failed — sometimes the mana scattered, sometimes it was too weak, sometimes it simply vanished into mist.
Jonathan watched quietly, offering no help, knowing that mastery came through understanding failure. Sara stood silently beside him, her expression calm but encouraging.
Hours passed. The sun had shifted high in the sky, and sweat now covered Aiden's forehead. His breathing was steady but deep, his concentration unwavering.
Finally — after what felt like endless repetition — Aiden learned the exact timing.
Aiden's mana surged smoothly through his body this time. The rhythm of his breathing aligned perfectly with his focus. As he exhaled, he released the mana from the center of his palm, thinking about a fast-flowing current.
Whoosh!
A bright stream of water burst forth, twisting through the air like a serpent of liquid crystal. It shot straight ahead and struck the wooden puppet's head — splitting it cleanly apart with a sharp crack.
Water droplets scattered in all directions, glimmering like diamonds in the sunlight.
Aiden's eyes widened in awe and satisfaction. His lips parted in a bright, proud smile as he turned toward his father. "Dad, I have done it!"
Jonathan's face softened into a proud grin. He stepped forward slightly and said, "Well done. For the next month, you will master the water stream and learn how to use it in combat. Now rest — your training will start again tomorrow."
Aiden nodded, still smiling, though exhaustion had begun to creep into his body. "Yes, Dad," he said softly.
The warm sunlight fell across the three of them — father, mother, and son — standing together in the garden where flames and water had just been used in harmony.
It was only the beginning of Aiden's path, yet even now, his talent was undeniable.
Author's Note / Disclaimer:This story is purely a work of fiction. All characters, events, and settings are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or situations is coincidental.