Chapter 17: Water Mana Mastery.
Just as last time, Aiden continued his water mana training every single day.The days passed quietly but purposefully. Morning after morning, the garden echoed with the sound of rushing water and the faint hiss of steam as he practiced over and over again. The sun rose and fell, the seasons gently shifted, and what began as small ripples of effort turned into waves of steady progress.
Days turned into weeks.Weeks into months.
And now, once again, three full months had passed.
Aiden stood tall in the center of the garden, his body relaxed yet strong, his expression calm but filled with confidence. He was no longer the same small boy who had fumbled to create fireballs or struggled to shape water streams. His movements were smoother now — each motion precise and deliberate.
The morning sunlight bathed the training ground in a warm glow. The soft rustling of the trees and the faint scent of dew lingered in the air.Standing across from Aiden was his father, Jonathan. His broad shoulders carried the weight of pride and years of discipline. His eyes, calm and sharp as ever, looked at his son with deep satisfaction.
He said, his tone steady and proud, "You have fully mastered all the water mana spells. And this time, you did it a month faster than last time. That's because water has some spells similar to fire. But don't think every other element will be this easy."
His gaze hardened slightly as he added, "The most difficult elements to learn are Puppeteer and Parasite. So remember that."
Aiden listened intently, nodding with focus and respect. Jonathan's words always carried weight — not just because he was Aiden's father, but because every word came from the experience of a true master.
Jonathan's tone softened again as he continued, "Alright now, let's have a spar. After that, you'll have one day to rest. Then, you'll begin learning Healing Magic and Puppeteer magic spells from your mother. In this spar, you'll use both elements — Fire and Water — together."
Aiden's heart thumped with excitement. He had been waiting for this — to combine his elements in real combat. His eyes gleamed with determination as he nodded. "Okay, Dad."
They both stepped to the center of the garden. The air grew heavier as father and son faced each other once again, their energies intertwining invisibly. The grass rustled softly under their feet. Sara, who stood quietly at the edge of the garden, watched with her usual calm expression — though a faint smile curved her lips.
When both of them had taken their fighting stances, Sara's clear, firm voice cut through the still air."Begin!"
The instant she spoke, Aiden moved.
He conjured a fireball in his right hand and launched it toward his father with explosive force. Almost simultaneously, his left hand shimmered with blue mana as he formed a condensed water stream, shooting it immediately after the fireball.
The two attacks — one blazing hot, the other chillingly cold — rushed forward side by side. When they collided midair, the intense difference in temperature caused a violent reaction.
Steam burst forth.
A dense white mist exploded between them, covering the entire garden and blocking Jonathan's vision completely.
Aiden didn't waste a second. Using Flight, as he propelled himself forward, his body moving through the mist like a comet. His hair fluttered behind him, his mana heart pulsing with rhythmic strength.
Within moments, he reached Jonathan's position. In his right hand, he conjured a fire sword — flames forming a sharp, glowing blade. In his left hand, he summoned a water whip, one of the new water mana spells he had recently learned.
As he closed in, he slashed the fire sword toward Jonathan's torso.
Jonathan's eyes narrowed slightly as he sensed the incoming attack. Though his sight was hindered by the steam, his combat senses were far too keen. He stepped aside swiftly, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth. The fiery blade missed his chest, missing his chest and robe while scorching his fabric.
But before he could counter, he sensed something else. A fast-moving surge of energy approached from his side.
He turned his head sharply — a water whip was slicing through the air, aimed directly at his waist.
The glint in Jonathan's eyes sharpened. For the first time in their seven months of training and sparring, Jonathan allowed a flicker of genuine surprise to cross his face.
Then — whoosh!
He used Flight — his own spell — to propel his body upward, dodging the whip by leaping into the air.
This was the first time. The first time in seven months that Jonathan had used a mana spell during their spars.
As Aiden saw his father take to the air, his eyes widened in astonishment, and then — in pride. His heart raced. He used a spell!
A grin tugged at his lips. The excitement within him surged. His father's movement alone told him more than words could — he was finally strong enough to make Jonathan use mana spells in battle even if they are stage 1 mana spells. That, to him, was a victory in itself.
Collecting his thoughts swiftly, Aiden took advantage of the moment. He raised both his hands and conjured a fire prison around his father — a blazing circle of red-orange flames that trapped Jonathan mid-air. The heat distorted the air, crackling softly.
At the same time, Aiden surrounded himself with a water wall — a glistening sphere of rippling blue that flowed around him like liquid glass.
He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing.
Within seconds, Aiden had created a balance of two opposite elements — fire and water — coexisting perfectly under his control.
Then, gripping both his hands tightly, he conjured a fire blade in his right and a water whip in his left once again.
Without hesitation, he dashed forward. His movements were sharp, refined, and fluid — the movements of someone who had trained relentlessly.
He flew straight toward the fire wall that surrounded his father. The moment he touched it, the flames began to burn his water shield, producing a loud hiss — steam filled the air again. But Aiden didn't stop. Protected by the water wall, he pierced through the flames and entered the prison.
Inside the fire prison, heat waves distorted everything. The air shimmered violently, sweat instantly forming on Aiden's forehead. His eyes stayed fixed on his father's silhouette.
Then, with incredible precision, he launched a flurry of attacks.
The fire blade swung through the air in rapid arcs, each swing followed by a crack of the water whip. He alternated between spells seamlessly, throwing fireballs in between strikes and launching water streams from his left hand whenever he found an opening.
The sound of attacks clashing on the ground filled the space — fire soared, water flowed, and steam clouded the battlefield.
Jonathan, however, remained calm within the storm of all these attacks. His figure flickered through the mist like a phantom, each of Aiden's attacks narrowly missing their mark. He dodged every strike with practiced elegance, moving faster than the eye could follow. His years of combat mastery shone through as he countered each wave of attacks with smooth parries or quick sidesteps.
Seconds passed like minutes.The intensity of their exchange grew until finally — with a deep rumble — the fire prison collapsed, its flames dispersing into thin air.
As the steam rose high into the air, visibility dropped once again. The garden was filled with the hiss of evaporating water.
And then —
In an instant, Jonathan's figure appeared behind Aiden. His movement was so fast it seemed he had vanished from one place and appeared in another. He caught Aiden's arm gently but firmly, twisting it just enough to immobilize him without causing harm.
"I win again," Jonathan said, his voice calm and steady as ever.
Aiden froze, realizing that he had been caught once more. Slowly, he relaxed his stance as his father released his grip.
Then, Aiden looked up, a small grin spreading across his face. His tone was playful yet confident. "But I made you use a spell. So it can still be considered my victory — even if it's just a Stage One mana spell."
Jonathan blinked, then let out a low chuckle. For a moment, the serious mentor faded, and the father returned. "Yeah," he said, as he smiled jokingly, "it can be considered a win — since you're a child and only at Stage One."
He paused, his voice growing soft but encouraging. "Okay, now go get some rest. From tomorrow onwards, you'll learn Healing , and Puppeteer Mana spells from your mother. And remember — it will be much harder than using Fire or Water mana, okay?"
Aiden nodded obediently, his expression calm and respectful. "Yes, Dad" he said simply.
Sara approached, her calm eyes warm as always. She looked at both of them — father and son — her gaze filled with quiet pride. It was hard to tell whether she was more impressed by Jonathan's patience or Aiden's relentless drive, but her heart swelled with emotion at the sight of their bond.
Aiden then turned toward the house, his steps light but weary. His body ached slightly from the intense spar, but there was a quiet satisfaction glowing in his chest. He had grown again — stronger, faster, more precise. And for the first time, he had forced his father to use a spell.
When he entered his room, the silence of the house wrapped around him like a comforting blanket. The faint scent of smoke and water still lingered on his clothes. He climbed onto his bed, the softness instantly easing his tired body.
He didn't realize how exhausted he was until his head touched the pillow. His eyelids grew heavy almost immediately.
Within moments, he had drifted into deep sleep.
Outside, the night gradually fell. The stars appeared one by one in the sky, and the garden — once a battlefield of fire and water — was now calm and silent.
As Aiden slept peacefully, the world outside continued its gentle rhythm. But somewhere far beneath the ground — deep below the quiet home — a faint, rhythmic sound began to echo.
Thump. Thump.
A heartbeat.
It wasn't coming from Aiden's body. It was coming from somewhere deep underground — steady, faint, but unmistakably alive.
And though no one heard it, that heartbeat pulsed with a quiet, mysterious power — one that seemed connected to Aiden in ways even he couldn't yet understand.
Author's Note / Disclaimer:This story is a work of fiction. All characters, events, organizations, and powers are entirely imaginary. Any resemblance to real people or occurrences is purely coincidental.