Chapter 18: Healing and Puppeteer.
The morning came as usual. The first light of dawn spilled softly through the window, painting faint streaks of gold across the wooden floor. The air carried a quiet sense of stillness that was broken only by the chirping of birds outside.
Aiden woke up slowly, rubbing his sleepy eyes. The room was calm and clean, the familiar scent of fresh morning air drifting in through the half-open window. He pushed the blanket aside and got off his bed, stretching his body lightly before heading toward the washroom.
As he stood before the basin, he washed his face with cold water onto his face, washing away the drowsiness. His reflection in the mirror looked sharper now—his expression more composed, more mature than before. After washing up, he changed his clothes into his usual light training outfit and made his way toward the kitchen.
Inside, the faint aroma of warm bread and herbs filled the air. His mother, Sara, was already there, her calm figure moving gracefully as she prepared breakfast. Jonathan sat at the table, reading something quietly with the same composed expression he always had in the mornings.
Aiden smiled softly and greeted them in his usual polite tone as he said."Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad."
Both of them looked up and replied together, their voices blending warmly in unison."Good morning, dear."
They ate breakfast together, the atmosphere peaceful and familiar. The sound of utensils and the faint sounds from the stove filled the space. Jonathan occasionally glanced at his son with pride, while Sara watched him with that same gentle smile that always carried both affection and expectation from her son.
After a few moments, when they had finished eating breakfast, Sara placed her cup down and turned toward Aiden. Her tone shifted slightly—soft, but carrying authority as she said.
"Let's go to the garden. We will now be training in Healing and Puppeteer Mana, so be attentive. These two elements are trickier than all the others—except Parasitic Mana. That one is the most complicated and difficult to learn, which is why there are far fewer parasitic mana cultivators than others." She stopped for a moment before continuing, "Okay, now let's go."
Aiden nodded immediately, his expression serious yet eager. "Yes, Mom."
After cleaning up, all three of them walked out toward the garden. The morning light had grown stronger, bathing the green grass in a soft glow. Dewdrops sparkled like tiny crystals as the cool breeze brushed past them. The garden, which had witnessed countless training sessions before, once again became their place of discipline and growth.
As they approached the center, Sara stopped and turned to face Aiden. Her long hair fluttered slightly in the wind as she spoke, her tone clear and calm.
"Aiden, do you remember me teaching you how to use Healing Mana—to have a pure heart while truly wanting to help the injured, while feeling emotions like love, friendship, sympathy, or sorrow?"
Aiden nodded without hesitation. "Yes," he replied earnestly.
Sara's eyes softened slightly, pleased that he still remembered. Then she continued, her tone becoming more instructional.
"Healing Mana does not have many applications in direct combat," she began patiently. "But if it is paired with an element that excels at fighting, it can bring great advantages. For example, you can heal yourself during battle, heal your allies while fighting, and even take risks others wouldn't. You can willingly receive injuries to land a critical hit, knowing you can heal yourself afterward."
She paused for a moment, allowing her words to sink in before continuing.
"Healing Mana spells are fewer in number compared to combat elements. There are four basic ones: Direct Healing, Group Healing, Reverse Healing, and Self Healing."
Her gaze grew sharper as she explained each one.
"In these four spells, only Reverse Healing can cause harm to opponents, because it can worsen their wounds. Self-healing, on the other hand, can greatly increase your durability. I have already taught you how to use Direct Healing, but you are still too slow at it. You cannot use it effectively during combat, so you will have to improve your casting speed."
Aiden listened attentively, his eyes never leaving hers.
Sara continued, "After that, you will learn Group Healing. It is less effective than Direct Healing for a single person, but extremely useful in group combat. You can use it by dispersing your mana in the surrounding area around your allies and injecting it into their bodies simultaneously."
She took a breath, then added, "After that comes Reverse Healing. You can use Reverse Healing by controlling the mana present in the atmosphere or even within your opponent's body. By doing so, you can remove the natural healing capability from your opponent's body. Their wounds will worsen over time, giving you an advantage in long battles."
Aiden nodded slowly, understanding the strategic significance behind it.
Sara continued calmly, "After that, you will learn Self Healing. Although it may sound awkward, to use Self Healing, you must be as selfish as you can, fully caring only about your own body. You must focus entirely on yourself, valuing your own existence above all else. Once you've gathered that mindset, you will create Healing Mana and disperse it outside your body, enveloping yourself with it. At higher stages, you will be able to control Healing Mana both inside and outside your body freely."
Her tone was calm but firm, her words carrying both wisdom and authority.
Aiden listened quietly, his young face serious. When she finished speaking, he replied softly but confidently, "Yes, Mom."
Sara's lips curved into a faint approving smile. She could see that he had truly matured.
After a short silence, she continued, "I will not focus on training you in one element at a time anymore. You will have two hours of Healing Mana training and two hours of Puppeteer Mana training every day. Got it?"
Aiden's eyes lit up at her words. He could train in two elements at once. His excitement showed in the slight spark of his gaze as he nodded quickly. "Yes, Mom!" he said, his tone bright but respectful.
Sara nodded in return, then shifted her tone again to a more serious one.
"Now, listen carefully. Puppeteer Mana Cultivators don't fight head-on in combat. They rely on their puppets—controlling them to overwhelm their opponents with sheer numbers and strategic control. At earlier stages, they don't have many spells. At Stage One, they can only create puppets and use them in battle. But to control different puppets effectively, you will need to train your mind."
Her expression hardened slightly, her gaze sharp and focused.
"You must train your mind so that you can synchronize your attacks perfectly and control your puppets with precision during combat. This will take time—at least eight months to master. And since you'll also be training Healing Mana alongside it, it will take you about a year to fully learn both."
She paused, studying her son's face. "By that time," she said softly, "you'll be almost nine years old. So be prepared for a year of hard, mental training."
Aiden's expression grew serious once more. His small fists clenched slightly as he nodded. "Yes," he replied, his voice steady.
Sara watched him for a moment longer, then finally gave a small nod of satisfaction. Jonathan, who had been standing silently nearby the whole time, smiled faintly. He didn't interrupt their exchange; instead, he observed quietly, feeling both admiration and pride. His son was walking a path that few could even dream of.
After that, Sara began teaching Aiden the basic exercises for focusing his Healing Mana flow. She made him repeat the breathing technique while simultaneously visualizing feelings of warmth, care, and genuine empathy. Each breath made his control steadier. At first, his Healing Mana wavered and dispersed, but as the hours went by, his flow became smoother.
The air around them shimmered faintly whenever Aiden's concentration deepened. His mother guided him patiently, correcting his mistakes with calm precision. Whenever his mana dispersed too widely, she told him to narrow his focus; when he hesitated, she urged him to trust his emotions.
After two hours of Healing Mana training, Aiden's body glistened faintly with sweat. His breathing was steady, and his aura felt calm and balanced. He could feel his mana responding to him more smoothly than before.
Sara gave a small approving nod. "Good," she said softly. "Now rest for a few minutes, then we'll begin your Puppeteer Mana training."
Aiden nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He sat down on the grass, breathing slowly. The air was cool and refreshing, carrying the faint fragrance of blooming flowers.
After a short rest, Sara began explaining the structure of Puppeteer Mana once more, reinforcing everything he needed to remember. Her words were steady and methodical, just like before.
"Remember," she said, "to become a Puppeteer Mana Cultivator, you must think of yourself as the master of whatever you control. Whether it's a wooden doll, a dead animal, or any other object, your mind must be sharp enough to guide it like your own limb. Every movement, every reaction—it all comes from your control. That's why mental strength is everything in this path."
Aiden nodded with determination, memorizing every word.
Sara gave him one of her small wooden training dolls—the same type she had used in earlier lessons. "You will start with this," she said calmly. "For now, just focus on injecting your mana properly and maintaining control for longer periods. Once you can do that consistently, we'll begin combat drills."
Aiden held the doll carefully, closing his eyes for a moment. He inhaled deeply, gathering his mana before channeling it into his fingers. Thin, faintly glowing strings of mana extended from his fingertips, connecting to the doll. Slowly, the wooden puppet began to twitch, then move clumsily under his control.
Sara watched closely, occasionally giving soft instructions. "Too fast—slow your flow. Maintain your focus. Feel the connection as if it's part of your body."
Time flowed quietly as mother and son trained under the rising sun. Hours passed with Aiden focusing intensely, failing and retrying again and again until the puppet began to move more naturally. His precision improved, his mana flow stabilized, and his eyes gleamed with quiet resolve.
As the training ended for the day, Sara smiled faintly. "That's enough for today," she said softly. "We'll continue tomorrow."
Aiden bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Yes, Mom."
They walked back toward the house as the afternoon sun glowed warmly above. The faint breeze brushed through the garden, scattering leaves across the grass. Aiden's steps were tired but firm—his resolve unshaken. He knew this would be a long, difficult journey, but he was ready for it.
That night, the world outside was calm once again. Aiden slept soundly, the faint hum of mana lingering around him like a protective whisper.
Author's Note:All characters, events, powers, and organizations in this story are fictional. This chapter is a continuation of a fantasy narrative created for entertainment purposes only.