"What are you three talking about?" Intruded another, striking but soft voice.
It was Jared, and he was accompanied by the other trainee, Eleanor. Their footsteps echoed in the bustling food hall, drawing attention to their arrival.
James enthusiastically replied, "Ryan's a hero!"
"Not possible; he's useless with a sword," Jared responded, completely unperturbed. His tone was blunt, almost dismissive.
Rude but true, Ryan admitted to himself, feeling a pang of frustration.
"Maybe he's skilled with magic," said Toris, his voice calm and thoughtful amidst the lively chatter of the hall.
Thanks Toris
"Maybe? So, he doesn't know swordsmanship and magic, but he's a 'hero'; how useless can he be?" Judged Jared, his arms crossed over his chest in a defensive posture.
"I only came to this world a few days ago, and since then I have been more busy trying to survive in that bloody forest," Ryan interjected, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
"You survived in the Foles' Woodlands, with no combat abilities?" Toris nearly jumped up, his eyes wide with surprise, showing emotion for the first time in his life.
"The reason the hideout's in this forest is because of how dangerous it is for Tier Two Adepts and under! A normal human would nearly always die if they went into that forest for longer than a day." Eleanor added.
Maybe my gift is intelligence or survival skills, Ryan mused silently, feeling a glimmer of pride.
"It's obvious; he was just lucky," Jared sighed, his tone tinged with scepticism.
Ryan's face drooped.
"Stop being so jealous that he is a hero and you are not." Said James.
Toris stepped in front of the trio and intervened, "Stop it, you three; we're all on the same side here. Ryan, when you are finished with your meal, come to the training hall with me; I want to do some extra practice." Sensing Ryan's hesitation, he added, "Don't worry, it won't require much moving."
"But it will be very mentally taxing!" Toris whispered to himself while walking out of the food hall.
Ryan rapidly finished his meal, ignoring Jared's cold comments and James' unending interview. Soon after Toris left, Ryan finished his meal and followed, heading over to the training hall.
Ryan only took 6 minutes to find the training hall this time! Progress!
Toris, who was alone in the training hall, was already in complete meditation. Showing how far Ryan was from reaching Toris.
"Come, sit in front of me, Ryan," said Toris, 15 metres away with his eyes closed.
Still creepy
Ryan hesitated for a moment, eyeing Toris skeptically. Nevertheless, he obeyed and settled in front of Toris, cross-legged on the hard floor. Toris remained motionless, his eyes closed in deep concentration.
"Close your eyes, Ryan," Toris instructed softly. "Focus on your breath. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold it for a moment, then exhale slowly through your mouth."
Ryan followed Toris' guidance, feeling the tension in his muscles gradually easing as he sank into a state of relaxation. The rhythmic sound of his breath filled the quiet space of the training hall, grounding him in the present moment.
"Now, I want you to visualise a calm, serene place," Toris continued. "It could be a tranquil meadow, a peaceful beach, or any other scene that brings you comfort."
Ryan struggled to conjure up a mental image at first, his mind cluttered with thoughts of the previous few days. However, with Toris' gentle encouragement, he gradually began to picture a lush forest glade, bathed in dappled sunlight.
"Good," Toris murmured, sensing Ryan's progress. "Now, I want you to imagine a source of energy within yourself. It could be a glowing light in your chest, a warmth spreading through your body, or any sensation that signifies vitality and strength."
As Ryan focused on the image, he felt a tingling sensation in his core, as if a dormant power within him had been awakened. A sense of clarity washed over him, pushing aside the doubts and insecurities that had plagued his mind.
"Now, I want you to channel that energy outward," Toris instructed. "Visualise it flowing through your limbs, infusing you with strength and determination. Feel it radiating from you, enveloping you in a protective aura."
Ryan concentrated on the sensation, feeling a surge of confidence coursing through him. The weight of his doubts disappeared.
"You are capable of more than you realise, Ryan," Toris said softly, breaking the silence. "You are a hero, the one we've been waiting for."
It took me 8, diligent months to learn what he did in a few minutes...
Thought Toris, sulking.
"What is this?" Asked Ryan, unable to explain what he was feeling.
"It is your 6th sense: The 'Mana sense' which only mages have. Once your mana store grows to a large enough amount, you will be able to send mana out of your body and discover an area without opening your eyes. It will be difficult to teach to someone who has just began their journey as a mage, but you will understand soon enough." Toris answered.