"The first step to mastering my method is understanding the essence of mana," Noctharis began, his voice resonating in Kael's mind. "To do that, you need to increase your sensitivity to mana."
Kael furrowed his brows. "And how do I do that?"
"It's simple," Noctharis replied with a slight tone of amusement. "Meditation. You must meditate—not to focus on the mana in your body or even the mana in the environment, but on the mana within the space itself. Once you begin to sense this raw mana, untouched by any specific nature or element, you can proceed to the next phase: controlling it."
Kael shifted into a cross-legged position on the cold stone floor, his back straight and hands resting on his knees. Closing his eyes, he slowed his breathing, focusing inward first to calm his mind. After a few moments, he began to extend his awareness outward, reaching for the mana surrounding him. It was faint at first, like a subtle hum just outside his hearing. Slowly, he began to feel it—layers of energy weaving through the air, faint currents of mana all around him.
But something was off.
"This isn't raw mana," Kael thought to himself. What he felt was fragmented, each current carrying a distinct nature—fire, water, wind, earth, and more. Among them, darkness was the most abundant, a heavy, cold presence that seemed to envelop everything around him.
He frowned. Perhaps darkness is so prevalent because it's my natural element.
"Stop," Noctharis's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade. "Don't lose focus. And above all, do not analyze or rationalize it. What you're doing now is wrong."
Kael's concentration wavered for a moment. "What am I doing wrong?" he asked, frustrated.
"You're sensing the nature of mana," Noctharis explained, his tone stern, "when you should be feeling its essence. Raw mana exists beneath the elements—fire, water, wind, darkness—they are all secondary. They are manifestations of mana's nature, shaped by the environment, the user, or its inherent tendency to align with an element. To find the essence, you must strip away the layers. Peel the elemental nature from the mana and perceive it for what it truly is."
Kael took a deep breath, his frustration giving way to determination. He returned to his meditation, this time letting go of his instinct to categorize and understand what he felt. Instead of analyzing the mana around him, he simply experienced it, allowing the sensations to wash over him.
Darkness was receding, and the first light of dawn began to creep through the cracks in the fortress walls, slowly devouring the shadows that had cloaked the room. Morning was coming, but Kael remained seated cross-legged in the same spot, deep in meditation.
He had no idea how much time had passed since he started. The stillness of the night had faded into the faint hum of early morning, yet he felt no closer to understanding the essence of mana. Frustration bubbled within him. Despite hours of effort, the concept Noctharis had described remained just out of reach.
Noctharis had been with him the entire night, offering guidance and explanations in his cold, commanding voice. Yet, even with all that help, Kael still couldn't grasp it. He clenched his fists tightly and opened his eyes, staring down at them.
"Am I doing something wrong?" he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation.
Noctharis's voice echoed in his mind, calm but firm. "Do not lose patience. This method is not something you can master in a single night. It is the ultimate technique I created after centuries of study, experimentation, and understanding the very nature of this world. How can you possibly expect to achieve mastery so quickly?"
Kael's frustration flared. "Does this method even work? Or is it just some fantasy you've convinced yourself of?"
Noctharis snorted in response, a low, dismissive sound. "Do not question my methods. They are the result of a dragon's unparalleled intellect. If you cannot succeed, it is only because you lack the discipline and perseverance."
Kael raised an eyebrow, his tone turning slightly mocking. "Oh? So you didn't learn this from another dragon?"
Noctharis's response came swiftly, laced with disdain. "If other dragons were capable of such innovation, I might have. But dragons, by their very nature, are loved by the world itself. Our words and thoughts are commands to nature, and it bends to our will without question. Most dragons see no need to innovate or learn. They live their lives in leisure, content with their innate power."
"So, you weren't like the others," Kael pressed, curiosity creeping into his voice.
"No," Noctharis admitted, a hint of pride in his tone. "From the moment I was born, I was different. While others were satisfied with the power gifted to them, I hungered for more. I wanted to learn, to explore, to understand. Curiosity was my greatest strength—and the reason I became the strongest being in the world."
Kael tilted his head, intrigued. "So, you weren't always the strongest?"
Noctharis let out a low chuckle. "No one is born the strongest. Everyone starts weak, but some stop growing, while others—those with unyielding resolve—never stop striving for more."
Kael nodded thoughtfully, his frustration easing slightly. He couldn't deny that Noctharis's words resonated with him. Still, his body ached, and the mental strain from hours of effort weighed heavily on him.
Noctharis's voice softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. "Enough for now. Rest, Kael. A weak body will only hinder your progress. You must train both mind and body to fully embrace my method. Go. Rest and recover."
Kael let out a sigh of relief and stood up, his legs stiff from sitting for so long. Sweat clung to his body, and his clothes were damp. He made his way to the small bed in the corner of the room, too tired to bother washing up.
As soon as he lay down, exhaustion overtook him, and sleep came swiftly. For now, at least, the weight of his failures faded into the background, replaced by the promise of another chance tomorrow.