But he gritted his teeth and pushed on. He didn't need to master it now—he just wanted to feel it. Understand it.
Then, some of it broke through.
Tiny streams of mana slipped and entered his body. The moment they did, a shiver ran down his spine. Goosebumps erupted across his skin, and a strange sense of both excitement and calm washed over him.
The mana seeped into him—not just through his skin but deeper, flowing into his bloodstream, spreading through his veins, bones, and muscles. It moved like a living current, seeking every corner of his being. Wherever it touched, it nourished.
Kael clenched his fists, eyes still closed, breathing slow and steady.
This was it.
This was the beginning.
"Initiation stage," Kael murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Is this... the first path?"
He slowly opened his eyes, the lingering tingles of mana still coursing faintly through his body. His gaze settled on the woman before him—Nyx. She was sitting there calmly, legs folded beneath her, smiling like she had expected all of this.
"How did that feel, Kael?" she asked, her voice playful but warm.
Kael hesitated for a moment, then said honestly, "It felt... good. Like I was being embraced by many people at once. Warm. Alive."
Nyx's smile turned wicked. "Aww, naughty boy. Are you saying you want aunty to embrace you too?"
Kael coughed hard, face reddening. He wanted to say yes, he really did—but caught himself. "Ummh... that's not what I meant."
Nyx laughed, clearly enjoying his discomfort, but let him change the subject.
"So... what's next?" Kael asked quickly. "How do I continue training?"
She raised an eyebrow, amused at how desperate he was to steer the conversation away from embarrassment.
"You're currently in the Initiation Stage," she explained, her tone now serious. "Right now, all you can do is absorb mana. You need to continue doing this—day after day—until you start to feel the mana compressing and gathering into one place. That's the beginning of core formation."
Kael nodded slowly, listening intently.
"Once that happens, you'll enter the Formation Stage. Your mana will start condensing into a core deep within you. It'll be unstable, so your next goal is to reinforce it, strengthen it, protect it."
"And that's... the Stabilization Stage?" he asked.
Nyx nodded. "Exactly. Stabilize your core, and only then will you be ready to walk the true path. Only then can your real journey begin."
Kael took a deep breath, heart steadying. It was clearer now. A long road ahead—but finally, it had begun.
**
Just like the never-ending struggles of human life, time moved forward without pause. Days blurred into weeks, weeks into months, and before anyone noticed, six full years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Kael was now twelve.
He had grown into a fine young man—tall, handsome and a silent confidence that made others take notice. His once slightly awkward demeanor had vanished, replaced by calm eyes and a maturing strength that reflected his years of silent training and guidance under Nyx.
Lyra and Alaric, ever the inseparable pair, were still the same affectionate couple. Their love had only deepened over time, eventually blossoming into the birth of a daughter—Kael's little sister.
Lisa.
She was already five years old and had inherited her father's sharp features and gentle smile. Her presence had brought warmth into the house, softening even Lyra's sharp tongue and temper.
Kael adored her, often carrying her on his shoulders or playing with her in the gardens. Despite the gap in their ages, the two were close.
From the outside, life looked peaceful. But inside Kael, mana stirred constantly, slowly building and pressing toward the next stage. And deep within the sealed corners of the old book, Nyx watched in silence, waiting for the right time.
With Alaric's growing responsibilities and Lyra often preoccupied with managing affairs both inside and outside the house, the workload had naturally increased.
To help ease the burden, they brought in someone familiar—an old maid who once lived with them years ago.
Her name was Ellie, a warm-hearted woman in her 40s. She was welcomed back, and both Kael and little Lisa quickly began calling her Aunty Ellie.