Piper stood before Ian with her arms folded, her expression still as stern as ever. "Now that you have finally managed to sense it," she began, her tone sharp and clipped, "the next step is learning to control it. Mana is like breath. You do not waste it with every exhale. You must learn to hold it, to guide it, and to use it sparingly when needed."
Ian tilted his head, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "So basically, mana is like money. Save some for later, don't spend it all on snacks?"
Chloe giggled softly behind her hand. "That is… not entirely wrong," she admitted, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
Piper shot Chloe a look but returned her gaze to Ian. "Enough jokes. Sit. Close your eyes again."
Ian sighed but obeyed, lowering himself onto the grass. "Alright, alright. Closing my eyes. Feeling the river. What's next?"
