Chapter 49: Lessons Learned

The crowd was silent for a second, then the applause came quiet at first, then louder. Everyone was starting to realize just how much things were changing. Skills. Mana. Strategy.

This wasn't just about sparring anymore. It was about who would survive.

Logan and Sol didn't stop at one round. They sparred again, then again until they completed four rounds total but Sol only won the first.

Each match was faster, tighter, and more aggressive yet Logan kept adapting. By the fourth round, it was clear the tide had turned. Sol was fast, but Logan was efficient.

After the final bout, Logan stepped back, lowering his dagger with a faint smile. "You're getting predictable," he said calmly. "I could see your tells and you're slowing down. You look tired."

Sol frowned, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. He gave a slow nod. "Yeah… I feel it."

I walked over, watching Sol carefully. "How much mana do you have left and how much does Quick Step burn each time you use it?"

He blinked at me, confused for a second, then glanced at the corner of his vision. "Three. I've only got three MP left and Quick Step uses five every time I activate it." He leaned slightly to the side. "I… feel lightheaded."

I reached out, steadying him by putting my hand on his shoulder. "You've been overusing Quick Step. You can't burn through all your mana like that, especially not in practice." I glanced over at Logan, who was already grabbing Sol's canteen from the pile of gear nearby.

"Go sit. Rest," I said, tone leaving no room for argument.

Sol didn't protest. He gave a nod and walked back toward the wall, sliding down to sit against it with a quiet sigh. His eyes were heavy. His skin had gone pale.

He'd pushed himself too hard, but that was better learned now than in a real fight.

The sparring had finally come to an end.

People were stretched out on the ground or sitting on their sleeping bags. A few sat on the counters, catching their breath, laughing, or replaying their fights like war stories. Even the ones who lost had a glint of pride in their eyes. It wasn't just training for them. It was a reminder that they could still push forward, fight, and learn.

I wiped my face with a damp cloth, then glanced across the room at Josh, who was fiddling with the edge of his shirt and grinning like he'd just discovered a new superpower.

"How's Basic Martial Arts feel?" I asked, leaning against the wall near him.

Josh looked up, face flushed from exertion. "Honestly? Weird. But good. Like I don't have to think as much anymore. My footing's better, more grounded, I guess. It's like my body just… knows where to be."

I nodded. "That's how it should feel. Your body responds faster than your thoughts, but make sure to reflect on what you learn. Don't just let the skill do the work, actually learn it because it will help you in the future."

"I didn't think a single skill would make that big of a difference," he added, flexing his fingers and throwing a short jab at the air. "But it's like something clicked. I still suck, but… less. I will try to learn as best as I can."

"Less is a start."

Across the way, I see Nicole coming over with Liz, who had a half-empty canteen and tired eyes. A few people nearby had already been healed by her. She used Restoration Pulse on Sol's arm, Laney's shoulder, and even Mitch's twisted ankle. Liz had gone to one after the other with quiet focus, holding out her hand, triggering the pulse, and then helping them sit back down. She was pale now, her energy clearly drained.

"Hey," Nicole said, sitting Liz down next to her brother. "Thanks for patching everyone up. That spell is very helpful."

Liz gave a small shrug. "Just doing what I can."

Nicole stood, turning toward the rest of the room. "Alright, serious question—how'd that healing feel? Does anyone feel off? Numb? Dizzy?"

There were a few murmurs, mostly along the lines of "warm," "tingly," or "like soaking in a hot bath."

Giselle laughed. "Honestly, it felt like a shot of whiskey and a nap rolled into one."

"Good," Nicole said. "No side effects are better than expected."

I moved beside Liz, crouching to meet her eyes. "How much mana did Restoration Pulse use each time?"

She blinked tiredly and opened her stats for a quick glance. "Ten per cast. I used it five times… so, fifty MP total. I didn't expect it to drain me that fast."

"It's a lot for a support skill," I muttered, thinking. "We're going to need to ration spells carefully in long fights and instead of individually using the skill on just one person just do it in a group unless someone is dying."

Then I stood and turned to the group, raising my voice just enough to carry.

"Since we're sharing," I began, "I'll tell you what I learned from Meditation."

Most turned toward me immediately, curious. The sparring high hadn't worn off yet, but now they were looking for information.

"When you use Meditation, it's not just about sitting still. It's about clearing the clutter in your head, the noise. At first, it was hard. My mind was everywhere. But then it clicked like breathing in sync with the world around you. You stop thinking and start… feeling. It's similar to meditating normally, but it's a different type of connection."

Sol sat up straighter, clearly interested.

"I started to see it," I continued. "Mana. Particles of it float through the air like dust particles. Red near flames, blue near water, silver drifting high up like strands of air. Each color was different. Each one meant something."

I paused, glancing down at my hands.

"I could see them, sense them. But I couldn't touch them. Not yet. Meditation unlocks your awareness, but controlling mana is something else entirely. I'm close… but it's like standing at the edge of a lake, knowing how to swim but not being allowed in."

There was a hush. The kind of silence that came from people focusing on what I said.

"We've got a long way to go," I said. "But that was my first step."

No one said anything for a few beats. Then Sol gave a small nod, and Nicole murmured something to Logan. Viktor grinned faintly, and even Liz managed a tired smile.

It wasn't magic like fireballs or explosions.

But it was the beginning and I know that people like Liz who will probably focus on just using magic need to know how to do it. I wonder if I can teach her or if she needs to buy the skill.