The path for power (5)

The fifth day at camp was unlike any other for Kaeleen. Throughout the entire week, he had battled to keep his dark mana under control, channeling it in a way that wouldn't tear him apart from within. But that day, after countless flow exercises and painful hours of concentration, he finally felt a tangible shift. For the first time, the energy began to stabilize at a specific point in his chest, forming a faintly pulsing core. He had managed to establish a latent core.

The satisfaction of that accomplishment was immense, but reality hit him immediately: it still wasn't enough. To participate in the final exam, he needed to raise his core to level 2. With only one day left, that goal seemed nearly impossible. However, the fear of failing to join the Royal Academy and losing everything he had suffered for wouldn't even allow him to consider giving up. He couldn't stop now; the chance for a new life was within reach, and the urge to seize it burned in his chest as intensely as the mana itself.

As the sun began to set over the horizon, Kaeleen made a decision. He would stay in the training field all night, without rest, determined to reach the necessary level for his core. He watched as the other recruits returned to the hostel for the night, their figures fading into the dim light while he mentally prepared to face a night of ceaseless effort.

He sat in the middle of the field, under the starlit sky, and closed his eyes, focusing intently on the latent core he had formed in his chest. The energy within was faint, fragile, and any attempt to push it seemed to create a pressure that made it almost impossible to breathe. He took a deep breath, allowing the quiet of the night to surround him, and began guiding the energy, trying to strengthen it and expand it within his body.

Each second that passed added weight to the burden in his chest. The pain and pressure intensified with every effort, as if an invisible force was pressing down on him, trying to stop him. The dark mana was difficult to control; every time he attempted to channel it toward the core, it resisted, pulling back and dispersing in all directions, like a violent current in a flooded river. Kaeleen squeezed his eyes shut, visualizing the energy flowing within him, steadying his breath to keep it in balance.

The hours dragged on slowly, and the fatigue began to settle deep in his bones. Several times, he felt his mind slipping, his muscles yielding under the strain, but he refused to give in. The thought of failing to reach level 2 and losing his chance to enter the academy was unacceptable. He couldn't let the pain defeat him. Elise's encouraging words and Ithan's mocking face echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of everything at stake.

With each attempt, he visualized the dark mana flowing like a dense, turbulent river, forging a path that connected each part of his body in a continuous cycle. The pain in his chest increased, and more than once, he felt on the verge of crying out, but he forced himself to continue. Kaeleen told himself he had to endure, to be stronger than he had ever been before. Each effort was a test of his will, a battle he couldn't afford to lose.

Finally, as the first ray of dawn appeared on the horizon, something changed. The energy within him began to flow more freely, and his latent core seemed to expand, filling with power. The pressure eased, and for a brief moment, Kaeleen felt as if the mana was truly under his control. He had reached level 2. He could barely stand, and every muscle in his body trembled, but a deep sense of satisfaction filled him. He had done it. All the effort, all the pain, had been worth it.

With an exhausted smile, he collapsed onto the ground, unable to hold back a sigh of relief. The night had been an excruciating test, a constant struggle against his own limits, but the effort had borne fruit. He had accomplished the impossible. He had spent the entire night battling himself, overcoming exhaustion and fear, and now the level 2 core pulsed within him like a steady source of power.

After a few minutes spent gathering his strength, Kaeleen rose slowly and headed back toward the hostel. He knew he'd barely have time to rest before the exam began, but he was ready to face it. His entire body ached with each step, a constant reminder of the price he had paid, yet his mind was calmer than it had ever been.

With his freshly established level 2 core, Kaeleen joined the other recruits at the training field. Today was the last day at camp, the day of the final exam. A nervous energy filled the air as the young recruits exchanged glances, all too aware of the significance of what lay ahead. The instructors announced they would be divided into five groups, each tasked with a series of challenges designed to test their mastery of mana.

Kaeleen was assigned to the group led by Naomi, the young woman who had taken the top spot in the previous trials. Along with three other companions, he took his designated position, quickly noticing that a few of them regarded him with slight apprehension. Understandable—after all, his lack of control had been apparent throughout the week. However, this wasn't what concerned him most.

Across the field, Ithan and Erik watched him with mocking smiles, their expressions a thinly veiled promise of trouble. Something in their demeanor told Kaeleen that the two intended to make the test even harder for him. Despite this, he kept his gaze steady, refusing to let their taunts affect him. He wasn't about to let anything, not even them, interfere with his chance to enter the academy.