First Touch

Daron sat cross-legged on the black plain, his eyes squeezed shut in fierce concentration. Tension radiated through his wiry frame as he focused every fiber of his being on the task at hand. Around him, Morveth circled with a slow, deliberate tread, ash-white skin gleaming in the strange half-light.

"The beginning of any magical journey," Morveth said, his smooth voice seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere, "is understanding one's alignment and developing sensitivity to the Nexus and Mana." A hint of dry amusement colored his tone. "Of course, in your unique case, we can probably skip the alignment bit."

Inhale. Exhale.

Daron's chest rose and fell like the tide.

"Every magician, when first starting out, has already felt their connection to Mana before, even if they didn't realize it at the time." Morveth's eyes glinted with curiosity. "When do you think that moment was for you, Daron?"

Images flashed through Daron's mind - the dark cell, the searing pain, the sudden bloom of icy coldness in his chest. He shuddered at the memory, yet a part of him clung to it, recognizing its significance.

"In the cell," Daron murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "When my Nexus bloomed. I felt it - like a frozen flower unfurling in my chest."

Morveth nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his expression. "Precisely. That was your initial connection to Mana, the moment your Nexus awakened and began filtering the ambient energy around you."

Daron's hand drifted unconsciously to his chest, fingers splaying over the blue pulsating spot where he had felt that icy sensation.

Morveth continued. "Concentrate on that feeling, Daron. The sensation of your Nexus awakening, the icy feeling coursing through your veins."

"But how do I...how will I know if I'm doing it right?" Daron frowned.

A confident smile played on Morveth's lips. "Trust me, you'll know. When you truly connect with your Nexus, when you learn to circulate Mana through your body, it's unmistakable."

Daron nodded, taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes once more. He focused on his chest, on the spot where he had felt that frozen bloom unfurling within him. He remembered the pain, the fear, the overwhelming surge of power that had accompanied his Nexus awakening.

At first, there was nothing - just the steady thrum of his heartbeat and the whisper of his own breath. But as Daron delved deeper into the memory, as he relived those harrowing moments in the cell, something stirred within him.

It started as a faint tingling, a barely perceptible coldness that seemed to emanate from his very core. Daron latched onto the sensation, his mind honing in on it with laser-like precision.

The coldness grew, spreading outward from his chest in icy tendrils that snaked through his veins. It was a strange sensation - not painful, but intense, almost overwhelming in its potency.

Daron's breath hitched as he felt the Mana coursing through him, his Nexus pulsing with newfound energy.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the sensation faded, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. He could feel Morveth's presence at the edge of his consciousness, a silent observer watching his progress with keen interest.

"I...I lost it," he panted, frustration roughening his voice. "It was there, but then it just...slipped away."

Morveth tsked, but there was no real annoyance in the sound. "It will, at first," he assured. "Mastering Mana takes time, and practice. But you've taken your first step."

Daron closed his eyes once more, brows furrowed in concentration. He reached for the memory of that icy sensation, trying to recreate it. But the harder he tried, the more it seemed to elude him, dancing just out of reach.

Minutes crawled by, each one feeling like an eternity. Sweat beaded on Daron's forehead, his breathing growing ragged with effort. Still, he pushed on, chasing the elusive thread of power.

"Relax," Morveth murmured. "Don't force it. Let it come to you."

Easier said than done, Daron thought bitterly. His body ached with tension, muscles screaming in protest. He could feel the beginnings of a headache throbbing behind his eyes, a dull pressure that threatened to shatter his focus.

"I can't," he ground out, frustration sharpening his tone. "It's not working."

"Patience, young one," Morveth chided gently.

Daron huffed out a mirthless laugh. "Easy for you to say," he muttered. "You're not the one trying to wrangle a bunch of invisible energy."

He could practically hear the smirk in Morveth's voice. "Oh, you have no idea. How do you think I reached out to the likes of you." Morveth paused before continuing. "Listen, even gods had to learn magic once, even I had to start somewhere. I had to grapple with the concept of death, without a teacher."

The reminder gave Daron pause. He tried to imagine Morveth as a novice, struggling to master his powers. It seemed impossible, like trying to picture a mountain as a pebble.

"How long did it take you?" he asked, curiosity momentarily overriding his frustration.

Morveth chuckled. "Longer than I care to admit, even if I'm a genius," he said. "But I had the benefit of time on my side. You, my dear Daron, have a rather more pressing deadline."

The words sent a chill down Daron's spine, a reminder of the stakes at play. He couldn't afford to fail, to waste time stumbling in the dark. He needed to get stronger, and fast.

Morveth's voice cut through Daron's thoughts, gentle but firm. "You're overthinking, Daron. Get a feel for it. Magic isn't about logic or reason. It's about intuition. "

Daron mumbled an acknowledgment, trying to quiet his racing mind. He focused on his breathing, on the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. In and out. In and out.

And then, like a whisper on the wind, he felt it again. A faint tug in his chest, a ghost of a sensation. It was the same feeling he had when he'd first arrived at the headquarters, a strange pull guiding him to his room.

He latched onto the feeling, letting it pull him deeper. It was like following a thread through a labyrinth, twisting and turning until he found himself at the center of his being.

There, nestled in his chest, was a pulsing ball of light. It was small, no larger than a marble, but it glowed with an intense, icy blue. As he watched, it seemed to expand and contract with each breath, like a miniature star.

"Is that...?" he breathed, afraid to shatter the moment.

"Your Nexus," Morveth confirmed, his voice tinged with something like pride. "The source of your power, the conduit through which you'll channel Mana."

Daron stared at the glowing orb, transfixed. It was beautiful, in a haunting sort of way. Like a frozen flame, burning cold instead of hot.

He reached out with his mind, tentatively brushing against the surface. It was like plunging his hand into a glacial stream, the shock of it sending shivers through his body.

But beneath the cold, there was something else. A thrum of energy, a pulse of power. It called to him, whispered secrets in a language he couldn't quite understand.

Not yet, at least.

"I feel it," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and trepidation. "It's... incredible."

"Focus," Morveth murmured, his voice a gentle nudge. "Don't force it. Let it come to you."

Easier said than done.

Daron gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead as he strained to maintain his concentration. The cold was intensifying, a bone-deep chill that seemed to emanate from his very core.

And then, for one glorious moment, he had it. The power surged through him, a rush of liquid nitrogen in his veins. He could feel it, could taste it on his tongue like the first frost of winter.

A grin split his face, triumphant and fierce. "I did it! I--"

But the words had barely left his lips before the sensation shattered, slipping away like a dream upon waking. The cold receded, leaving him hollow and aching.

"No," he whispered, his voice raw with disappointment. "No, I almost had it."

Morveth sighed, the sound echoing through the void. "It takes time. You can't expect to master it all at once."

But Daron barely heard him, too consumed by the bitter taste of failure. He slumped forward, his head hanging low.

"I'm tired," he mumbled, the words slurring together. "Can we... Can we stop for now?"

To his surprise, Morveth laughed, the sound rich and warm. "Daron, have you forgotten? You're already asleep."

Daron blinked, realization dawning slowly. Of course. This was all happening in his mind, a dreamscape woven from shadow and thought.

"Your body will be rested when you wake," Morveth continued, amusement coloring his tone. "But your mind... Well, I'm afraid your mind has a great deal of work ahead of it."

Daron groaned, the sound half frustration, half exhaustion. He knew Morveth was right, knew that this was just the beginning of a long and arduous journey.

But in that moment, all he wanted was to sink into oblivion, to let the darkness take him and carry him off to a dreamless sleep.

"Again," Morveth said, his voice soft but insistent. "From the beginning."