Talismans

Completely absorbed in his training, Ethan spent the rest of the day moving one speck of dust after another out the window. It was slow, tedious work, but every tiny success made his heart race with excitement. He was getting better, little by little, learning how to guide his mana, how to shape it, how to make it obey his will.

At first, it was exhausting. His mana ran out quickly, leaving him feeling drained and dizzy. But he was too stubborn to stop. He would wait, letting his mana slowly refill, and then he'd try again. Over and over, he repeated the process, pushing his limits, testing his endurance, and building his control.

Four times an hour. That's how often he could do it before his mana ran dry. But with each cycle, he could feel himself getting stronger, more efficient, more confident. He was learning to move the dust with less effort, to guide his mana more smoothly, to waste less energy.