Chapter 23: Magic

Joshua opened his eyes, still groggy from his brief return to the real world. He sat on the bed and took a deep breath, instinctively beginning the breathing exercises Maydee had taught him.

Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Slower than before.

With each controlled breath, warmth spread throughout his body, flowing like a current beneath his skin. He could feel it now—tiny tendrils of energy seeping in from his surroundings, siphoning into his chest like a slow but steady river feeding into a vast reservoir.

A warm hand suddenly touched his forehead.

His eyes snapped open.

"Master," he said, startled.

"At least you have diligence," Maydee said with a small nod. "Let's go. You have a long way to go. Now that you can feel the energy, it's time to learn how to use it. Follow me."

"Yes, Master."

Joshua quickly stood and followed her outside the house. The early morning sun painted the village in golden hues, and a crisp breeze carried the scent of freshly baked bread and burning wood. As they stepped through the narrow dirt pathways, villagers paused in their tasks to watch him.

Whispers followed his every step.

"The outsider… his aura feels different now."

"I thought he was just some weakling, but look at him."

"He survived the chief's training. Maybe he really is special."

It wasn't just idle curiosity anymore. There was awe in their gazes, a shift from the quiet skepticism they'd harbored since his arrival. Even the burly blacksmith, who had previously dismissed Joshua with a scoff, gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

Joshua swallowed hard. Pressure. He could feel it pressing down on him. He had to prove himself. At same time, he felt acceptance. Little by little, he longer feels like an outsider.

They passed the village gates and entered the dense woodland beyond. Towering trees loomed overhead, their emerald canopies casting shifting shadows on the ground. The air smelled of damp earth and pine. Birds scattered as they approached a clearing bathed in sunlight, the tall grass swaying lazily in the morning breeze.

Maydee stopped.

"Sit," she commanded.

Joshua obeyed, settling into the soft grass.

"Do your breathing exercises," she said. "But this time, don't just feel the energy. Hold onto it. Make it yours."

Joshua closed his eyes and resumed his steady breathing.

Inhale. The warmth returned, creeping through his limbs.

Hold. The energy swirled inside him, pooling in his core.

Exhale. He focused, keeping it from slipping away.

Seconds turned to minutes. The ambient noise of the forest faded. There was only his heartbeat, the slow rhythm of his breath, and the pulsing warmth within him.

Then—

"Watch me."

Joshua's eyes shot open just in time to see Maydee step forward, her entire body glowing faintly red.

She raised a hand. Her lips moved, whispering words that carried an ancient, otherworldly cadence.

"(Sey'tharis ignis ferventis!)"

A ball of liquid fire erupted in her palm.

Joshua's breath caught in his throat. So this was real magic.

Maydee stretched out her fingers, and the fire surged forward like a hungry beast, twisting and writhing like a living entity. It struck a nearby tree, engulfing it in violent, crackling flames.

Joshua gawked, eyes wide as saucers. He barely had time to process before Maydee was already chanting again.

"(Sey'tharis habilis torrentis!)"

A brilliant green aura enveloped her. Gusts of wind surrounding her like a mini tornado sucking the surrounding air.

With a flick of her wrist, a huge gust of wind surged forth, colliding and enveloping the flames on the tree. A few moments later, not even the smoke remained.

She turned back to him. "Were you paying attention?"

Joshua blinked. He had been so mesmerized that he had forgotten to actually analyze what she was doing. His faint glow disappeared as he lost focus.

"I'm sorry, Master, I was just… surprised."

"Tsk." Maydee crossed her arms. "Come here."

Joshua scrambled to his feet. Feeling nervous that he lost concentration. Why wouldn't he? Any sane person could not hold it in in the face of raw power.

"Pay attention!" Maydee snapped.

"Yes master." Joshua timidly replied.

"First step," Maydee said, her body glowing faintly red again. "You must connect with the energy around you. Breathe in and hold the energy. Feel it swirling in your core."

Joshua focused, trying to sense the flow.

"Second step," she continued, "you must focus your mind on what you want that energy to do. In this case, I want to form a flame on the top of my hand. Visualize the flame. Control the energy, control the flow and restrict the power."

Her glow intensified.

"Third step—chanting. Words guide the energy, shaping it into form. But you must also visualize it. If you don't, the energy could destabilize—and if it does…"

She let the sentence hang, allowing the unspoken consequences to sink in.

Joshua gulped.

"Final step—release."

"Ignis" Maydee uttered.

A tiny flickering flame appeared in her palm, swaying gently in the breeze.

"Now," she said, "focus the energy into your eyes. See the flow."

Joshua hesitated, then did as instructed.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

His vision shifted.

He gasped.

The world was different.

Everything had an aura. The trees, the grass, even the air itself was alight with faint, shifting currents of energy. Maydee's body glowed like a beacon, her internal flow moving through pathways he hadn't noticed before. The energy swirled around her like an invisible storm.

This… This is incredible.

"Now do you understand?"

Joshua exhaled slowly. "Yes, Master. I think I do."

Energy being absorbed through the skin. Energy going through the lines carved into her skin. Energy swirling inside her core. And energy being released steadily, fueling the tiny flame on her hand.

It is very balanced like in the equations. Just enough energy absorbed to feed the flame.

A small smirk formed on Maydee's lips.

"You can also do this without absorbing energy to make the process faster but, that consumes the power of your core and that cannot be replenished easily. Do you think you can do it?"

"I'll try master." Joshua replied. Feeling excited as he is about to do magic.

"Good. Then, show me."