Basic Magic Training

The next day, the students were more enthusiastic about attending classes at the Academy. This was because today was the magic training session for students in the magic class and the swordsmanship training session for those in the swordsmanship class. This was the moment when students would showcase their innate talents as outstanding students, especially those from noble families.

Once everyone had gathered in the grand hall, a man in a black robe stood before the students. He had slightly long black hair and carried himself with a firm and dignified demeanor. This man was Magnus Everhart, a Grandmaster-level mage from the Kingdom of Aeloria. Magnus immediately approached the students who were sitting cross-legged on the marble floor of the grand hall.

"Good morning, new students! This morning marks the beginning of your magic training class. As for those taking the swordsmanship class, you may rest for now and wait until your session begins later in the afternoon."

Upon hearing the instructor's words, the students in the swordsmanship class left to take a break in the cafeteria while waiting for their session to start later in the day. However, for Aria, this was an opportunity—because he could participate in both classes.

Once the hall fell silent again, the instructor clasped his hands behind his back and began to speak in a deep and authoritative voice.

"Alright, everyone. Today, you will learn the basics of becoming a mage—starting with how to control mana. Do not assume that spells or certain elements will make you stronger. If your mana control is poor, then you are nothing more than children playing with wild fire."

The students quickly realized how serious this lesson on magic fundamentals was. Even those from noble families started to understand that relying solely on spells would not yield optimal results.

Instructor Magnus continued his explanation:

"Magic does not come merely from words or hand gestures. Instead—magic comes from the flow of mana gathered within our bodies. At the center of everything is the Mana Core—the source of energy that flows through every mage."

As he explained, the instructor placed his fingertip on his chest and pressed lightly—so the students would understand where mana energy accumulates.

"The Mana Core is located here, beating in sync with your heart. Just like how blood circulates throughout your body, mana also flows—but only if you can sense it and control it."

Then, one of the students, feeling curious, raised a question:

"Instructor… how can we feel the flow of mana?"

This question also intrigued the other students, as they were eager to learn how to perceive the mana flow. The instructor smiled slightly, pleased that the students were listening seriously to his explanation.

"That is a good question. Starting now, we will begin our first training—sensing the mana flow."

First Training: Sensing the Mana Flow

Instructor Magnus raised his hand, and immediately, the atmosphere in the grand hall became tranquil. The sounds from outside were muffled, as if the hall had been separated from the outside world.

"Now, sit cross-legged, take a deep breath slowly, and close your eyes."

The students followed the instructor's directions with utmost seriousness. Aria, too, carefully and calmly followed the instructions.

"When your mind is at peace—focus your awareness inward. Listen to the rhythm of your heartbeat. Within each beat, there is something beyond just the flow of blood—if you can sense it, then that is your mana flow."

The hall fell into a deep silence. Every student concentrated, trying to sense their mana flow. Some students started to feel a faint sensation—a gentle warmth in their chest. The instructor, observing them, felt a hint of pride at their progress. The new students were eager to learn and were attentive to his teachings.

Then, the instructor continued giving further guidance:

"Remember! Mana cannot be forced. Do not rush it—let it flow naturally, like a river following its own course."

After several minutes, one student suddenly opened his eyes in shock.

"I… I can feel it!"

The other students, hearing this, were momentarily distracted, realizing that someone had sensed the mana flow before them. However, rather than feeling discouraged, they became even more determined and focused on experiencing it themselves. However, there were two talented students who completed it with ease—Daliana Leoveil and Seraphine Aetherwind. They were the most beautiful girls in the Kingdom of Aeloria. All the students were even more astonished and mesmerized by them.

Instructor Magnus, noticing this, gazed at the student with a proud yet composed expression.

"Good. That is the first step. But simply being aware of it is not enough—you must learn to control it."

For over an hour, the students remained in a meditative state, trying to sense their mana flow. Eventually, they succeeded, and it was time to move on to the next phase of training under the instructor's guidance.

"Now, place your hands in front of your chest, palms facing upward. Then, imagine the mana you have just sensed flowing into your palms."

All the students followed the instructions, though some of them struggled a bit. This stage required intense concentration—even talented students needed to focus deeply and remain undisturbed to achieve good results.

"Remember! Never force it. Let the mana flow naturally. Keep feeling how it moves through your arms toward your palms. If you manage to control it, you will also be able to manifest magic."

Some students began to see faint flashes of light flickering from their hands, while others only felt warmth in their palms. However, Aria had a different idea—one that seemed a bit reckless. Instead of just channeling mana to his palm, he attempted to circulate it throughout his entire body. To his surprise, it worked. The mana flowing through his body made him realize that he might truly be a genius—capable of moving mana freely to any part of his body at will.

Aria was astonished.

"Haha... This... This is amazing! I can circulate my mana throughout my whole body. I can even direct it to different parts at will."

"Hmm... I wonder if I can make my mana cover my entire body like an aura? No, no... That might be too much for now. At the very least, I've successfully channeled it to my palm."

Instructor Magnus then gave the next instructions.

"New students, do not panic if you haven't succeeded yet. Remember! Patience is the key to becoming a great mage."

After a few hours, the instructor clapped his hands, signaling the end of the magic training class for the day.

"Listen up, everyone. That will be all for today's training. Mana control training is crucial for building your foundation. Keep practicing every day, because without proper mana control, you won't be able to use magic correctly."

With that, the basic magic training session came to an end. However, Aria was still full of energy and immediately rushed to the basic swordsmanship training.

From all the first-year to third-year students in the academy, none of them attended both the magic and swordsmanship classes—because mastering both was too difficult for a student's growth. They had to focus on one discipline, as the two had entirely different methods of training.

But Aria didn't care about that. Instead, he was thrilled and curious—wondering what it would be like if he could one day master both abilities.