As the years passed, Neo diligently continued his training and soon he was about to turn eight. He had not missed a single day of training and had become highly skilled with the sword. Although he had not yet attained the rank of a first-rank knight, he felt that he was getting closer every day. The soldiers under his father were mostly low first-rank knights, while the lieutenants were peak first-rank knights and the captain was a mid-second-rank knight.
With his natural talent and exceptional proficiency in swordsmanship, Neo was able to spar with some of the weaker soldiers and hold his own. He was determined to continue honing his skills and become the best swordsman he could be. However, he was also eagerly looking forward to the prospect of finally learning magic from his mother, now that he was old enough.
Right now Neo is standing against a soldier named Alger who uses a spear. Neo stood with his sword drawn, his eyes locked onto Alger who was on the other side of the training field, brandishing a spear. Alger was known for his quick movements and agility, and Neo knew this was not going to be an easy fight.
As Alger charged forward, Neo stepped back, parrying the first thrust of the spear with his sword. He had to be careful not to overextend himself, knowing that Alger was always looking for an opening.
Neo countered with a swift diagonal slash, but Alger expertly dodged the attack, leaping to the side and following up with a jab from his spear. Neo deftly blocked the jab with his sword, his muscles straining against the force of the blow.
They continued to circle each other, trading blows and parries, each looking for an opening. Alger lunged forward with his spear, but Neo anticipated the move and sidestepped, landing a solid hit on Alger's side with the hilt of his sword.
Alger stumbled back, recovering quickly and lunging again, this time with a feint that nearly caught Neo off guard. But Neo was quick to react, deflecting the spear with his sword and landing a powerful counter-attack that knocked Alger's spear out of his hand.
Alger was on the ground, disarmed and defeated. Neo helped him up, acknowledging his opponent's skill and determination. Though it was just a training session, Neo knew that Alger was a formidable opponent. He was also to get his first victory against a soldier.
His parents watched from the side with beaming pride as Neo sparred with his opponent, his sword slicing through the air with precision and grace. They had watched him train tirelessly day after day, pushing himself to his limits and beyond. But it was all worth it in that moment, as they saw their child's skill and determination in action.
After the match, Neo approached his parents, his chest still heaving from the exertion. They could see the sweat on his forehead and the slight tremble in his hands, but he stood tall and proud. "Did you see that, mother, father?" he exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I did it! I won!"
His parents smiled at him, their hearts swelling with love and pride. "We saw, my son," his father replied, putting a hand on Neo's shoulder. "You fought with great skill and courage." Neo smiled at his father's words, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him.
"Son, I am incredibly proud of your hard work and dedication to your training, but you are still at the beginning of your journey," spoke his mother. "However, you have grown and matured enough to start learning magic," she added with a warm smile.
His father, on the other hand, had a more critical outlook. "The soldier you fought would have won if he had used his secret art," he stated matter-of-factly.
Despite his father's comment, Neo was ecstatic to hear about his mother's decision to teach him magic. He knew it would be a challenging path, but he was eager to take the first step.
Before he could fully express his gratitude, his mother changed the topic. "We are going to visit your grandfather after your birthday, my dear," she informed him. Neo's heart skipped a beat. He had not seen his grandfather since his birth.
Later that day Neo sat across from his mother, eagerly awaiting her first lesson in magic. She began by explaining the basics of mana and how it functioned in the world.
"Mana is the energy that flows throughout the world," she said. "It is the source of all magic and it is what allows us to manipulate the elements. To be able to use magic, you need to be able to control and manipulate mana which needs a powerful mind. That's why from second heart and further mages can use their mind to move objects and attack others."
She continued to explain that everyone had a certain amount of mana within them, but not everyone had the same level of control over it. "Your affinity with the elements also plays a role," she added. "Some people are naturally better at manipulating certain elements than others."
Neo listened intently, absorbing every word. He couldn't wait to start practicing and mastering his own control over mana. "How do I start practicing?" he asked eagerly. His mother smiled. "We'll start with some basic exercises to help you learn to control your mana. With practice and patience, you'll be able to use magic in no time."
Neo sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, trying to focus his mind on his mother's instructions. She had explained to him how magic works, how the manipulation of mana was the key to casting spells. But before he could begin to learn how to cast spells, he needed to learn how to control his mana.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and tried to feel the flow of mana within his body. He had always been aware of the energy that coursed through him, but now he had to focus on controlling it. His mother watched him closely, ready to step in if he got overwhelmed.
At first, Neo struggled to control the mana, feeling it slip through his fingers like water. But as he concentrated, he felt a small spark of success. He was able to slow the flow of mana, making it more manageable. Encouraged, he continued to work on controlling the energy, feeling it ebb and flow like a tide.
His mother watched with a proud smile, impressed with her son's progress. "Good job, Neo," she said. "You're a natural at this. Now, let's move on to the next step." Neo nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He was eager to learn more and see where this journey would take him.