Kael stood in the center of the training platform, his heart still beating like a drum after the release test. Sweat trickled gently down the side of his face, but not from exhaustion - but from the intensity of the control.
He wasn't tired. He was surprised.
"That was... just a fraction?" he thought, looking down at his hands. "I let go of just one part, and almost brought down the whole tower."
He took a step forward, and the ground reacted with a faint glow beneath his feet. The rune below him lit up not out of command, but out of recognition. The barriers were still active, whispering an ancient magic that dampened any imbalance.
Closing his eyes, Kael took a deep breath and began to meditate. His body felt different now - not only stronger, but also more... vast. As if there was more space inside him than there ever should have been. An ocean. No, an ocean of mana.
"Concentrate..." he muttered to himself.
