'So, to make an aether core, you need to feel the aether energy in the surroundings. It's still scarce because the planet is still evolving, and it should feel free and light, just like mist."
"Yes, I feel it."
"Good now, feel the aether energy, breathe in, then let the aether energy flow inside your body, and finally, when your body gets used to the energy, you'll have little control over it as it grows, then little by little circulate it into a whirlpool, then feel it as you see its movements in your body, as the aether is recognized by the body the skin pores will naturally let it in and take deep breaths to accelerate the process, when it starts to condense, slow it down little and when it fully condenses stop."
Evelyn listened to the instructions attentively and acted them out.
She slowly fell into a state of hyper focus. The process of taking in aether energy and circulating and turning it into a whirlpool in her body was quite easy and didn't take much time. As she started to condense the core, she felt a refreshing feeling like being submerged in a light fall.
She slowly condensed the core, slowed it down, and eventually stopped it.
Her eyes opened, and she saw that her body was a lot more relaxed and was like being comforted by the space itself.
"Next, let's make an internal energy sphere. You won't be able to use it effectively until you practice martial arts and combat more, but practicing with it will be good for the core formation, and in times of emergency, it can be used as a good last measure of defense, and since we're making a layout of the core, feel the rough energy in the surrounding and release an intent to battle, tense your muscles and concentrate, on your body and feel the surging energy, like rapids, you release like seam that is being released of the body control it and let it flow above the dantian into a spherical shape."
Evelyn listened to the instructions and started to form the internal energy core above her dantian. It was intense and painful, as if her body was being shredded and rebuilt from the inside. As time passed, the pain started to calm down and finally subsided. The result was a core above the dantian that had energy that was being continuously but slowly spread throughout her body, reinforcing her body and making it physically stronger.
Evelyn finally calmed down and saw that she was drenched in sweat and her breathing was labored. She walked to the window and saw it was dark out. Seeing it was almost time for dinner, she went to the bathroom, showered, and calmly got into the bath.
Evelyn thought of something and said to Noah.
Evelyn thanked Noah and thought that she should also teach him how to make a mana core from her world in the way she had created for herself to use magic efficiently.
"Thank you."
Evelyn said with a small smile.
"Let me teach you how to build a mana core."
Noah, who had just gotten back from eating with his parents, came back to his room and heard Evelyn's voice in his head, and felt happy for her gratitude.
He then calmly sat down on his bed and replied.
"Ok, I'm ready."
Evelyn sent a magic circle to Noah's head by having the intent of sending the image to his head.
Noah saw the image and quickly picked up that Evelyn was the one who sent it, and also realized the versatility of their ability.
Then he heard Evelyn's voice again.
"Then I'll start, so first feel the mana in you, it is all around us, but you have to focus on the one that is within your body, feel it, it's like tangible air, then slowly try to control it with your intent soul force, and then use this magic circle that I sent to your head and draw it near your heart."
Noah intently listened to the instructions and promptly followed them.
Feeling the mana was quite easy for him because of his experience with using different energies, and he quickly learned how to control the mana, use it, and draw the magic circle Evelyn had provided near his heart. It was quite easy with the image still in his head.
He then felt his core form, and it used the heart to direct the mana more efficiently, and as a secondary as, the mana also got accustomed to the nerves and, like a river, formed an efficient stream-like pathway beside the nerve pathway. Then the magic circle dissipated.
After forming the mana pathway and seeing the flow of mana, and how he could control it, he felt a wave of excitement wash over him and felt grateful to Evelyn for helping and teaching him how to form a mana pathway.
He instantly said.
"Thank you, Evelyn, I'm really grateful."
Evleyn's mood instantly got better, and she felt a little smug; her fondness for Noah also increased.
Noah quickly told her goodnight and tried to go to bed, but couldn't, so he started playing video games.
Evelyn got out of the bath and had dinner with her family, and then she went ot her room and went to bed as she stared at the ceiling and processed all that had happened today and what she will have to do tomorrow.
***
Evelyn got up early, checked the time groggily, and saw that it was quite early got up even though she didn't want to and went to the bathroom, washed herself up she came out of the bathroom, picked up her phone, and called her sister as she went downstairs to make breakfast.
ring ring
tick
"Hello, Evelyn, so what did you call me for? Were you missing me?"
"So, sis, I want you to come back. When you get here, I'll tell you the details, but come back urgently ."
Luna heard her little sister's voice and caught that she sounded a lot more mature and experienced, as if she were talking to a completely different person altogether, but she recognized her sister's voice, so she knew it was her sister, but she had changed, and she wouldn't know until she heard it from her sister herself what had happened.
"Oh, I am actually at the door of the house right now, so could you come and open the door?"
Evelyn went and opened the door and saw women around 19-20 standing there. She had long silver hair, a well-proportioned body, and blue eyes. Looking at her, when she saw Evelyn, she then excitedly embraced her, and Evelyn reciprocated the hug.
They then let go, and Evelyn asked
"So, sis, why are you here early?"
"Oh, that's because I decided to stay here with my family for my vacation, then out, as it got pretty boring and I had a feeling something interesting was happening back home, and I guess I wasn't wrong."
Evelyn was not surprised that her sister caught on, smiled, and told her.
"Let's go inside, a guest is coming today, I'll tell you the details when he arrives, and I have a feeling you two will get along well with each other."
"Oooh, you've piqued my interest in who this guest is."
"Let's have breakfast first."
"Oh, I actually brought takeout with me, so let's eat together."
"Sure."
Evelyn and Luna went inside and had lunch as they discussed the activities happening in their daily lives.
Evelyn looked at the time and thought.
'He should be here by now.'
Ding dong.
Evelyn got up and went to open the door.
Noah stood there with his long hair tied back, with the sides let loose in a white T-shirt, a black jacket, long black pants, and black sneakers.
With a sparkle in his eyes, he looked quite excited.
"Hello, Noah."
"Hello, Evelyn."
"You can come in, oh, and my sister is home as well."
"Oh, does she know about that?"
"No, but she'll take it pretty well and won't cause many problems, and you might get along with her well."
"Oh, ok then"
Evelyn and Noah went inside and sat down in the lounge, and then Luna came in too.
"Hello, are you Evelyn's guest? She was talking about you just now, she told me you were a martial arts master, so I thought we could spar since I did both kendo and fencing and even won internationally."
Noah smiled faintly and replied.
"Sure, right now?"
"Yes, we can have a spar in the open field in the backyard ."
As Evelyn listened to the conversation, she did not intervene, as she knew her sister was a prodigy and had never had the chance to fight a real martial artist, and knowing Noah, even though it hadn't been long, it would serve as a good experience for her sister.
Luna, Evelyn, and Noah headed to the backyard and stood in the middle.
Luna grabbed two wooden swords and gave one to Noah, and kept one for herself. Then, they got in their positions and waited for Evelyn to count down.
Evelyn went into the middle and counted
"3"
"2"
"1"
"start"
Luna gripped her sword and slowly approached Noah warily. Noah took a deep breath and closed his eyes, and opened them once again, and step by step approached her too.
When Luna looked at Noah now, she realized he wasn't looking at her, as Luna, but as a mere ant who wouldn't be acknowledged or even remembered, and that this fight was insignificant to him, which he wouldn't remember, and she understood that this battle was no different to him than the countless ones before this one.
Then, by some unknown event that she couldn't understand, she saw that face, that cold expression, that screamed disdain, that same look even facing thousands upon thousands of alien ant-like soldiers, that face didn't change, then Luna pulled herself back and focused on Noah, who was almost in her range. She composed herself, slowed down her breathing, and clenched her teeth.
Seeing this, Noah smiled ever so slightly, a smile only noticed by Evelyn, a significant smile.
Luna saw the relaxed way Noah was approaching, and as soon as he got into the strike range, she slashed horizontally. Noah glanced at the blade and took half a step back, avoiding it, then he pulled back her blade by his own and put her back into the stance she started with.
Then he muttered with a neutral voice.
"Come at me, again."
Luna took a deep breath and readied herself again. This time, she was focused and knew she had gotten dazed in the middle, and that was a mistake; had it been a real sword, it would have cost her life.
Luna then fell into to state of hyper focus and lunged at Noah, slashing and stabbing at a rapid pace, as she slowly took steps forward.
She stabbed, which was redirected by Noah using his sword effortlessly, then she transformed it into a slash, which Noah then parried with a bored expression. She slashed again and again, which was repeatedly parried by Noah, and then she calmly hunched down and slashed vertically, which was parried, then she swept with her legs in a circular motion to off-balance Noah, but was instead stabbed in the chest effortlessly, making her fall.
"Hmmm, you're pretty good for an insect raised with a golden spoon."
"I can't even refute those words since it's true, but still mean."
Luna pouted.
"Anyway, when fighting you, I got a glimpse of a man that looked like you going to war alone with thousands upon thousands of ants like soldiers, I think I need to see a psychiatrist."
"Oh, you saw the essence of a fighter, a glimpse released by my spirit, interesting."
Evelyn intervened and asked
"So is she talented?"
"Talented, didn't you see the grin etched on her face earlier? She's a genius but also insane."
"Rude, I bet you're not very normal either."
"Pfft, of course not, people who are powerful and pursue power have screws loose in their head one way or another, some more than others, not trying to be rude, but I bet your sister or family isn't very normal either."
"I-"
She wanted to refute him, but when she looked back at her family members, she noticed that he was right.
"I can't refute you on that."
Evelyn then intervened, ignoring Noah's comment.
"The game's about to be released, let's head inside."