Chapter 15: Fire Mana Mastery
The night ended with quiet peace. The soft blanket of darkness lifted slowly. The edge of the sky began to glow with the first pale light of morning. A cool, gentle breeze brushed across the village of Aldia.
It carried the smell of wet grass, covered in morning dew, and the far-off chirping of birds just waking up. The air was fresh and calm. It felt like the start of a new day, full of warmth and promise.
As morning arrived, Aiden woke up. His eyes opened suddenly, still heavy with sleep. He rubbed them gently, blinking a few times as sunlight streamed through his bedroom window. The soft, golden light danced on the walls, lighting up the neat little room that was his safe place.
Aiden let out a soft yawn and sat up. His small body felt light. His mind felt clear and fresh from a good night's sleep. He stretched his arms out. The faint pop of his bones echoed softly in the quiet room. A small smile touched his lips. Another day had begun. Another day to grow stronger.
He got out of bed. His bare feet touched the cool wooden floor. He walked with quiet steps to the washroom. There, he splashed cold water on his face. The chill woke him up completely. He brushed his teeth.
He ran his fingers through his messy dark hair. He washed his hands again. When he looked into the small bronze mirror hanging by the sink, he saw the face of a young boy looking back.
The boy had determined eyes. He had a hint of maturity that did not belong to a seven-year-old. His expression was calm and serious.
After washing up, Aiden changed his clothes. He put on a simple brown tunic and black trousers. Then, he left his room and walked to the kitchen.
The moment he stepped inside, a warm, wonderful smell hit him. It was the smell of freshly baked bread and fried eggs. It made his stomach growl. His mother, Sara, stood by the stove.
Her silver hair was tied neatly behind her head as she made breakfast. The light from the window made her look radiant and graceful, almost like an angel. Jonathan, his father, sat at the wooden kitchen table. His back was straight, his posture calm, as if he had been waiting for his son.
What surprised Aiden was the sight itself. His father—Jonathan—was already sitting at the breakfast table before him.
This was only the second time in his life Aiden had seen his father awake before him. Usually, it was the other way around.
For a moment, he stood still, blinking in surprise. Then, he collected himself. Aiden smiled a bright smile and said, "Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad."
Sara turned from the stove. Her soft eyes met her son's. "Good morning, dear," she said gently, her voice as warm as always.
Jonathan looked up. A faint smile touched his lips. "Good morning, son," he said in his deep, steady voice. "How are you feeling?"
Aiden replied with his usual calm politeness. "I'm fine, Dad. How are you?"
Jonathan chuckled lightly. A glint of pride shone in his eyes as he answered. "I'm fine as well. Come, sit and have breakfast."
Aiden nodded and walked to the table. He sat down neatly and reached for a piece of bread. "Dad," he asked as he began to eat, "why did you wake up so early? Are you going somewhere?"
Jonathan took a sip of water from his cup. "No, I'm not going anywhere," he replied calmly. "I woke up early because I have to train you. So hurry and eat. After that, we will get straight to training. Be prepared."
Aiden paused for a second, his face thoughtful. Then, he lowered his voice a little. "Dad, I'm sorry for making you go through all this trouble."
Jonathan looked at him with a teasing smile. "Why are you apologizing?" he asked.
"I am doing this because I want to. And how could I not be excited? I have always wanted to teach you how to fight and be strong. Now is my chance. How could I not be serious? My son has done far too many miracles. How can I slack off when training him?" he said, his voice brimming with pride. "I am really proud of you."
Aiden's lips curled into a smile. "Thanks, Dad," he said softly.
The air in the kitchen felt warm and peaceful as the family ate breakfast together. Sara served the food with love, putting extra portions on Aiden's plate. Jonathan watched quietly, feeling content.
Aiden ate more than he usually did. He remembered his father's words about the training to come. He didn't know exactly what it would be like, but he was ready to face it with all his effort.
After they finished eating, Jonathan wiped his hands on a cloth and stood up from the table. His face became more serious.
"Let's go to the lawn," he said firmly. "Today, we begin your real training. I will tell you everything about the mana spells of a Stage One cultivator, so be attentive. Let's go."
He paused for a moment, looking at Aiden. "We will be training your fire mana spells first. It will be hard for you, so make sure you eat enough. Be ready."
Aiden nodded. "Okay, Dad."
They left the kitchen and stepped out onto the open lawn behind the house. The morning air was crisp. Dew still sparkled on the grass. The sun was fully up now, painting the world in shades of orange and gold.
The distant hills seemed to shimmer. The gentle hum of natural mana in the air could almost be felt, as if the world itself was watching them.
Jonathan stopped in the center of the lawn and turned to face his son. His face was calm but commanding. His voice carried a tone that demanded complete focus.
"Aiden," he began, "every Stage One mana cultivator has a few basic spells they can use. The more you advance to higher stages, the stronger those spells become. And with each new stage, you will also learn new spells. For the next few months, we will focus only on training fire mana spells."
Aiden listened intently. His eyes shone with determination. "Yes, Dad," he replied.
Jonathan continued. "Now, the spells you can use at your current stage are simple. They include the **Fireball**, the **Fire Blade**—though at your level, it is not strong enough to cut. It can only burn an opponent's skin and cause pain."
"The third is **Burst**, using flames to push yourself to increase speed. You can also create a **Wall of Fire** around you for defense, or use fire to trap an enemy in a **Cage of Flame**. There are more, but we will focus on these for now."
He crossed his arms. "Let's start with the Fireball. I've already taught you how to use fire mana. To turn it into a fireball, you must focus your mind. You have to shape your mana into a perfect sphere, the exact moment you release it from your body. The timing must be perfect. If you release too early or too late, the spell will be weak, or it will fail. Do you understand?"
Aiden nodded, his face serious. "Yes, Dad."
"Good," Jonathan said with a nod. "Now, give it a try."
Aiden took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He focused inward, feeling for the heat inside his body—the warmth that pulsed gently from his hidden mana heart. Then, using the breathing technique his father had taught him, he began to guide the mana toward his right palm.
As the energy gathered, his hand tingled with growing heat. He concentrated, picturing a ball of fire. But when he released the mana, it did not work as he hoped. The moment the energy left his body, it became a strange, lumpy cluster of flames—misshapen and weak. It flickered and died in the air almost instantly.
Jonathan watched calmly. "You thought about shaping the fireball too late," he said. "That is why it happened. Try again. And again. Keep trying until you master it. Once you do, I will teach you how to use it in a real fight."
Aiden nodded again. Determination filled his eyes.
He tried again. And again. Sometimes, he was too early—the mana burst out before it could form a shape. Other times, he was too late—the energy fizzled out weakly.
Time passed. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His breathing grew heavier, but his focus did not break.
Jonathan watched silently, his arms crossed. A slow, deep pride built in his chest as he saw his son refuse to give up.
Finally, after a full hour of trying, Aiden's movements began to flow smoothly. His breathing synced perfectly with his mana. He guided the heat to his palm, focused his mind, and just as he released the mana, he pictured a perfect, round fireball.
The moment the energy left his body, a sphere of bright, vibrant flame appeared in front of his hand.
Aiden launched it toward the wooden training dummy ahead. The fireball shot through the air with a faint *whoosh* and struck the dummy right in the center.
*Boom!*
The impact left a small, charred hole in the wood. Thin smoke curled upward, carrying the scent of burned wood.
Aiden's eyes widened in surprise and joy. His heart beat fast. He turned to his father, a big smile spreading across his face. "Dad, I did it! I did it!"
Jonathan's stern face softened into a look of pure pride. He clapped his hands lightly. "Excellent. You learned it in just one hour. It took me three days to get the timing right, and I was older than you then." He allowed himself a faint smile. "Alright. Now, I will teach you how to use it in combat."
The next hours were filled with movement and training. Jonathan showed Aiden how to summon a fireball while running, how to dodge an attack while casting, and how to combine simple moves to attack well.
Days passed with father and son training side by side. Jonathan's strict guidance and Aiden's strong will made each day useful. The sound of crackling fire filled their garden day after day.
Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. The seasons changed slightly, the air growing warmer. By the time four months had passed, Aiden had mastered the fire element completely.
He could summon fire whenever he wanted. He could shape it, control it, and use it with perfect precision. His flames no longer flickered weakly. They burned with real power and control.
That day, standing under the open sky, Jonathan looked at his son with quiet awe. Aiden's hands were steady. His gaze was sharp and unwavering. The boy who had once struggled to make a spark could now command fire as if it were a part of his own body.
Four months. That was all it took for Aiden to master what took most grown adults a full year to learn.
Jonathan placed a firm hand on Aiden's shoulder. Pride shone brightly in his eyes.
"You've done well, Aiden," he said softly. "You've truly done well."
Inside, Aiden felt the same. A quiet flame of pride burned in his chest, brighter than any fire he had ever made.
Author's Note: Aiden has mastered his first element with shocking speed. But his father's warnings still echo in his mind. What will happen when he finally has to face another mage for real? What other dangers might his incredible talent attract? The training has only just begun—add this to your Collections so you don't miss the moment his real journey starts!