Chapter 16: Water Mana Spells
Jonathan stood in the garden, tall and firm. His eyes shone with clear pride. A calm but powerful feeling surrounded him, the feeling of someone who had walked the cultivation path for many, many years. He looked at his son—the boy who had learned in months what took others a whole year.
"You have mastered fire mana and all its spells," Jonathan said, his voice deep and steady. "Let's have a spar. After that, we will start learning water mana."
The corners of his mouth lifted just a little. It was a small, proud father's smile.
Aiden nodded. His face was calm, but his heart beat with excitement. "Okay, Dad," he said, his voice steady. A spark of thrill flashed in his deep black eyes.
Father and son walked to the center of the garden. The morning sun was high now, pouring warm light over the green grass. The faint smell of morning dew still hung in the air.
The gentle wind blowing through their yard now carried a new feeling—the quiet tension before a fight between a teacher and his student. A father and his son.
Sara stood at the far edge of the garden, watching quietly. Her silver hair glinted softly in the light. Her hands were folded behind her back. There was pride in her gaze, but also a tiny thread of worry.
This was Aiden's first real fight after mastering fire, and she knew Jonathan would not hurt him. But she also knew he would not go easy on him.
Jonathan and Aiden both took their places. They stood a few steps apart, facing each other. Their feet were planted firmly. Their bodies were lowered slightly—a ready fighting stance. The wind swirled softly between them, making the grass whisper.
Sara raised her hand. Her voice was loud and clear as she called out, "Begin!"
The moment the word left her lips, Aiden moved.
A rush of heat shot under his feet as he pushed fire mana through his legs. His body shot forward with shocking speed—he used **Flight**. He left faint, glowing trails of embers in the air behind him. He darted toward his father like a streak of light.
Jonathan's sharp eyes followed every move calmly. But just as Aiden got close, the boy suddenly twisted his body. He turned sharply in the air and moved to his father's left side. His movement was smooth, controlled, and smart.
As Aiden moved left, flames gathered fast in his right hand. In the blink of an eye, a blazing **Fireball** formed—its surface swirled with wild energy. Without waiting, he threw it at his father.
The Fireball shot through the air, leaving a faint scorch mark in its path.
Jonathan's eyes flickered, but his face stayed calm. With one quick sidestep, he moved out of the Fireball's way. The attack missed him by a hair, crashing into the grassy ground behind him and bursting into flames.
Before Jonathan could even stand steady, Aiden's next move came.
The boy had already made a **Fire Blade** in his left hand—a sharp, crescent shape of crimson energy that burned hot. He swung it sideways with perfect aim.
The air sizzled as the fiery slash cut toward Jonathan.
But Jonathan, a cultivator with years of experience, moved without effort. His body slid to the side. The attack sliced through the empty air where he had just been standing. The grass under the blade's path turned black instantly. Thin smoke curled up from the cut.
The father's calm voice carried across the field. "Good. Your flow is improving. But do not let me guess your rhythm."
Aiden did not answer—he was too focused.
Right at that moment, Jonathan's eyes widened a little. His face showed real surprise. All around him, little flickers of flame began to appear in a perfect circle.
A **Wall of Fire**.
In just seconds, Aiden had made a blazing barrier around his father. He trapped him inside a dome of swirling flames. The air shimmered with heat, making Jonathan's figure look wavy inside the fiery prison.
A small hole opened in the wall—just big enough for an attack. Aiden thrust his hand forward. He launched one Fireball after another into the hole.
The explosions inside the wall were fast and loud. But from inside the inferno, Jonathan's calm voice could still be heard.
He smiled faintly. His body moved in swift, precise motions. His hands glowed with energy as he swatted each incoming Fireball away easily, scattering their flames before they could explode near him. Every move of his hand was smooth. It carried the grace of decades of training and real battle.
Outside the wall, Aiden's eyes narrowed. He did not stop. Instead, he moved quickly, running around the fiery dome. His small body moved low and silent. Every step was planned. Then, without warning, he made another Fire Blade—this one sharper and more solid than the first.
He suddenly let the Wall of Fire vanish. The flames trapping his father disappeared in a burst of sparks, leaving Jonathan open for a split second—and that was when Aiden threw the Fire Blade from behind.
It was a perfect strike—fast, unexpected, and aimed from a blind spot.
Jonathan's eyes widened a little again—the second real sign of surprise. The timing and plan were perfect. His son had set a trap inside a trap.
But Jonathan was no ordinary opponent. His years of experience reacted instantly. In one smooth motion, he twisted his body. His hand shot up to knock the incoming flame aside. The blade of fire passed dangerously close, missing his shoulder before fading into the air.
Before Aiden could get back into his stance, Jonathan moved.
In a flash, he closed the distance between them. He grabbed Aiden's wrist and, with one smooth motion, pinned him gently to the ground.
The grass bent under them as Jonathan's calm, firm voice spoke. "I win again."
Aiden let out a soft breath. It was not from pain, but from accepting his loss. "Yes," he said quietly, his tone honest and calm. "I lost, Dad. You're too strong for me right now."
Jonathan loosened his grip and stood up straight. He smiled down at his son. "Do not be disappointed," he said gently. "After a few years, I believe you will be able to beat me. And with your planning and strategy, you are already better than ninety percent of Stage One mana cultivators. So do not be disappointed, okay?"
Aiden looked up at him with determined eyes and nodded. "Yes, Dad."
Sara, who had been watching silently from the side, finally walked over. Her steps were light and graceful. Her hands glowed faintly with a warm, soft light. She knelt beside Aiden and placed her hand over the small bruises on his arm.
In moments, healing light spread from her palms. It closed the small cuts and soothed the sore spots. Aiden could feel the warmth—soft and gentle, like the embrace of sunlight.
Once Aiden was fully healed, Jonathan spoke again. His tone returned to the calm authority of a teacher.
"From today onward," he said, "you will learn water mana and its spells. Water mana also has different spells. There is a condensed water stream that can make holes in training dummies. There is a water wall, like the Wall of Fire, for defense. There is a water prison that can trap opponents. You can also gather water around an opponent's body to stop them from breathing."
He paused, watching Aiden's attentive face.
Then he continued, "To make a water stream, you must think of fast-flowing water as you release your mana. You must release the mana from one single point in the center of your palm to make a tight stream. And just like with fire, the timing must be perfect. Understood? Now, practice until you can make a proper water stream."
Aiden nodded immediately. His small fists clenched with resolve. "Okay, Dad."
He took a few steps forward, stopping near the practice dummies. He closed his eyes and took a slow breath. He began to imagine it—the endless blue ocean. The sound of waves crashing on the shore. The feeling of cold water flowing freely through his own veins.
He could feel his mana heart beating softly, the energy moving inside him. Using the breathing technique, he began to guide that mana through his body. He focused it on his palms.
He tried to release it—but instead of a tight stream, a small splash of water spilled from his hand and vanished into the air.
Aiden frowned but did not stop. He failed, so he tried again. He tried again and again.
Dozens of times. Each try failed. Sometimes the mana scattered. Sometimes it was too weak. Sometimes it just turned into mist and disappeared.
Jonathan watched quietly. He did not help, knowing that true mastery comes from understanding your own mistakes. Sara stood silently beside him, her face calm but encouraging.
Hours passed. The sun had moved high in the sky. Sweat now covered Aiden's forehead. His breathing was steady but deep. His focus did not break.
Finally—after what felt like endless trying—Aiden found the exact timing.
This time, Aiden's mana moved smoothly through his body. The rhythm of his breathing matched his focus perfectly. As he breathed out, he released the mana from the center of his palm, thinking of a fast, strong current.
*Whoosh!*
A bright stream of water burst out. It twisted through the air like a snake made of liquid crystal. It shot straight ahead and hit the wooden dummy's head—splitting it cleanly in two with a sharp *crack*.
Water droplets sprayed in all directions, glittering like diamonds in the sunlight.
Aiden's eyes widened with awe and satisfaction. His lips parted in a bright, proud smile as he turned to his father. "Dad, I did it!"
Jonathan's face softened into a proud grin. He took a step forward. "Well done. For the next month, you will master the water stream and learn how to use it in a real fight. Now, rest. Your training starts again tomorrow."
Aiden nodded, still smiling, though tiredness was now seeping into his body. "Yes, Dad," he said softly.
The warm sunlight fell over the three of them—father, mother, and son—standing together in the garden where fire and water had just been used in harmony.
It was only the beginning of Aiden's path. But even now, his incredible talent was clear for anyone to see.
Author's Note: Aiden is learning at a frightening speed, mastering elements back-to-back. But his father's victory was a clear reminder of the vast gap between stages. What will happen when he faces a real enemy outside his home? The training is safe, but the world is not. What new danger could his rapid progress attract? Make sure to add this to your Collections so you can find out in the very next chapter!