Chapter 17: Water Mana Mastery
Just like before, Aiden practiced his water mana training every single day. The days passed quietly, but with a strong purpose. Morning after morning, the garden was filled with the sound of rushing water and the soft hiss of steam as he practiced again and again.
The sun rose and set. The seasons changed slowly. What had started as small ripples of effort turned into a steady river of progress.
Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months.
And now, once more, three full months had passed.
Aiden stood tall in the center of the garden. His body was relaxed but strong. His face was calm, but it was filled with a new confidence.
He was no longer the small boy who had fumbled to make fireballs or struggled to shape water streams. His movements were smoother now. Every motion was precise and careful.
The morning sunlight washed over the training ground in a warm glow. The trees rustled softly. The faint smell of morning dew still hung in the air.
Standing across from Aiden was his father, Jonathan. His broad shoulders showed his pride and his years of hard training. His eyes, calm and sharp as always, looked at his son with deep satisfaction.
"You have fully mastered all the water mana spells," he said, his voice steady and proud. "And this time, you did it a month faster than last time. That is because water has some spells that are similar to fire spells. But do not think every other element will be this easy."
His gaze became a little harder as he added, "The most difficult elements to learn will be Puppeteer and Parasite. So remember that."
Aiden listened closely. He nodded with focus and respect. Jonathan's words always mattered—not just because he was his father, but because every word came from a true master's experience.
Jonathan's tone softened again. "Alright now, let's have a spar. After that, you will have one day to rest. Then, you will begin learning Healing Magic and Puppeteer magic spells from your mother. In this spar, you will use both elements—Fire and Water—together."
Aiden's heart thumped with excitement. He had been waiting for this—to use both his elements in a real fight. His eyes shone with determination as he nodded. "Okay, Dad."
They both walked to the center of the garden. The air felt heavier as father and son faced each other once again, their energies mixing invisibly.
The grass whispered under their feet. Sara stood quietly at the edge of the garden, watching with her usual calm face—though a small, proud smile touched her lips.
When both of them were in their fighting stances, Sara's clear, firm voice cut through the still air. "Begin!"
The moment she spoke, Aiden moved.
He made a **Fireball** in his right hand and threw it at his father with explosive force. At almost the same time, his left hand shimmered with blue mana as he formed a tight water stream, shooting it right after the Fireball.
The two attacks—one blazing hot, the other chillingly cold—rushed forward side by side. When they hit each other in the middle of the air, the intense difference in temperature caused a violent reaction.
Steam burst out.
A thick, white fog exploded between them. It covered the whole garden and blocked Jonathan's sight completely.
Aiden did not waste a second. Using **Flight**, he pushed himself forward. His body shot through the mist like a comet. His hair flew behind him. His mana heart beat with a strong, steady rhythm.
In moments, he reached where Jonathan was standing. In his right hand, he made a fire sword—flames forming a sharp, glowing blade. In his left hand, he held a water whip, one of the new water mana spells he had just learned.
As he got close, he swung the fire sword at Jonathan's chest.
Jonathan's eyes narrowed slightly as he felt the attack coming. Even though he could not see well through the steam, his battle senses were far too sharp.
He stepped to the side swiftly, dodging the attack by a hair. The fiery blade missed his chest, only burning the edge of his robe.
But before he could strike back, he felt something else. A fast-moving surge of energy was coming from his side.
He turned his head sharply—a water whip was slicing through the air, aimed right at his waist.
The look in Jonathan's eyes sharpened. For the first time in their seven months of training and sparring, a flicker of real surprise crossed Jonathan's face.
Then—*whoosh!*
He used **Flight**—his own spell—to push his body up into the air, dodging the whip by jumping high.
This was the first time. The first time in seven months that Jonathan had used a mana spell during their spars.
When Aiden saw his father fly into the air, his eyes widened in shock, and then—in pride. His heart raced. *He used a spell!*
A grin pulled at his lips. The excitement inside him surged. His father's movement alone told him more than words ever could—he was finally strong enough to make Jonathan use mana spells in a fight, even if they were only Stage One spells. To him, that was a victory all by itself.
Pulling his thoughts together quickly, Aiden took advantage of the moment. He raised both hands and made a **Cage of Flame** around his father—a blazing circle of red-orange fire that trapped Jonathan in the air. The heat warped the air around it, crackling softly.
At the same time, Aiden surrounded himself with a water wall—a shimmering sphere of rippling blue that flowed around him like liquid glass.
He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing.
In just seconds, Aiden had created a perfect balance of two opposite elements—fire and water—existing together under his complete control.
Then, gripping both hands tightly, he made a Fire Blade in his right hand and a water whip in his left once again.
Without waiting, he dashed forward. His movements were sharp, polished, and smooth—the movements of someone who had trained without rest.
He flew straight toward the wall of fire surrounding his father. The moment he touched it, the flames began to burn against his water shield, making a loud hissing sound—steam filled the air again. But Aiden did not stop. Protected by the water wall, he pushed through the flames and entered the fiery cage.
Inside the Cage of Flame, heat waves made everything look wavy. The air shimmered violently. Sweat instantly formed on Aiden's forehead. His eyes stayed locked on his father's shadowy shape.
Then, with amazing precision, he launched a storm of attacks.
The Fire Blade swung through the air in fast arcs. Each swing was followed by a sharp crack from the water whip. He switched between spells perfectly, throwing Fireballs between his strikes and shooting water streams from his left hand whenever he saw a small opening.
The sound of attacks clashing filled the space—fire roared, water rushed, and steam clouded the battlefield.
Jonathan, however, stayed calm inside the storm. His shape flickered through the mist like a ghost. Each of Aiden's attacks missed him by inches.
He dodged every strike with practiced grace, moving faster than the eye could follow. His years of battle experience shone through as he met each wave of attacks with smooth blocks or quick sidesteps.
Seconds felt like minutes. The heat of their fight grew until finally—with a deep rumble—the Cage of Flame broke apart. Its flames faded into thin air.
As the steam rose high into the sky, the garden became hard to see again. The hissing sound of water turning to vapor filled the air.
And then—
In a flash, Jonathan's shape appeared behind Aiden. His movement was so fast it seemed he had vanished from one spot and appeared in another. He caught Aiden's arm gently but firmly, twisting it just enough to stop him without hurting him.
"I win again," Jonathan said, his voice as calm and steady as ever.
Aiden froze, realizing he had been caught once more. Slowly, he relaxed his stance as his father let go of his arm.
Then, Aiden looked up. A small, playful grin spread across his face. His tone was confident. "But I made you use a spell. So it can still be counted as my victory—even if it was just a Stage One mana spell."
Jonathan blinked, then let out a low chuckle. For a moment, the strict teacher faded away, and the loving father returned. "Yeah," he said, smiling a joking smile, "it can be counted as a win, since you are a child and only at Stage One."
He paused, his voice becoming soft but encouraging. "Okay, now go get some rest. Starting tomorrow, you will learn Healing and Puppeteer Mana spells from your mother. And remember—it will be much harder than using Fire or Water mana, okay?"
Aiden nodded obediently, his face calm and respectful. "Yes, Dad," he said simply.
Sara walked over. Her calm eyes were warm as always. She looked at both of them—father and son—her gaze filled with quiet pride. It was hard to tell if she was more impressed by Jonathan's patience or Aiden's endless drive, but her heart swelled with emotion seeing their bond.
Aiden then turned toward the house. His steps were light but tired. His body ached a little from the intense spar, but a quiet feeling of satisfaction glowed in his chest. He had grown again—stronger, faster, more precise. And for the first time, he had forced his father to use a spell.
When he entered his room, the silence of the house wrapped around him like a soft blanket. The faint smell of smoke and water still clung to his clothes. He climbed onto his bed. The softness instantly eased his tired body.
He did not realize how exhausted he was until his head touched the pillow. His eyelids grew heavy almost immediately.
Within moments, he fell into a deep sleep.
Outside, night slowly fell. The stars came out one by one in the dark sky. The garden—once a battlefield of fire and water—was now calm and silent.
As Aiden slept peacefully, the world outside kept its gentle rhythm. But somewhere far beneath the ground—deep below the quiet house—a faint, rhythmic sound began to echo.
*Thump. Thump.*
A heartbeat.
It was not coming from Aiden's body. It was coming from somewhere deep underground—steady, faint, but unmistakably alive.
And though no one in the house could hear it, that heartbeat pulsed with a quiet, mysterious power. A power that seemed tied to Aiden in ways even he could not yet understand.
Author's Note: Aiden's progress is shocking, mastering two elements and even forcing his father to fight seriously. But what is that mysterious heartbeat under the house, and why does it seem to answer the pulse of Aiden's own mana heart? His parents are hiding more than just his talent—add this to your Collections so you can find out the secret of the Heart when it's revealed!