Jumping up from his bed with his back drenched in sweat, Kai reached for the hand towel hanging on the nearby drawer and used it to wipe his face clean. He drew in deep breaths of air, trying to steady himself.
He stared into the dim light of the room, his heart still hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.
The nightmare was already fading, leaving behind only a lingering sense of dread and the phantom chill of whatever had been chasing him.
Or so he thought.
"Well, for one thing, I know..." Kai muttered, his thoughts returning to what he had seen. "Wait, those chains? That sword... Does this mean something? Or is it just one of the speculations I've been having since?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"It felt too vivid to be called just an illusion."
He let out a tired sigh and looked toward the ceiling.
"Oh, heaven, please help me today. A brand-new day. I won't allow it to be spoiled by my thoughts."
Standing up, he opened the window that Alex had failed to open before rushing off earlier. The cool morning air entered the room, brushing against his face.
Kai took his bath, hoping the water would wash away whatever remained of the nightmare.
I just hope today will be one of my peaceful days.
He paused for a moment.
"Hmm. That's if Leo doesn't try to do something funny."
From somewhere beneath the bed came a quiet sound.
Kai looked down.
Alex was peeping from underneath it.
"Yeah, as far as you can catch the right swing, or you know, pull off something cool, which you and I both know is impossible."
Kai stopped.
"Sorry for reminding you."
"Yeah, no need for you reminding me of my dormant situation or cruel state, as they called it."
Kai punched the water lightly, imagining himself beating Finn and telling him, You're no match for me.
For a moment, the image felt satisfying.
Then reality returned.
He stopped.
He knew very well that defeating Finn wasn't something he could achieve yet Not currently
Rounding off his bath, Kai came out with his hair dripping with water
"Yeah, I really need to eat something this morning. Should I just survive until after class?"
He thought about it for a moment.
"No. I'll head straight to the cafeteria before going for morning class."
He snapped out of his thoughts when Alex began making another strange noise after finally picking up his shoe from underneath the bed.
Kai stared at him.
"Well, if Marcus were here, he probably would have commented something like, 'You're not always arranged, or your things are off to go back to where they find comfort.'"
Alex looked at him.
"Well, you guys should just say it straight as a direct insult, not the other way around."
"You should have allowed me to complete my statement."
"Well, go on. I'm not saying you're scattered or disarranged. I'm just saying—"
He couldn't complete his words.
Kai suddenly noticed Alex's reflection flying toward the window.
He wasn't exactly fast enough to dodge it, but he was able to come up with an idea.
He dropped flat onto the bed.
At least the damage, if there's any, will be minimal Alex missed completely.
He looked surprised for a second, but soon calmed down after realizing that the shoe he had been struggling to wear had finally fitted properly He immediately began imitating the way some of the rich students used to walk.
He wasn't doing it correctly Not even close
Kai stared at him.
"Well, I'm sure we both have less than ten minutes to dress up and be at the cafeteria for breakfast."
Alex adjusted himself proudly.
"I look forward to class."
Kai rubbed his hair a little, wishing he could do more to make himself look decent Alex looked at him.
"Yeah, who are you trying to impress? Hope it isn't a girl."
Kai glanced at him.
"Wait. I heard you and a girl once. Something that you were talking about with each other in the cafeteria before."
"Alex, you're quite the talkative one when you're alone with your friends."
Kai turned toward the door.
"Be fast. We don't have much time."
"I'm done!"
Kai looked back.
Alex was already holding his small portable bag.
"Finally."
A few minutes later, after having their meal, the two headed toward class.
The academy was already alive.
Students moved through the corridors in groups, some talking about their lessons while others discussed training and abilities. The atmosphere was different from the quietness of the early morning.
Kai walked alongside Alex without saying much.
And who says I can't do the same or even better?
The voice came from somewhere ahead.
One of the more arrogant students in the classroom was already talking loudly.
Kai had no interest in whatever topic they were discussing, so he simply kept quiet and moved on.
"Hi, Ellie."
"Hey, Nate."
He greeted the two students before taking his seat.
Nate returned the greeting with a handshake, while Ellie simply nodded.
"How was your night?" Ellie asked.
Kai smiled.
"It was fine."
He looked between the two of them.
"Who's the teacher we're having first this morning?"
Both shrugged.
"I think it's the mana teacher," Nate answered.
Another voice came from nearby.
"Well, we have to wait and see who it is. I'm just hoping today will be a good one."
Kai looked straight toward the center of the classroom.
That was where the teachers usually stood, slightly elevated by a controlled current of wind so the entire class could see them clearly.
It was also useful because even students seated farther away could hear the teacher without struggling.
For once, Kai hoped the lesson would be simple.
He had no desire for anything unexpected.
The door opened.
The conversations slowly died down.
A teacher stepped into the classroom.
The man walked toward the elevated platform with a calm expression, carrying a few books under one arm. He placed them on the desk before turning toward the students.
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning, sir."
The response came from almost everyone.
The teacher nodded.
"I hope you all had a good morning."
A few students gave different responses, some more energetic than others.
The teacher smiled slightly.
"Good. Then let's begin."
He turned toward the board.
With a controlled movement of mana, several words appeared.
THE ESSENCE OF MANA
Kai's eyes remained on the wordsThe teacher stepped aside.
"Mana."
He looked across the room.
"Every one of you has heard this word countless times. You've probably heard your parents talk about it, your instructors mention it, and perhaps you've even used the word yourself without truly understanding what it means."
A few students exchanged looks.
The teacher continued.
"And that is what today's lesson is about."
He picked up one of the books on his desk but didn't open it.
"Before any of you can truly understand magic, you need to understand mana. Not just how to use it, but what it is, where it exists, and why controlling it matters."
Kai leaned forward slightly The teacher raised his hand A faint glow appeared around his fingers.
"This is mana."
The glow wasn't powerful or frightening. It was simply there, moving gently around his hand.
"Mana is the energy that exists within every living person. It is the foundation upon which magical abilities are built."
A student raised his hand.
"Sir, does that mean everyone has the ability to use magic?"
The teacher looked toward him.
"Not exactly."The glow disappeared.
"Everyone possesses mana. But possessing mana and being able to manifest a specific magical ability are two different things."
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.The teacher continued.
"Your mana is influenced by your body, your natural affinity, your potential and, in some cases, your bloodline. But none of these things automatically determine how skilled you will become."
He paused.
"That part depends on you."
The teacher walked slowly across the platform.
"Think of mana as something flowing through you. It must be controlled before it can be properly directed."
He raised his hand again.
This time, a small amount of mana gathered around his palm before moving toward his fingertips.
"Poor control results in wasted energy."
The mana dispersed.
"Good control allows you to use what you possess efficiently."
The teacher lowered his hand.
"That is why someone with less mana can sometimes outperform someone with a much larger reserve."
The room became quieter.
Kai thought about Finn.
He remembered their encounter.
The difference between them had not simply been strength.
Finn knew what he was doing.
Kai didn't.
The teacher continued.
"Some of you may have already experienced this during your previous lessons. You try to increase the amount of mana you release because you believe more power will produce a better result."
A few students smiled awkwardly.
"Don't be ashamed. It is a common mistake."
The teacher's expression became more serious.
"Mana is not something you should force blindly. Your body has limits, and ignoring those limits will only make you weaker in the long run."
He looked across the classroom.
"The first step is awareness."
He placed his hand against his chest.
"You need to recognize the mana within you before you can learn to control it."
Kai looked down at his own hand, The teacher continued.
"Close your eyes."
The classroom slowly became silent.
"Place your hand on your desk. Don't attempt to cast anything. Don't try to force your mana toward your palm."
Kai followed the instruction.
"Just breathe."
Kai took a slow breath.
"Feel your body."
Another breath.
"Then, when you're ready, pay attention to what is already moving inside you."
Kai closed his eyes At first, there was nothing.
Only silence.
Then, slowly, he noticed something.
A faint sensation, It wasn't powerful.
It wasn't dramatic.
It was simply a subtle movement beneath his skin, almost like a current that had always been there without him noticing.
Kai's breathing became slower So this is mana He remained focused.
The sensation moved gently through him.
Then, for the briefest moment, something else seemed to stir beneath it.
Something colder.
Something deeper.
Kai's eyes opened immediately He looked at his hand Nothing
The classroom remained calm.
No one seemed to have noticed.
Kai stared ahead, his thoughts becoming restless.
What was that?
The teacher's voice brought him back.
"Don't become frustrated if you don't feel anything immediately."
Kai looked toward him.
"You've spent years living with your mana without consciously paying attention to it. Becoming aware of it will take practice."
The teacher continued explaining, and Kai forced himself to listen.
But his thoughts kept returning to that brief sensation.
It had felt different from the mana he had just sensed.
Different from anything he had experienced before.
He clenched his hand beneath the desk.
Whatever it was, he wasn't going to ignore it.
Not anymore.
The lesson continued.
And for the first time since entering the academy, Kai began to understand that becoming stronger wasn't simply about learning new abilities.
Sometimes, the first step toward discovering power was understanding what had been inside you all along.