POV: Jimmy Welton
The chamber was sealed tight.
Runes glowed faintly along the walls as Grandmage Marcus finished setting up the formation. The air felt calm—but deep, like something vast was being carefully restrained.
I stood at the center, small hands at my sides.
"Relax," Marcus said kindly. "This is only a perception test."
I nodded.
Marcus raised one finger.
A thin thread of mana appeared in the air—perfectly controlled, barely visible.
"Tell me what you feel," he said.
I closed my eyes.
The moment I did, the world changed.
Mana wasn't just around me.
It was structured.
Flowing.
Layered.
Connected.
"It's condensed," I said slowly. "You're circulating it in a loop so it doesn't leak outward."
Marcus's eyes widened slightly.
He changed the flow.
"It's shifting," I continued. "You're altering the density… and hiding the intent."
Silence.
Marcus withdrew the mana.
"That's enough," he said quietly.
He turned to my father.
"Halfthōr," Marcus said, "may I speak with you alone?"
Then he looked down at me.
"Jimmy, go outside for a moment."
I obeyed.
The door closed behind me.
Inside—
Marcus spoke.
"He doesn't need a teacher."
My father said nothing.
"Teaching him magic the normal way would only limit him," Marcus continued. "He learns by understanding, not imitation."
The Duke crossed his arms.
"So letting him learn alone is better?"
"Yes," Marcus replied without hesitation. "Much better."
"And this test?" the Duke asked.
Marcus's tone hardened.
"What happened here must never be spoken of publicly."
The Duke answered instantly.
"Of course. I know."
A brief pause followed.
Then—
"Will he be good with it?" the Duke asked quietly.
Marcus smiled.
"Of course."
The door opened.
Marcus stepped out, his expression calm.
"All done," he said to me.
I looked up.
"…How was it?"
Marcus chuckled softly.
"You passed."
My father placed a hand on my head.
"Come," he said. "You still have sword training."
End of Chapter 8