The last few days before my birthday passed with agonizing slowness, but I persevered.I kept up my normal routine until the day finally arrived.
I had finally turned seven. I could barely sleep from anxiety.
Because it was my birthday, I was given the day off to do whatever I wanted, so I disappeared into my library, planning to review the theories on meditation — everything to avoid making mistakes.I wanted to take the clay tablets home, but I knew I would not be able to explain how I had learned to write. My father knows a little, but he has not yet begun teaching me.
Perhaps it would be better to talk to him about it.That way, if my library were ever discovered, it would be one less problem. I could simply say I was practicing.
When I arrived at the library, a feeling of satisfaction washed over me.
Shelves built secretly by my own hands.I had also built some at home to disguise my use of my father's tools. He had been impressed by the joinery method I used.It took time to get everything right with such crude tools, but I managed.
After reviewing all the theories on meditation and magical awakening, I reached a few conclusions.
First, the mind must reach calmness — an absence of thoughts — to achieve self-visualization, or, as Buddhist texts call it, enlightenment.
The method I chose is something I remember, though I no longer recall from which story.It consists of visualizing a flame and focusing all thoughts on it, using emerging thoughts as fuel until everything burns away, leaving the mind free of thought.
I do not know whether I will be able to reach magic through this method, but I have to try.
I also want to find out if it is possible in this world to create a memory palace — and if so, whether it works the same way I remember: improving memory, providing mental defense, and best of all, allowing research while sleeping.That would be incredible, but I must calm down. For now, everything is still theoretical.
Night came quickly. I did not even notice time passing.
With all the theories I want to test, twenty-four hours a day are far too few.
Sitting on my bed, I lay down normally.Although many stories speak of meditation poses, I have a theory that position does not affect the result.
Since what I will be using is the mind, not the body, I begin.
I close my eyes and imagine a flame, trying to maintain that image.
But I did not expect it to be so difficult. Now I see how far it is from simple.As I try to hold the image of the flame, I start thinking about theories, or about what to do next.Everything turns into a vicious cycle, preventing me from reaching a clear mind.Sometimes I even lose myself in a thought, causing the image of the flame to collapse.
I tried this for many days without reaching what I wanted — but as far as I remember, this is not something to be achieved in only a few days.
The practice, however, was not in vain.
After two weeks of training, I began to notice improvements.My mind seems to work faster, and my memory has sharpened, allowing me to recall details that previously went unnoticed.
That was one of the reasons I did not switch to another meditation method.
The other was that maintaining the flame was becoming easier.
I theorize that the improvements themselves are helping with that.
So I will walk this path and see where it leads — whether I will reach magic or merely mental enhancement.But even that alone already excites me.