The sun had barely risen over the academy when students gathered in the Mana Hall, a vast chamber lined with crystal conduits and reflective pools designed to measure energy flow. Today's lesson was mana control, an essential skill for any class in Alora.
Most students muttered complaints as they entered. "Another lecture? I thought the practical session yesterday was exhausting enough," one said. "Mana is natural. How hard can controlling it be?"
Professor Kaelen Ryn's assistant, Mistress Selara Veyne, appeared at the podium. Her silver eyes gleamed as she addressed the room. "Mana is not just energy. It is a reflection of your body, your focus, and your will. Without control, your mana is destructive to yourself and useless in battle."
Arthur observed silently, letting his System scan the room. Every student's mana signature appeared on his interface: fluctuating wildly, unstable, and inefficient. His own reading was steady, flowing in precise channels, the System already suggesting minor adjustments for optimization.
Selara began the demonstration. She drew a glowing orb of raw mana, holding it between her hands. "Notice the flow. Mana is like water. Without a vessel, it is chaos. Without a channel, it destroys itself. Today, you will learn to form those channels, to stabilize your energy, and to attune it to your body and spirit."
Several students tried to replicate her demonstration, but their mana flickered, sparking out of control, leaving scorch marks on the training mats. Groans and hisses filled the hall.
"Stop! You are treating mana as a tool for destruction, not a part of yourself," Selara scolded. "Feel it, control it, and let it harmonize with your body. Your strength is meaningless if your energy burns you from the inside."
Arthur stepped forward, his hands glowing faintly as he harmonized his mana with his body. The System calculated the optimal pulse, pressure, and channeling angles, taking into account his half-mana disadvantage. The result: a perfectly balanced flow, smooth and powerful.
Mistress Selara's eyes flicked toward him. "Impressive. Few can synchronize their mana so efficiently on their first proper attempt."
Nearby students whispered among themselves, their jealousy and curiosity mixing. Kael Draven scowled, watching Arthur silently. Liana Maxwell observed with calm interest, noting how precise Arthur's movements were.
Selara continued the lesson, instructing each student to maintain stable flows under pressure, resist mana fluctuations, and channel energy into different applications—offense, defense, and utility. Most struggled, some faltered, and a few nearly collapsed under the strain. Arthur's System tracked everything in real-time, providing subtle micro-corrections, allowing him to progress at a pace far beyond his peers.
By the end of the session, it was clear who had mastered the basics. Arthur's efficiency was unmatched; he was calm, precise, and in perfect harmony with his mana. The other students, though talented, were still fighting their own unstable currents.
As the students exited the Mana Hall, whispers followed him. "He's too calm… too precise… what kind of student is he?"
"Probably one of the Misfits the Headmaster warned us about," someone muttered.