A gentle breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and old wood. Henrry stood in the center, heart pounding in his chest, while Conrad and Ronnie circled around him like instructors ready to shape an uncut stone.
"This," Conrad began, his voice firm yet encouraging, "is where it all starts, Henrry. Real training. Real magic."
Henrry tightened his grip around Noxumbra, feeling a familiar, comforting pulse in his palm. His mind buzzed with excitement and nerves, but he planted his feet firmly, ready.
"Before we start swinging wands or throwing spells," Conrad continued, "you must understand one thing — Magic is not just power. It's not something you force. It's something you connect with."
Ronnie leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed, smirking. "Magic is like a wild horse. You try to dominate it, it'll throw you off and trample you. You respect it, feel it, become one with it… and it'll carry you wherever you want."
Henrry nodded slowly, absorbing every word.
Conrad stepped forward, raising his hand. "Magic," he said, "is the bridge between mana and intention."
He pointed to Henrry's chest. "Mana lives here. Inside you. It's raw, formless energy. Intention — your thoughts, your emotions, your desires — gives it shape."
Henrry swallowed, feeling a deep truth in Conrad's words.
"To use magic properly, you must first sense your mana. Feel it. Listen to it."
Conrad motioned for Henrry to sit. Obediently, Henrry folded his legs and closed his eyes, as instructed.
"Breathe slowly," Conrad said. "In… out… focus inward."
The world around Henrry seemed to quiet. He could hear the whisper of the wind, the faint chirping of distant birds, even the soft rustle of Ronnie fidgeting nearby. But deeper than all of that, somewhere inside himself, he began to feel it — a gentle warmth, pulsing quietly like a second heartbeat.
"That's it," Conrad said softly. "That's your mana. Your core."
Henrry focused harder. The warmth grew, spreading through his arms, his legs, flowing all the way to the tips of his fingers. It was both exhilarating and calming at once.
"Now," Conrad's voice floated to him, "try to gather it. Pull it toward your center — just a little. Not with force. Gently. Persuade it."
Henrry imagined his mana as a stream of water, and with careful thought, he guided it toward his chest. The sensation shifted — the warmth concentrated, becoming denser.
He opened his eyes, gasping slightly.
Conrad smiled proudly. "Good. You felt it."
"What was that?" Henrry breathed.
"A glimpse of control," Conrad said. "A first handshake with your inner magic."
Ronnie clapped lazily. "Not bad for a rookie. You didn't even blow yourself up!"
Henrry rolled his eyes but grinned.
"Next," Conrad said, growing serious again, "we practice release. Once you can gather mana, you must learn how to send it outward. Only then can it shape the world around you."
Henrry stood, determined.
"Try to move that rock,and shape it like a round rock" Conrad pointed to a small stone nearby.
Henrry nodded. He raised his hand, just like he had seen Conrad and Ronnie do. Closing his eyes again, he gathered his mana into his palm. He visualized the rock lifting, willed it to obey.
At first, nothing happened.
"Not with force!" Conrad called out. "With connection. You must feel the rock, too. Magic is not domination — it's harmony."
Henrry adjusted his approach. Instead of commanding the rock, he imagined reaching out to it, like offering a hand to a wary animal.
Henrry not able to shape it the stone,He try it again and again but the rock size is same nothing change.
Slowly, shakily, the rock trembled. A tiny vibration, barely noticeable — but it moved
Henrry opened his eyes wide in amazement.
Ronnie whooped. "There you go! Baby steps!"
Henrry laughed, pure joy flooding him. "I… I did it!"
Conrad nodded solemnly.
Seeing that Henrry Master the basic telekinesis spell such ease a doubt seeded in heart.But he ignore it thinking that this suspicion can be resolve in future.
Henrry's heart soared. For the first time, magic didn't feel like some distant, impossible thing reserved for legends. It was real. It was alive inside him.
They continued training through the day, moving from gathering to shaping to releasing mana in different small exercises. Henrry practiced focusing on leaves, making them twitch or sway. He even managed to create a small pulse of light at the tip of Noxumbra by dusk.
Mia sat by the porch, cheering every small success, her presence like a warm fire in the background.
As the sun dipped low, painting the sky in deep purples and golds, Conrad called it for the day.
Henrry, sweaty and tired but smiling wider than he ever had before, dropped onto the grass.
"So," Ronnie said, flopping beside him. "Still think magic is just about flashy tricks?"
Henrry shook his head, breathing deeply. "No. It's… it's alive."
Conrad sat on a nearby stone, watching them with pride. "And now you understand. This was just the beginning, Henrry. Tomorrow, we go deeper."