The morning air was cool and invigorating as Kazuki made his way toward the training grounds.
Dawn had only just begun to break over the capital of the Kingdom of Arcanora, painting the sky in soft hues of gold and pale orange. The chill of night still lingered, clinging faintly to stone walls and tiled rooftops, but the city was already stirring awake.
Kazuki moved at a steady pace, his steps light but purposeful. The path to Hikari's residence led him straight through the local market district—a place already brimming with life despite the early hour. Merchants were arranging their stalls, calling out to early customers. The scent of baked bread, fresh herbs, and metal polish mingled in the air, forming a strangely comforting atmosphere.
He slowed slightly, committing the layout of the streets to memory. He would be living here now. Knowing the rhythm of the city mattered.
After passing through the market, Kazuki turned down a quieter path that curved behind Hikari's residence. The sounds of the city faded as he approached a wide, open clearing enclosed by stone walls and reinforced wooden posts.
The personal training grounds.
"I see you arrived early."
Kazuki froze.
The voice had come from behind him—precisely where he had been standing moments earlier.
He turned sharply.
Standing there was Takamura Hikari, calm and unhurried, as if he had always been present. Kazuki hadn't sensed his approach. Not even a fluctuation in mana.
Unlike the robes he wore the previous day, Hikari was dressed in a fitted training outfit that allowed free movement. In his right hand rested a dark wooden staff, its surface smooth from long use. Embedded at its tip was a flawless white crystal that emitted a soft, steady glow.
Kazuki's eyes widened instantly.
"Is that a Luminaris Crystal?" he asked, unable to stop himself.
Mana Crystals were rare in general—valuable artifacts capable of reducing casting time, increasing spell potency, and easing the draw of ambient mana. Even low-quality crystals were worth small fortunes.
Crystals aligned with special affinities like light or darkness were exponentially rarer.
"It is," Hikari replied, clearly pleased. "The highest-quality one available in this kingdom."
As the former Hero and Sword Saint of Light, Hikari had both the authority and the means to acquire something so extravagant.
Still, Kazuki couldn't help asking the question that lingered in his mind.
"But… aren't you a Sword Saint?" he said. "Why use a staff?"
"Hahaha."
Hikari laughed openly.
"What makes you think magic swordsmen only rely on swords?" he replied. "Some specialize in close combat. Others prefer long-range engagements. A true combatant adapts."
He tapped the staff against the ground.
Thud.
[Holy Sanctuary]
Radiant light surged outward, expanding into a vast dome that enveloped the training ground. The air within the field shifted instantly—warmer, purer, and filled with a gentle pressure that pressed against Kazuki's senses.
He inhaled sharply.
His body felt lighter.
His breathing steadied.
Mana flowed into him with unprecedented ease.
The ambient mana inside the sanctuary felt dense, orderly—almost eager to be absorbed.
'My mana absorption rate just skyrocketed…'
Kazuki's eyes shone with realization.
If not for the absurd mana consumption, he thought, this spell alone could reduce years of mana training.
"What are you staring at like an idiot?" Hikari snapped. "I didn't cast this so you could admire it."
He pointed toward the center of the sanctuary.
"Sit down. Start refining mana. Don't stop until you physically can't absorb anymore."
"Just like I normally do?" Kazuki asked.
Hikari nodded.
"…Alright."
Kazuki exhaled slowly and sat cross-legged at the center of the field. He closed his eyes and focused inward, guiding mana into his heart in steady, controlled cycles.
"While you do that," Hikari said casually, "I'll test how much you actually understand."
Kazuki grimaced internally but nodded.
Hikari folded his arms.
"What is mana, according to you?"
Kazuki thought carefully before answering.
"Mana is an intrinsic force of nature," he said. "A fundamental energy that allows living beings to manipulate the laws of the world. It flows through all life and permeates the environment, forming a vast reservoir that mages can tap into to cast spells."
"Correct," Hikari said. "Then define a mana heart."
"The mana heart is the core of one's magical ability," Kazuki continued. "It's where mana is refined and stored. Compared to ambient mana, the mana within the heart is far more stable and easier to control."
"And why is that?" Hikari pressed.
"Because the mana within the heart is aligned with the individual's unique mana signature," Kazuki replied. "Each person's signature allows precise manipulation of their internal mana.
Ambient mana has no such alignment. Anyone with magical affinity—even beasts—can use it, but it must first be adapted to the caster's framework, which reduces efficiency."
Hikari's gaze sharpened with approval.
"Good. Now—what is the Natural Mana Training Method?"
Kazuki continued refining mana as he spoke, sweat beginning to form on his brow.
"As time passes, the mana heart naturally strengthens," he explained. "This process also reinforces the mana veins connected to it. These veins distribute mana throughout the body, making access and circulation easier."
He paused briefly.
"As the heart and veins grow stronger, their capacity increases. Over time, this allows a mage to store more mana and sustain stronger spells."
"And circulation?" Hikari asked.
"A mage must circulate mana through their body," Kazuki answered. "But when done naturally—without force—it's considered the Natural Mana Training Method."
Hikari smiled faintly.
The questioning continued.
Hours passed within the Holy Sanctuary. Kazuki refined mana relentlessly, his body trembling as his heart approached its limit. Each cycle became heavier than the last, yet the sanctuary kept him stable—preventing collapse, but not easing the strain.
Finally, his mana flow faltered.
"That's enough," Hikari said, dispelling the sanctuary with a tap of his staff.
Kazuki exhaled deeply, sweat-soaked and exhausted.
"This was only the beginning," Hikari added calmly. "If you can't endure this much, you won't survive what comes next."