Sebastian began explaining how his mana manipulation works.
He crouched slightly, picked up a small pebble from the ground, and rolled it between his fingers as he spoke, like he was organizing his thoughts while explaining something he had learned long ago.
"Mana exists everywhere," he said calmly. "But it doesn't exist as a single thing."
There are different kinds of mana spread throughout the world. Elemental mana: fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, and others. Each with their own nature and behavior. Then there is neutral mana, mana without any elemental attribute attached to it.
Neutral mana is what most people naturally possess.
Each type of mana has a different method of manipulation. Because of this, noble families pass down their own techniques, closely guarded methods refined over generations. These methods aren't just about strength; they're about efficiency, control, and compatibility with one's body.
"That's why you'll hear about 'family styles' of magic," Sebastian added, lifting his finger slightly. "Some methods are incompatible with others."
The method Sebastian uses is considered common within the City of Magic.
By "common," he meant that it's taught formally, available only to those who enroll in a magic academy. Ordinary people never gain access to it.
"But," he said with a faint smile, "my family hired a private magic instructor from the City of Magic."
That explained it.
The downside, however, is that Sebastian only knows how to manipulate water mana.
Still, that alone is more than enough.
Water magic is flexible offense, defense, restraint, and healing support. It's one of the most balanced elements.
Sebastian straightened his posture and clapped his hands once, the sound sharp.
"Now, let's begin."
His tone shifted to no more casual explanations.
He stepped behind me.
Before I could ask anything, he placed both hands firmly on my back, one between my shoulder blades and the other near my lower spine. His touch was steady, deliberate.
"I'll inject water mana from my body into yours," he said seriously. "This will allow your body to recognize the water element."
I stiffened slightly.
"Recognize…?"
"Sensing mana is the first step," he continued. "Chanting lets you borrow power, but it doesn't teach your body how to feel mana."
That made sense.
Sebastian closed his eyes.
Then he began.
The moment his mana entered my body, I felt it.
Heat bloomed inside my chest, feeling unnatural and uncomfortable. I clenched my fists as my breathing hitched.
It felt foreign.
Wrong.
Like something boiling under my skin.
My brows furrowed as the sensation intensified, the heat spreading through my veins like liquid fire. My legs trembled slightly.
Then a sharp pain.
It felt like something burst inside me.
I gasped, nearly collapsing forward as my knees weakened.
Then, suddenly, the pain vanished.
Something… opened.
"Your mana capacity expanded," Sebastian said, stepping back, wiping sweat from his forehead. His breathing was heavier than before. "And to think this happened on your first forced expansion… with this level of difficulty."
I steadied myself, placing a hand over my chest.
"I thought I was expanding my mana every day when I practiced," I said slowly. "Was that… not it?"
Sebastian shook his head.
"The method you're using is the one warriors use," he explained. "Enhancing physical abilities by draining mana completely. It strengthens the body, but it takes far longer to increase mana capacity."
So that's what it was.
"It is working," he continued. "Just not efficiently for a mage."
I nodded, absorbing the information.
If that method works for warriors…
Then what happens if I combine both?
Warrior efficiency. Mage expansion.
…Could I create my own method?
"I see," I murmured.
I could clearly feel it now.
My body felt heavier but also fuller. Like, there was more space inside me than before.
Sebastian chuckled.
"You can call yourself an Intermediate Mage now."
"But I don't know any intermediate spells," I said, confused.
"That classification only applies to those who can't silent-cast," he replied. "For silent casters, your rank depends on how much power you can produce, not what spell you know."
He gestured toward my chest.
"For now, you can still only use basic spells. But your mana pool can already hold several intermediate-tier spells."
After you learn to silent cast…
Spell knowledge won't be the limiter anymore.
Only mana capacity.
I think I understand now.
Once silent casting is mastered, spells are just formulas. The real limit becomes how much mana you can gather and control.
Sebastian crossed his arms.
"You should be able to sense water mana now. Close your eyes and concentrate. Your body has already memorized the element."
I did as he said.
I closed my eyes.
And I felt it.
Something inside me is different from neutral mana. It felt fluid, moving, almost alive. Not solid, not chaotic.
Like countless tiny particles drifting together.
It felt like energy reinforcing my body from within.
"I can feel it," I said quietly.
"Good," Sebastian said. "Now the hard part."
He raised a finger.
"Command the mana inside your body. Move it to your palm."
I lifted my hand and focused.
Nothing.
I tried again.
Still nothing.
I raised my palm higher, pushing harder, mentally shouting at the mana to move.
Nothing happened.
The energy was there, but it wouldn't listen.
I frowned.
I don't know how to command it.
Then an idea.
I inhaled deeply and began chanting.
"O Lady of Flowing Tides, Goddess who cradles rivers and rain, Lend me a droplet of your grace. Gather, turn, and take form. By your blessing. Water Ball."
A sphere of water formed instantly.
I thrust my palm forward.
"Splash!"
The water shot into the river.
Sebastian's eyes widened.
"…Why are you chanting?" he asked.
"I couldn't control the elemental mana directly," I said, lowering my hand. "So I tried chanting to understand how it moves."
I glanced at my palm.
"It worked."
Then I tried again.
This time, without chanting.
I focused harder, commanding the water mana to gather.
Slowly, hesitantly, a small water ball formed.
But instead of shooting forward, it fell from my hand and splashed weakly onto the ground.
Sebastian stared at it.
"…You're clever," he said slowly. "It took me a month to reach that step."
Hope flickered in his eyes.
"I guess you have potential."
"I think it's because I have a good teacher," I replied.
Sebastian puffed out his chest.
"It was nothing," he said proudly. "Just basic instruction."
"Now," he continued, "the shooting part. This time, apply more force."
"Got it."
I clenched my jaw and focused again.
I forced the mana forward.
The water ball shot out this time, reaching about two meters before collapsing.
"Good," Sebastian said. "Keep pushing until you reach a distance you're satisfied with."
We practiced again.
And again.
Until my mana reserves ran dry and my body felt hollow.
"I think it's time for me to go to school," I said, stretching my arms. "I'll tell Miss Erica you said hi."
I grinned teasingly.
Sebastian scowled.
"Don't forget our deal," he said. "You're helping me win her."
"Yeah, yeah," I replied. "I'll give you advice after class."
With that, I headed toward the school.
I never thought I'd be able to cast this fast.
The power and speed still can't compare to chanting, but this is a massive leap forward.
On the way, I passed several stalls selling fruit.
I bought some and ate while walking.
A small reward for surviving training.
Miss Erica really is beautiful.
Now then…
It's time to plan Sebastian's next move.
Winning a woman's heart won't be easy.
After all..
A woman's heart is the most unpredictable thing in the universe.