A private teaching from her.

Chapter 24 Tribulations of Magic.

After enjoying another one of my intimate moments with Lissandra, I ventured into the forest to the location Noor had described. The trees casted long shadows in the fading daylight, the air thick with the scent of pine and earth.

“She should be here…” I muttered, scanning my surroundings. “Yet, she’s nowhere to—”

Before I could finish, a dagger whizzed through the air, aimed directly at me. This time, I was ready. My reflexes kicked in, and I sidestepped just in time, the blade embedding itself in a tree behind me.

“Picky, are you?” Noor’s voice came from above.
I glanced up to find her perched on a tree branch, her legs swinging lazily, a mischievous smirk on her face.

“STOP THROWING DAGGERS AT ME!” I snapped, irritation creeping into my voice.

She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to see if you’d stop it again.” Before I could retort, she dropped gracefully from the branch, landing mere inches away from me. Her face was so close to mine that I could feel her warm breath against my skin. Her voice softened into a sultry whisper. “Looks like I was wrong,” she teased, her dark purple eyes glinting with amusement.

“Yeah, and you’re lucky I dodged it in time,” I replied, still annoyed but unable to suppress a smirk.

She chuckled, a low, melodic sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “I agree. It would’ve been tragic if your handsome face got ruined by little old me.” Her casual teasing had its usual effect. Despite her knack for mocking, I couldn’t help but enjoy my time with her. And, well, her beauty didn’t hurt either.

“So,” I said, folding my arms, “why did you want me here?”

“Well…” She took a step back, her tone shifting to something more serious, though her teasing undertone remained. “Since it seems you’ve finally tapped into some of your locked-away mana, I thought it’d be wise for you to learn how to use it.”

“You’re saying you want to teach me magic?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not exactly teach,” she corrected. “More like help you relearn what you’ve forgotten. Before your little tumble from Olympus, I’d wager you were well-versed in magic. Seeing how you instinctively stopped my dagger the other day confirmed my suspicions.” She paused, letting her words sink in. “So, yes, I’m offering to be your teacher. At least for now.”

I studied her carefully, searching for the catch. “Really? Just like that? There’s no way you’re doing this out of the kindness of your heart.”

She pouted, her lips curving into an exaggerated puppy-dog face. “What makes you think I’m not being selfless here?”

“Because you always play to win,” I countered. “You’re resourceful, calculating, and you hate not having the upper hand. Especially when it comes to things, or people, you don’t fully understand. Like me.”

Her pout dissolved into a soft laugh. “Well done, Kayn. But no, I’m doing this because I want to. And because Ardvi seems oddly invested in you becoming stronger. For whatever reason.” I gave her a skeptical look, holding back a grin. She sighed, rolling her eyes. “Fine. I also enjoy spending time with you. Alone.”

“You like me,” I teased, unable to resist the jab.

Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and she looked away. “Shut up,” she muttered, though her lips betrayed the tiniest of smiles.

“Okay, sorry. So, where do we start?” I asked, glancing at Noor expectantly.

She folded her arms, adopting a serious expression that somehow still carried her natural charisma. “On the basics. First, you need to sense the mana coursing through you. Only then can you begin to understand it.”

I frowned slightly. “I’ve heard you mention that word a few times now… ‘mana,’ is it?” Noor nodded. “What is it, exactly?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Her eyes seemed to brighten as she began to explain. “Mana is everything around us. It’s the energy that gives life and takes it away. It’s the threads that connect us and release us when we lose sight of who we are. And, most importantly, it’s you. Our bodies are made of this energy, tiny fragments of it, whether small or large, define who we are and what we can become.” To demonstrate, she held out her hand, summoning a small, flickering flame that hovered above her palm.

“So… mana is like our soul?” I asked, my curiosity deepening.

She stepped closer, gently taking my hand and placing the flame in my palm. It was warm, but not scorching, and I could feel a strange energy pulsing through it. “No,” she said softly. “Our soul is what creates mana. Our bodies act as the conduit for it. If we understand it, if we allow it to flow freely through us...it can transform us. Mortal or god, it doesn’t matter. Mana has the power to elevate us into something greater. But to wield it, you must first find yourself.”

Her words carried an almost reverent weight, and I found myself nodding as if the truth of her explanation resonated on some primal level.
She knelt down on the grass, motioning for me to join her. “Sit. Close your eyes. Let your body connect with everything around you. Become one with the energy that binds us all.”

I hesitated briefly before following her lead, sitting cross-legged beside her. As I closed my eyes, the sounds of the forest grew louder; birds chirping, leaves rustling in the wind, the distant sound of a brook bubbling over rocks.

At first, I felt nothing but the soft breeze brushing against my skin. My mind wandered, and I struggled to focus. But slowly, as if a heavy curtain were being lifted, a sense of clarity washed over me. The distractions faded away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of connection.

I could feel it. The energy that flowed through everything, the prey relishing the breeze on its face, the hunter standing tall and ready for the next feast, the laborer working tirelessly for those he loved. I could feel their emotions, their struggles, their triumphs. And then, amidst it all, I felt Noor.

I turned my head, opening my eyes to look at her. She was no longer just Noor. Her form shimmered, her body a silhouette of black outlined by countless tiny lights, each one glowing, merging, dying, and being reborn in an endless dance. It was mana, raw and unfiltered, coursing through her. It was breathtaking.

“You feel it, don’t you?” Noor’s voice broke through the trance-like state.

“Yes…” I breathed, unable to hide my awe. “It’s incredible.”

“Good,” she said with a satisfied smirk, standing up as though nothing extraordinary had just occurred. “That means you’re a fast learner.”

I blinked, breaking out of my meditative state. “Wait...was that it? That was for nothing?”

“No,” she replied, chuckling. “It’s important. Most people take days, sometimes weeks, just to sense mana like that. You managed it in a few minutes. That means you’re a natural.”

I grinned. “That’s a good thing, right?”

“For me? Definitely.” Her smirk widened. “I’m not exactly the patient type. I’d hate to waste time on the basics. Now, let’s see if you can do something useful with it.”

She tossed a small rock at me, which I barely managed to catch. “What do you want me to do with this?”

She stepped closer, gently placing her hand over mine and guiding my palm upward, the rock resting there. “You can sense mana. Now, try to control it. Lift the rock.”

“With mana, you mean?”

“No, with the wind,” she said, deadpan.

I shot her a sarcastic laugh. “Alright, Focus.” I muttered to myself.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated, reaching for the energy I’d just felt coursing through me. Slowly, I began to sense it again, like a current of warm electricity flowing through my veins. I guided it toward my hand, imagining it lifting the rock.
To my surprise, the rock began to rise, steady and controlled, hovering a few inches above my palm.
“Excellent,” Noor said, clapping her hands approvingly. “Now, let’s see how strong that control really is. Throw it at the tree.”

“Throw it?”

She nodded, stepping back with an expectant look.
I focused again, channeling more mana into my palm. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the rock hurtling toward the nearest tree. The **** was far greater than I expected, the rock didn’t just hit the tree; it punched clean through it. Not one, not two, but three trees in a row had holes carved through them by the sheer power of the throw.

Noor’s laughter echoed through the forest. “Well, that’s one way to make a statement!”

Noor whistles, clearly amused, and I can’t help but chuckle. “Is my dear teacher pleased?”

“More than pleased…” she replies in her teasing tone. Then, without missing a beat, she lifts her hand, and in a smooth motion, replicates my earlier feat, except this time, the three trees I pierced collapse to the ground with a resounding thud.
She smirks, proud and unbothered by the destruction she caused.

“Huh, looks like I’ll have to train harder,” I admit, marveling at her power.

“Please do,” she said, her voice dripping with mock seriousness, “and maybe lose the upper robe next time. You know, for aerodynamics.” She winked playfully, fully aware of the effect her teasing had.

I laughed, shaking my head at her antics. “Well, it’s the least I can do for my great teacher. By the way, what’s this spell called?”

“It’s not really a spell,” she explained, her tone shifting to a more instructive one. “Spells require more precise knowledge, movements, and mana control. This is a simple mana push, something we use to conserve energy or recharge after casting more draining spells.”

“Do you think it’ll take me long to cast actual spells?” I asked, curiosity piqued.

“To be honest, I’m not sure,” she admitted, a rare flicker of uncertainty in her voice. “I don’t fully understand the scope of your powers. It feels less like learning and more like… remembering.” She hesitated for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh. “I’ll lend you some of my books. Maybe that’ll speed things up.”

“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

Her eyes widen slightly, and for a moment, she seemed caught off guard. “...You’re welcome,” she replied, a faint, almost shy smile tugging at her lips.

“Oh! Almost forgot.” I reach into the sack I’ve been carrying and pull out a rag-wrapped book. “I think you’ll find this useful, and to your liking.”

She unwraps it carefully, and the moment her eyes land on the cover, she freezes. Her expression shifts to one of utter disbelief. “Where did you find this?” she demanded, her voice sharp but laced with awe and urgency.

“In Arkealus’ study in the mountain,” I explained. “It was hidden under a loose floorboard. I skimmed through it but couldn’t understand most of it, it’s written in some ancient language. I thought about destroying it, worried it might contain dangerous spells, but it also had knowledge about medicine and other things. I figured you’d make better use of it.”

“Thank Ardvi you didn’t destroy it.” Her voice is reverent now. “Do you have any idea what this is?”
I shook my head in reply. “This is the Celestia Ataraxia. In human terms, it’s… well, it’s one of the most important texts in the study of arcane arts. Ever.”

“Oh,” I say, genuinely surprised. “So, it’s kind of a big deal.”

“ ‘Big deal' doesn’t even begin to cover it,” she said, clutching the book as though it might vanish. “This contains centuries...no, millennia of knowledge about magic, medicine, mythology, and more. Some of its pages are hidden within pages, accessible only with specific spells or keywords. This book… it’s as powerful as a god.”

“So, Arkealus saw it as vital,” I muse, realizing the significance of what we’ve taken from him.

“Absolutely. When he realizes it’s gone, he’ll burn Olympus, Hades, and Earth itself to recover it.”

“Well then, it’s a good thing it belongs to you now.” I smiled warmly at her.

“You… You’re giving this to me?” she asked, her disbelief evident.

“Of course. I trust you, Noor. If this book can make you and our group stronger, then it’s better in your hands than his. Besides…” I leaned closer, my tone softening. “Despite your heartless facade, I know there’s a good person deep inside.”

Her face flushed red, and before I can react, she grabbed me, pulling me into a deep, passionate kiss. It’s not because of the pleasure she enjoyed from my body, it was genuine, filled with emotions she rarely allowed to slip. “…Thank you,” she whispered when she pulled back, her voice uncharacteristically soft. “You’re too good for us.”

“Well,” I added with a grin, still reeling from the kiss, “the kiss was more than enough.”

She chuckled, her blush deepening. “Shut up.” Then, regaining her composure with a smirked. “And don’t think that gets you off the hook. I’ll still be collecting my ‘payments’ for helping you learn magic.”

“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow, catching on to her playful tone. “And what will those payments be?”

“Well…” She tilted her head, putting on an innocent expression that’s anything but. “I wouldn’t mind another kiss like that.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Your wish is my pleasure.”

This time, we meet halfway, sharing another kiss, just as intense and heartfelt as the first.

When we part, she grined wickedly. “Hmmm, that’s more like it. But don’t get too comfortable. There might be… other needs I’ll need satisfied.”

I laughed, standing at attention. “Sir, yes sir!”
She chuckled, motioning for me to follow as we resume our class. “Come on, you fool. I’m going to make a man out of you.”