Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Mana Manipulation
The morning sun hung high above the academy as Kael and Charlotte walked side by side toward the gym.
For once, Charlotte remained unusually quiet.
Kael noticed it but didn’t comment.
After everything that had happened over the last few days—the awakening of her affinity, the formation of her mana core, and the realization that she could become a Warlock—he wasn’t surprised she had a lot on her mind.
"You must be really strong," Charlotte finally said.
Kael glanced at her.
"You’re only realizing that now?"
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"But don’t beat yourself up about it too much. I’m still way too weak."
His voice was calm, but Charlotte could hear the determination hidden beneath those words.
She frowned slightly.
If someone like Kael considered himself weak, then what exactly was considered strong in this world?
"What is your reason for pursuing strength?" Charlotte asked.
Standing in front of the gym entrance, Kael stopped and turned toward her.
"What other reason could there be?"
His red eyes met hers.
"I want to survive."
The answer was simple.
Almost too simple.
Yet Charlotte somehow felt that Kael meant every word.
He turned around and walked inside the gym.
Charlotte followed behind him.
The two entered the gravity chamber.
Kael immediately adjusted the settings.
1.5x Gravity.
The familiar pressure settled over Charlotte’s body.
It was uncomfortable, but nowhere near as crushing as before.
"Why didn’t you switch it to 2x?" Charlotte asked.
"Because for today’s training, you won’t need to handle that much pressure."
Kael walked toward the weapon racks.
After scanning them for a moment, he grabbed a practice spear.
Without warning, he tossed it toward Charlotte.
She caught it instinctively.
Charlotte stared at the weapon.
"A spear?"
She looked up.
"Why are you giving me a spear? I’d prefer a sword."
"Well, I’m one hundred percent sure a spear suits you better."
Kael replied so confidently that Charlotte felt like arguing was pointless.
"Okay..."
She spun the weapon once.
"Before we begin, what’s your class?"
Charlotte hesitated briefly.
"Storm Warden."
Kael nodded.
"I see."
"So it’s still the same."
Charlotte blinked.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Kael immediately changed the topic.
"Well, that’s a pretty good class."
Charlotte narrowed her eyes.
"You sound like you already knew."
Kael ignored her accusation.
"Now then, welcome to today’s lesson."
Charlotte stared at his expression.
"Why do I suddenly feel worried?"
"Because your instincts are working."
Charlotte sighed.
"So what exactly is today’s class about, Mr. Pro?"
Kael grinned.
"Mana Manipulation."
Charlotte blinked.
"That’s it?"
"That’s it."
Kael pointed toward her spear.
"You have a mana core now. That means you can move mana freely through your body."
He stepped closer.
"Your lightning affinity is naturally destructive."
Charlotte nodded.
"Which means your biggest problem isn’t power."
"It’s control."
Kael tapped the spear with his practice sword.
"I want you to channel mana into this spear."
Charlotte stared at him.
"Okay..."
"And prevent it from breaking."
Charlotte immediately realized where this was going.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Charlotte pointed accusingly at him.
"This sounds exactly like the last training session that almost got me killed."
Kael looked thoughtful.
"The circumstances are completely different."
"How?"
"You have a weapon now."
Charlotte almost threw the spear at him.
Kael continued before she could complain.
"I won’t use mana."
Charlotte relaxed slightly.
Then Kael added:
"But I will use my full physical strength."
Charlotte froze.
"You’re kidding."
"No."
Kael drew his practice sword.
"On guard."
The next moment—
Flesh Step.
He vanished.
Charlotte’s eyes widened.
She barely managed to raise her spear.
CLANG!
The impact exploded through her arms.
A crack immediately spread across the wooden shaft.
Kael’s sword stopped a few centimeters above her forehead.
Charlotte stared upward.
Silence.
Then—
"...I hate you."
Kael stepped back.
"Good."
Charlotte glared at him.
"What do you mean good?"
"It means you’re motivated."
Charlotte wanted to stab him.
Instead she grabbed another practice spear.
Standing once more in front of Kael, she pointed the weapon at him.
"I’ll shock you one day."
"I think you’re forgetting a Dattebayo."
Charlotte blinked.
"What does that even mean?"
Kael wiped away an imaginary tear.
"You’re not a person of culture."
"That statement somehow made less sense than everything else you’ve said."
Kael ignored her.
"Again."
The training continued.
Once.
Twice.
Ten times.
Twenty times.
Every single spear broke.
At first Charlotte simply pushed mana through the weapon.
The results were terrible.
The mana leaked out almost instantly.
The weapon remained fragile.
Then she tried wrapping the spear with mana.
That worked slightly better.
The shaft lasted two attacks before breaking.
By the thirtieth attempt, sweat covered her forehead.
Her breathing had become ragged.
Yet something had changed.
Every time Kael struck the spear, Charlotte could feel where the mana was weakest.
She began adjusting it instinctively.
Reinforcing weak points.
Strengthening the shaft.
Protecting the tip.
The process felt strangely similar to balancing her body.
Lightning mana flowed through the weapon like electricity through a circuit.
If the flow became unstable, the spear broke.
If she maintained balance, it endured longer.
Kael noticed immediately.
"Good."
Charlotte paused.
"...Did you just praise me?"
"Don’t get used to it."
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"You’re impossible."
Kael smirked.
"Again."
The training continued for nearly two more hours.
Eventually Charlotte managed to block three consecutive attacks without the spear shattering.
The achievement felt small.
But compared to where she started, it was a huge improvement.
Unfortunately—
Her mana reserves were nearly empty.
Charlotte collapsed onto the floor.
"I can’t move."
Kael looked down at her.
"I can see that."
"No."
Charlotte pointed dramatically at the ceiling.
"I physically can’t move."
Kael crouched beside her.
"I guess you’re exhausted."
"No."
Charlotte replied immediately.
"I just decided to lie on the floor because I’m overflowing with energy."
Kael sighed.
"The sarcasm is getting stronger."
Charlotte smirked weakly.
"I learned from the best."
Kael stood up.
"I’ll be heading to the Virtual Simulation Room."
Charlotte blinked.
"Already?"
"Yeah."
Charlotte watched him start walking away.
"Must be nice."
Kael paused.
"What?"
"Being talented."
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
After a moment he simply shrugged.
"Keep training."
Then he left.
Charlotte stared at his back before looking down at her spear.
After a few moments, she stood up.
Slowly.
Painfully.
But she stood.
Taking a deep breath, she sat down cross-legged.
"If he can train..."
She gripped the spear.
"So can I."
Closing her eyes, Charlotte circulated her mana.
The lightning energy moved through her body before reaching her hands.
This time she didn’t force it.
Instead she guided it carefully.
A little at a time.
Like pouring water into a glass.
Tiny sparks appeared around the spear.
Charlotte focused harder.
The sparks stabilized.
The weapon gradually became coated in a thin layer of lightning mana.
The process was exhausting.
But unlike before, it wasn’t falling apart immediately.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
"It worked."
The mana flickered.
Then disappeared.
Charlotte immediately collapsed backward.
"...Never mind."
Meanwhile.
Kael walked toward the Virtual Simulation Building.
The academy considered it one of its most valuable facilities.
Countless combat styles.
Countless battle records.
Countless opponents.
Everything stored inside one place.
For someone like Kael, it was a treasure trove.
"With this..."
"I’ll be able to prepare properly for the tournament."
He approached the entrance.
Removing his badge, he pressed it against the scanner.
A mechanical voice echoed through the room.
[Access Granted.]
[Privileges Limited To First-Year Records.]
Kael clicked his tongue.
"Still restricted."
But it was enough for now.
He stepped inside.
Rows of training pods lined the walls.
After selecting an empty one, he entered.
The equipment wrapped around his body.
It felt surprisingly comfortable.
The simulation activated.
The world around him changed instantly.
A vast arena appeared.
Kael stretched slightly.
"It really does feel realistic."
The academy used these simulations to help students gain combat experience without risking their lives.
Students could fight monsters.
Former graduates.
Current students.
Or even copies of themselves.
Naturally—
Kael immediately chose the last option.
"Simulate Kael Draven."
Light gathered.
A figure appeared.
An exact copy of him.
Kael stared at it.
The simulation stared back.
Silence.
Then Kael nodded.
"Handsome."
The simulation remained silent.
"Good."
Kael drew his sword.
The clone copied him.
Kael smiled.
"Let’s see what the academy thinks of me."
The battle began instantly.
The clone rushed forward.
Kael met it head-on.
Their blades collided.
For a brief moment the fight looked even.
Then Kael reinforced his sword with mana.
One strike.
The clone’s weapon shattered.
Another strike.
The simulation split apart.
The arena went silent.
Kael blinked.
"...That’s it?"
The system immediately generated the results.
Victory.
Kael stared at the screen.
Then at the destroyed clone.
Then back at the screen.
"You’re kidding."
He looked offended.
"Does the academy really think I’m this weak?"
The simulation provided no answer.
Kael sighed.
"Fine."
He pointed forward.
"Next opponent."
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
The tournament was approaching.
And for the first time since arriving at the academy—
He finally had a place where he could fight without holding back.
:::
