Brush, brush, brush. Adrian worked the brush against the stone floor, hands moving in steady circles as he scrubbed away dirt that had collected from the day’s activities. The faint scent of soap mixed with the cool, earthy smell of the convent walls, and small suds formed in trails as he moved. The work was tedious, but he pushed through. I''ll be done with this soon.


    Next to him, Seven tackled her part of the floor with determined focus, her tiny hands scrubbing vigorously. Every now and then, she’d look over at Adrian with a look of anticipation.


    Her face was smudged with a streak of dirt, and the sleeves of her tunic were damp from where she’d accidentally dipped them into the bucket. She looked like she was holding her breath, ready to ask him something but holding back, just barely.


    Finally, with one last wipe, Adrian set his brush down and wiped his forehead, catching his breath. The floor now shone in patches, free from dirt and dust. As he straightened up, he caught Seven’s gaze fixed on him, her eyes wide and expectant.


    Adrian let out a long, quiet sigh. Of course.


    Adrian held Seven’s gaze for a moment, then nodded, letting out a short sigh. “All right, I’ll teach you soon."


    Seven’s face lit up instantly, a broad grin spreading across her face. “Really? Thank you, Adrian!”


    “Hold on,” he said, raising a hand to temper her enthusiasm. “We still have to finish cleaning. Can’t leave it half-done, or the nuns will have us scrubbing floors all day tomorrow too.”


    The sound of scrubbing brushes filled the air as Adrian and Seven worked to finish their chore. Adrian’s arms ached, but he pressed on, eager to complete the task. He glanced at Seven, who furiously tackled a stubborn patch of dirt.


    At last, Adrian leaned back and surveyed their work. The stone floor gleamed in the dim light of the room, clean and fresh. He wiped his hands on his tunic, sighing in relief. Magic lessons… I wonder how it will go this time.


    “That’s it. We’re done.”


    “Really?” Seven practically jumped to her feet, her brush clattering to the ground. “So, magic now?”


    Adrian raised a hand “Hold on, we should get Sister Selena to join us this time.”


    “Huh, but hwy?"


    “Sister Selena can help in case something bad happens. Remember how you were barely able to control your mana core last time?"


    “That was one time!” Seven’s cheeks puffed indignantly.


    “It’s enough for me to make sure it doesn’t happen again. So, why don''t you go find her, and I''ll wait in the garden?"


    "Fineee."


    Seven spun on her heel and sprinted as she called over her shoulder. “I’ll find her, Adrian! Don’t start without me!”


    Adrian watched her go, shaking his head. Where does she get all that energy?


    He bent to gather the cleaning supplies, returning the brushes and bucket to their proper place near the washbasin. As he worked, his mind drifted to the lessons ahead. I’ll need to keep her focus sharp this time. Maybe Sister Selena can help rein her in should the worst happen.


    Adrian made his way to the garden, the cool evening air a welcome change after all the cleaning. He found a clear patch near a cluster of lavender bushes and sat cross-legged on the grass, waiting.


    It wasn’t long before Seven’s voice broke the quiet. “Adrian! We’re here!”


    He turned to see her bounding toward him, Sister Selena following at a more measured pace.  “Seven told me you’ve agreed to another lesson. Do you have something in mind to teach her?"


    Adrian nodded. “We should  start with trying to get her to control her mana core."


    Seven’s eyes widened. “My mana core? But… it’s so…”


    “Volatile,” Selena finished, stepping closer. “That’s why I’m here. If it becomes unstable, I can seal some of your mana channels temporarily. You’ll be fine.”


    Seven bit her lip but nodded, her determination returning. She sat cross-legged and closed her eyes, her hands resting on her knees. Adrian knelt beside her, his voice low and steady as he guided her. “Focus inward. Feel the flow of mana. It’s there, beneath the surface. Don’t force it; just listen.”


    At first, Seven’s breathing was even, but soon her brows knit together, her body trembling slightly. “It’s… too much. It’s everywhere!”


    Selena stepped forward, her hands glowing faintly as she touched Seven’s shoulders. A soft, warm light spread through the air, and Seven’s trembling eased. “I’ve sealed some of the channels, try to channel your mana core again.”


    Adrian leaned closer, his voice firm but encouraging. “You’ve got this, Seven. Stay calm and feel it out. I’ll guide you.”


    "Okay, I''ll try again." Seven said.


    "Now focus. Let the mana flow through you, not against you.”


    He watched Seven’s expression tighten as her breathing slowed, her hands twitching slightly on her knees. She’s pushing too hard again. Adrian placed a hand lightly on her arm, grounding her. “Ease up. you’re guiding your mana, not fighting it.”Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Seven’s trembling lessened, her shoulders relaxing under Selena’s glowing hands. Adrian kept his tone even. “Good. That’s it. Now picture the mana forming into a small, steady sphere at your core. Let it collect there.”


    For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint shimmer appeared around Seven’s form, a soft glow of energy emanating from within her. Her lips parted in surprise. “I…I think I’m doing it.”


    “You are, keep it there.”


    Seven’s brow furrowed in concentration as the glow steadied, the erratic flickers smoothing into a quiet, pulsing light. Adrian exchanged a glance with Selena, who gave a small nod, withdrawing her hands from Seven’s shoulders as the sealing light dimmed.


    Finally, Seven exhaled a shaky breath and opened her eyes. The glow faded, but Adrian could feel the steady hum of mana radiating from her now-controlled core.


    She looked at him, with joy and slight disbelief. “I… I did it. I really did it!”


    Adrian smiled. “Congratulations, you channeled your mana core properly this time.”


    Sister Selena stepped forward, her voice warm. “Well done, Seven. It’s no small feat to stabilize such a volatile core.”


    Seven’s grin spread from ear to ear, her earlier hesitation forgotten. “Thank you! Both of you! What’s next? What can we do now?”


    Adrian chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Since you’re so eager, how about we move on to sensing magic?”


    “Sensing?” Seven tilted her head.


    Sister Selena crossed her arms, nodding approvingly. “It’s a natural next step. If she can sense magic, it will help her understand how to control her own mana better. I think she’s ready.”


    Adrian settled himself more comfortably on the grass, gesturing for Seven to sit across from him. “Okay, this one’s a little different. You’ve already felt mana inside you, but now I want you to sense it outside yourself. There’s magic all around us. Focus on it.”


    Seven mimicked his posture, her small frame rigid with concentration. Adrian’s voice was calm but firm as he continued. “Close your eyes. Remember how you listened to your own mana. Do the same here. But instead of going inward, reach outward. Start with me, I’ll make it easier.”


    Adrian let his own mana rise slightly, just enough for Seven to feel the faint ripple of energy emanating from his core. He kept his gaze on her as she scrunched her nose in concentration. “I think… I think I feel something,”


    “Good. Keep going, do you see anything?"


    “It’s warm, and bright. It’s… like a light. Is that… your mana core?”


    “Exactly. That’s what you’re sensing. My mana core. Now, try the same with Sister Selena.”


    Seven shifted slightly, her head tilting toward the nun. Adrian watched as Seven’s brow furrowed, her breaths slow and steady. After a moment, she opened her eyes. “It’s… different from yours. Still bright, but not as warm. It’s like… like moonlight.”


    Selena raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “Very perceptive, Seven."


    Seven turned back to Adrian, excitement bubbling in her voice. “Why are your mana cores so different? Why does yours feel like fire and hers like moonlight?”


    Adrian chuckled. “It’s because everyone’s mana reflects who they are. My magic is tied to fire, so it feels warm and intense. Sister Selena’s mana is likely calmer, more refined. You''ll eventually find that no two mana cores are exactly the same."


    Seven’s eyes sparkled with fascination as she absorbed his words. “So… if someone else were here, theirs would feel different too?”


    “That’s right, and with practice, you’ll be able to sense even more. Not just the feel of their magic, but how strong it is, what it’s tied to, and even their intentions sometimes.”


    Seven looked down at her hands, her voice quiet but determined. “I want to get better.”


    Adrian gestured for Seven to sit back down and focus once more. “You’re already doing well. Let’s refine this further. There’s more magic around us than just my mana core or Sister Selena’s. If you pay close attention, you might even sense the lingering traces of energy in the air."


    Seven closed her eyes, her small frame relaxing as she inhaled deeply. Sister Selena knelt beside her, speaking softly. “Let your senses stretch outward and touch the magic around you."


    Adrian watched Seven’s face as her expression turned thoughtful. Her breathing steadied, and she nodded slightly. She’s picking it up faster than I expected. Her potential is undeniable. He kept his own mana contained, letting her focus on the natural magic of the world around them.


    “I can… feel it,” Seven said after a long pause. “It’s like… threads in the air. They’re all different, but they’re there.”


    Selena gave a satisfied nod. “Very good. You’ve come a long way in such a short time. I think you’re ready for something more practical.”


    Seven’s eyes flew open in excitement. “Really? What’s next?”


    Selena turned to Adrian, raising an eyebrow. “How about actually casting? It’s the next logical step. Her core is stable, and she can sense magic. We can see what she’s capable of.”


    Adrian hesitated, his mind racing. She’s progressing fast, maybe tis'' worth a shot. He glanced at Sister Selena. “All right, but we’ll keep it simple for now."


    Seven bounced in place. “Yes! I’m ready. What should I do?”


    “Hold on,” Adrian said, raising a hand. “Before you try anything, let me demonstrate. Watch closely.”


    He held out his hand, summoning a small flicker of blue flame in his palm. The flame danced and crackled softly, casting a faint glow in the dimming evening light. Seven’s eyes widened in awe. “Wow…”


    Adrian focused on keeping the flame steady. “This is basic fire magic. It takes control, focus, and a strong connection to your mana core. Once you’ve stabilized your core, you can shape your mana into something tangible like this.”


    He glanced at Seven, who was staring intently. “Now you try—”


    The flame in his hand flickered violently and snuffed out, leaving only a faint wisp of smoke. Adrian blinked, his brows furrowing. He conjured the flame again, but it extinguished almost immediately. What was that?


    Selena tilted her head, intrigued. “Try again.”


    Adrian summoned the flame once more, pouring more focus into stabilizing it. Yet, just as before, it vanished as if smothered by an unseen force. He looked at Seven, who was watching with wide eyes, her hands resting on her knees.


    “Seven, hold still for a moment.” Sister Selena said.


    The nun reached out as she brushed her fingers over Seven’s shoulder. Her expression shifted into one of surprise. “Adrian, her mana… It’s incredibly potent, but it’s also reacting to yours.”


    “Reacting how?”


    “It’s not just reacting, it’s countering. Her core has a natural affinity for abjuration. She’s dispelling your magic without even realizing it.”


    Seven blinked, her mouth opening in shock. “I’m… doing that? I didn’t mean to!”


    Adrian chuckled softly, leaning back on his hands. “It’s not a bad thing, Seven. It just means you’re gifted in a different way. Abjuration is rare and incredibly powerful. You can shield, protect, and dispel other magic. That’s an amazing ability.”


    “So… I’m not messing up?” Seven asked.


    Sister Selena laughed lightly. “Far from it. You’re excelling. Most people can’t do what you just did, even with years of training. It’s something to be proud of.”


    “We’ll work with this. Learning to control abjuration will be different, but it’s just as important. And with the way you’re progressing, I think you’ll master it in no time.” Adrian said.


    “Thank you! I’ll do my best!”