Six exhausting days later, Sam was still locked in indecision over which crystal to choose. The possibilities swirled endlessly in his mind. Fire magic? The idea of commanding flames was thrilling, the image of fire bursting from his fingertips irresistible. But earth magic? That had its own appeal—summoning towering rock pillars, shaping the battlefield to his will. He dismissed nature magic outright, scrunching his nose at the thought. It felt too… gentle for someone with his ambitions.


    He sighed deeply, staring at the ceiling of his room as the sun set outside, painting the sky in fiery shades of orange and red.


    Knock. Knock.


    “Come in,” Sam called out, sitting up.


    The door creaked open, and Isonorai stepped inside, her presence radiating authority and grace. She moved to sit beside him on the bed, her silken robes brushing lightly against his arm. Sam’s face turned scarlet, and his thoughts wandered to places they shouldn’t.


    Isonorai noticed immediately, her sharp eyes narrowing. “You better not be thinking of anything inappropriate, Sam.”


    “N-no, ma’am!” he stammered, his voice cracking.


    She smirked faintly but didn’t press the matter. “Have you decided which crystal you’re going to choose?”


    Sam’s stomach churned. Her question brought back all the stress of the past six days. He hesitated, his mind racing at lightning speed before finally settling on an answer.


    “Yes,” he said, his voice steady. “I’ve decided. I’ll choose the fire crystal.”


    Isonorai froze, her composure slipping for the briefest moment. “What did you say?”


    Sam thought he hadn’t been clear enough, so he repeated it with more conviction. “I choose the fire crystal!”


    Her eyes widened in shock, and her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. She seemed genuinely taken aback.


    “Did I… make the wrong choice?” Sam asked nervously.


    “No,” she said quickly, regaining her composure. “It’s just that fire magic is… unique. Very few people choose it because of how difficult it is to master. It’s rare, and most fear its reputation.”


    “Reputation?” Sam tilted his head.


    Isonorai sighed and explained. “Fire magic is volatile. It requires an incredible amount of control, precision, and willpower. Many who attempt to wield it fail. Some even…” She hesitated, her gaze distant. “Some don’t survive the training.”


    Sam’s heartbeat quickened, but he squared his shoulders. “That just makes me want to master it even more.”


    Isonorai studied him carefully, her expression unreadable. “You have no idea what you’re getting into. But…” She stood up, her voice softening. “Training starts after lunch tomorrow. Rest well.”


    With that, she left the room, the door clicking shut behind her.


    Sam sat in silence, her words replaying in his mind. The way her voice wavered when she mentioned the risks… Was she worried about him?


    <hr>


    The next day, Sam stood outside on the training grounds, clutching the fire crystal in his hand. The morning air was crisp, but his palms were sweaty with nerves.


    Isonorai approached, her expression calm but her movements deliberate. “The first step is to absorb the crystal,” she said, holding out her hand. “Press it to your forehead and let it sink into your core. This will bind the magic to you. Be warned—it will hurt.”


    Sam nodded, gripping the crystal tightly. “I’m ready.”


    Without hesitation, he pressed the crystal to his forehead. At first, there was a faint warmth, but it quickly escalated into a searing heat. The crystal sank into his skin, disappearing entirely as an intense pain exploded in his head.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    He cried out, dropping to his knees as his entire body convulsed. It felt like his skull was splitting apart, molten lava coursing through his veins.


    Isonorai knelt beside him, her hands gently resting on his shoulders. “Breathe, Sam. Focus. Let the magic flow into you. Don’t resist it.”


    Her words anchored him, and he forced himself to take shaky breaths. The pain began to subside, leaving him gasping for air but alive.


    “Good,” she said softly. “You survived the binding. That’s more than many can say.”


    Sam wiped the sweat from his brow, his determination unshaken. “What’s next?”


    Isonorai hesitated, her gaze flickering with doubt. “Are you sure you want to continue? Most would take days to recover from this.”


    “I’m not most people,” Sam replied firmly.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Very well. The second stage begins now.”


    <hr>


    The second stage was simple in theory: summon a flame in the palm of his hand.


    “Close your eyes,” Isonorai instructed. “Focus on the image of a flame. Feel the magic inside you, and guide it to your palm. You don’t need an incantation—just your willpower.”


    Sam nodded and closed his eyes. He focused on his breathing, in and out, as he tried to visualize a flame. But nothing came. His mind felt like a chaotic mess, scattered and unfocused.


    “Relax,” Isonorai said, her voice calm and steady. “If you strain too hard, you’ll block the flow of magic. Feel it. Don’t force it.”


    Sam took another deep breath, but frustration bubbled under the surface. A flame. Just a flame. How hard can it be?


    He tried again, picturing the flames of a campfire he once saw in his previous life. But the image was faint, slipping away as quickly as it appeared.


    “Why isn’t this working?” he muttered under his breath, opening his eyes in frustration.


    “Magic is a delicate art,” Isonorai said, her tone patient. “You’re thinking too rigidly. Magic isn’t about forcing something into existence. It’s about understanding and harmonizing with it.”


    Sam frowned. Harmonizing? The concept felt foreign and frustrating. He needed something concrete, something he could truly visualize.


    <hr>


    He closed his eyes again, this time drawing from his knowledge of his old world. His thoughts wandered to science class, where he’d learned about combustion. He began piecing it together in his mind.


    Okay… fire needs heat, oxygen, and fuel. I’m the source of all three. Mana could be the energy that sustains the reaction…


    He imagined a tiny spark, like the flint of a lighter igniting gas. In his mind’s eye, he visualized the spark catching, the flame flickering to life.


    Suddenly, warmth began to pool in his chest, radiating outward.


    “That’s it,” Isonorai encouraged, sensing the shift in his aura. “You’re starting to feel it. Keep going.”


    The warmth flowed through him like a current, surging into his arm and pooling in his palm. Sam focused harder, picturing the small flame as clearly as he could. He imagined it dancing, flickering, its golden-orange hues vibrant against the darkness.


    <hr>


    Finally, he felt it.


    The moment he opened his eyes, he saw it: a tiny flame hovering above his palm.


    “I did it,” he whispered, awe-struck.


    The flame swayed gently in the air, its light reflecting in his wide eyes. It wasn’t large or particularly threatening, but it was his—a tangible manifestation of his will.


    Isonorai’s expression shifted to one of mild surprise. “Most beginners barely last three seconds on their first try. You’ve already held it for seven.”


    Sam grinned, his confidence surging. He focused on stabilizing the flame, imagining it as a steady candlelight. His body buzzed with energy, and for the first time, he felt like he was truly connected to the world of magic.


    But as the seconds ticked by, the flame’s warmth began to turn into an unbearable heat. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead as he felt his mana rapidly depleting.


    <hr>


    His thoughts raced. Come on, think. What did I learn about energy transfer?


    Sam’s mind flashed back to physics lessons from his old world. Energy efficiency. If I focus on minimizing waste and channeling my mana directly into sustaining the flame…


    He adjusted his approach, imagining the mana flowing in a controlled stream rather than a chaotic flood. For a moment, it worked—the flame stabilized again, and the strain on his body lessened slightly.


    Isonorai raised an eyebrow, impressed. “You’re adapting quickly. Too quickly for someone who just started. Where are you pulling this knowledge from?”


    Sam didn’t respond. He couldn’t. His focus was razor-sharp, every fiber of his being directed toward maintaining the flame.


    <hr>


    But the effort was taking its toll. His arms trembled, and his vision blurred. Despite his adjustments, his mana reserves were depleting faster than he anticipated.


    The flame flickered, its edges darkening. He tried to hold on, but his body screamed for relief.


    I can’t let it go. Not yet. Just a few more seconds…


    Isonorai’s voice cut through his haze. “Enough, Sam! Stop before you hurt yourself!”


    But Sam didn’t listen. His determination outweighed his fear. He clenched his teeth, pushing every last drop of mana into the flame.


    <hr>


    Thirteen seconds.


    That’s how long he lasted before his strength gave out. The flame extinguished, and Sam collapsed to the ground, his body completely drained.


    <hr>


    Am I dying again? No, I can’t—not just as I was getting used to this world! I won’t let it end like this. I’ve got things to accomplish. I wanted to be the Shadow God…


    Sam fully collapsed.