The heavy sound of the gate opening echoed through the warehouse, followed by the creak of rusted hinges.
Eigan entered first, with Layla right behind, looking around with wide eyes. Shadow, the wolf pup, followed calmly, sniffing the air as if he already knew the place.
Xhalor's warehouse was a labyrinth of shelves filled with boxes, trinkets, and old tools. Two carts, one of them old and worn, occupied a corner, while the rest of the space was taken up by piles of objects that seemed to have been arranged at random.
Layla stared at everything with a mix of curiosity and distrust. She had never seen a place so full of... things. Eigan, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, humming softly as he watched Layla explore the surroundings.
He wondered how he would teach her. Like wise Alkan, his master, had taught him? Eigan had been Alkan's first student, and now he was about to go through the same process with Layla. The idea of teaching someone was new to him, but he didn't mind sharing his knowledge. Deep down, he even felt a twinge of curiosity about what it would be like.
Shadow, as always, settled into a corner and began to doze off. Eigan didn't blame him; inside the house, the little wolf was constantly chased by the merchant's children, who treated him like a living toy.
Layla, meanwhile, seemed to finally lose interest in the scenery around her and turned to Eigan with a confused look.
— Is this where you're going to teach me... magic? — she asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
Eigan smiled, trying to keep a serious air, though not very successfully. She had a good sense for magical aura, but mana particles were still invisible to her naked eyes. Without physical contact, they just floated in the air. Moving around like tiny stars in the sky.
— Yes and no. Let's try the first step.
He didn't want to give her too much hope. After all, having magical perception didn't mean she had the talent to use magic the same way he did. She might end up like Shadow, struggling to create a mana core and unable to control it like he could. Layla frowned at him, clearly not understanding very well.
— How are we going to do this? Do I have to concentrate? — she asked, with an expression that almost made Eigan laugh.
He held back, keeping a serious face.
— Yes, that's what we'll do. Sit on the floor. I'll guide you. It won't be too hard for you, Layla. Just... maybe a little tiring.
Layla hesitated for a moment but eventually sat on the floor, following Eigan's instructions. He guided her calmly, telling her to cross her legs, rest her hands on her thighs, and relax her shoulders. He taught the way he knew, the way he had learned. He knew it would be hard for Layla to create a mana core, especially to purify the energy around her. Even he had struggled at first, even in Essos, where the mana was purer than in Westeros.
Layla, for her part, was restless. Sitting in that position was uncomfortable, and the feeling of Eigan watching her from behind only made her more nervous. She closed her eyes, but her mind was far from calm. How would this help her use magic? How would sitting on the floor with her eyes closed make any difference? Despite her doubts, she decided to push through.
Eigan noticed her nervousness. He didn't need to read minds to know she was struggling to concentrate.
— Layla, relax and calm down. I need you to focus. Try to find mana particles — he said, in a soft but firm voice.
Layla opened her eyes suddenly, looking around as if she expected to see something. Eigan couldn't hold back a laugh.
— Of course, with your eyes closed — he commented, losing his seriousness for a moment.
Layla glared at him in silence, her face turning red with embarrassment. She quickly nodded and closed her eyes again, trying to focus.
— I don't see anything, I don't feel anything... what are these particles like? That would help me! — she complained, her voice full of frustration.
Eigan sighed and sat behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She opened her eyes again, looking at him over her shoulder.
— Don't worry. I'll help you see them. Just go back to the position you were in. Concentration is the key to many things in life, including magic — he explained, with a patient tone.
Layla wanted to ask more questions but ended up complying and returned to her initial position. Eigan, on the other hand, knew it wouldn't be easy. If he wanted to go to Valyria, he would need someone he could trust to watch his back. And he was determined to be a good teacher for Layla.
With that, he began channeling his own mana into her, guiding it gently through her body. Layla shivered the moment Eigan's energy entered her. She felt her insides turn over, as if everything inside her was being shaken. Dizziness and weakness overwhelmed her, and cold sweat dripped down her face.
Eigan whispered, noticing that she was struggling to stay conscious.
— Hold on, try to endure it... A mana particle is like a bright dot... When you see them, you'll know — he said, trying to keep her focused.
Layla wanted to stop, but Eigan's voice kept her steady. She trembled, her body tingled, and anguished whimpers escaped her lips. But she tried, tried with all her might. And then, in the middle of the void her mind had become, she saw it. A small glow, almost imperceptible, but it was there. A tiny sphere, almost like a grain of sand, shining intensely and pulsing softly.
Before she could react, her mind gave out, and she fainted in Eigan's arms. He held her carefully, an excited smile on his face.
— This is how it starts — he murmured, looking at her. — Layla...
***
As the nobles and courtiers gathered, waiting for the king's audience, Robert Baratheon sat in a large space, surrounded by a grand table, wearing an expression of boredom and irritation. There was no cup on the table, which was unusual — rarely did Robert abstain from his beloved drink.
At the same table, seated in a slightly smaller chair, was the Master of Coin, Lord Petyr Baelish, known as Littlefinger. His keen eyes scanned the room, calculating every movement, every word. He was a man who always seemed to know more than he let on. And often, he made it a point to show the opposite.
Robert slammed his fist on the table, the sound echoing through the chamber.
— Silence! — he roared, and the room obeyed at once. The king turned to Littlefinger with a look of impatience and frustration. — Baelish, do you have any good news for me this time? Or is it just more debts and numbers?
Littlefinger smiled, a smile that never reached his eyes.
— Your Grace, the news is… complicated. The realm is stable, but the finances remain a challenge. The debts we've accumulated are significant, and the loans we owe to the Lannisters continue to grow.
Robert grumbled, rubbing his forehead with one hand.
— Debts, debts, always debts! Why in the Seven Hells can't I just rule without hearing about this every damned day?
Littlefinger tilted his head, feigning humility.
— Unfortunately, Your Grace, gold is what keeps the realm running. Armies need to be paid, roads need to be built, and the court… well, the court has its own expenses.
Robert let out an exasperated sigh.
— And what do you suggest, then? More taxes? I've heard that before.
— Not necessarily, Your Grace — Littlefinger replied, a strange glint in his eyes. — We could explore new sources of revenue. Perhaps increase the trade tariffs in King's Landing or seek further investments from the Iron Bank… There's also the possibility of renegotiating our debts with the Lannisters...
Robert shook his head, clearly tired of the subject.
— Do whatever needs to be done, Baelish. Just don't fill my ears with details. I expect you to handle it. — Robert leaned slightly forward, his eyes hard and his beard bristling. — That's your job.
Littlefinger rose and bowed, hiding a satisfied smile.
— As you wish, Your Grace. I'll do my best to ease the kingdom's financial burden.
Meanwhile, standing at the edges of the room, Lord Varys, the Master of Whisperers, watched the exchange with a keen gaze. He approached Littlefinger with silent steps and murmured:
— Do you really think raising tariffs in King's Landing is a good idea? The people are already discontent.
Littlefinger glanced at Varys, his expression inscrutable, and offered a faint, enigmatic smile.
— The people are always discontent, Lord Varys. But they adapt. In the end, what matters is keeping the realm running, isn't it?
Varys inclined his head slightly, though his expression remained unreadable.
— I hope you know what you're doing, Lord Baelish. The realm stands on the edge of a knife. One wrong step, and we could all fall.
Littlefinger chuckled softly.
— Don't worry, Lord Varys. I always know what I'm doing. Besides, Lord Varys, haven't you been spending a lot of time in Essos lately? — Littlefinger's sharp tone nearly broke Varys's composure. For a fleeting moment, his serene mask hardened. Just for a moment.
As the two exchanged their veiled barbs, Robert rose from his chair, clearly weary of the audience.
— That's enough for today. Jon, you're coming with me.
Jon Arryn nodded and followed Robert as he left the hall. The two men — one overweight, the other already advanced in age — walked through the castle's corridors, with Robert grumbling about the lack of action in his life.
— I should be hunting, Jon, not stuck here listening to talk of gold and debts — Robert complained, his voice laced with frustration. — … Maybe somewhere up North, for all the gods care!
Jon Arryn smiled with quiet patience.
— The realm needs you, Robert. And speaking of the North, perhaps it's time you visited Ned. It's been too long since you last saw your old friend.
Robert paused, considering the suggestion.
— Ned Stark… yes, it has been a while. Maybe you're right, Jon. A trip to the North might be just what I need. Some fresh air, a good hunt… and the company of a friend.
Jon Arryn nodded, a satisfied smile on his lips.
— I'll make the arrangements, Robert. But remember, the realm still needs you. We can't afford to neglect the kingdom's finances.
Robert grumbled but didn't argue. He knew Jon was right, even if he didn't want to admit it.
— … And the Mad King's children? Any news?
Robert stopped and looked at Jon over his shoulder. Jon immediately halted as well. It took him a moment to reply — and not with an answer Robert would like.
— Not much. No worrying moves from the Targaryen.
Robert's eyes narrowed for a moment, and he spat on the floor.
— I should have killed them all!
Jon didn't reply. They'd had this conversation before. And as Jon knew too well, nothing would change Robert's mind. Perhaps only Ned Stark had that power.
***
When Layla woke up, she felt dizzy, weak, and so hungry that it seemed her stomach was about to devour itself. She blinked a few times, trying to get her bearings, and soon realized she was still in the warehouse. Her head was resting on something soft — probably some folded fabric — and she slowly pushed herself up, sitting on the floor.
Blinking a few more times, she felt something different inside her. It wasn't obvious, but it was there: a faint energy that seemed to dance through her veins, like a thin thread of something she had never experienced before.
But that energy was already dissipating.
"Did I really faint?" she wondered, turning her head to observe the warehouse. Her eyes soon landed on Eigan, who was sitting a few meters away, fully focused. Shadow was curled up on his lap, trembling slightly. Layla stayed still, silently watching.
She noticed something strange. Her eyes picked up on the faint, almost imperceptible aura surrounding Eigan and Shadow. It was as if she could see Eigan's energy flowing into Shadow, a purple energy. This made Shadow's aura grow slowly. She stood there, motionless, trying to process what she was seeing.
Eigan opened his eyes suddenly, his hand gently stroking Shadow's fur. He looked at Layla, and for a brief moment, an expression of surprise crossed his face before being replaced by a calm smile.
— I see you're awake — he said in a casual tone, as if he hadn't just made her pass out.
Layla grumbled, massaging her back. Sleeping on the floor was almost as bad as sleeping on the filthy rag bed back in the old slave house. No, maybe the bed was worse.
— I'm exhausted — she complained, her voice full of frustration. — And hungry.
Eigan shrugged, as if that were the most normal thing in the world. Shadow jumped off his lap, shivering as he walked to a quiet corner for another nap. Soon, both the wolf's and Eigan's auras vanished without a trace.
— Welcome to magic — he said, with a slight wink. — From here on, it gets tough! — He wasn't lying. After the first step, the next one would be creating a mana core, and that would be even more draining for her. That's where it all truly begins!
To his surprise, it was Layla who asked, with a hesitant but curious look.
— Is it going to get worse? Worse than this? Feeling like I was about to throw up everything I ate yesterday? And I'm hungry, really hungry! But I'm determined to keep going. — she said, almost in a challenging tone. — What's the next step?
Eigan stood up, brushing Shadow's fur off his pants with his hands.
— When you manage to conquer the first... Creation of a mana core — he replied, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Layla's eyebrows shot up to the top of her forehead. She was confused but also intrigued. After all, what was a mana core? She had no idea, but Eigan seemed genuinely excited about it.
— Mana core? — she drawled, trying to understand. — What's that? Sounds important.
Eigan smiled, sitting back down on the floor, this time facing her.
— It's the heart of magic — he explained, with a tone that sounded almost reverent. — It's what allows you to store and control the mana within you. Without a core, you can only sense the mana around you or, with great effort and learning, influence it, but you can't use it properly. With a core, you become an active source of mana. A source of magic.
Layla frowned, trying to process the information.
He could explain more about body reinforcement with mana, but this wasn't the time for that. Too much information wouldn't help her. It would only overwhelm her mind.
…
Layla felt anxious as she absorbed all the information Eigan was sharing. Each word seemed to connect to a point in her mind, forming a puzzle she was just beginning to understand.
As Eigan had said, although she had talent and could develop good magical perception—or, as she understood it, seeing individuals' auras—she was still unable to see mana particles on her own.
After all, there was a difference. Why could she see his aura and the aura of a few others, but not the mana particles? She wondered about that, too. Eigan had simply said that she needed to improve her perception until she could detect even the tiny grains of mana.
She could see the process of magic, as she had with that fireball before—though that had been because Eigan had influenced her mana. But wild, free mana was impossible for her to see. Everything depended on improving her magical perception and getting used to its flow.
And the idea of absorbing pure mana to create a mana core sounded complex, but she was determined to understand it.
— So, pure mana… — she murmured, thoughtful. — Does that mean there's dirty mana, too?
Eigan nodded, confirming her suspicion.
— Yes. In some places, mana is denser and impure, full of magical residues that can be dangerous if absorbed carelessly. In Westeros, for example, it's much harder to purify mana than it is here in Essos. Staying in places where mana is dirty can cause it to cling to your body. The same goes for pure mana.
Layla frowned, connecting the dots.
— Is that why my perception has improved since I arrived in Essos?
— Exactly — Eigan replied, with an approving smile. — The mana here is cleaner, easier to sense and absorb.
He continued explaining patiently, but Layla still had questions.
— And if I ever need to purify mana on my own? How do I do that?
Eigan leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with interest.
— You'll learn. But for now, let's focus on the first step: getting your body used to the flow and improving your magical perception. Purification can come later.
Layla nodded, still a little hesitant but willing to trust him. She remembered the feeling of his mana invading her body, that pure energy shaking her core. It was frightening, but also fascinating.
— So… can we try again now? — she asked, with a mix of confidence and hesitation. Despite being ready to continue, the memory of the weakness and dizziness still haunted her.
A smile danced on Eigan's lips.
— Let's do it, then. You already know what to do. — He moved closer, sitting behind her and placing his hand on her shoulder. — Let's go to your limit.
Layla adjusted herself, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. Eigan waited a moment before speaking, his voice calm and gentle.
— Empty your thoughts. Clear your mind and relax.
She followed his instructions without hesitation. Her mind emptied, becoming a blank canvas. And then, the twinge came. Eigan began sharing his mana with her, and the familiar sensations returned. This time, however, Layla was trying to prepare for what would come next.
Eigan even increased the amount he would share.
Veins bulged on her face and neck, and her body began to tremble. Unfortunately, she was already at her limit, but she didn't want to give up. She wanted to show Eigan that she could handle it, that she wouldn't stop anytime soon.
"Until the limit," he had said, but Layla wanted to go beyond that.
Her muscles tingled, and cold sweat dripped down her body. She felt nauseous but kept forcing her mind to find any trace of mana in that white desert that was her consciousness.
~annh-ahh!!
She groaned, her brow furrowed in pain.
Eigan watched her with concern. He knew she was at her limit, and pushing her beyond that could be dangerous.
"I don't want to push her or her body too hard. We've got many days ahead of us…" he thought, hesitating.
After a few seconds, he finally sighed and said:
— That's enough.
Layla suddenly opened her eyes, looking at him over her shoulder. Eigan was already removing his hand from her shoulder, and she stared at him with a mixture of frustration and exhaustion.
— Why? I still want to continue — she said, her voice sulky.
Eigan relaxed his shoulders, tossing his hands back and leaning along with the motion. He stared at the ceiling, clearly tired. The training wasn't easy for either of them, and he knew he had to balance Layla's and Shadow's effort with his own weariness.
— We can continue later — he said, with a final tone. — And don't worry, just because you saw it the first time doesn't mean you'll see it the second time. Don't rush. Pushing your body won't benefit you at all. What's important is for your body to get used to the mana, and that… that's already happening. Even if little by little…
Layla was still frustrated, but she accepted his words. If Eigan said that's how it should be, then she would trust him.
Deep down, she just wanted to surprise him. There was a hidden fear that if she didn't show fast results, he might regret teaching her. But, seeing the concern and sincerity on his face, she realized he wouldn't give up on her so easily.
And noticing the fatigue on his face, the moments of sweat and effort, she understood something important: Eigan didn't have enough energy to face the world alone. Especially a place like Valyria. He needed her, just as she needed him.
If she could do even half of what he did, she'd be a valuable help. A complement.
And, as strange as it seemed, she didn't feel bad about it. On the contrary, it made her feel good. If that was the case, she could help Eigan on his journey, even if Valyria was still a frightening place.
— Alright — she said finally, with a sigh. — We'll continue later.
Eigan smiled, relieved.
— Good decision. Now, let's eat something. Magic takes energy, and you're hungry.
Layla didn't argue. She took the hand he offered and stood up, feeling her legs still a little shaky.
Journeys aren't simple or easy. However, stories are unique.
Perception, mana, magic… What comes next?
As they headed to Xhalor's house, she couldn't help but smile, motivated.