The scent of fresh food filled the air, as Valerius sat at the table, his eyes still heavy with the weight of his thoughts. The simple meal before him, warm and fragrant, was a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside him. The room was quiet, except for the occasional flicker of the mana lamps, which cast moving shadows on the walls. The silence felt heavy, pressing down on him like an invisible weight.
He picked at the food silently, each bite tasteless against the storm in his mind. When he finally finished, he called Seraphina to take the plate. Without another word, he retreated to his bed, the day's events lingering in his mind.
Sunlight streamed in through the heavy curtains, creating golden lines across the room. Valerius woke up, feeling the quiet of the morning weighing on him. He blinked once trying to clear the haze of sleep from his mind. Suddenly, memories flooded back to him. He remembered the duel, Dravenholt's words, and the clearing of his sixth meridian. His jaw tensed. That unease had not faded. If anything, it had grown sharper.
Despite his exhaustion, his mind remained razor-sharp, dissecting every interaction, every carefully chosen word. Dravenholt had not been aimless in his visit. There was a reason behind his appearance, a motive Valerius had yet to uncover. He would need to remain vigilant. This was no simple game of nobility; it was a calculated move, and Valerius was now caught in it.
Slowly, he pushed himself up, his muscles aching from the strain of his training. He moved toward the basin, splashing cold water onto his face to fully wake him up and keep his thoughts cleared.
Four more days until the academy. So many uncertainties still lay ahead.
A soft knock at the door broke through his thoughts.
"Enter," Valerius called, wiping his face with a cloth.
Seraphina stepped into the room, balancing a tray in her hands. "Young Master, I brought your breakfast."
Valerius nodded in acknowledgment as she placed the meal on the table.
"Seraphina," he said, his voice measured, "for the next few days, until the academy starts, I will stay in my room. Aside from meals, I do not want to be disturbed."
"I understand, Young Master." She gave a small bow before leaving.
Valerius sat, eating in silence. He took each bite without much thinking, while his mind was focused on something else. When he finished, he moved to his bed, holding the Mana Surge Pill between his fingers. The sapphire crystal glowed faintly under the soft light, pulsing with energy. He studied it for a moment before swallowing it, feeling the surge of raw mana spread through his body.
And so the days passed in the same relentless cycle, eating, training, and pushing himself to the limits.
Then, on the final morning before the academy, Valerius awoke with a rare smile.
Yesterday, I finally managed to clear all the twelve meridians.
His body felt different, stronger, lighter, more attuned to the mana coursing through his veins. He had reached the threshold. Now, only one step remained.
As usual, he ate his breakfast. Then, sitting cross-legged on his bed, he held the final Mana Surge Pill in his palm. This one would mark his true ascension. With steady hands, he swallowed it and closed his eyes, guiding the energy through his body with precise control.
Deep within his dantian, the gathered mana began to converge. The process was delicate, requiring him to be in absolute focus. He compressed the energy layer by layer, molding it into the embryonic form of his Mana Core.
A sharp pain shot through his body, but he endured it. His meridians trembled under the pressure, but he refused to give up. Seconds stretched into minutes as he fought against the raw force threatening to spiral out of control.
Then, at last, the swirling mass of mana collapsed inward, condensing into a singular core. A deep hum resonated within his dantian. The transformation was complete.
Valerius slowly exhaled, his eyes still shut as he observed the changes within. The mana inside him no longer moved in scattered currents; it now flowed with strength, refined and controlled.
A faint smile formed on his lips. He had done it.
He had stepped into the Mana Core stage.
The sensation was foreign yet exhilarating. His body felt lighter, his senses sharper. He clenched his fist, feeling the steady pulse of mana radiating through him. He had taken his first true step into the path of cultivation in this life.
Rising from his meditation posture, he stretched his limbs. The dull aches from before were gone, replaced by a quiet, simmering power. His meridians, once obstructed, now pulsed with energy, ready to be directed at his will.
He stepped to the center of the room, drawing a slow breath. Raising his hand, he gathered mana into his palm. The energy gathered together, becoming denser and purer than before.
With a flick of his fingers, he shaped it into a small sphere, watching as it hovered, stable and bright. A satisfied smirk tugged at his lips.
This was power.
But cultivation was not just about strength, it was about control, about mastery. His foundation was set, but there was still much to refine before stepping into the academy.
He dissipated the energy and turned toward the door.
Tomorrow, his journey would truly begin.