The logistical calm of the new residence allowed us to turn our attention back to the development of our own abilities. With the administration of the lands operating under a strict schedule, the beginning of the morning brought a clear realization: the underwater atmosphere did not merely alter our physical routine, but drastically changed the behavior of the mystical forces that permeated the environment.
I walked to the central courtyard of the estate, a spacious area surrounded by limestone walls and a reinforced crystal ceiling, specifically designed to withstand large flows of energy. Inside, the oxygen purified by the runes maintained the ideal pressure, but the density of the mana leaking through the cracks in the ocean floor was visibly different from what we knew on the surface. It did not float freely; it moved in heavy, almost viscous waves, following the rhythm of the external tides.
My companions were already waiting in the center of the courtyard, having removed their household work clothes and wearing light training outfits. Liriel kept her staff planted in the ground, closing her eyes to attune herself to the vibrations of the house's runic core. Her assistant remained seated on a stone step to the side, with her diary open on her lap and a magical quill floating over the blank page, ready to record any variation in the magical readings.
"The mana in this place has a very particular hydrostatic signature, Takumi," Liriel explained, opening her blue eyes and gesturing toward the surrounding space. "On the surface, energy spreads like the wind, volatile and fast. Down here, it behaves like a hidden current. If you try to cast a spell using the same speed and the same force you use on land, the density of the water will crush the flow before the runic structure can stabilize."
I approached the center of the circle marked on the ground, taking a deep breath to calm my heartbeat. I raised my right hand, concentrating on my internal mana reserve, and tried to shape a small sphere of pure light. Immediately, I felt an overwhelming physical resistance against my mystical will. It was like trying to push an invisible metal wall; the energy dispersed into small particles before gaining a coherent form.
"Do not force the barrier, my lord," Elara advised, observing the scene with her arms crossed, evaluating the strain in my posture. "The mud and the external pressure require you to shape the flow from the inside out, allowing the external mana to integrate with your body instead of fighting against it."
Liriel walked until she was right behind me, gently touching my shoulders with her warm hands to align my posture. "Close your eyes. Feel the swaying of the sea plants outside. Their movement does not resist the current; they follow the flow. Make your mana move at the same slow and measured rhythm of the deep tides."
I followed Liriel's instructions, clearing my mind of the traditional techniques of fast combat. Instead of releasing the energy, I allowed it to flow slowly through my internal channels, adopting a heavy and rhythmic cadence. When I opened my eyes again and extended my palm, a dense sphere of bluish light materialized instantly, shining with an intensity far more stable and pure than any spell I had ever cast on the surface.
Liriel's assistant let out a whisper of exclamation, and her magical quill began frantically scribbling geometric equations onto the parchment, recording the stabilization of the flow.
Lyannis smiled slightly, taking a few steps forward while spinning a small training dagger between her fingers. "It seems the hero has just discovered that the ocean requires patience. This dense mana makes our reflexes sharper because it forces us to predict the movement of the environment before it happens."
Rai'kanna approached shortly afterward, flexing her muscular arms with a gleam of enthusiasm in her golden eyes. "This applies to physical combat as well, Takumi. Training in this density is like carrying invisible weights on every joint. When we return to the surface, our bodies will be so light that it will feel like we're flying."
Scarlett and Vespera joined the central circle, drawing their blunted blades made of treated wood. "Enough theory for today," Scarlett declared, adjusting the position of her legs on the polished ground. "The best way to test this new magical perception is under the pressure of a real attack. Let's see how your barrier behaves against my sword under this simulated gravity."
Vespera positioned herself behind Scarlett, her attentive eyes focusing on every micro-movement of my muscles. "Do not falter, Takumi. The density of the water can be your ally in cushioning the blows, but if you mistime the current, her blade will pass straight through."
I focused again, expanding the new bluish mana around my body, feeling the viscous energy of the ocean align perfectly with my will. The training courtyard was filled with an atmosphere of absolute focus and silent determination as all the girls began moving toward me, initiating an exhausting routine of simulations. With every clash of forces and every movement corrected under Liriel's guidance, the sensation of weight in my magical channels gave way to a clear and profound evolution in our unified mystical perception.