Akira stepped into the room, bow still in hand, eyes scanning every corner. The chamber appeared ordinary—plain walls, simple wooden floor, a single desk near the far wall. No signs of anyone else. Confusion prickled at the back of his mind.
Then—a sudden weight on his shoulder.
Akira screamed, spinning around, heart hammering. His bow dropped from trembling hands as he faced the source.
The figure erupted with laughter, loud and booming, shaking the quiet room.
"Stupid old—!" Akira shouted, more out of shock than actual anger.
Sebastian's calm voice cut through his outburst. "That, Akira… is the Archmage."
Akira blinked, lowering the bow slightly, incredulous. "Wait… what? This… this old man?"
The Archmage laughed again, slapping his knee lightly. "Appearances are deceiving, Hero of Valoria. Strength… power… it rarely shows itself in a single form. And fear," he added with a grin, "is often the first teacher."
Akira clenched his fists. "You could've told me! I nearly—"
"You nearly what?" the Archmage interrupted, still chuckling. "Dropped your bow? Had a heart attack? Thought the world had ended?"
Akira cursed under his breath, shaking his head. "Stupid old—"
"Ah! There it is! that's the Spirit!" the Archmage exclaimed, stepping closer, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Good. Very good. You must keep it. But do not let fear vanish entirely—it sharpens the mind, prepares you to survive."
Sebastian, ever silent, simply nodded and stepped back, leaving Akira alone with the Archmage.
Akira planted his feet, trying to steady himself. "Fine. If I'm here to learn… then let's begin. No more games."
The Archmage's grin widened. "Games? Life itself is a game, Hero. But very well. Let us start."
The Archmage lifted a hand, fingers drawing a slow circle through the air. The magic lanterns flickered, their glow dimming.
The simple room began to change — not abruptly, but as if layers of illusion were peeling away. The plain wooden floor shimmered into polished stone.Walls slid outward, expanding into a vast circular hall. Pillars of crystal rose from the ground, humming with quiet energy.
The ceiling melted into a translucent dome, revealing a swirling sky of deep blues and shifting constellations — a simulated night untouched by the sun outside.
Akira steadied himself, breath catching at the sudden immensity.
"This…" he whispered, awe creeping into his voice. "This was here the whole time?"
The Archmage smiled. "Magic hides many truths, Hero. Rooms are rarely just rooms in the Tower. Only those permitted can witness what lies beneath the veil."
Akira swallowed."Alright then… what now?"
"Now,"The Archmage snapped his fingers.
A pulse of mana surged outward like a shockwave. Akira staggered but remained standing.
"Not bad," the Archmage murmured. "But holding your ground is merely step one." He pointed at Akira's chest. "Tell me… what do you feel?"
Akira focused—his heartbeat thundering, air buzzing in his lungs. But beneath all that…
Warmth. Something flowing inside him. Circulating. Pressing to be released.
"I feel… heat. Like it's moving through my veins." Akira said.
"Mana," the Archmage nodded. "Your body has begun producing it naturally. Good. But raw mana is wild—if you force it too quickly, it can twist the mind. Make you into a monster."
Akira gritted his teeth as the heat surged stronger, spreading from his chest to his fingertips. His breath grew sharp, uneven.
"It's… getting hotter."
The Archmage's expression shifted — laughter gone, replaced by sharp focus.
"Do not force it. Mana must flow, not boil."His voice deepened, steady and commanding."Empty your mind. Release tension from your limbs. Let the mana breathe."
Akira tried — he really did — but the power inside him surged like a storm breaking free of its cage.
The warmth turned into burning.
His vision blurred. His pulse thundered painfully. The air around him warped, shimmering like rising embers.
"Agh—! What's happening!?" Akira grabbed at his own arms, panic twisting through him. "Stop— it hurts—!"
Veins darkened beneath his skin, glowing faintly — not with calm light, but with a violent, chaotic pulse.
The Archmage approached swiftly, hands raised but not touching.
"Calm yourself! Your fear is feeding the mana! Focus, Hero!"
But Akira couldn't hear the words anymore — not clearly. Sounds distorted. His knees buckled and he slammed a hand to the floor, stone cracking beneath his palm.
"Akira!" Sebastian barked — a rare break in composure — stepping forward.
"Stay back!" the Archmage snapped. "If his flow is interrupted now, his mind will shatter!"
Akira's eyes widened — one pupil dilating unnaturally, the other flickering with unstable light.
He felt something clawing inside his skull.Whispering.Twisting.Trying to take over.
"N-no… no— get out!" he screamed.
It was primal, terrified — the cry of someone fighting a monster no one else could see.
The Archmage pressed his palm forward, voice booming:
"Hero of Valoria — listen to me!"
A surge of cold air washed over the room, clashing harshly against the raging heat inside Akira. His body jolted.
"Mana does not control you," the Archmage commanded. "You command it."
Akira's vision steadied — just enough.He strained, breaths ragged.Not running from the burning — but pulling it back.
Like gripping a leash around a rabid beast.
Slowly… painfully…
The glow faded from his veins.
His fingers unclenched.
The whispers quieted.
Akira collapsed forward — catching himself with both hands before his face hit the floor. His entire body trembled.
The Archmage knelt beside him, one hand hovering above his back — not touching, but guiding a cool flow of energy to settle the storm within.
"That…" Akira gasped, voice hoarse, "…was horrible."
The Archmage exhaled — a long, relieved breath.
"Yes," he said softly. "And that was merely a taste."