A few days later, night draped the forest in a cloak of dense shadows. Lusian moved between the trees with silent steps—precise, lethal. Every creature that fell before him did so without understanding what had struck it; his dark magic wrapped around him until he was nearly invisible. There, among the roots and tangled foliage, he looked like death itself walking without haste.
Garet watched from a distance, arms crossed and a proud smile on his face.
That's how it's done, he thought. It wasn't only Lusian's physical skill that impressed him, but the way he mentally calculated mana, adjusting each spell with surgical precision.
"Watch closely, Lusian," he said, his firm voice echoing between the trunks. "It's not just about bringing monsters down. Every spell has a cost. If you don't calculate it, you'll run out of mana before the fight is halfway over. Tonight, you'll learn efficiency."
The forest fell silent as Lusian focused his energy, as though even the shadows were waiting.
Garet gestured toward the monstrous elk grazing among the bushes.
"Level fifty. Base mana: five hundred. With your Epsilon affinity, each spear costs twenty-one points… multiplied by five… then reduced by half."
Lusian ran the numbers instantly.
"Fifty-two," he said with certainty. "Just enough."
Six black spears erupted from the void. The elk barely had time to lift its head before collapsing.
Garet nodded, satisfied.
"Exactly. Intelligence before strength."
Then he continued, his tone turning more instructive:
"Magic isn't just about dealing damage—it's about managing it. Never spend more than necessary. Every spell must have a purpose. Every movement must be deliberate. That's what separates a simple Legionnaire from a true Magister."
Lusian absorbed every word. The forest, the fallen creatures, the shadows surrounding him—everything became part of a lesson in strategy, control, and discipline.
"Remember this," Garet added. "Mana is finite. Even with Epsilon affinity, if you overextend yourself, you'll become vulnerable. A warrior isn't the one who slays monsters—it's the one who does it with precision, economy, and cold blood."
He paused, watching Lusian carefully.
"Like death when it walks unseen."
Lusian took a deep breath. He felt the flow of mana moving through him with perfect clarity.
That night, beneath his mentor's watchful gaze, he wasn't just hunting.
He was being forged—learning to master his mind as much as his magic.