Edge Of The Frozen Dawn - A New Life (Volume 1)

Dawn crept into the cave, casting a soft yet cold light across the stone walls. At the entrance, a thin mist rose, signaling the lingering chill of the surrounding forest. Inside, the glowing embers of the dying campfire sent faint wisps of smoke into the air, while silence reigned almost completely, disturbed only by the distant song of a bird.

Veil sat in the center of the cave, legs crossed, his hands resting on his knees. Though his gaze was fixed on the ground, it was distant, reflecting a palpable inner tension. In front of him, Alynia stood with her arms crossed, her blue eyes locked onto him with an intensity that pierced through his outward calm.

Alynia (calm but instructive voice): "Sensing mana is not about strength or sheer willpower. It's like a river flowing through your body. It's there, inside you, but you need to learn to feel its movement, to understand its rhythm. It's a sensation, not a thought."

The silence that followed was broken only by the faint crackling of the embers.

Veil (sighing, frustrated): "You make it sound so easy…"

Alynia stepped toward him slowly and pressed a finger against his forehead. The unexpected touch made Veil flinch slightly, his eyes instinctively lifting to meet hers.

Alynia (piercing gaze, firm voice): "Because it is simple. But simple doesn't mean easy."

She withdrew her finger with calculated fluidity and sat cross-legged in front of him. Her movements were precise, almost mechanical, reinforcing the aura of control she exuded.

Alynia (gently, almost soothing): "Close your eyes. Breathe slowly. Feel the air moving in and out of your body. Focus on what you sense, not what you think."

Veil obeyed, though with some hesitation. His eyelids lowered, and he took a deep breath, trying to follow her instructions.

Alynia (continuing, steady): "Imagine a river, calm and fluid, running through your body. Mana flows the same way. If your thoughts stir too much, the river turns turbulent, and you lose the thread. Stay calm. Focus on the tingling, the subtle movement beneath your skin."

The silence in the cave became almost absolute. Veil's heartbeat seemed to amplify, each pulse echoing inside his skull.

Veil (internal thought, uncertain): A river… A sensation? How am I supposed to feel that?

He tensed, his breathing growing slightly more erratic as he tried too hard.

Alynia (softer voice, encouraging): "You're too tense. Let yourself go. Mana doesn't respond to force. Relax your shoulders. Breathe."

Veil took a deep breath, trying to follow her instructions. Slowly, he began to sense something—a subtle warmth, like a faint vibration emanating from his chest.

The glow of the embers seemed to flicker slightly around him. A tiny ripple in the air, almost imperceptible, formed near his fingers. A thin, translucent mist, like a subtle condensation, emerged from his palms.

Alynia (internal thought, observing): The flow is beginning to awaken… It's not stable yet, but he feels it. His reactions don't lie.

A faint smile brushed Alynia's lips as she noticed the subtle shift.

Alynia (calm voice): "Yes… you're starting to feel it. Look at your hands."

Veil slowly opened his eyes, surprised. His gaze dropped to his palms, where the faint mist danced briefly before fading away.

Veil (whispering, incredulous): "I… I really felt it."

The flickering shadows of the dying flames gave way to a cold, calming clarity, yet the air remained charged. Veil, still seated, stared at his hands. He could still feel the fleeting shiver he had sensed moments ago—a soft, subtle sensation, as if something was sleeping beneath his skin.

Alynia, sitting cross-legged in front of him, broke the silence with a calm but directive voice.

Alynia (clear, steady tone): "You've felt mana. That's the first step. But feeling it isn't enough. Now, you must learn to visualize it."

Veil lifted his eyes toward her, confusion evident on his face.

Veil (frowning): "Visualize it? You mean imagine it? But… how do you imagine something you can't really see?"

Alynia let out a slight sigh, though it wasn't one of annoyance. She seemed to be considering a better way to explain it.

Alynia (calm but firm): "What you feel is like an invisible river. You need to make that flow tangible in your mind. Imagine it as a current running through your body, an energy flowing through your veins, responding to your will. But to do that, you must see it, even if only in your mind."

Veil narrowed his eyes, staring at an invisible point in front of him, then closed his eyelids. He tried to recapture the sensation he had felt earlier—that fluid softness. He took a deep breath, but with each attempt, his mind drifted. The images in his head were blurry, inconsistent.

Veil (internal thought, frustrated): How am I supposed to visualize this? It's too abstract. It's like trying to draw the wind…

He abruptly opened his eyes, his expression tense with irritation.

Veil (groaning, frustrated): "I can't do it! It doesn't make any sense! I feel something, but that's it."

Alynia watched him in silence for a moment, her ears twitching slightly—a sign she was analyzing his words. Then, she moved closer, her intense gaze locked onto him.

Alynia (soft but firm voice): "You're struggling because you want it to be perfect. Stop trying to control everything. Visualizing mana isn't about creating a fixed image. It's about understanding its movement. Imagine it as a river winding through you. Don't focus on the details—just let it flow in your mind."

She placed two fingers on his chest, just above his heart.

Alynia (continuing): "Start here. Imagine a soft light, a point pulsing with your breath. Then let it expand. Follow its path, as if you were watching it flow from within. Let it show you where it goes, instead of trying to force it in a direction."

Veil closed his eyes again, this time focusing on his heartbeat. He took a slow breath, searching for the glowing point Alynia had described.

At first, nothing came. Everything was dark, like a thick veil over his mind. But as he slowed his breathing, a soft glow emerged. It wasn't clear or defined, but he felt it—a pulse. A subtle, almost hypnotic movement.

Veil (internal thought, surprised): Is this… it? A light… it's moving…

Bit by bit, he followed that glow in his mind. It flowed gently, winding through an invisible path. He felt a faint warmth travel down his arms, then rise toward his head before sinking back into his torso.

A faint smile appeared on his face, but it quickly faded when he suddenly lost the connection. The light vanished, replaced by a frustrating emptiness.

Veil (opening his eyes, frustrated): "I had it! I felt it, but then it disappeared!"

Alynia nodded slowly, a glimmer of approval in her eyes.

Alynia (calm but encouraging): "That's normal. This is just the beginning. Mana is like a flowing current. If you tense up, it stops. If you're too relaxed, it scatters. Find the balance. And remember, it takes time."

She crossed her arms, her tone turning slightly more teasing.

Alynia (mocking, with a small smile): "But you're not doing too badly… for a human."

Veil looked at her, caught between frustration and a hint of pride. Despite the difficulties, he had felt something.

Veil (internal thought, determined): I'll get this. No matter how many times I have to start over, I'll visualize it again and again.

The morning light slowly began to flood the cave, a quiet reminder that time wouldn't wait for him. Four days. Not one more.

The daylight bathed the cave in a cold yet soothing glow. Veil remained still, legs crossed, his eyes fixed on the ground before him. The sensation of mana he had felt earlier was etched into his mind, yet the task ahead seemed even more daunting.

Alynia approached slowly, her movements fluid and controlled. She knelt before him, her piercing blue gaze settling on him with calculated intensity.

Alynia (calm, instructive): "You've felt mana, and you've begun to visualize it. Now, you need to learn how to guide it."

Veil lifted his head toward her, a spark of determination shining in his eyes despite the visible tension on his face.

Veil (serious): "Guide it? How? It flows, but it's… uncontrollable. It does whatever it wants."

Alynia crossed her arms, a faint smirk appearing on her lips.

Alynia (mocking): "And that's why you're here, human. Mana is a river, not a raging torrent. If you try to force it, you'll be the first to break."

She extended her hand in front of him, her fingers curling slightly as if grasping an invisible object.

Alynia (explaining): "Imagine your body as a network of gates. Each part—your hands, your feet, your torso—has an entry and an exit. To guide mana, you must close the unnecessary gates and leave only the important ones open."

She paused, her gaze still fixed on him, before continuing.

Alynia (more severe): "But be careful. Mana does not obey brute force. If you try to constrain it, it will turn against you. It would be like punching a tree with your bare hands to cut it down—you'll be the one getting hurt, not the tree."

Veil slowly nodded, his brows furrowing as he absorbed her words. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and tried to recapture that flowing sensation within his body. The soft light he had visualized reappeared, pulsing faintly, but his mind wavered.

Veil (internal thought, tense): Closing gates… How am I supposed to do that? It's not like I have levers inside my body!

He tried to "force" the flow toward his right hand, but the sensation vanished instantly, replaced by an unpleasant tension in his arm.

Veil (grimacing, frustrated): "It's not working! It stops the moment I try to direct it."

Alynia shook her head slightly, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Alynia (patient): "I told you to guide it, not to force it. Imagine you're a shepherd, not a warrior. You show the way, but you don't push."

She placed a finger on his shoulder, her tone softening.

Alynia (encouraging): "Let go of the tension. Feel the flow again. Find it, visualize it, and let it move naturally. Then, imagine an open gate in your hand. Not a barrier. Just an opening."

Veil took a deep breath and closed his eyes again. He found the gentle sensation of mana flowing within him, like a quiet river. This time, he focused on his right arm, picturing a soft light slowly descending from his shoulder down to his palm.

At first, nothing happened. But as he loosened his mind slightly, he felt a faint shiver in his right hand—a subtle warmth pulsing beneath his skin.

Veil (internal thought, surprised): It's working… I can feel it…

He opened his eyes and looked at his hand. Nothing was visible, but the sensation was undeniable. The light he had visualized seemed to dance beneath his fingers.

Veil (murmuring): "I did it… I actually did it!"

Alynia watched him, a barely visible smile forming on her lips.

Alynia (calm): "Not bad. But this is just the beginning. Now, try bringing it back to your center, then send it to your other hand."

Veil nodded, his eyes shining with newfound determination. He closed his eyes again, trying to guide the mana in reverse. But this time, the flow seemed hesitant, as if resisting.

He took a breath, but tension quickly rose within him. His mind, trying to control too much, disrupted the fluidity of the process, and the sensation vanished.

Veil (grumbling, frustrated): "No… I had it. Why isn't it working anymore?"

Alynia placed a hand on his shoulder, her tone softer.

Alynia (serious but encouraging): "Because you're forcing it. This isn't a battle, Veil. Relax. Listen to the mana. It won't stop unless you try to trap it."

Her words seemed to calm him. Veil took a deep breath, closing his eyes once more. He found the flow again, this time more stable. Slowly, he guided the imagined light, drawing it back to the center of his body before directing it toward his left hand.

A warm sensation pulsed in his left palm, and a smile emerged on his face.

Veil (internal thought, delighted): I can do this… I can really do this.

Alynia straightened slightly, her tail swaying slowly behind her.

Alynia (calm but satisfied voice): "Good. Now, do it again. Over and over. Until your body does it without thinking."

The day was far from over. But for the first time, Veil felt like he was truly making progress.

The cold, fading daylight began to give way to the growing shadows of the surrounding forest. Inside the cave, the crackling of the campfire accompanied Veil's final efforts. He remained seated cross-legged, arms extended before him, palms open, focused on the internal flow of his mana.

Alynia, leaning against the cave wall, observed him in silence. Her posture was relaxed, her tail swaying slightly behind her. Despite her indifferent demeanor, her eyes followed Veil's every movement with an almost imperceptible attention.

Veil (internal thought, tired but satisfied): It feels more natural now… I can feel it moving from one hand to the other without forcing it.

His palms pulsed gently, a subtle warmth radiating from his hands. He took a deep breath, drawing the flow back to the center of his body before dispersing it through his arms once more. With each repetition, it became a little smoother, a little more instinctive.

Alynia straightened slightly, breaking the silence.

Alynia (steady voice): "Not bad. You're making progress. But don't be fooled. This is just the foundation. If you don't master it perfectly, everything else will collapse like a house of cards."

Veil opened his eyes and lowered his arms, massaging his sore shoulders. Fatigue weighed on his body, but a glimmer of pride shone in his gaze.

Veil (exhaling, exhausted): "It's… harder than I thought, but it's coming. Slowly."

Alynia gave a subtle, almost imperceptible smile before turning her eyes toward the fire.

Alynia (light sarcasm): "For a human, you're doing better than expected. Maybe you're not entirely hopeless after all."

Veil rolled his eyes, but a small smirk appeared on his lips. Despite her dry tone, he could sense a hint of encouragement in her words—a rare compliment from her.

Night fell quickly, plunging the forest into deep darkness. The flames of their fire cast flickering light across the cave, accompanied by the steady breath of the winter wind outside.

Alynia stood and stretched, her fluid movements emphasizing her natural grace. She glanced at Veil, whose eyelids were growing heavy.

Alynia (serious tone): "Rest. You'll need it. That was only the first step. Tomorrow, we move on to advanced control. And trust me, it'll be anything but easy."

She turned away, sitting near the entrance of the cave, her ears perked to catch even the slightest sound from outside.

Veil lay down near the fire, the comforting warmth helping his tired muscles relax. Despite his exhaustion, a weary smile lingered on his lips.

Veil (internal thought, determined): One day down… Three to go. I won't fail.

The fire continued to crackle softly, marking the end of an exhausting day but the beginning of a promising journey. Yet, in the cave's quiet air, the shadow of the trials ahead already loomed—heavy and inevitable.