Chapter 14 : Day 2. The Impatient Student

The dawn light streams through the cave entrance. Soft rays of light cut through the morning mist, illuminating the cold stone walls. The campfire has almost died, with only a few red embers stubbornly glowing.

Veil sits cross-legged, eyes closed, his back straight. His breathing is slow and steady, and unlike the previous day, his face no longer shows tension. He is calm.

Alynia watches in silence, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Her sharp blue eyes follow every subtle movement of Veil. Her expression remains neutral, though her ears perk slightly as she notices his measured breathing.

Veil (internal thought): Feel the thread. Don’t force it. Light… fragile...

He recalls Alynia’s instructions. This time, the tingling sensation comes more quickly—a faint tickling climbing up his spine, and he senses it faster than yesterday.

Veil (internal thought): I can feel it. I’ve got it.

He remains still, his body relaxed and his mind focused on this subtle sensation. No clenching, no tension. His breath flows soft, almost imperceptible.

Alynia (internal thought): Not bad, Cub… It’s only the second day, but he’s making progress.

She closes her eyes briefly, a faint smirk appearing at the corner of her lips, only to disappear immediately.

Mid-morning

Veil crouches before the shallow puddle of water, one hand hovering above its surface. This time, his eyes are open, focused on the ripples.

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Alynia (firmly): "You’ve found the thread. Now you need to connect it. Not by force. You don’t command it. You guide it."

Veil stares at the still water, his gaze intense, more determined than yesterday.

Veil (internal thought): Connect the thread. The resonance. Don’t force it...

He inhales softly and raises his hand. His fingers tremble slightly but steady themselves. His focus sharpens, his jaw tightens. The water ripples begin to form, more pronounced than the previous day.

The ripples grow stronger. Veil’s brows furrow, and his breath quickens.

Veil (murmuring): "Move... move!"

The water quivers but doesn’t lift. It vibrates violently but remains anchored to the ground.

Alynia (sternly): "Stop!"

Veil flinches, his concentration broken. He drops his hands to the ground, panting. Frustration clouds his face.

Alynia (coldly): "I told you not to force it. The water isn’t your slave. It’s like pulling a nonexistent rope. You don’t pull it—you glide it. Gently."

The silence is broken only by distant forest sounds. A faint, cool breeze drifts in.

Veil (gritting his teeth): "I get it, but… it was moving! Why didn’t it work?"

Alynia approaches and crouches next to him. Her face remains calm, her gaze piercing.

Alynia (intense gaze): "Because you tried to impose your will on it. That’s not how this works. If you want the water to follow you, you have to dance with it, not push it. Understood?"

Silence. Veil meets her gaze, processing her words. He takes a deep breath, calming himself once more.

Veil (quietly): "I’ll try again."

Late afternoon

Veil sits with his hand stretched above the water. The daylight dims gradually, painting the cave in hues of orange. His eyes are half-closed, his breathing steady and smooth.

The ripples reappear, but this time, they’re not erratic. They flow in a slow, harmonious rhythm.

Veil (internal thought): Slowly… gently… follow it, don’t push it.

The ripples converge at the center of the puddle. Gradually, a single droplet of water lifts off the surface. Just one drop. It trembles, fragile, almost imperceptible. It rises slowly, floating above Veil’s palm.

Veil (internal thought, awestruck): I did it… It’s rising… It’s rising!

He opens his eyes, astonished. His gaze locks onto the droplet as it hovers. His hand moves slightly upward, following it.

The droplet wavers, trembles, and then falls. It splashes back into the puddle, but there’s no frustration on Veil’s face. A small, subtle smile forms instead.

Alynia (calmly): "Not bad, Cub. You’ve stopped being a spoiled child and started to understand."

Silence. Veil doesn’t reply. He continues to stare at the water, his faint smile unwavering.

Veil (internal thought): Tomorrow… I’ll lift it higher.