The next day, the morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. Luna stirred, blinking sleepily as she felt the weight of her grimoire still clutched in her arms. As wakefulness took hold, a flood of thoughts rushed into her mind—spells, magic, mana, control… Elise.

  Her eyes snapped open with excitement. In an instant, she bounced up from her bed, her heart racing with anticipation. Without hesitation, she extended her palm and focused her mana on it, eager to test what she had learned the day before.

  A soft, flickering energy responded, swirling warmly in her hand. The blue and white aura danced across her skin, shimmering like a delicate flame, reflecting in her wide, delighted eyes.

  She giggled, mesmerized. I did it!

  Downstairs, the scent of breakfast filled the air as Linda prepared their morning meal. She could already sense Luna’s energy stirring upstairs—brimming with excitement and curiosity.

  "Luna, breakfast is almost ready! Come down and let’s eat!" she called.

  Still entranced by the glow dancing in her palm, Luna swayed her hand back and forth, watching the aura shift with her movements.

  "I'm coming!" she called back before finally letting the energy dissipate and hurrying downstairs.

  As they ate, Luna excitedly chattered about her new friend, Elise, though she kept their secret training to herself. Linda, however, already knew. Her gift allowed her to see far more than Luna realized.

  "I spoke to your friend Elise yesterday," Linda said casually, sipping her tea. "She mentioned wanting to meet you today."

  Luna nearly choked on her food. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Really?! Is that okay, Mother?"

  Linda smiled warmly. "Of course, dear."

  They continued their meal as they chatted. The moment breakfast was over, Luna dashed back to her room, her excitement impossible to contain. She quickly took a bath and changed into fresh clothes, then grabbed the book Elise had lent her and settled onto her bed. As she read, she absently practiced her mana control—her right hand swaying in the air, manipulating the energy while her left turned the pages. The glowing strands of light danced between her fingers, moving with fluid grace.

  A sudden knock at the door jolted her from her focus.

  She nearly leaped from her seat and rushed downstairs, flinging the door open. Standing outside was Elise, her long black hair gleaming under the morning sun.

  "Good morning, Luna," Elise greeted with a warm smile.

  "Hello, Elise!" Luna beamed.

  Elise leaned forward slightly, her expression filled with quiet confidence. "Are you ready to continue our training?"

  Luna nodded eagerly.

  The two set off, with Luna practicing her mana control as they walked. She concentrated on keeping the energy steady even while moving—adjusting as she stepped, learning to maintain her focus amid shifting motion. Elise walked beside her, offering gentle guidance along the way, correcting her form, and encouraging her to refine her control.

  By the time they arrived at Elise’s home, Luna was already buzzing with anticipation. They took a brief rest before Elise introduced their next lesson: elemental magic.

  "Today, I'll teach you a basic fire spell—Ignite," Elise explained. "It’s simple, but useful."

  Elise lifted her hand, a quiet confidence in her voice. "Magic is like breathing—steady and controlled. Now, focus your mana into your palm. Feel the energy gather, keeping it steady until you feel the warmth begin to build, like an ember waiting to ignite."

  A soft glow flickered to life in her hand as she spoke. "Once you sense the heat building, give it a spark—release a sharp pulse of energy to collide with it, just enough to awaken the flame."

  The fire in her palm flared to life, dancing gently as she held it. "But remember," she continued, "if you want to keep it burning, you can’t just unleash power wildly. You must guide it—feed it with a steady flow of mana, like tending to a delicate flame in the wind."

  She closed her fingers, snuffing out the fire as effortlessly as she had summoned it. With a warm smile, she turned to Luna. "Now, your turn. Give it a try, Luna."

  Luna inhaled deeply, her pulse quickening with excitement. She closed her eyes, reaching within herself, feeling the warmth of her mana stir like embers waiting to ignite. Carefully, she shaped the energy, molding it with her will, just as Elise had instructed.

  At first, nothing happened. A fizzle. A fleeting flicker that vanished before it could take form. But Luna refused to give up. She furrowed her brows, steadied her breath, and tried again—this time, pouring her determination into the spell.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  A tiny spark danced to life in her palm.

  Luna gasped, her eyes widening as the ember pulsed and grew, unfurling into a small yet steady flame. Its golden light shimmered against her skin, casting flickering shadows in her awestruck gaze.

  "I did it!" she squealed, nearly bouncing in place. She turned to Elise, beaming. "Look! I can control fire now!"

  Elise smiled, proud of how quickly Luna was learning. “You’re doing great, Luna. But be careful—don’t let excitement cloud your focus. Fire is as dangerous as it is beautiful. Keeping the flame alive for too long will continuously drain your mana before you realize it."

  Luna stared at the flame dancing in her palm, its warm glow reflecting in her eyes. "I’ll keep that in mind," she promised, still mesmerized by her newfound ability. She closed her fingers. The flame flickered once before vanishing into wisps of heat.

  Elise nodded approvingly. “Good. Now, let’s move on to the next spell,” she continued, "This… is the water element.”

  With graceful precision, Elise raised her hand. Water gathered in the air, swirling effortlessly before settling into a shimmering sphere above her palm. "You’ve seen me do this before, but watch closely," she said, breaking down the technique step by step.

  Luna followed carefully, mirroring Elise’s movements. A cool sensation rushed to her fingertips as she concentrated. Then, as if answering her call, water coalesced in the air, forming a delicate orb that hovered just above her hand.

  She stared in awe, hovering her hand gently, making the ball of water above her palm gracefully dance in the air.

  Elise nodded in approval, looking at Luna’s rapid growth.

  One by one, she guided her through the elements—fire, water, ice, air, earth, and lightning. Each spell had its own rhythm, its own challenge, but Luna grasped them all with astonishing speed. Magic felt right in her hands, like an extension of herself rather than a foreign force, her natural talent shining through with every spell she cast.

  Her journey into magic had only just begun, but already, her potential was undeniable.

  Despite everything she had learned, a lingering question remained in her mind.

  "Elise… this is amazing, but… how do I use these spells to fight those monsters? What if I need to defend myself?"

  Elise’s lips curled into a smile. "Good question. Knowing how to cast is one thing. Knowing how to wield magic in battle is another."

  She gestured toward a wooden fence post ahead of them. "Let’s start with fire. I want you to try it for yourself."

  Luna nodded, igniting a flame in her palm. Elise observed for a moment before guiding her.

  "Now, extend your hand forward and focus on that post. Steady your mana flow, control your breath. Concentrate your energy into your palm. Relax and steady your aim. Then, when you’re ready—release the energy in a single, controlled burst. That’s how you form a Fireball."

  Luna followed her words carefully, channeling her mana.

  A massive ball of fire burst from her hand, blasting forward with force. It slammed into the post with a boom, flames roaring to life—not just on the wood, but on the grass around it.

  Luna’s mouth fell open. “Oops…”

  Elise chuckled, waving a hand to summon a Waterball that swiftly doused the fire. "Not bad for a first try. But you held your breath when you released the spell—that makes magic unstable. You need to stay relaxed, focus, and maintain a steady rhythm in your breathing, or your spells will be wild and unpredictable."

  Luna exhaled, resetting herself. This time, she stayed calm, controlling both her mana and her breath. When she cast again, the Fireball was precise, hitting only the post with focused intensity.

  "Yes! I did it!" she cheered, practically glowing with pride.

  Elise nodded. "Much better. Keep practicing, and your control will become second nature."

  Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a slender wooden wand, its polished surface gleaming in the light. "Here, take this. It’s my gift to you—for doing so well today."

  Luna’s eyes sparkled as she accepted it. "A wand? For me?"

  Elise smiled. "Yes. A wand acts as a medium, focusing and refining your magic. Do you remember?“

  "Now, for your final lesson of the day. Use the wand, channel your energy through it, and cast a Firebolt spell at the next post. It’s faster, more precise than Fireball."

  Luna gripped the wand, feeling a new kind of energy hum beneath her fingers. She steadied herself, pointed it at another post. She took a deep breath, and followed the same steps as before, this time letting the wand focus and refine her mana.

  "Firebolt!"

  A concentrated burst of fire shot from the wand’s tip, striking the post with great impact, piercing through it before engulfing it in flames.

  Luna’s jaw dropped.

  Elise nodded approvingly. "See? By using a medium like a wand, you can cast spells with much greater precision, making them stronger and more efficient."

  Luna stared at the smoldering remains of the post, completely amazed. "I… I can do this now?“ she paused, then said, “This is incredible!”

  Overcome with joy, Luna flung herself forward, wrapping Elise in a sudden hug. "Thank you, Elise! Thank you for teaching me magic!"

  Elise stiffened, caught off guard. For a moment, she hesitated. Then, slowly, she returned the embrace, warmth flooding her chest in a way she hadn’t felt in years.

  Tears welled up her eyes. "You’re welcome, my daugh—" she faltered, catching herself.

  "You’re welcome, Luna."

  Pulling away, she cleared her throat, smirking. "Your spells are strong… now I need to rebuild my fence."

  Luna giggled, and soon both of them burst into laughter.

  With a graceful wave of her hand, Elise cast another Water spell, dousing the remaining flames. Then, kneeling slightly she pressed her palm to the scorched ground, releasing a gentle flow of mana, encouraging the grass to regrow, restoring the training ground to its former state.

  Luna’s eyes widened with amazement. “Wow, Elise! You can do that?”

  Elise smiled warmly. “Yes, Luna. By channeling our energy into the earth, we can encourage life to grow. Remember what I told you? All living beings carry mana within them. We have the power to give… or take away.” She paused, her expression turning serious.

  "But I want you to remember this well, Luna. We do not take life to destroy another. We only use what is within us—our own mana, the energy that flows through our bodies. Those born with such special gifts must bear this responsibility."

  Her voice grew heavy. "Unlike him… he who wields his power only for destruction, draining the life of others to fuel his darkness."

  Luna hesitated, sensing the weight in Elise’s words. “Who… who is he?”

  Elise’s gaze darkened. “The Dark Lord, Raziel. The Supreme Ancient of the Past.”

  And so, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Elise told her everything, about the Dark Lord, his hunger for destruction, and the threat he and his minions still posed. She urged Luna to be cautious, to train diligently, and to master her spells so she could defend herself when the time came.

  Luna listened, a fire of a different kind sparking in her heart.

  The world was far bigger—and far more dangerous—than she had ever imagined.

  And her journey was only beginning.