“Relax… you’re too tense,” Ashtoria whispered. “Take a deep breath. Let the flow move.”

Riven obeyed. He inhaled deeply, then released it slowly. Bit by bit, he felt his body loosen. And that burning energy… began to move more freely. It spread into his chest, traced down his arms, seeped into his fingertips. It crawled down to his stomach, through his legs. Every part of his body was threaded with that current.

Cold sweat dampened his temples, but he stayed still. He tried to memorize the sensation, knowing how important this was.

“Remember this feeling,” Ashtoria said. “Its movement, its shape, its pressure… even its warmth.”

The energy continued to flow. And now, it wasn’t just from Ashtoria’s touch. Riven felt something else, something from within himself. As if his body, which at first only received, was now opening, responding, even returning the flow.

The mana that had once felt rough and heavy began to change. Its movement grew smoother, softer, more harmonious. Riven sensed it clearly.

“Hold it,” Ashtoria said, calm yet firm.

Riven clenched his fists. He struggled to stay conscious of that sensation, to engrave it into himself, to become one with it. Until, at last, as he fully sank into the process, something happened.

The current entering from his back suddenly shifted. He wasn’t just receiving mana from outside anymore. Something awakened from within him. It was as if his body had discovered its own rhythm.

For the first time, he could feel it—his pores, tiny and countless, drawing in the mana around him ever so faintly. Like threads of mist seeping through unseen cracks, the energy slipped into his flesh, merging with the slow pulse of his veins. It was weak, unsteady, almost fragile… yet undeniably real.

Riven jolted. His body shuddered violently. His eyes flew open, his breath ragged. It felt like breaking the surface after drowning too long underwater.

Beside him, Melly experienced the same thing. Her body trembled, sweat soaking through her thin clothes, her breathing unsteady.

Ashtoria regarded them with calm eyes. “Not bad… for a first attempt.”

She studied their trembling bodies, their sweat-drenched faces. She waited until their heartbeats slowed a little before speaking again, her voice steady yet commanding.

“Calm your bodies and minds. We’ll repeat it.”

Riven swallowed hard. His body felt both light and fragile. Beside him, Melly closed her eyes again, adjusting her breathing as instructed.

Riven shut his eyes, inhaled deeply, trying to summon that heat once more. Slowly, his body relaxed, as though his spirit was merging with the flow of the world around him.

Ashtoria leaned closer. Her hand touched their backs again, this time softer. She gave only a small push—a trigger.

“Let your bodies remember the path,” she whispered. “And this time, let yourselves guide it.”

Riven felt a faint ember flicker in his chest. His body recognized the flow. Though weaker than before, it was softer, more natural, more his own.

He let the energy travel through his veins, circling his heart, rising toward his throat. As it neared his head, the urge to open his eyes surfaced, but he resisted.

Beside him, Melly let out a faint groan, though her breathing remained steady.

Ashtoria gave a subtle nod. She knew the human body carried invisible memory. Once the mana paths opened, the body would recall them naturally.

“Good… now guide it back to your navel. Place it there, keep it,” Ashtoria instructed.

But as Riven tried, he lost control. The current surged wildly, jolting him. He glanced at his sister, who seemed even more overwhelmed than him.

Ashtoria said nothing. She simply repeated the process.

Riven and Melly tried again. Eyes closed, breathing steady, sinking deeper. Soon, the turbulence came once more, a familiar heat rippling inside.

Their bodies shook. Riven furrowed his brow, enduring the force that pounded against his untrained channels. Melly bit her lip, her shoulders tensing. Then, almost at the same time, they jolted. Their bodies arched slightly forward, their breath caught.

Ashtoria remained calm. “Again,” she said.

And they repeated it.

Sit. Breathe. Absorb. Jolt. Gasp. Repeat.

Riven and Melly didn’t realize how fortunate they were—being trained directly by Ashtoria, one of the strongest in this world. She used her own mana to open their channels.

A daunting task, because her mana was not the same as the natural flow within the siblings or in the surrounding world. Even the slightest mistake could leave Riven and Melly with internal injuries.

Normally, noble children trained by absorbing mana with the aid of special potions. Rare liquids distilled by master alchemists, refined from pure mana, worth three gold coins a vial. They would drink it again and again until their bodies adapted. With such costs, commoners like Riven and Melly could never afford it.

Their only path was Ashtoria’s guidance.

Time slipped by unnoticed. Who knew how many times they had repeated the cycle?

But slowly, changes began to appear.

Riven was adapting. His body adjusted. His breathing steadied, his mind no longer shocked when mana entered. He could guide the current toward his core more smoothly, restraining the turbulence from breaking his balance. Sweat still trickled, but his gaze was calmer when he opened his eyes between sessions.

Melly, on the other hand, still struggled. Her breathing faltered, her body resisted each time mana entered. She clenched her teeth, forcing herself through, but the current pressed on her more like a weight than a natural flow. At one point, she nearly collapsed.

Ashtoria caught her at once. “Calm down. Don’t force it,” she said softly, though her eyes stayed sharp. “Your body isn’t fully open yet. But you’re already better than before.”

Melly gave a faint nod, holding back her disappointment. Her fists tightened on her knees. She didn’t want to fall behind, especially not to her brother.

Riven glanced at his sister, then let out a quiet sigh.

They repeated the process again.

Ashtoria, sitting behind them, observed intently. Her fingers, once pressed to Riven’s back, slowly lifted. She could feel the change in his mana rhythm—what was once restless and wild was now flowing steady, controlled.

She raised her hand fully, breaking contact.

‘He can already do it on his own,’ Ashtoria thought, mildly surprised. Her face remained calm, but her heart whispered in disbelief:

“Only two hours… and he’s come this far. Impressive.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep