Three days of steady progress had brought Kael to Level 4, and the changes were becoming harder to hide. His work in the fields was noticeably more efficient, his stamina had improved dramatically, and yesterday he'd helped his father repair a broken fence post that normally would have required Tam's assistance.
[DAILY QUEST: STEADY FOUNDATIONS][Work 0/6 hours, Training 0/1, Study 0/1, Magic practice 0/1]
The magic practice requirement had increased to a full hour after his breakthrough with mana sensitivity. Kael wasn't sure if that was encouraging or ominous—the skill remained frustratingly unstable, flickering in and out of his awareness like a candle in the wind.
"Kael, could you take the cart to Miller's farm?" his mother asked over breakfast. "We need to pick up the seed grain for the winter planting."
It was a two-hour round trip, but it would count toward his work requirement while giving him time away from the family to practice magic without suspicious questions.
"Of course," Kael said, already planning how to use the journey productively.
Miller's farm lay three miles north of Millhaven, through rolling hills covered in late-summer wildflowers. Kael set out just after sunrise, the empty cart bouncing along the rutted dirt road behind their elderly horse, Copper.
The morning was crisp and clear, perfect for travel. More importantly, it was perfect for experimentation. Once he was well away from the village, Kael tried practicing mana circulation while walking beside the cart.
The theory suggested that physical movement could sometimes help stabilize mana flow, particularly for those with circulation difficulties. Kael focused on his breathing, trying to sync it with his steps while reaching for that elusive spark of warmth in his chest.
For the first mile, nothing happened. But as his body settled into the rhythm of walking, something shifted. The warmth appeared again, stronger this time, and for a few precious seconds he could actually feel mana moving through his body like warm honey.
[Mana Sensitivity improved: Beginner → Novice][New ability unlocked: Basic Mana Circulation]
Kael stopped walking, startled by the sudden progression. Basic Mana Circulation was an actual technique, not just awareness. According to his magic theory studies, it was the foundation for all other magical abilities.
He tried to activate the new skill, focusing intently on the circulation pattern the textbook had described. For a moment, energy flowed through his body in a complete circuit—from his core to his limbs and back again. It lasted maybe ten seconds before dissolving into nothing.
But those ten seconds felt like the most important of his life.
[Magic Practice Progress: 23/60 minutes]
Encouraged, Kael continued his journey while practicing the circulation technique. By the time he reached Miller's farm, he could maintain the mana flow for almost thirty seconds at a stretch—still pathetic by normal standards, but miraculous for someone with his family's curse.
Old Miller was in good spirits, eager to discuss the upcoming harvest and the village gossip. Kael loaded the seed grain while half-listening to stories about neighboring farms and speculation about this year's tax assessments.
"Heard young Thomas Whitmore got accepted to that fancy academy," Miller mentioned as they secured the grain sacks. "Proud day for his family, I'm sure."
"I'm sure," Kael agreed, though the words stung less than they once would have. A week ago, news of Thomas's acceptance would have sent him into a spiral of self-pity. Now it just felt like information about someone else's life.
The return journey gave him more time to practice. Kael found that if he maintained a steady walking pace and kept his breathing regular, he could extend his mana circulation to nearly a minute. The improvement was intoxicating—actual, measurable progress in something that had been impossible just days before.
[Magic Practice Complete: 60/60 minutes][Basic Mana Circulation improved: Unstable → Weak]
By the time he reached home, Kael felt energized despite the long walk. His family was working in the vegetable garden, taking advantage of the good weather to harvest the last of the summer squash.
"How was Miller?" his father asked as Kael unhitched Copper from the cart.
"Good. He says the grain quality is excellent this year." Kael began unloading the heavy sacks, noting how much easier the work felt than it would have a week ago. "He also mentioned that Master Gorin should be passing through next week."
Marcus straightened with interest. "That's good timing. We could ask him about the mana leak while he's here."
"Actually," Kael said carefully, "I've been thinking about that. What if I tried to learn the redirection technique myself?"
His father blinked in surprise. "Son, that's earth magic. Intermediate level, at least. You'd need..."
"Mana circulation ability," Kael finished. "I know. But I've been practicing, and I think I'm making some progress."
It wasn't entirely a lie. His mana circulation was weak and unstable, nowhere near sufficient for actual spellcasting, but it was more than he'd ever achieved before.
Elena looked up from her harvesting, hope and concern warring in her expression. "Kael, that's wonderful if it's true, but earth magic can be dangerous if performed incorrectly. Especially for someone with our family's condition."
"I'm not talking about trying it tomorrow," Kael said quickly. "Just... learning the theory. Understanding how it works. Maybe practicing the basic techniques until I'm ready."
Marcus considered this for a long moment. "Learning theory never hurt anyone. And if you really are developing some mana sensitivity..." He trailed off, as if afraid to voice too much hope.
"Could I borrow your earth magic texts?" Kael asked. "The ones from when you were learning?"
His father nodded slowly. "They're in the chest in our bedroom. You're welcome to them, but promise me you won't attempt anything practical without supervision."
"I promise."
That evening, Kael spread his father's old textbooks across his bedroom floor. The earth magic manuals were more advanced than his general theory book, filled with detailed diagrams of mana flow patterns and step-by-step instructions for various techniques.
The mana redirection spell they needed was indeed intermediate level, requiring sustained circulation and precise control to guide magical energy away from sensitive plant roots. For someone with normal magical development, it would take months of practice to master safely.
But Kael had advantages that normal students didn't. The system could accelerate his learning, and his analytical mind helped him break down complex techniques into manageable components.
[Study Progress: 60/60 minutes][Earth Magic Theory: 12% progress][New skill discovered: Magical Analysis]
The Magical Analysis skill felt different from his others—less like a physical ability and more like a way of thinking. When he looked at the spell diagrams now, he could see patterns and connections that had been invisible before.
[DAILY QUEST COMPLETE: STEADY FOUNDATIONS][Total Rewards: 95 XP][LEVEL UP! Level 4 → Level 5]
Another level. Kael allocated his new attribute points with growing confidence: two to Intelligence, two to Wisdom, and one to Luck. His magical development was accelerating, and he wanted to support that growth.