The first light of dawn had barely touched the academy towers when Trafalgar's eyes opened. He rarely woke this early, but after a full night of rest — his first in weeks — his body felt light, sharp, almost humming with mana.
He stretched lazily, the cool air brushing against his skin. Of course, he was completely naked.
'If Mayla saw this, she'd probably call me insane,' he thought, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. 'But… she'd understand, right? It's not weird if it's part of the morning routine.'
The room was quiet except for the faint hum of magic in the air. Trafalgar sat cross-legged in the middle of the polished floor, closing his eyes as threads of mana began to gather around him. The energy felt thicker than before — denser, more eager to obey.
He inhaled slowly, letting it flow into his core. The sensation was different now. Since advancing to Pulse Core, the world itself seemed to respond to his breathing. The mana didn't resist him anymore; it belonged to him.
