Chapter 2: The First Steps and the Whisper of Green
The departure from Oakhaven was swift and emotionally muted. Liam's family—a tired mother, a grim-faced father, and two younger siblings—knew that selection by the Sylvan Citadel was less a chance for him and more a chance for the entire village. They offered solemn farewells, not tears. Wizard Candidates were exempt from the harsh taxes and levies of the petty local lord; Elian's family was now under the Citadel's shadow of protection.
Master Thorne and Apprentice Sylva set a punishing pace. They didn't travel by carriage but walked with an unnerving, effortless speed, covering ground that would take a normal traveler three days in a single afternoon. Liam, despite his peasant upbringing, struggled to keep up, his small cloth bag containing his meager belongings bouncing against his hip.
The road was a rutted dirt track that cut through ancient, sprawling forests. It was here, surrounded by immense oaks and towering pines, that Liam decided it was time to put his new assets to work.
He needed to practice Mana Sense. It was a passive skill, meaning it was always on, but its level was abysmal, and the experience bar was waiting to be filled.
Mana Sense (Passive): Lv 1 (0/100) - The basic perception of ambient magical energy.
He tried to replicate the sensation from the crystal test—that heavy, sinking feeling of green liquid. As he walked, he mentally pushed the System to "activate" the sense.
At first, nothing. The world remained the same dull browns and muted greens. But then, as he focused his Mental Power (and watched his MP budget carefully), a faint, shimmering quality overlaid the landscape. It wasn't visible light; it was a feeling, like the air had substance.
The greenest things—the moss on the bark, the deep roots exposed by the road, the thick canopy above—all pulsed with this faint, ethereal emerald glow. It was subtle, like the scent of rain before it falls.
This is Mana. This is the energy I control.
He walked for an hour, forcing himself to maintain that perception. The mental strain was real, a light pressure behind his eyes. He occasionally glanced at the system window to monitor his progress.
Mana Sense (Passive): Lv 1 (18/100)
Mental Power: 4.7 / 5.1 (Recovery Rate: 0.1 MP/min)
The recovery rate was slow, confirming his fears that casting magic would be taxing. He didn't dare drop his MP too low, not with two actual Wizards watching him.
Apprentice Sylva glanced back, her sharp eyes studying him. "Candidate Liam. Are you unwell? You look overly focused on the dirt."
Liam immediately pulled his gaze from the glowing roots and straightened his posture. "No, Apprentice Sylva. I—I was simply admiring the size of the roots here. They speak of a great age."
Sylva's mouth twitched, not quite a smile, but an acknowledgment. "They are old. The Old Woods hold deep magic. Remember, Liam, the woods are not just fuel or timber. They are power, dormant and waiting."
Liam nodded fervently, absorbing her words, which neatly aligned with his Nature Affinity. She thinks I'm merely observant. Good.
He decided to attempt the active skill: Basic Plant Control. He needed to be discreet.
They stopped briefly to refill their waterskins at a small, clear stream. While Sylva and Thorne were conversing quietly about Citadel politics, Liam knelt by a stubborn cluster of three-leaf weeds growing between two rocks.
He focused his Mana Sense—the green glow was intense here, near the water. He selected one small weed.
Grow. Just a little. Lean towards the sunlight.
He concentrated, imagining the green liquid Mana flowing from his core, down his arm, and into the weed's stem. He didn't want it to shoot up violently—that would be noticeable. He wanted a subtle, imperceptible shift.
Basic Plant Control (Active): Lv 0 (0/100) -> (1/100)
Mental Power: 4.7 / 5.1 -> 4.5 / 5.1 (Cast: Basic Plant Control)
It was a small drain, but the result was exhilarating. The tiny weed, which had been leaning slightly toward the rock for shelter, seemed to stiffen, its stem straightening just a hair, reaching for the dim patch of sun above.
It was negligible to the naked eye, but Liam knew he had done it. He had cast his first spell.
He tried again, and again, rapidly draining his mental energy but racking up experience points. He chose the most minute targets: a patch of moss, the direction of a small vine, the speed of a flower opening.
Just as his head began to throb slightly, and his MP bottomed out, he heard a satisfying series of chimes in his mind.
Mana Sense (Passive): Lv 1 (99/100) -> Level Up!
Mana Sense (Passive): Lv 2 (0/200) - You can now perceive Mana with slightly less mental effort.
Mental Power: 4.2 / 5.1 (Maximum MP increased by +0.1)
A flood of relief and quiet triumph washed over him. The maximum MP increase was tiny, but it proved the system directly boosted his arcane capacity. He had leveled up a skill on his very first day.
Master Thorne clapped his hands, startling Liam. "Come now, Candidate. We have wasted enough time by this babbling brook. The Citadel is still two days' fast travel away, and you must arrive fresh."
Liam quickly stood, placing his waterskin back on his belt. The throbbing pain in his head receded almost instantly as he stopped drawing on his reserves. He noticed that the shimmering green of the woods was now easier to perceive, even without straining.
He fell back into line, moving with the Wizards, his weariness replaced by a fierce, quiet satisfaction. He was entering a world of magic, and unlike everyone else, he had a concrete method to measure and guarantee his progress.
Level Two. Let's see what Basic Plant Control feels like when it levels up.
His path of ascension had truly begun.