Chapter 05

As I stood in the garden with Bairon, my thoughts turned to the impact that the character Lucas Wykes had in the novel I had read. In the pages of that story, Lucas Wykes had been nothing more than a villain—a cruel and despicable figure who met a brutal end at the hands of the protagonist, Arthur Leywin.

It was a fate that seemed fitting for a character defined by arrogance, cruelty, and selfishness. Lucas Wykes had been a source of conflict and tension, a foil to the noble ideals of the story's hero. His demise had been a cathartic moment, a reckoning for his actions and a turning point in the narrative.

But as I reflected on the role of Lucas Wykes in the novel, I couldn't help but see the hand of the author at work. The character's death had not been a mere plot device; it had served a larger purpose. It had been the catalyst for introducing Bairon Wykes, the character who now stood beside me in the garden.

It was a reminder that in the world of storytelling, every character, no matter how insignificant they may seem, serves a purpose. Lucas Wykes had played his part, not as a hero, but as a stepping stone in the narrative—a means to an end in the author's grand design.

As I continued to stand in the garden with Bairon, the resolve to take control of my destiny grew stronger. I couldn't allow myself to be a mere pawn in the games of fate or the author's narrative. This was real life, not a story, and I had the power to shape my own path.

I steeled my mind, focusing on the reality of the world around me. The impending war between continents, a looming threat that the novel had hinted at, was no longer a distant concept. It was a stark and imminent reality, and I needed to be strong enough to survive it.

With determination burning in my eyes, I turned to leave the garden, ready to start working on my newfound resolve.

Lucas's steps echoed through the halls of the Wykes mansion as he left the garden, his heart resolute and his mind filled with determination. The encounter with Bairon had stirred something within him—a fierce desire to become stronger, to break free from the shackles of fate, and to write his own destiny.

The garden's tranquility faded behind him as he ventured deeper into the heart of the mansion. His thoughts were a tumultuous sea of resolve and uncertainty, but amidst the storm, there was a spark of defiance. He refused to be a character confined to the pages of a novel, a mere puppet manipulated by an unseen hand.

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In the quiet confines of his room, Lucas sat in the lotus position, his mind filled with the knowledge he had gained from the novel. The image of Arthur Leywin, gathering mana within his solar plexus through intense meditation, echoed in his thoughts. With a resolute determination, Lucas decided to follow in Arthur's footsteps and attempt to gather mana to form his own mana core.

Closing his eyes, Lucas cleared his mind, focusing solely on the task at hand. He brought his attention to his solar plexus, the area just below his ribcage, where mana was said to be concentrated. Mimicking Arthur's technique, he began to meditate, channeling his energy and concentration into this focal point.

Minutes turned into half an hour as Lucas delved deep into his meditation. He searched for the flickers of lights, the signs that mana was responding to his will. Yet, despite his efforts, he saw no progress. Doubt crept in, whispering that perhaps he should surrender to the natural course of awakening his mana core. But the thought of being defenseless in this world, of relying solely on fate, shook him to the core.

Lucas shook his head, banishing the doubt from his mind. With newfound determination, he refocused his efforts. Every fiber of his being was dedicated to this task.

The room around him seemed to fade away as Lucas entered a state of deep concentration. His breaths became steady, his mind calm yet fiercely focused. The flickers of lights remained elusive, but Lucas refused to yield. He visualized the mana within him, shaping it with his willpower.

Time seemed to stretch, the world outside his consciousness insignificant compared to the battle within. Lucas was locked in a struggle against his own limitations, against the doubts that threatened to overwhelm him.

And then, in a moment that felt both fleeting and eternal, Lucas felt a subtle shift. It was a small, almost imperceptible sensation—a tingling at his solar plexus, a resonance that echoed through his being. The flickers of lights he had sought appeared, albeit faintly, like distant stars in the night sky.

A surge of exhilaration and triumph coursed through Lucas. He had done it. He had made contact with the mana, a crucial step towards forming his own mana core. The realization that he could indeed shape his own destiny filled him with a newfound sense of purpose.

As Lucas continued to meditate and focus his efforts on gathering the flickers of mana near his solar plexus, the task proved to be more challenging than he had initially anticipated. Hours passed, and despite his unwavering determination, he found himself able to collect only two or three of the elusive flickers of light.

Exhaustion began to take hold, and the strain of the effort weighed on him. He had glimpsed the potential, touched the edges of his power, but the road ahead was long and arduous. The formation of a mana core was not an endeavor to be taken lightly.

With a heavy sigh, Lucas gave in to his weariness. He retreated to his bed, lying down with a sense of resignation. It was clear that this journey would require time, patience, and unwavering dedication.

"Oh, this will be a long journey," he muttered to himself, acknowledging the challenges that lay ahead. The flickers of mana he had collected were a promising start, but the path to a fully formed mana core was a winding one, and Lucas was prepared to tread it, no matter how arduous the journey might be.

As he closed his eyes and allowed sleep to claim him, he knew that this was just the beginning, a first step on the path to unlocking his true potential. In the days and nights to come, he would continue his efforts, inching closer to the strength he sought to protect himself in the intricate and perilous world he now inhabited.

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