Whispers of Destiny: The Aria’s Legacy.

Left alone, Godrian slowly made his way to the training hall located in the northern part of the castle. This hall was equipped with everything necessary for training warriors: archery targets, combat dummies, and various magical artifacts for spell practice. The hall was quiet, with the remaining trainers and servants awaiting his orders.

Upon arriving at the training hall, Godrian found that Lawrence and Lucy were already there. They stood together, awaiting him with some excitement, understanding the seriousness of the upcoming training. Their young faces were full of determination, ready to embrace the challenge.

- "Lawrence, Lucy, today we begin your specialized training. Given the situation, each of you must be ready for any challenges," Godrian began, his gaze encompassing both students. "We will focus on enhancing your magical abilities and physical preparation. You'll learn to use magic not only for defense but also to control the situation on the battlefield."

Lucy and Lawrence exchanged looks, feeling the weight of Godrian's words. They nodded, ready to follow his instructions.

After ensuring that Lawrence and Lucy were sufficiently focused, Godrian began the training. Particular attention was given to Lawrence and his unique Mark of Aria, a mysterious magical essence that could unlock new possibilities.

- "Lawrence, today we focus on your mark. We need to understand and unlock its power," Godrian began, standing before the young man in the center of the training hall. The hall was spacious, with high ceilings, allowing magical energy to circulate freely without constraints.

Godrian held an ancient scroll, which he unrolled before Lawrence. The scroll depicted various ancient symbols and spells associated with magical marks.

- "First, we need to understand how to activate the mark. Focus on it, feel its energy within you," instructed Godrian, closely observing Lawrence's reaction.

Lawrence closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to tune into the inner sensation of the mark. Godrian continued:

- "Now, slowly but confidently, imagine the mark beginning to glow inside you, spreading its energy throughout your body."

After a few moments of concentrated silence, Lawrence felt nothing. Recalling how the mark had made itself known, Lawrence suggested:

- "Master Godrian, as far as I remember, the Mark of Aria activated when I was in danger," said Lawrence.

- "We need to recreate a dangerous situation if you want to see the Mark in action!" he added.

- "Lawrence!" Lucy exclaimed anxiously.

- "Do you realize what you're saying? What if the Mark doesn't activate? You could get seriously hurt or die!" Lucy continued, her voice filled with concern.

- "Lucy, I truly appreciate your concern! Honestly! Please, don't worry, I will handle it!" Lawrence assured her firmly.

Watching the tender exchange between Lawrence and Lucy, Godrian said:

- "Very well, Lawrence. If you think all the preliminaries are useless, then let's get straight to the point!"

Understanding Lawrence's determination and the importance of his suggestion, Godrian approached the situation with caution and professionalism. He knew that activating the mark in a controlled environment could provide valuable insights that might be key in combating hostile forces.

- "Lucy, stay here with us. Your role will be critically important if something goes awry," said Godrian before addressing Lawrence. "Lawrence, I will create an illusion of threat using magic. It will be safe, but your perception of the threat must be sufficient to activate the mark."

Godrian waved his hand, and illusory figures of enemies appeared in the hall, their swords gleaming and seeming real. The air filled with the sounds of battle, creating the impression of a real threat.

- "Focus, Lawrence. Feel yourself on the edge of danger," Godrian spoke softly yet imposingly. He waved his hand, and magical energy gathered in the air, creating around Lawrence a series of illusory figures—shadows that rushed at him with screams and swords sparkling with eerie blue light.

Lawrence took a deep breath, trying to separate reality from illusion. He closed his eyes to better concentrate on his internal sensations. When he opened them, his gaze was full of determination. His breathing quickened, and his heart thumped in anticipation of the strike. At that moment, fear mixed with a desperate need for protection triggered the Mana Particles' reaction. A dim green light appeared on his chest, spreading in a whirl around his body gradually becoming brighter, forming a protective aura. Lawrence's hair lightened to snow-white, and his eyes shifted from green to a bright golden hue, reflecting the power and ancient energy of the Mark of Aria.

- "There it is!" exclaimed Lawrence, feeling the power of the mark filling him.

As soon as the illusory enemies struck the shield, they dispersed like smoke, absorbed by the light of the mark. Lawrence stood, surrounded by a glowing green barrier, feeling the power of the mark coursing through him, energizing every cell of his body.

- "Excellent, Lawrence! This is exactly what we needed to see," Godrian said approvingly, approaching closer. "Now that we know how the mark reacts to threat, the next step is to learn to trigger this response on command, without the need for illusions."

- "Now that we have an understanding, we can start training to control the mark so you can use it anytime it's needed," concluded Godrian, preparing for further work to deepen Lawrence and Lucy's skills.

Under the new and startling changes that manifested in Lawrence, the training hall was briefly silent. The changes in his appearance and the power of the mark made a profound impression on everyone present.

Godrian took these changes as an important signal and an opportunity for further exploration of the mark. He cautiously approached Lawrence, examining his eyes and hair, as well as the shield that had formed around him.

- "Lawrence, are you feeling alright? What sensations are you experiencing?" asked Godrian, checking the young man's condition after the mark's activation.

Lawrence slowly lowered his hands, the shield disappeared, and he felt his inner strength rush back into the mark. He sighed, trying to gather his thoughts.

Lucy approached closer, taking Lawrence's hand, trying to support him. Her eyes were full of admiration and a bit of worry.

- "Lawrence, that was incredible. You look... different," she said, gently touching his white hair.

- "Master Godrian, Lucy, I feel full of energy..." Lawrence felt a rare weakness throughout his body, and his vision suddenly darkened.

The power of the Mark was overwhelming, and Lawrence began to feel his energy draining. The Mark, while providing protection and power, also demanded an energy toll for such might. His knees weakened, and he staggered, trying to maintain his balance.

- "Lawrence!" Lucy cried out, rushing to him.

As soon as Lawrence lost consciousness from the sudden energy overload, Godrian quickly supported him to prevent a fall. He carefully laid Lawrence on soft cushions laid out in a corner of the training hall—a place where magic touched every stone and every object.

- "Lucy, bring the restoration potion and call Mom if he doesn't come to in the next few minutes," instructed Godrian, while carefully examining Lawrence to assess his condition.

Lucy nodded and quickly headed to a small cabinet where ingredients and potions prepared according to ancient recipes were stored. She returned with a flask containing a red liquid and handed it to Godrian.

- "Slowly, try to drink this," Godrian brought the flask to Lawrence's lips, helping him drink. "This potion should help you regain your strength and reduce the shock from the mark's activation."

Gradually, Lawrence began to come to, his breathing stabilized, and his complexion returned to normal. He slowly opened his eyes, meeting the concerned faces of Godrian and Lucy.

- "What happened?" he asked, trying to sit up.

- "You lost consciousness after the mark activated. It was intense, and I think your body just wasn't ready for such a surge of energy," explained Godrian, supporting him. "But you showed amazing strength, and that's a good sign. We just need to work more on controlling and gradually using your magic."

Lawrence nodded, understanding the importance of gradual training and adaptation.

- "I'm ready to continue as soon as I feel better," he said, taking Lucy's hand in his.

Godrian smiled, seeing the determination in Lawrence's eyes, and replied:

- "We'll take a break until you recover. And when you're ready, we'll start again, this time more cautiously. We need to make sure you fully control your abilities before testing them to the limit."

Lawrence and Lucy settled in a secluded corner of the training hall, on a bench near a window through which daylight streamed. Lucy took Lawrence's hands in hers, her gaze filled with concern.

- "Lawrence, what was that? I've never seen your hair and eyes change color... It didn't happen in the forest," her voice trembled with nervousness, and she sought answers in his eyes.

Lawrence sighed deeply, once again going over the events of the last few minutes in his mind. His face expressed surprise and confusion.

- "Lucy, I'm just as shocked. It was completely unexpected. When I felt the threat, the mark... it seemed to come alive. And everything around me changed," Lawrence rubbed his eyes as if trying to shake off the remnants of magical dust.

- "How do you feel now? Does it hurt?" Lucy moved closer, examining his face for any signs of pain or discomfort.

- "No, it doesn't hurt anymore. Just... I feel tired as if I've run a long distance without stopping. And that energy... it was huge. Much more powerful than when the Mark of Aria awakened in the forest," he explained, trying to convey confidence in his gaze.

- "Maybe the mark is evolving? Or does it react to different levels of threat?" Lucy speculated, trying to understand the magical nuances of the incident.

- "Possibly," Lawrence said thoughtfully. "Master Godrian said that the Mark left by Aria is similar to the Mana Particles of the Ten Great Goddesses. But I didn't feel such a powerful Mana Flow from Aria... Maybe Aria was hiding something from me…"

Lucy nodded, her expression clearing with understanding.

- "We need to be very careful, Lawrence. This is a great power, and with great power comes great responsibility," she smiled, trying to encourage him.

- "I know, Lucy. And I'm glad you're here with me. Without you, I would probably be lost in all this," Lawrence squeezed her hands in return, grateful for her support.

- "Together we'll handle whatever this magical world brings us," Lucy said confidently, and they both looked out the window at the cloudless daytime sky, full of determination and hope.

As time passed, each of Lawrence's training sessions under Godrian's guidance focused on studying and controlling the Mark of Aria, a powerful magical sign that represented the legacy of ancient magic. With each day, Lawrence delved deeper into mastering his abilities, but the process was not without difficulties, especially considering his young age.

Godrian started with basic meditation exercises to help Lawrence learn to manage the flow of his mana. The main goal was to teach the boy to feel and direct the energy of the Mark of Aria without overload, which could be dangerous for his young body.

- "Focus on your breathing, Lawrence. Feel the mana flowing within you, like a river. You must control its flow, not let it control you," Godrian instructed.

However, during the training sessions, Godrian noticed that Lawrence began to experience difficulties. When attempting to activate the Mark of Aria at full power, Lawrence often seemed exhausted, and his face turned pale.

- "My young friend, we must be careful. Your Mana Core is not yet strong enough to withstand such loads. You are only five years old, and your magical channels are still forming," Godrian explained, sensing the danger of overload for the growing organism.

One training day, trying to reach a new level of control over the mark, Lawrence attempted to summon the full power of the mark. Initially, everything went well: a glowing aura formed around his hand, and magical energy vibrated in the air. But suddenly, the boy felt a sharp pain in his chest, his eyes widened in shock and fear.

- "Lawrence!" Godrian shouted, rushing to him.

The boy fell to his knees, clutching his chest. Godrian immediately took measures, applying spells to stabilize Lawrence's condition. He gently lifted him and laid him on a mat, summoning Lucy to bring potions for recovery.

- "Are you okay, Lawrence?" he asked anxiously, examining the boy.

Lawrence slowly opened his eyes and nodded, but his gaze was troubled.

- "I felt such power... but it was too much for me," he whispered in a weak voice.

Godrian stroked his head, smiling gently:

- "We must continue training, but with more caution. Your body and mana core must mature and develop naturally. We shouldn't rush the process."

Every day, Godrian taught Lawrence the basics of mana control, giving him tasks to feel and direct energy to specific body points. Lawrence, sitting in a lotus position on a soft carpet, closed his eyes, trying to catch the subtle vibrations of magical energy in the air.

- "Remember, Lawrence, every movement of mana must be conscious. You must be a bridge between the inner world and the outer," Godrian gently reminded, watching the boy's progress.

One day, when they moved on to more complex exercises on concentration and retaining magical energy, Lawrence began to feel unusual fatigue. Godrian, noticing the paleness on the boy's face, stopped the exercise.

- "Are you alright, Lawrence? Your face has gone pale. Should we take a break?" he asked worriedly, approaching closer.

Lawrence nodded, looking down. In his mind, thoughts swirled about why his body couldn't handle the loads that seemed within his capabilities.

- "I don't want to stop, but for some reason, I feel like every particle of my mana has been squeezed to the limit," he admitted, trying to understand the reason for his condition.

- "That's because your Mana Core is not yet fully formed. You are very young, and your magical channels are not yet ready for such tests. We need to be more cautious," Godrian explained, leading the boy to a bench for rest.

During another training session on summoning magic through the Mark of Aria, Lawrence decided to try to exceed his previous achievements. He stood concentratedly in the center of the hall, where the weak light of the morning sun penetrated through the glass roof, creating an aura of light and shadow around him.

- "I'll do it," he whispered, activating the Mark.

Magical energy began to concentrate around him, and Lawrence's hair slowly lightened, and his eyes acquired a deep golden hue. He felt the mark pulsating in his chest, spreading warmth and strength.

But suddenly, when the power reached its peak, Lawrence felt a sharp pain in his chest. His knees buckled, and he fell to the floor as Godrian rushed to his aid.

- "We overestimated your capabilities, Lawrence. You need time for your body and mana core to adapt to such loads," Godrian said, supporting the boy and helping him sit.

Godrian decided that it was time to pause with the development of the Mark of Aria. Lawrence's Mana Core was still underdeveloped. Therefore, he decided to switch to training the Elements of Air and Fire.

The Element of Air was chosen as the next stage of Lawrence's training, thanks to its potential to improve control and awareness of the young mage.

The training hall was filled with fresh morning air, as Godrian opened all the windows, allowing nature to become part of the learning process. They began with exercises on sensing and manipulating air currents, which gently swayed the curtains and played with the dust on the floor.

- "Air is all around us, Lawrence. To control it, you must become part of it. Feel how it flows around you, through you," Godrian explained, showing hand gestures that resembled a dance with an invisible partner.

Lawrence, trying to follow the instructions, concentratedly waved his hands, gradually beginning to feel how the air responded to his movements. He learned to create air balloons that could gently lift objects or cool the air on hot days.

The Element of Fire required significantly more caution, as it carried the potential for destruction. Godrian set up the hall for safety, removing all flammable materials and creating magical barriers that could absorb any unexpected flames.

- "Fire is not just destruction; it's warmth and light. Control over fire begins with control over your own emotions," Godrian instructed. "You must be calm, yet focused and determined."

Lawrence started with small sparks, which he tried to ignite on his palm. Concentrating, he called forth a thin stream of smoke, which flared up into a small flame. With each attempt, his confidence grew, and soon he could summon fire, controlling its size and heat.

- "Excellent, Lawrence. Now let's try to direct the flame. Imagine you want to transfer it from one hand to the other," suggested Godrian.

Lawrence carefully performed the task, feeling the warmth of the fire jumping from one palm to another. This exercise not only improved his skills in controlling fire but also strengthened his mental discipline and ability to concentrate.

During these training sessions, Lawrence often pondered the power and responsibility that his magic carried. He reflected on the importance of using his abilities to protect and help others, not for destruction. All the past lessons with Aria were making themselves known.

- "Aria taught me the basics. But she never allowed me to use or practice the magic of Air and Fire in full scale. Here, almost everything is the opposite. Master Godrian, understands well that I know the basics of Magic. Yet he doesn't miss a single step in training. Also, Master Godrian gives me a chance to practice this Magic. I am very grateful to Aria and Master Godrian for their work and help..." Lawrence pondered.

Godrian, observing the successes and difficulties of his students, felt pride and simultaneously concern. He knew that each new step in training brought Lawrence closer to unraveling the full potential of the Mark of Aria, but he also understood the risks associated with the early awakening of such a powerful force in a young mage.

These training sessions not only strengthened Lawrence's magical abilities but also deeply connected him with Godrian, who became not just a teacher for him but a mentor, a guide through the complex world of magic.

Lucy's training began in the enchanted hall of the academy, where every stone of the wall was saturated with ancient protective spells, and the air was filled with the potential for magic. The light, penetrating through high windows, illuminated ancient runes engraved on the floor, creating an atmosphere conducive to magical practices.

Godrian taught Lucy the art of meditation, which helped her focus and feel the magical energy vibrating around. They started with the elements of Earth and Water, as these elements are easiest to sense due to their physical presence in the world.

- "Mastering magic begins with understanding how the energy of the elements moves through all living things," Godrian spoke softly, emphasizing each word. "You must learn to feel and control this energy as if it were a part of you."

After Lucy learned to sense the elements, they moved on to more complex practice—manipulating them. Godrian showed her how to concentrate Earth's energy to create a protective barrier or how to gather moisture from the air to create a water stream. Each exercise was accompanied by detailed explanations of the mechanisms for controlling these forces.

- "Imagine that you are drawing energy from the depths of the earth," Godrian directed when Lucy tried to call up stone shields from the floor of the hall. "Feel how it rises to your hands and turns into a solid form at your command."

After Lucy confidently mastered the elements of Earth and Water, Godrian decided to introduce her to the process of combining these elements to create a Deviant Form—the Element of Nature, specifically plants. This was a complex task that required not only a deep understanding of each element but also the ability to see and predict their interaction.

The training hall was perfectly prepared for this lesson: a circle of fertile soil was placed in the center of the room, surrounded by water reservoirs. The light, streaming through high windows, created bright reflections on the water's surface and highlighted the softness of the soil.

- "Combining Earth and Water to summon life is an art that requires subtlety and intuition," Godrian explained. "You must create a balance between moisture and nutrients to stimulate growth."

Lucy began by slowly absorbing water into the soil, allowing it to saturate the ground. Then, concentrating on her mana, she started to stimulate growth. Green sprouts broke through the soil, slowly turning into young plants.

- "Now speed up the process, using your energy to enhance growth," Godrian directed. Lucy deepened her perception, feeling every cell of the growing plants. Under her attentive control, the sprouts quickly turned into healthy, full plants, covering the ground with a green carpet.

After successfully mastering the creation of plants, Godrian suggested Lucy try something more complex—creating a flowering garden. For this, she needed to learn to manipulate not only the growth rate but also specific characteristics of the plants, such as the color and shape of the leaves.

- "Each type of plant requires a special approach," Godrian said. "Some need more water, others—a denser soil."

Lucy carefully regulated the amount of water and soil density for each plant, creating unique conditions for each flower. Under her thoughtful supervision, the hall gradually turned into a colorful sea of flowers, each one an expression of her magical will and creative vision.

This process not only deepened her understanding of nature magic but also allowed Lucy to feel a deep connection with the living world, which became an important step in her training.