CHAPTER 33: BEARER OF CANDLE LIGHT.

Piper stood before Ian with her arms folded, her expression still as stern as ever. "Now that you have finally managed to sense it," she began, her tone sharp and clipped, "the next step is learning to control it. Mana is like breath. You do not waste it with every exhale. You must learn to hold it, to guide it, and to use it sparingly when needed."

Ian tilted his head, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "So basically, mana is like money. Save some for later, don’t spend it all on snacks?"

Chloe giggled softly behind her hand. "That is... not entirely wrong," she admitted, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

Piper shot Chloe a look but returned her gaze to Ian. "Enough jokes. Sit. Close your eyes again."

Ian sighed but obeyed, lowering himself onto the grass. "Alright, alright. Closing my eyes. Feeling the river. What’s next?"

"Draw the flow inward," Piper instructed. She knelt in front of him and tapped lightly on his chest. "You must learn to contain it here. Imagine it as light filling a vessel. Do not let it spill away. Hold it, steady and calm."

Ian took in a deep breath, trying to follow her instructions. He imagined the warmth curling inside him like a flame trapped in a lantern. At first it flickered, slipping away whenever he tried to grasp it. He frowned, his brows furrowing in concentration.

"Easy," Chloe said softly, her gentle voice carrying across the yard. "Do not chase it too fast. Let it come to you as it did before."

He exhaled slowly. "I swear it’s like trying to catch smoke with bare hands."

"Then do not use your hands," Piper replied firmly. "Use your will. Your body listens to the will if you are strong enough."

Ian chuckled lightly, though he kept his eyes closed.

Piper ignored him and continued. "Once you can hold it without losing it, then you will practice moving it. Push it into your arms. Then your legs. Every corner of your body must become familiar with its presence."

Minutes passed. Ian’s breathing steadied, and he finally began to feel the current respond. It swelled inside him, faint at first, but it no longer slipped through his grasp as easily. With effort, he guided it into his right arm. His fingers twitched as if responding to a silent command. His eyes flew open in surprise.

"Ha! Did you see that? My hand actually felt it!" He lifted his palm, shaking it as though to prove the sensation was real. "That wasn’t just in my head!"

Chloe clapped her hands together, her smile bright. "You are learning quickly, my lord. That is wonderful progress."

Ian grinned at her praise. "Thank you, Chloe. At least someone here appreciates my genius." He cast a playful glance at Piper.

Piper’s expression did not soften. "Do not flatter yourself. This is the bare minimum. You must continue to practice until you can summon it at will. Otherwise, this tiny spark will mean nothing in a real fight."

Ian gave an exaggerated sigh but nodded. "Fine, fine. Reserve it, control it, guide it. Got it. But for the record, I think I’m doing great for someone who only found out magic was real a few hours ago."

Piper studied him for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Perhaps. But the real test will come when you attempt to shape it into an element. Until then, keep practicing."

Ian leaned back with a grin that made Chloe laugh again. For all his jokes, he had begun to learn, slowly but surely, how to bend the current of mana to his will.

The hours slipped by slowly, the moon climbing higher into the night sky as the training yard remained alive with the voices of Ian and the two women guiding him. Piper’s tone remained sharp and precise, while Chloe’s was softer, easing Ian’s mounting frustration. He had made steady progress, managing to direct mana into his limbs with growing confidence, but his face showed the toll of his exertion. Sweat clung to his brow and his breaths came heavier with each attempt.

At one point, Ian slumped back onto the grass, throwing an arm over his eyes. "I swear you two are trying to kill me. Do people usually train this long on their first day, or am I just unlucky?"

Chloe crouched beside him, handing him a cloth to wipe his face. "Most do not reach this stage on their first day. You are learning much faster than anyone could expect."

Piper stood with her arms folded, her stern expression unchanged. "Faster does not mean enough. You have only touched the beginning. Exhaustion is natural. Discipline means pushing past it."

Ian peeked at her from under his arm. "You really don’t know how to let a guy enjoy a compliment, do you?"

Chloe chuckled, though Piper’s eyes only narrowed. "Flattery will not save you in battle," Piper said flatly. "Mana will. And you are far from ready."

Ian groaned but dragged himself upright, dusting grass from his training clothes. "Alright, drill sergeant, what’s next? Or do I finally get to sleep?"

Before Piper could answer, Lyra reappeared, her face carrying the tension of news. She bowed quickly before speaking. "My lord, word has arrived from the palace. Three of the Queens have already arrived. But you will not be summoned until the other three are present as well."

"Three Queens already? How many do you people even have waiting to meet me?"

Chloe gave a nervous smile. "Six in total. It is not something to be taken lightly."

Ian sighed dramatically and rubbed his temples. "Great. Half the royal council of the world or whatever is just hanging out while I learn how not to blow myself up. No pressure."

Piper, unfazed, stepped closer and motioned toward the practice yard again. "Then we use this time wisely. The Queens can wait. You must not. It is time to move beyond simply feeling mana. You will begin shaping it."

"Shaping it? As in actually using it? Like throwing fireballs or something?"

Piper gave a curt nod. "We begin with fire for you, It is the foundation of destruction, the purest test of willpower."

Ian gave a low whistle and shook his head. "Of course. Go big or go home. And here I thought you’d start me with something safe, like, I don’t know, a breeze."

Chloe smiled faintly. "Fire is difficult, yes, but also essential. And we will be here to guide you."

Ian squared his shoulders, trying to summon a bravado he did not entirely feel. "Alright then. Fire it is. But if I set myself on fire, I’m haunting all three of you forever."

Piper’s stern face did not flicker, though her eyes glinted faintly in the moonlight.

Ian muttered under his breath but held his hand out as instructed, his heart thudding in his chest. For the first time, the night no longer felt like endless training....it felt like the beginning of something real.

Piper stood in the yard, her stance wide and firm as she lifted her hand. With a controlled breath, a glowing sphere of fire swirled into existence above her palm. The blaze pulsed like a living heart before she flicked her wrist, sending it streaking into the night sky. The flame arced high, then descended sharply, colliding with an Owl that had been unlucky enough to swoop too close. In a flash, the creature was reduced to a blackened crisp, feathers scattering as ashes drifted down. Piper turned back to Ian, her face stern but expectant.

"This," she said in her clipped tone, "is the discipline of fire. It answers only to will. Weak will, weak flame. Strong will, fire that consumes."

Ian swallowed, eyeing the smoldering remains of the bird. "So, you’re saying step one is barbecue practice? Because I don’t think I’m cut out for bird roasting."

"Focus," Piper snapped, ignoring his quip. She positioned herself directly behind him, her voice lowering as she instructed, "Close your eyes. Feel the mana inside you. Draw it to your palm, not as energy, but as heat. Imagine it yearning to ignite. Then command it."

Ian did as told, his brow furrowing as he concentrated. He could feel the faint stirring of mana, that same current he had discovered earlier, but coaxing it into flame was another matter entirely. His fingers twitched, and for a moment nothing happened. Then, with a sharp breath, a tiny flicker appeared above his palm. It was no larger than the flame of a candle, faint and wavering in the night.

Chloe clapped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking, while Lyra outright doubled over with laughter. "Oh, mighty heir," Lyra teased between giggles, "the conqueror of empires, bearer of... candlelight!"

Chloe tried to stifle her grin, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. "At least it’s a start, my lord. A very... tiny start."

Ian stared at the weak flame, then glanced at Piper with mock offense. "Really? This is what I’ve been sweating for hours for? A candlelight?"

Even Piper’s mouth twitched, though she quickly schooled her features back to severity. "It is small, yes. But it is real. Better a single ember than no flame at all."

Ian sighed and blew gently on the flame, which flickered out instantly. He spread his hands dramatically. "Great. And now I’m a human matchstick. Do I get promoted when I can light a torch?"

Chloe and Lyra burst into laughter again, their mirth echoing through the yard, while Piper simply shook her head, muttering under her breath. "This is going to take much longer than I thought."