Chapter 68: Embracing the Flow
Thalassa’s water-form shimmered at the pond’s center, the lilies’ glow casting soft blues and greens across her translucent figure, the mist curling like a living frame. The students, still catching their breath from her dynamic challenge, balanced on the water’s surface, their mana anchoring them steady. Darius’s heart raced, his success with Anemoi Shades still buzzing in his veins, Elara’s approving smile lingering in his mind. Thalassa raised a hand, the water rippling beneath her, her sapphire eyes gleaming with a new intent. "Enough of chaos," she said, her voice a resonant tide, soothing yet commanding. "Now, we learn to listen. Sit, cross-legged, on the water. Close your eyes. Feel the natural mana—pond, flora, air. Sense its flow." She gestured to the shimmering surface, the ferns and lilies pulsing faintly, the mist tightening around them. "Hydromancy begins with connection, not control."
The students obeyed, settling cross-legged, their boots grazing the pond, the water holding firm under their practiced mana anchoring. Darius folded his legs, his robes damp from earlier splashes, and closed his eyes, the pond’s hum deepening, syncing with his breath. Thalassa’s voice flowed, guiding them. "Mana is a current, alive in the world. In water, in plants, in the air you breathe. Feel its pulse, distinct from your own. A great mage weaves this energy, not just their own spark." The lilies glowed softly, their light filtering through his eyelids, the scent of moss and damp flora grounding him. The pond’s mana pulsed stronger, a rhythm like a heartbeat, and Darius exhaled, his mind reaching for the currents Thalassa described, the air alive with serene energy as the students’ breathing aligned with the water’s gentle sway.
Thalassa glided silently among them, her water-form rippling the pond’s surface, her presence a cool brush of mana. She paused by a student, their hands trembling as they shaped a tidal surge, its arc jagged. "Smooth it," she murmured, her voice a soft ripple. "Draw from the pond’s flow, not just your will." The student’s surge curved gracefully, water arcing like a dancer’s ribbon, the pond rippling in approval. She moved to another, their mist veil thin and wavering. "Feel the air’s mana," Thalassa said, her hand guiding theirs, "weave it into your mist." The veil thickened, swirling with dense droplets, catching the lily-light. Beside them, a student’s steam burst hissed too hot, scorching the air. "Temper it," Thalassa advised, her tone calm but firm. "Pull from the cool mana in the ferns." The steam softened, a warm haze settling gently. Another student’s water construct—a crude sphere—wobbled, and Thalassa’s touch steadied it, her voice guiding, "Use the lilies’ pulse, shape it with their rhythm." The construct sharpened, holding form like a sculpted wave.
Darius felt her approach, her mana a cool current against his skin. His water orb, spinning before him, flickered, its edges unsteady despite his skill with hydromancy. "You’re forcing it," Thalassa said, her voice close, resonant. "Feel the pond’s mana, let it flow through you." She guided his hands, her touch liquid yet firm, and he reached out, sensing the pond’s pulse, the lilies’ faint glow, the ferns’ steady hum. His orb stabilized, its spin smoother, glinting like a polished pearl, the ambient mana weaving into its form. Her words sparked thoughts of Zephyr, his wind-fire form that let non-mana attacks pass through—could he make it flow like her water? And Anemoi Shades—its mana-targeting flaw might be tamed by this same connection, aligning with Study of Spirit’s promise of sentient spells. Thalassa’s nod, a ripple of approval, sent a thrill through him, his ambition to surpass Lucien flickering brighter.
The students’ spells grew fluid, their mana weaving with the environment’s. A tidal surge curved like a crescent moon, its flow seamless, drawing gasps from the group. A mist veil swirled with precision, cloaking its caster in shimmering droplets. A steam burst settled into a warm, gentle haze, no longer scalding. A water construct—a miniature wave—held shape, its edges sharp, reflecting the lilies’ glow. Banter broke the silence, light and easy. Elara, her own orb steady, teased Darius, her voice playful across the pond. "Still wobbling, Darius? Thought you’d have this by now." He grinned, tossing back, "Says the one whose net broke earlier." A student quipped, "I’ll outshine you all with this wave!" prompting laughter, the gnome’s voice sharp with mock bravado. Elara’s laugh, bright and warm, sparked Darius’s crush, her calm focus a quiet pull, blending with his connection to the group, their shared effort forging bonds.
Darius’s orb spun smoother, its mana drawn from the pond’s depths, the ferns’ pulse, the air’s faint hum. He reflected on Zephyr, envisioning a fluid wind-fire form, adapting like Thalassa’s water, and Anemoi Shades, its clones potentially guided by intent, not just mana signatures. Lucien’s shadow loomed, his rival’s fluid magic a challenge, but Thalassa’s lesson offered a path—sensing mana’s flow could make his spells alive, ready for Study of Genetic Alchemy’s trials. The pond glowed, the students’ spells a symphony of light and water, their camaraderie a steady current, Elara’s glances fueling his drive as he pushed to master the lesson’s flow.
Darius’s water orb spun before him, its surface now smooth as glass, infused with the pond’s ambient mana, its rhythm synced with the lilies’ soft pulse. The air hummed with energy, the mist curling tighter, the scent of damp moss and aquatic flora weaving through his senses. Across the pond, a student’s tidal surge arced like a dancer’s leap, its curve flawless, drawing a murmur of awe. Another’s mist veil shimmered, dense and prismatic, cloaking them in a haze that caught the lily-light. A warm steam cloud, tempered from scalding to gentle, drifted upward, while a water construct—a sculpted dolphin—leapt briefly before dissolving, its caster chuckling at the effort. The students’ laughter and quips echoed, a shared pulse of effort and joy, binding them closer in the serene classroom.
Darius focused, his orb steady, its spin a testament to Thalassa’s guidance. Her words about natural mana resonated, sparking thoughts of Zephyr, his wind-fire form that let non-mana attacks pass through. Could he weave ambient mana into it, make it flow like her liquid grace? And Anemoi Shades—its mana-targeting flaw haunted him, but Study of Spirit could make its clones semi-sentient, guided by his will, not just raw mana. Elara’s orb, nearby, spun with a quiet elegance, her focus calm but fierce, her auburn hair catching the glow. She caught his eye again, her smile teasing yet warm, and his crush flared, a spark that urged him to match her precision. "Not bad," she said, her voice low, playful, "but mine’s smoother." He grinned, tossing back, "Give me a minute, I’ll outshine you." Her laugh, bright and unguarded, rippled through him, blending with the class’s easy banter, the gnome’s voice cutting in with, "You’re both dreaming—I’ll flood this pond first!"
Thalassa’s water-form glided among them, her presence a cool ripple, her sapphire eyes gleaming with approval. She paused by a student, their wave faltering, and murmured, "Feel the ferns’ pulse, let it guide your flow." The wave steadied, its arc sharper, the student’s face lighting up. She moved to another, their steam cloud drifting too wide. "Draw from the air’s mana," she said, her hand guiding theirs, "keep it tight." The cloud condensed, its warmth controlled, earning a nod. Darius felt her approach again, his orb still spinning, its mana drawn from the pond’s depths. "Good," she said, her voice a gentle tide, "but let it breathe. Feel the lilies’ rhythm, not just the water’s." He adjusted, pulling mana from the glowing flora, and his orb pulsed brighter, its spin almost alive, a small triumph that fueled his ambition to surpass Lucien.
The students’ spells grew stronger, their mana weaving seamlessly with the environment. A tidal surge curved like a crescent, its flow so natural it seemed to dance with the pond. A mist veil swirled, precise and delicate, shielding its caster from the mist’s curl. A steam haze settled, warm but contained, no longer scorching the air. A water construct—a miniature whirlpool—spun steadily, its edges sharp, reflecting the lilies’ glow. The class’s efforts blended into a vibrant display, the pond rippling with their mana, the lilies pulsing in sync, the ferns trembling faintly. Darius’s orb held firm, its glow matching the others, and he felt a surge of pride, the class’s unity a steady current beneath their individual struggles. Elara nudged him, her voice teasing, "Told you I’d win." He smirked, "Not yet," his focus sharpening, Lucien’s shadow a distant spur, pushing him to master this flow for Study of Spirit and beyond.
Thalassa clapped her hands, the sound a soft splash, and the students opened their eyes, their spells fading into ripples. The pond glowed brighter, its surface alive with their combined mana, the lilies casting a radiant halo. "Well done," she said, her voice resonant, rippling the water. "You’ve begun to sense the flow, to weave the world’s mana into your own. Practice this daily—hydromancy is harmony, not just power." The students murmured, their faces alight with progress, the gnome muttering a playful, "Told you I’d flood it," earning laughs. Thalassa’s water-form shimmered, her eyes sweeping the group. "Class is dismissed. Keep feeling the current, let it guide you." The students stood, their boots sending faint ripples across the pond, and began moving toward the portal door, its hydromancy rune glowing softly in the mist.
Darius rose, his orb dissolving, his heart buzzing with the lesson’s promise. Elara bumped his shoulder, her smile sly. "Not bad for a wind guy," she said, her tone warm, and he chuckled, his crush sparking as they joined the others. The students chatted, their voices lively, sharing tips and quips as they stepped through the portal, the cool rush of mana carrying them back to the academy’s corridors. Darius lingered, gathering his notes, the pond’s glow fading behind him. Thalassa’s voice stopped him, her water-form gliding closer, her tone warm but cryptic. "Darius, stay a moment," she said, her sapphire eyes locking onto his, a hint of intrigue in her gaze. "We need to talk."