"It is called a mindforge. An old device used to train the minds of mages and those who seek to achieve a mind empty of insignificance, training for focus." Na'El explained while glancing at the old stone platform, aged through storage and use. "An old thing I inherited from my predecessor."
Moulin paused, nodding slowly. He recalled the young blind oracle and felt a twinge of sadness in his heart.
The elven oracle unhurriedly took his place on the platform as he spoke, " The platform's magic shall assess your mind while these five crystals will be used as your mana's target. The mind forge will test your inner mind and focus. Your goal is to achieve ntal stability while channeling your mana. It may seem simple, but the device will imdiately fail you at the slightest hint of doubt.
Now, observe closely as I demonstrate."
Before the youth's curious eyes, Na'El raised his hand and closed his eyes. Moulin watched intently, his mind alight with curiosity. In the tranquil garden, a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of flowers. Moulin then sensed a subtle shift in the surrounding mana, converging on the platform.
As mana gathered around the oracle's palm, the center of the ring of hovering crystals emitted a light green glow. Gradually, it extended into multiple tendrils of mana. So of these tendrils reached out toward each of the five crystals in the magical circle, forming a structure reminiscent of a delicate flower. However, the process was agonizingly slow.
Upon closer inspection, Moulin noticed that, at best, the tendrils would extend by only a few centiters every one to two minutes. Moreover, the pace dwindled even further as ti went on.
Soon, there was a stutter in Na'El's mana. Silver eyes widened in surprise as the green tendrils that had barely reached half of the flower formation imdiately shattered. The glow of mana seed like ashes dissipating into the wind.
Na'El sighed and calmly turned to Moulin who questionably gazed at the ring. "As you have witnessed, the mind forge detected a disturbance in my mind and imdiately purged all my efforts."
Moulin had begun to doubt his own ntal stability. Perhaps he had long considered himself an emotional character. Therefore, he was bound to make many mistakes in this trial.
Unable to resist, he asked. "May I ask? How many people had truly accomplished the mindforge's test?"
Na'El revealed a smile, "One..."
Just one...
Do they really think I can overco this trial? Moulin nervously looked at the platform.
"Oh, do not worry..." Na'El assured, stepping gracefully down from the platform. He gently guided the uncertain youth to take his place, offering a comforting smile. "Our purpose here is to bring as much stability to your mind as possible. That's why you must practice with the mindforge daily to see the progress you seek."
Standing awkwardly on the stone platform, the silver-haired youth glanced between the oracle and the mindforge ring. Finally, Moulin exhaled deeply and turned to face the magical device. With a raised hand, palm open, he closed his eyes.
Though the process remained sowhat unclear to him, he made an effort to relax both mind and body, focusing on clearing his thoughts. Gradually, he allowed his mana to flow, steady and calm like his breathing.
Na'El calmly watched as the center of the ring began to glow a faint whitish blue. He nods with a smile. He is a fast learner indeed. Soon, delicate tendrils started to form—while Na'El's formations resembled the veins of a flower, the youth's creations unfurled like the branches of a snowflake, growing at a slow, deliberate pace.
Crackle!
Out of the blue, the formation shattered. Moulin abruptly stopped and opened his eyes. His heart pounded within the cage of his chest as wisps of his mana disintegrated within the ring. Disappointnt filled his heart making him sigh. It wasn't even a minute yet.
"It's alright." Na'El comforted as he approached the platform. His eyes grew deep. "Tell . What was in your mind?"
Moulin hesitated. But hiding would not aid him in understanding the cause of his failure. "I... thought I was going to fail."
Nodding, the oracle spoke. "Doubts can easily throw off your decisions and disrupt the flow of your mana. Emotions have a powerful impact on your inner soul, especially in your case. Surely, you've noticed how your strong emotions often trigger snowfall without you aning to, haven't you?"
Moulin paused before nodding. He had noticed, though he assud it was simply a natural part of his abilities.
Na'El smiled. "I suggest you work on tempering your emotions as you use your magic. I don't an suppressing them but learning to control them. Only then can you truly master yourself."
The elf watched the youth glance at the magic ring before nodding. "I will try again."
Moulin calmly tried to empty his mind and relax his body. He made several attempts to lengthen his formation more than each previous attempt. Unfortunately, each ended before they could even reach two minutes. The longer he tried to use his mana, the more sensitive the mindforge was to ntal detection.
In a few tries, he couldn't help but beco frustrated and eventually shattered his formation in less than a second.
His mind was always filled with thoughts and he could not help it. Worries weighed heavily on him, and the pressure built up until his emotions would suddenly break his concentration. It was intolerable.
Finally, Na'El told him to step down and take a break. The oracle introduces so advice to help the youth calm his nerves.
"A mantra?" The youth's slender brows furrowed.
"Yes. Perhaps, it would help you slowly wash away any disruptive thoughts." Na'El suggested with a raised finger. "I have tried using it during my first experience with the mindforge. Mine was 'Light, Glade, Forest'"
Moulin pictured a younger Na'El, endearingly shutting his eyes while silently reciting a mantra. A mantra? He had heard of it before but didn't really think it was truly effective. But he hadn't tried it yet and if it worked on the elven oracle who had lived hundreds of years then, perhaps it could work for him as well.
Moulin carefully thought, lowering his head. anwhile, two guests suddenly entered the garden.
"Ah, Lady Calanthe, Lady Celeste." Na'El greeted the two won with a handso smile. "Co to watch?"
Moulin raised his head and turned to the two people standing ters from him, barely leaving the entrance of the garden. Lady Calanthe looked as comfortable as ever, wearing a smile on her face while Lady Celeste looked quite the opposite. The holy priestess wore thick robes and an expressionless face as she observed the youth from afar.
Lady Celeste rely nodded at the pair before excusing herself and departing. With a sense of helplessness, Lady Calanthe then made her way toward Moulin and Na'El. Her steps were sluggish as if she were burdened by a great weight.
"Ah, she is busy with preparations." The sorceress spoke before she complinted Moulin on his efforts with the mind forge.
Moulin decided not to think too much about Lady Celeste's strange actions. He had already sensed so animosity from her since the start. However, if he were to be under her teachings, sothing needed to be done to ease the relationship between him and her.
Throughout the rest of the day, Moulin spent the whole afternoon studying artificing after his session with Na'El. He was determined to learn as much as he could and quickly show so progress. Thus, even as evening ca, he was lying on his bed, reading the artificing book about Orchaedia. The bedside lamp was brighter, deriving him from sleep.
But it failed to energize the little snow fox curled at his side, sleeping contently after a day of playing.
The youth was dressed lightly and his complexion looked more pale and delicate even with the warm light upon his skin.
Three knocks suddenly sounded from the door making Moulin stop. In the next instance, Ordan stepped inside the room, impeccably neat.
"Do you plan to study all night?" The man asked with furrowed brows.
Moulin glanced at the book and shook his head. He intended to sleep early to achieve a fresh mind tomorrow. "I'm nearly finished here. I'll go to bed once I'm done. Is there sothing you wanted to tell ?"
"His Excellency will not be able to visit for a few days. He wanted to inform you."
"Is there a problem? Is he unwell?" Worry filled the youth's eyes as he asked.
"No..." Ordan wondered why the Lord would be unwell. "He'll be occupied over the next few days with matters related to the Silver Scepter."
"Oh, I see." Moulin relaxed. The Silver Scepter—was that the new order's na?
With a sigh the youth spoke, "Then I understand. As the leader of the new order, he will be burdened with new responsibilities. If it's alright, please tell him not to worry too much. I can wait."
Hearing those words, Ordan nodded before excusing himself. He didn't forget to wish the youth a good night's rest. Once the room was left to himself once again, sohow, Lady Calanthe's words resurfaced from his mind.
'The young master is quite a charr...'
The words echoed and his slender brows drew together in confusion. She must have been just complinting him... Yes...
Instead of thinking more about it, he decided to end his studies and sleep. The lamplight dimd as the evening grew late. On the wide soft bed, the youth's silver hair spreads over the silken pillows. Side by side, the pair of master and pet slumbered in the night.
anwhile, beyond the realm and the world of dreams, the barracks of Falowright are filled with exhausted soldiers. Each went unconscious the mont they fell on their beds. The harrowing trials had them spend every ounce of their strength and willpower. Even if others say otherwise, to them, it was already equal to torture. Fortunately, most of them passed.
The failing few were sent away to return to their usual jobs.
Within a large simple office, Varick sat at his desk finalizing the last of the candidate's review. His eyes are filled with satisfaction and relief. Finally, it was finished and the final list of soldiers had been made. Witnessing the trials, especially the mind chamber trials.
As one of the knights of the Hercullio nobility, he was very familiar with the test, and watching hundreds of soldiers go through the sa thing, was undoubtedly an excruciating scene.
The knight glanced at the solitary figure on the balcony, standing sternly under the midnight sky. Lord Hercullio's golden eyes seed to stare into nothingness. His mind filled with a particular youth that Varick already guessed who it was. The High Lord was silent and cold during the past few days.
Varick felt more comfortable when his master had ti to visit the young lord Moulin than when he stayed far away from the youth.
But although he looked unapproachable, the soldiers looked up to him still. Varick only hoped nothing would go wrong with whatever Lord Moulin was going through.
...
Moulin stood on the surface of a vast frozen lake. This ti, he was not confused. As the cold bit onto his skin, his lashes froze slightly and trembled. The unforgiving frigid wind blew around him making him shiver uncontrollably.
He has been here before. And he has dreamt of being her many tis.
The lake. The cave. A blanket of white enshrouds the forest.
Before he had succumbed to the cold and excruciating waters beneath the lake. He would not let his fate repeat this ti. So before his feet could freeze, he forced himself to move as he hugged his cold body. He felt a feeling he was being watched.
His steps were slow and grew even slower as each second passed. No. He must not fall...
He must not...
Crack!
In a split second, the ice beneath him gave way. Bubbles escaped his mouth as the water dragged him into the depths. Once again, he t a shadow above the ice. A small figure...
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