Two days passed…
Luzia sat on her bed, her legs crossed beneath her as she closed her eyes. She took a slow, measured breath, feeling the cool air fill her lungs before exhaling softly. Her focus turned inward, reaching for the mana coursing through her body. It pulsed faintly beneath her skin, like a distant heartbeat, elusive yet present.
She furrowed her brows in concentration, willing the energy to flow toward her heart. The process was delicate—like guiding a stream through unfamiliar terrain. Each attempt left a tingling sensation in her chest, but the mana scattered before it could settle. Frustration threatened to creep in, but she pushed it down. She had to be patient.
Exhaling again, Luzia steadied herself. Again. She reached, called, and tried to mold the mana into obedience.
