The next morning, the training courtyard was bathed in a pale, overcast light. Mana lingered in the air like hot, wet, heavy humidity. Just waiting to be used.
Kai stood at the centre, arms behind his back, watching Mari from across the sand-dusted arena. She was quiet, focused. Eyes closed. Mana danced faintly around her in threads only he could truly see, although Willam was getting better at seeing and sensing mana. Subtle curls of light and force responded to her will. The light of divinity.
She was improving.
Too quickly.
"Again," Kai said, voice sharp and commanding. "Don't just sense the mana. Feel the boundaries of it. Shape it before it shapes you."
Mari nodded and began the sequence again, drawing in a breath, letting her hands rise in sync with her inner flow.
Kai frowned.
'She's good.'
Too good.
