Chapter 152: Awakening Mana

The twelve selected soldiers arrived at Althoff’s military training grounds before sunrise, each wearing a simple training uniform instead of their usual armor.

They had been instructed to avoid strenuous exercise that morning and report directly to the enclosed training hall, where Jonathan and several experienced Household Knights were waiting.

Raymond arrived shortly afterward, accompanied by Boris and Cassian.

"Everyone looks unusually nervous," Raymond observed, glancing at the soldiers assembled in two orderly rows. "You’d think we were preparing to send them against a Dragon."

Boris studied the candidates before answering, "For ordinary soldiers, Your Excellency, the possibility of awakening Mana is probably more intimidating than facing an enemy they understand."

Raymond couldn’t disagree.

He had spent enough time in Solaria to understand how significant the distinction between ordinary warriors and Knights truly was. A trained soldier might spend years improving his swordsmanship and physical conditioning, yet remain incapable of matching a Knight who could reinforce his body with Mana.

Today, twelve soldiers would receive an opportunity that most commoners could scarcely imagine.

Jonathan approached the assembled candidates and examined their expressions.

"Before we begin, I want everyone to understand the purpose of today’s procedure," Jonathan explained firmly. "The substance you are about to receive may allow you to perceive and begin absorbing Mana. However, awakening that sensitivity does not make you a Knight. Your training begins only after you learn to recognize what you’ve awakened."

Sergeant Elian Voss raised his hand, prompting Jonathan to acknowledge him with a nod.

"Commander Jonathan, will we experience any immediate changes in our physical strength?" Elian asked, his expression serious.

Jonathan shook his head and answered, "You should not expect any. Mana sensitivity and physical reinforcement are different accomplishments. Until you develop sufficient control, attempting to force Mana through your body would be irresponsible."

Raymond nodded approvingly.

He wanted the soldiers excited about their opportunity, but he certainly didn’t want twelve overenthusiastic recruits attempting supernatural feats before they understood the fundamentals.

At Jonathan’s instruction, the candidates took their assigned seats upon padded training mats arranged across the hall.

Several Household Knights positioned themselves nearby to supervise the procedure, while Selene Arward, Althoff’s physician, prepared to monitor the participants.

Raymond had informed Selene that the experimental preparation was intended to assist Mana sensitivity, although he had naturally omitted its true origin.

Once everyone was ready, Raymond produced twelve small glass vials from a secured case.

Each contained the same pale golden liquid.

The soldiers stared at them with unmistakable fascination.

Corporal Tomas Grell leaned toward the man seated beside him before remembering the importance of maintaining discipline.

Raymond noticed the movement and smiled.

"Relax, Corporal. You’re allowed to be curious. I’d be considerably more worried if everyone here looked completely uninterested."

Tomas straightened and answered with an embarrassed expression, "Apologies, Your Excellency. I’ve never seen anything like these elixirs before."

"Neither had most people who encountered something extraordinary for the first time," Raymond replied. "Just follow the instructions and don’t try to impress anyone."

Jonathan distributed the vials with assistance from the Household Knights.

When every candidate had received one, he stepped forward.

"Drink the contents completely, then remain seated and breathe normally," Jonathan instructed. "Do not attempt to circulate Mana immediately. First, concentrate on identifying any unfamiliar sensations. Report anything unusual to your assigned instructor."

The twelve soldiers exchanged brief glances before lifting their vials.

At Jonathan’s signal, they drank.

For several moments, nothing happened.

Then Tomas Grell suddenly straightened, his eyes widening.

"Commander, something feels strange," Tomas reported, pressing a hand against his chest. "It’s almost like there’s warmth spreading through my body, but I can’t tell where it’s coming from."

Jonathan immediately approached him.

"Remain calm, Corporal," Jonathan instructed, placing a reassuring hand upon his shoulder. "Don’t chase the sensation. Breathe steadily and describe what you perceive."

Tomas closed his eyes and concentrated.

Across the hall, another soldier began examining her hands with an expression of astonishment.

"Captain-General, I can feel something around my fingers," Private Ingrid Falk reported, slowly turning her palms upward. "It isn’t wind, but it feels like something is moving against my skin."

Boris approached her assigned instructor and observed carefully.

"Follow your instructor’s guidance, Private," Boris ordered. "There’s no need to rush."

Raymond watched the reactions with growing interest.

Some soldiers appeared to experience the effects almost immediately, while others remained seated with puzzled expressions.

Elian Voss frowned in concentration, apparently struggling to distinguish the unfamiliar sensation from his ordinary breathing.

After several minutes, he opened his eyes and looked toward Jonathan.

"Commander, I can feel warmth in my chest, but whenever I concentrate on it, the sensation disappears," Elian admitted.

Jonathan crouched beside him and explained patiently, "You’re trying too hard to control something you haven’t learned to perceive properly. Stop forcing your attention inward. Allow your breathing to settle and observe what happens naturally."

Elian nodded and closed his eyes again.

Meanwhile, Selene moved between the candidates, checking their breathing, awareness, and physical condition.

"No concerning reactions so far, Your Excellency," Selene reported after completing her initial examination. "Several participants appear excited, but their conditions remain stable."

Raymond acknowledged her assessment.

"Good. Keep monitoring them. I don’t want anyone continuing simply because they’re afraid of disappointing their commanders."

The first session lasted nearly an hour.

By its conclusion, all twelve candidates had reported some degree of unfamiliar sensation, although their ability to recognize it varied considerably.

Jonathan instructed them to rest before beginning the next stage.

The Household Knights then demonstrated the foundational breathing techniques commonly used during the earliest stages of Mana cultivation.

Unlike ordinary breathing exercises, these methods required practitioners to maintain controlled rhythms while directing their awareness toward surrounding Mana.

Jonathan demonstrated the posture himself.

"Keep your shoulders relaxed and your breathing steady," he explained, sitting upright upon a training mat. "Mana exists throughout our surroundings. Your first responsibility is learning to distinguish its presence from ordinary bodily sensations."

The candidates followed his instructions.

Some immediately struggled with maintaining concentration.

Others became so focused on breathing that they forgot to observe the Mana around them.

Cassian walked between the seated soldiers, correcting their postures and offering occasional guidance.

When Tomas began breathing too forcefully, Cassian stopped beside him.

"Corporal Grell, you’re not trying to inflate a blacksmith’s bellows," Cassian remarked with a faint smile. "Breathe naturally. Excessive effort will only make concentration more difficult."

Tomas flushed and adjusted his breathing.

"Understood, Commander Cassian," he answered, earning a quiet chuckle from one of the supervising Knights.

Raymond watched from the side, occasionally consulting Jonathan about the candidates’ progress.

The difference between receiving an awakening elixir and learning to cultivate Mana was becoming increasingly obvious.

Although the substance had granted the soldiers an initial awareness, they possessed none of the habits developed by experienced Knights.

Their concentration wandered, their breathing became inconsistent, and their attempts to recognize Mana frequently ended in frustration.

Nevertheless, progress was occurring.

By midday, several candidates could reliably identify the sensation associated with surrounding Mana.

Jonathan then introduced the concept of controlled absorption.

He emphasized that the candidates were not yet ready to perform complicated circulation techniques or attempt physical reinforcement.

Instead, they would practice allowing extremely small amounts of Mana to enter their bodies while maintaining a stable breathing rhythm.

"Think of this as learning to walk before attempting to run," Jonathan explained. "If you cannot recognize and absorb Mana consistently, advanced cultivation techniques will accomplish nothing."

The afternoon session included light physical conditioning, posture exercises, and supervised meditation.

Boris insisted that the soldiers maintain their existing military discipline throughout the program.

"Awakening Mana does not excuse poor conduct," Boris reminded them sternly. "You are still soldiers of Althoff, and your responsibilities remain unchanged."

By late afternoon, Raymond was preparing to conclude the day’s observations when something unexpected occurred.

At the far end of the hall, Private Ingrid Falk sat motionless with her eyes closed.

Her assigned instructor, a Silver Knight named Gareth Morn, suddenly leaned forward.

"Commander Jonathan, could you examine this candidate?" Gareth requested, his expression unusually serious. "Her Mana absorption appears considerably more stable than expected."

Jonathan immediately approached.

Raymond followed, curious about the sudden attention.

Ingrid remained seated, breathing slowly and evenly.

Unlike the other candidates, who struggled to maintain even brief periods of controlled absorption, she appeared to have established a remarkably consistent rhythm.

Jonathan observed her carefully before asking, "Private Falk, can you describe what you’re experiencing?"

Ingrid opened her eyes and answered hesitantly, "Commander, at first I could only feel something moving around me. But after following the breathing instructions, I began noticing that the sensation changes whenever I breathe. I tried relaxing instead of reaching for it, and now it feels much easier to recognize."

Jonathan exchanged a surprised glance with Cassian.

"Can you repeat the process?" Jonathan asked, keeping his voice calm.

Ingrid nodded, closed her eyes, and resumed her breathing.

Within moments, Jonathan detected the same steady absorption.

Cassian’s expression changed.

"That’s impressive," Cassian remarked quietly. "Especially for someone who awakened Mana sensitivity only this morning."

Raymond looked between the two experienced Knights.

"How impressive are we talking?"

Jonathan continued observing Ingrid before answering.

"Your Excellency, most beginners require considerable practice merely to distinguish Mana from ordinary sensations. Private Falk has already demonstrated unusually consistent perception and the beginnings of controlled absorption."

Raymond studied the young soldier with renewed interest.

It appeared that Althoff’s first group of trainees contained someone whose aptitude might be far greater than anyone had anticipated.