Edge Of The Frozen Dawn - A New Life (Volume 1)

Dawn stretched across the horizon, casting a pale glow over the forest. The first rays of light crept into the cave, playing across the rocky walls still cloaked in shadow. The fire had burned out, leaving behind warm embers and a thin layer of ash.

Veil was already awake. Sitting cross-legged in the center of the cave, his eyes were closed, his face marked by deep concentration. His hands rested on his knees, palms open, while his slow, steady breathing filled the air with its calming rhythm. Each inhale seemed to sink deep within him, each exhale releasing an invisible tension.

Veil (internal thought, determined): Feel it… Imagine it… Guide it…

He methodically followed the steps Alynia had taught him the day before. The mana—the invisible thread running through his body—flowed gently, like a peaceful river. He could feel its current rippling through his veins, responding to his call without resistance. Each heartbeat amplified the sensation, a subtle warmth spreading through his torso before branching into his arms and legs.

Minutes passed in total silence until a faint rustling caught his attention. Alynia had risen. She stretched leisurely, her fluid movements revealing an innate agility. Her white ears twitched slightly, picking up the sound of Veil's calm breathing.

Alynia (mocking): "Well, looks like someone isn't wasting any time."

Veil opened his eyes, a mix of focus and satisfaction on his face. He turned his head toward her, a glint of impatience in his gaze.

Veil (calm but resolute tone): "I want to be ready. I can't afford to waste time."

Alynia smirked slightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

Alynia (chuckling softly): "Hmpf… If only everyone were this eager in the morning. Fine."

She ran her fingers through her silver hair, straightening fully before glancing toward the cave entrance. The biting morning cold seeped in slowly, but she didn't seem to mind. Crossing her arms, her expression shifted back to something serious.

Alynia (calmly): "If you're in such a hurry, let's get started. Today, we move on to the next step. But keep in mind—impatience can be a weakness."

Veil nodded, standing up without hesitation. Despite the lingering fatigue in his muscles and the persistent ache in his leg, a fire burned in his eyes. The day had only just begun, but he was already prepared to face whatever awaited him.

The shadows of the cave seemed to retreat slowly, giving way to the light of this new lesson.

The soft dawn light timidly crept into the cave, illuminating a small puddle of water formed by droplets trickling down from the rocky wall. Alynia gestured toward the puddle with a slight tilt of her head, her arms crossed and her expression neutral.

Alynia (calmly): "Come closer. Today, you'll learn to connect your mana to an element. We'll start with water. Simple, fluid, but unpredictable if you're not careful."

Veil nodded, his gaze settling on the puddle. He knelt in front of it, his palms resting on his knees, just as he had done the day before. Alynia sat nearby, crossing her legs, her tail still behind her. She watched him—attentive, yet relaxed.

Alynia (explaining): "You'll guide your mana into your right hand, just like you did yesterday. But this time, imagine an invisible thread extending from your palm to the water. It must touch it, reach it, and then merge with it. Once connected, you'll feel its nature. It will become an extension of you."

Veil narrowed his eyes slightly, his fingers tensing as he raised his right hand over the puddle. He took a deep breath, trying to recapture the calm he had cultivated the day before.

Veil (internal thought): Feel the mana. Guide it. Imagine the thread… visualize it extending…

He closed his eyes, his breathing slowing. He felt the mana circulating within him, flowing like a river through his veins. Slowly, he directed it toward his hand—but when he tried to push it beyond his body, he hit an invisible barrier. His concentration wavered, and his hand trembled slightly.

Veil (frowning, frustrated): "Nothing… It's not working."

Alynia, who had just lit the fire with a few twigs, didn't respond immediately. She glanced at Veil, a subtle smile tugging at her lips.

Alynia (calm tone): "That's normal. If it were easy, you wouldn't be here. Try again. Breathe. This isn't about force. You don't command water to respond—you invite it. It is free, not bound."

Veil took another breath, his fist slowly unclenching. He visualized a glowing thread extending from his palm, gliding gently toward the surface of the water. He tried to reach it, but the thread unraveled before even making contact with the element.

Veil (internal thought, determined): Don't force it. Guide it. Let it slide… I can do this. I have to do this.

Alynia, seated near the now crackling fire, watched Veil with a mix of interest and caution. Her ears twitched slightly, picking up every sound, while her thoughts wandered.

Alynia (internal thought): He has the will, but he's still too tense. If he eases the pressure on himself just a little, he might succeed.

After several failed attempts, Veil finally sensed a slight shift. The luminous thread he envisioned seemed to stretch farther, almost as if it had touched the surface of the water. A cold, fluid sensation traveled back into his palm, catching him off guard.

Veil (internal thought, surprised): Was that it? No… it was too faint. I need to extend it further.

He took a deep breath, his hand trembling slightly as he visualized the thread again. This time, he applied less tension, allowing the mana to glide naturally. Once more, the sensation returned—clearer, more real.

Alynia (calm but attentive): "Keep going. You're almost there."

Her voice was soft, yet carried an authority that pushed Veil to maintain his focus. He concentrated harder, finally feeling a fragile connection with the water. It was subtle, almost delicate, but he could sense its movement, its fluidity, as if it resonated with his own inner rhythm.

Veil (internal thought, in awe): I can feel it… It's moving… It's alive.

Alynia (approving): "It's a start. But don't get comfortable. Water can slip through your fingers the moment you lose focus."

Veil slowly opened his eyes, meeting Alynia's gaze. A spark of hope shone in his own, even though his exhaustion was evident. The connection was weak, but it was there.

Alynia (dry but encouraging): "Do it again. Until you can hold it without shaking."

She returned to the fire, leaving Veil to his training. His silhouette remained motionless before the small puddle, his thoughts consumed by a single idea: I have to succeed.

Minutes stretched into hours. The light inside the cave shifted subtly as the sun continued its path across the sky. Veil was still there, focused, his hand extended over the water. Despite his repeated efforts, the imaginary thread of mana he tried to extend either broke before reaching the surface or failed to establish a stable connection.

Veil (internal thought, frustrated): Why isn't it working? I felt it this morning… I did it!

His shoulders tensed, and he let out an annoyed sigh, his breath faintly echoing through the cave. Behind him, Alynia approached, adjusting her fur-lined cloak. She observed Veil for a moment, her expression unreadable.

Alynia (calm but firm): "I'm heading out. We need food if we're going to last the next few days."

She grabbed her dagger, secured it to her belt, and cast one last glance at Veil. Her blue eyes held a faint, almost gentle glimmer, though her tone remained pragmatic.

Alynia (as she left): "Don't force it. Water doesn't follow orders. If you want to connect with it, you have to calm yourself. Align your mana with its fluidity, its softness. Otherwise, you'll lose more than just time."

She disappeared at the entrance of the cave, leaving Veil alone with his thoughts and his wavering determination. He clenched his teeth, his fists tightening briefly before releasing their tension. Taking a deep breath, he resumed his exercise, staring intently at the small puddle in front of him.

Time passed, and his attempts continued to fail. He could feel his mana, he could visualize it, but the connection kept breaking. A dull frustration took hold of him, a simmering anger directed as much at himself as at this seemingly insurmountable exercise.

Veil (internal thought, irritated): This is stupid. How can a thread connect to water? It moves, it slips away… It's impossible to control.

The irritation eventually boiled to the surface. His breathing grew faster, his thoughts clashing against each other, and he began forcing his will onto the process. Instead of guiding the thread of mana, he attempted to hurl it forward, shoving it violently toward the water, as if he could force it to obey.

That was the state Alynia found him in when she returned, two CryoWolves lying lifeless over her shoulders. She quickly dropped the carcasses at the cave's entrance, her gaze immediately locking onto Veil. Her ears perked up, sensing the agitation radiating from him.

Alynia (sharp tone): "Stop! Now!"

But her words came too late. Veil pushed even harder, his mind filled with raw, chaotic intent. The water reacted almost instantly, as if rejecting his attempt to dominate it. The thread of mana snapped violently, and a thin splash shot up from the puddle—fast as a blade.

The droplet grazed Veil's cheek, leaving a thin cut in its wake. He recoiled abruptly, his hand instinctively reaching for his face. A single drop of blood beaded on his skin, faintly glistening in the dim light.

Veil (internal thought, shocked): That was… the water? It hurt me?

Alynia stepped forward quickly, her expression dark and her eyes cold. She positioned herself in front of him, fixing him with an intensity that made his anger falter.

Alynia (harsh voice): "I told you not to force it. Mana isn't a blunt weapon, Veil. It's harmony. If you try to break water with your will, it will throw your strength right back in your face."

She sighed, shaking her head slightly before pulling a piece of cloth from her pocket and holding it out to Veil.

Alynia (calmer, but sharp): "Wipe yourself off. And try again… but this time, listen to what I told you."

Veil took the cloth without a word, his eyes lowered, his breathing still unsteady. He wiped his cheek, feeling a sting of shame rise within him. But beneath that shame, a new resolve was taking shape. He couldn't fail.

Alynia absentmindedly wiped her bloodied hands on a piece of cloth as she skinned one of the CryoWolves, her ears subtly turned toward Veil to keep track of his every movement.

Alynia (calm tone): "You need to calm down. Your mind is too restless. The elements don't follow brute force, Little Wolf. They follow harmony. Breathe."

Those words, though spoken without harshness, struck Veil like a truth he had refused to accept until now. He closed his eyes, trying to push away the frustration still boiling inside him. Every stray thought, every doubt—he had to let them go. It wasn't just about controlling mana; it was about harmonizing with it, with the water.

In his mind, Alynia's image surfaced—her gaze firm yet never cruel, her movements precise and measured, and her words which, even in their coldness, carried undeniable wisdom.

Veil (internal thought): She's right… She's been right from the start. If I want to succeed, I have to listen to her.

Taking a deep breath, he extended his hand over the puddle, his fingers slightly spread apart. He let Alynia's image guide his calm—the blend of strength and softness she carried becoming his anchor. His breathing steadied, his muscles relaxed, and his mind began to settle.

He felt the mana flow once more—a silent, fluid river coursing through him. He guided that energy toward his hand, envisioning it weaving into invisible threads, delicate yet resilient. He pictured those threads extending, reaching the surface of the water, and gently latching onto it, allowing themselves to be carried by the liquid's natural movement.

Alynia, discreetly keeping an eye on him while continuing to skin the CryoWolf, slightly furrowed her brows. Then, her ears suddenly perked up, and her eyes widened in surprise.

Alynia (internal thought): He did it…

The surface of the puddle began to ripple faintly, irregular waves appearing and slowly spreading outward.

Alynia (straightening slightly): "Look, Little Wolf. You did it."

Veil opened his eyes at her words. His breath caught for a brief moment as he saw the ripples on the water. They weren't caused by the wind—there was no breeze. The forest was calm, almost motionless. No, these waves came from him, from his connection with mana and the water.

A timid but sincere smile stretched across his lips. But that emotion, though encouraging, made his concentration waver. The thread of mana he had been holding suddenly snapped. The water stilled once more, as if nothing had happened.

Veil lowered his eyes slightly, frustrated by his loss of control, but Alynia intervened immediately.

Alynia (steady tone): "That's enough for today, Little Wolf. You've taken a huge step. Now, rest. Eat."

She spoke with a certain firmness, but her voice carried a note of approval that was hard to ignore. She returned to the fire, leaving Veil time to process what he had just accomplished and to collect himself.

The fading light of the day bathed the cave in a soft twilight, yet the positive note of this moment was enough to warm the atmosphere. The frustration and doubts that had weighed on Veil now felt distant, replaced by a newfound motivation.

Thus, the second day came to an end, marking a decisive breakthrough in his training and solidifying his resolve to grow stronger.