its been a year and Levi just finished his training
Levi wiped sweat from his brow.
"How long has it been..."
"Time flies by too fast."
Valerie snickered.
"When I first met you..."
"You were as strong, or a little stronger than me. Now you can defeat me easily."
Captain Altharion entered the training hall.
"Have you two finished? Let me speak with you both."
Levi and Valerie stepped closer.
"What is it, Captain?"
"I was walking near the plaza and heard rumors the nearby kingdom is planning war."
Levi and Valerie exchanged a look.
"We do not know if it is true. We will have to see."
"Start your training at three times the usual intensity."
"OH COME ON, CAPTAIN!!"
"It is for your own safety."
"Duel with other knights," the Captain ordered.
"I will inform the king, even if these are just rumors."
Levi and Valerie resumed dueling as the Captain left.
"Sigh."
The Captain muttered as he headed for the throne room.
"I hope we do not go to war. Just when I thought I would grow old without fighting in one."
"What is it now, Altharion?"
Maverick looked up from his desk.
"Rumors in the plaza say the nearby kingdom I forgot the name is planning war."
"Let me guess. Ravenholt..."
Maverick narrowed his eyes.
"Something like that, Your Highness."
"That man Corvin Noctis..."
"my memory is fuzzy, but I recall besting him long ago."
"I did not think someone could hold a grudge that long."
"Prepare the soldiers."
"Increase training. Put everyone on high alert and do anything to boost morale."
"Will do, Your Highness."
Altharion left the throne room.
"Your Highness,"
the Senior Captain said as he entered, grim-faced.
"The spies we planted in Ravenholt confirm they are planning an attack. It has something to do with Levi's stigmata."
"I see."
Maverick folded his hands.
"I knew they despised followers of the Goddess. That incident a year ago ties to them."
"Indeed, Your Highness."
"Prepare for war, then. If it comes, we must be ready."
"Will do."
The Senior Captain bowed and left.
"I did not expect this so soon."
Maverick gave a short laugh.
"If it comes to war not that we'll lose right, Kael?"
a soldier stepped from the shadows the man named Kael joined them.
"Yes, Your Highness. We will win. After assessing your son's potential, victory is certain."
"Quite the keen eye. You have aged, but your talents remain. Fitting for the captain of Ashen Veil."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"I have not fought in a while."
Maverick rubbed his hands together.
"Looks like I will get exercise for this damned old body."
Across the training yard steel rang as Levi and Valerie clashed.
"Aren't you tired yet?"
Valerie held her guard steady.
"When war is coming, we will need to be prepared."
"Good point."
A few hours later Levi sat alone in his room.
"Let's see my mana. I forgot to check it this time."
Levi closed his eyes and meditated.
Black and red mana rolled in his vision like a churning sea.
Levi panted.
"I have grown."
He smiled with a touch of pride.
"To think I was a jester in my past life, and now a prodigy."
His lids drooped and exhaustion took him; he passed out.
He woke in the familiar mind-space and saw a figure he had not seen in a while.
"Oh hello."
Levi grinned at the apparition.
"Appearing out of the blue again, huh? Get it cause you're red and stuff."
Pyrathera's eyes flashed.
"Do not piss me off as soon as you meet me again."
"Oh come on. It is not that bad a joke."
Pyrathera scanned his mana.
"Quite the capacity."
"But it is running rampant. Dangerous if you do not handle it."
"wonder why would I help? Because you entertain me, like a jester."
"Huh, so it is bad?"
"No shit."
Pyrathera's tone was blunt.
"Tell me would you choose balance or chaos?"
"Balance, I guess."
"You do not have that."
"Your mana capacity exceeds above average maybe even a prodigy's. But you have not trained to control it."
"So you will teach me?"
"Wait you have not trained it for the past year?"
Levi nodded.
Pyrathera facepalmed.
"Fine. Levi, I will teach you this time. And because you are amusing."
Levi brightened.
"So how do I control it?"
"Put your mana into something."
"Envision a fireball, or channel it into your weapon."
"Use your fire attribute on the sword I gave you. Try it in the real world."
Levi woke at once.
"Huh. I did not know it could be that simple."
He rushed outside to practice.
He pictured a fireball. A small spark formed and died.
"Or maybe not that simple," he muttered.
He tried again and again.
"It will not work." He coughed blood after pushing too far.
"Shit. WHY WILL IT NOT WORK?"
He forced himself to calm, then pushed harder and produced a small, steady fireball.
"FINALLY. I HAVE DONE IT. A fireball."
Valerie passed by and watched.
"This is my first time seeing you use mana."
Valerie studied his trembling hands.
"You said you had mana a year ago."
Levi flushed.
"I did."
"Then why have you not been using it?" Valerie demanded.
Valerie's smug smile vanished.
"Why have YOU not been using it?" she repeated, angrier.
Levi covered his ears.
"Peace and prosperity," he murmured to steady himself.
He thought to himself.
'I have not read anything about mana except what the Captain taught me.'
Levi left for the library.
"HEY, YOU BASTARD, WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?"
Valerie chased after him down the corridor.
Levi kept walking toward the stacks.
He clutched the new, dangerous piece of himself and felt the clocks ticking faster than ever.