Arthur's intent sharpened his perception.
Slowly he felt the mana around his body.
It was faint.
Almost like the feeling of warm air brushing against skin.
"That must be it."
He remembered how Lyra's mana felt.
Dense, calm but protective.
Arthur tried to imitate that.
He guided his own mana outward carefully and gently.
The idea was simple in his mind.
Let the mana flow out and coat the body.
Just like a layer of armor.
But the moment he tried…
The mana slipped away.
Arthur opened one eye.
"…That's harder than it looks."
He closed his eyes again and tried once more.
This time he moved slower.
Mana flowed through his chest and down his arms.
He pushed it outward.
For a brief second he felt it spread across his skin.
Then it collapsed.
Arthur sighed.
"Alright."
He reached for another small mana potion and drank it.
Warmth filled his body again.
"Round two."
He tried again.
And again.
Sometimes the mana spread slightly before fading.
