Location: Behind Elara's Cottage – Verdan Village.
Time: Morning of the first day after the end of Arc 1.It was not the sound of birds that greeted Lirion that morning, but the throbbing ache of a headache behind his forehead. He sat cross-legged on the dewy grass, eyes closed, trying to recall the image he had memorized by heart over the past month.The First Circuit. Water Element.Three interlocking lines, a triangle in the center, a ring on the outside, with a focal point at the bottom. Theoretically, it was simple. Practically, it was a nightmare.[Daily Quest: Stabilize the First Circuit]
[Objective: Mentally draw the circuit 50 times consecutively without disruption.]
[Progress: 12/50]
[Warning: Neural Pathway Stability at 85%. Risk of internal collapse present.]Lirion whispered, cold sweat dripping from his temple, "I can see the lines clearly... why do they collapse?"In his consciousness, the blue circuit formed, but as soon as he tried to pump mana into it, it would tremble and then evaporate like smoke.[System Analysis: The body is a strong vessel, but the mind is still crude. The neural pathways for mana have not yet been paved. You are trying to force a river through a narrow channel.]Lirion took a deep breath, using the Stone's breathing technique. His heartbeat slowed. He began again. This time, he did not try to force the mana, but invited it to follow the path.The circuit appeared above his palm in reality, translucent blue, the size of his hand.One second... two seconds...The circuit began to vibrate. The outer line warped slightly.[Alert: Circuit Stability at 80%. 100% Required.]"Don't collapse on me now," Lirion gritted his teeth. The mental pressure felt like a hammering headache.Suddenly, the Stone intervened. A warm sensation spread through his chest, as if an invisible hand had caught the trembling lines and held them in place.[Auto-Stabilization Assist Activated. Additional Mana Consumption: 5%.]The circuit stabilized. It completed the required ten seconds before fading away.[13/50 Completed.]Lirion collapsed onto his back, gasping. It wasn't physical exhaustion this time, but mental fatigue."So," he thought, wiping the sweat from his brow. "The Stone doesn't draw the circuit for me... it only steadies my hand when it trembles. The rest is up to me."He looked at his hand. It was trembling slightly from mental strain, not physical exertion."I will make this circuit part of my body," he vowed. "By the time of the festival, I will draw it in less than a second, and I will make it as solid as steel."