BALLAD OF THE TRACIENTS

The scene shifted from the snow-laden fields of Narn to a lush open expanse of green grass, dotted with a few scattered boulders under the warm sun. It was the first day of training for Adam and Trevor, and the stakes had never felt higher. Darius, towering over them, stood firm and imposing, his eyes locked on the two. Off to the side, Kopa waited, silent and attentive, always ready to assist Darius if necessary.

This was no ordinary day of training—it was the beginning of something that would push Adam and Trevor far beyond the limits they had thought possible. The lessons they were about to learn would be crucial in their journey to stand against the coming darkness.

Darius' voice broke the stillness, commanding and steady. "You two have already faced Razik and survived. But understand something—the difference between an Özel and a Hazël is not just about the nature of their Arcem. It's about how well they can channel and manipulate Mana."

Adam's eyes narrowed in focus, while Trevor, his usually playful demeanor tempered by the gravity of the moment, stood silently listening.

"The first thing you need to grasp is Mana Reinforcement," Darius explained, his arms crossed over his broad chest. "It's the ability to enhance your physical capabilities—your strength, speed, and durability—by channeling Mana directly into your body."

Trevor raised an eyebrow. "So, it's like... powering ourselves up with Mana? Like how we use our Grand Forms?"

Darius nodded slightly. "Yes, but it goes beyond that. You're already familiar with the basics of Mana Reinforcement without realizing it. When you faced Razik, both you and Kopa were able to survive the crushing force of his Arcem because you unconsciously reinforced your bodies with Mana."

Adam, who had been replaying the memory of their last battle in his mind, frowned slightly. "So, I was using Mana then?"

Darius glanced at him. "Yes. You reinforced your body, even though you weren't aware of it. That's what kept you from being completely crushed. Kopa had an easier time because he's a Hazël—his control over Mana is far more advanced. But you, Adam, did it on instinct. It was the only reason you survived."

The revelation hung in the air, settling in the minds of both Adam and Trevor. Mana wasn't just some external force—it was something they had been using all along, without realizing the depth of its potential.

"And that," Darius continued, his voice carrying authority, "is what separates a Hazël from an Özel. Every Hazël has mastered the art of controlling their Mana to such a degree that they can enhance their bodies beyond natural limits. That's why I was able to run straight into Razik's gravitational field and cut through his energy sphere. It's also why I could withstand his attacks without being harmed."

Trevor let out a low whistle. "That explains how you tanked that whole mess like it was nothing."

Darius chuckled slightly, the hint of a smile briefly touching his lips. "It wasn't nothing, but yes—Mana Reinforcement is a fundamental part of what makes us Hazël. You've also tapped into it unconsciously when you transform into your Grand Forms."

Trevor tilted his head. "Grand Forms?"

Darius nodded, addressing both Adam and Trevor. "Your Arcems raise your natural abilities by a factor of ten when activated. That's how you become so much stronger in your Grand Form. And when you activate your Arya's innate ability, that power increases to the factor of twenty."

Adam blinked, taking it all in. He had never even transformed into his Grand Form, let alone known the full extent of its power. He glanced down at the crescent-shaped Arya he wore around his neck, feeling the weight of its untapped potential. The Arya of Creation—his father's legacy.

Trevor, still processing, glanced over at Darius. "So, what you're saying is, we've only been using a fraction of what we're capable of?"

"Exactly," Darius replied. "But even with your Grand Forms, your power still pales in comparison to what a Hazël can do. The true difference between an Özel and a Hazël isn't just the use of an Arcem—it's the level of control they have over their Mana. And that brings us to the second key factor: Mana Output."

Darius stepped forward, holding out his arm. His eyes gleamed as a green light began to manifest in his palm. Slowly, the swirling energy grew into a concentrated sphere of Mana, pulsing with raw power. The air around them buzzed with the force of it, causing Trevor and Adam to instinctively take a step back.

"This," Darius said, his voice echoing with authority, "is a Mana Blast. What you're looking at is a Maximum Output."

The Mana swirling in his hand was almost hypnotic, and both Adam and Trevor could feel the immense pressure emanating from it. It was like standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into a churning storm.

"A Maximum Output is the highest level of energy output a Tracient can achieve. It's a devastating attack, but it comes with a heavy price. Using it drains a significant portion of your Mana, leaving you vulnerable afterward. That's why it's only used in extreme situations—when you have no other choice."

With a small flick of his wrist, Darius dissipated the energy, allowing the Mana to scatter harmlessly into the air. The hum of power that had filled the space disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"The ability to control your Mana Output," Darius continued, "is the second thing that separates Hazëls from Özel. It's not just about how much power you have—it's about how much Mana you can generate and release at will."

Adam felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He had never thought about Mana in this way—about the sheer quantity of it that a Hazël could summon. And though he had faced Razik, he now realized that his enemies were likely holding back. If he was going to stand a chance in the battles to come, he needed to push himself far beyond his current limits.

Darius turned his piercing gaze to both of them. "For today's training, I want you to manifest the weapons of your Grand Forms without transforming. You need to summon them through your control of Mana alone."

Adam's heart skipped a beat at the challenge. His Grand Weapon wasn't a simple sword or staff—it was a three-segment staff, working like a nunchuck, with a complexity that had always required the transformation to summon. He had never summoned it without his Grand Form.

Trevor, on the other hand, knew he would need to summon his staff without the full power of his Grand Maymum form—a feat he had never attempted.

Darius' voice remained steady. "You must feel the life force within you, and channel it through your Arya. You have to become one with the Mana that flows inside you and through your Arcem. Only then will you be able to control it."

Adam nodded, his expression firm. He had already accepted that the road ahead would be difficult, but he hadn't realized just how much control he would need to develop. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, reaching inward to sense the flow of Mana.

Trevor, usually more playful, was surprisingly focused, his mind clearly grappling with the task ahead.

As they concentrated, Darius stepped back and summoned his own weapon, Baltaçek, the massive axe-hammer that gleamed with the green energy of his Mana.

"For this training," Darius said, his voice calm yet filled with the weight of expectation, "I will be your opponent."

The two young Tracients exchanged a glance, steeling themselves for what was to come.

Darius wasted no time. In an instant, he rushed toward them, Baltaçek swinging with terrifying force. The ground quaked beneath his feet as he closed the distance with frightening speed. Adam and Trevor barely managed to leap back in time, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow of the axe-hammer.