Genesis of Arcadia

"Now, close your eyes" Sakaguchi instructed, his tone calm but firm. "Breathe deeply, focus, and feel the mana in your surroundings. It's all around you—flowing through the grass, the air, even within your own body."

Arc obeyed, shutting his eyes tightly and taking deep, steady breaths. At first, there was nothing but the sound of his own breathing and the occasional rustle of the grass in the wind. Minutes turned to hours, and fatigue began to set in.

Then, Sakaguchi's keen ears caught a faint cracking sound. He opened his eyes, his expression sharpening as he noticed a faint white glow beginning to emanate from Arc. The glow shimmered, shifting into a light reddish hue.

"Focus, Arc," Sakaguchi said, his voice steady but commanding. "You're doing it right, but you have to focus more. Don't lose control."

Arc clenched his fists, his breathing deepening as the reddish glow fluctuated, eventually fading back to a pure white light. Moments later, it shifted again, this time to a soft, ethereal blue.

"Keep going, just a bit more," Sakaguchi encouraged, watching intently. "And focus!"

Arc heard Sakaguchi's words but barely registered them. His mind was entirely consumed by the task at hand. It was as though his other senses were slowly being muted, leaving him in a void where only the ebb and flow of mana existed.

'Just a bit more…' Arc thought, his concentration narrowing to a razor's edge.

As time passed, something shifted within him. He felt an overwhelming sensation, as if the very essence of the world was reaching out to him, wrapping around him, pulling him into its embrace. The mana wasn't just an external force—it was a part of him, coursing through his veins like a second heartbeat.

Suddenly, as Arc finally felt the flow of mana within and around him, Sakaguchi's commanding voice cut through his intense focus.

"Now focus on your body and locate your Soul Gem," Sakaguchi instructed. "Once you find it, channel all the mana you've gathered into it. Make it function."

Arc's mind latched onto the instruction. With his senses attuned to the mana, he began to guide it inward, sweeping through his body as though exploring an uncharted map. He could feel every part of himself in vivid detail—the pulse of energy coursing through his veins, the subtle hum of life in his limbs.

And then he found it.

Deep in his abdomen, there was something... distinct. A core unlike anything else in his body. It radiated a faint warmth, dormant yet brimming with potential. 'This must be it' he thought.

Gritting his teeth, Arc focused his will, commanding all the mana he had drawn in to converge on this mysterious core. The mana obeyed, flowing like a river into the Soul Gem. The process felt like a dam being breached, the pressure mounting as more and more energy surged toward the gem.

Then, suddenly—

Crack!

A burst of light erupted from Arc's abdomen, illuminating the grassfield in a brilliant display. The air around him grew heavy with energy, and the faint hum of mana turned into a roaring symphony that seemed to shake the ground and alert the beasts within the vicinity.

Arc's eyes shot open, glowing faintly with a shimmering blue hue. His body felt both weightless and electrified, as if he were connected to everything around him. But the sensation wasn't just power—it was clarity, like seeing the world through an entirely new lens.

Sakaguchi's calm voice brought Arc back to reality. "Good. It seems you've awakened your Soul Gem," he said, his tone holding a hint of approval. "Now, let's move to the next step. Hold this wooden blade and channel your mana through it."

Sakaguchi handed Arc a wooden katana, its surface smooth but unremarkable. Arc gripped it tightly, his hands trembling slightly from the residual energy still coursing through him.

"Focus your mana" Sakaguchi instructed. "Direct it into the blade, just like you did with your Soul Gem. Let it flow naturally."

Arc nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He closed his eyes and reached inward, feeling the faint pulse of mana within him. Slowly, he willed the energy to move from his core, traveling through his arms and into the wooden blade.

At first, nothing happened. Arc furrowed his brows in concentration, pushing harder. Then, just as doubt began to creep in, the blade started to glow—a faint, pure white light radiating along its length.

For a brief moment, the glow intensified, illuminating the immediate area. But just as quickly as it had appeared, the light faded, leaving the wooden katana looking as plain as it had before.

Arc opened his eyes, his expression a mix of confusion and disappointment. "It... it didn't last," he muttered.

Sakaguchi studied the blade and then Arc with a thoughtful gaze. "It's a start" he said, his tone measured. "You managed to channel mana, but your control is still weak. That's to be expected for a beginner."

Arc let out a frustrated sigh, gripping the blade tighter. "What does this mean? Is there something wrong with me?"

Sakaguchi shook his head. "No, it means you need practice. Control takes time, discipline, and understanding. You've awakened your mana, but that's only the first step. The fact that you managed to make the blade glow at all is a good sign."

"For now, let's head back. The sun is setting" Sakaguchi said, standing and dusting off his kimono. "You go on ahead. I'll clean things up here."

Arc blinked in surprise, glancing at the horizon where the sky was painted in hues of orange and purple. It was only then that he realized how much time had passed. The entire day had slipped away while he focused on awakening his Soul Gem.

"Wait... it took me all day?" Arc asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Sakaguchi chuckled lightly. "Opening a Soul Gem is no small feat. For most, it takes weeks of effort—sometimes months. The fact that you did it in a day speaks volumes. Now go, rest. You'll need it for tomorrow."

"Alright" Arc said, as he turned and began making his way back toward the cabin.

Minutes later, as Sakaguchi saw Arc's figure disappear into the forest in the distance, he sighed and stretched his arms.

'Time to clean up' Sakaguchi thought,

He then suddenly unsheathed his blade and swung it to his side—

Clang!

A sudden metallic crash echoed through the grassfield. A heavy figure came crashing down on Sakaguchi from above, his strike met with a flawless parry.

"I see your senses haven't dulled, Sakaguchi," said the attacker.