Travis sat cross-legged in the center of the dimly lit prison, the rough stone floor pressing uncomfortably against his legs. His eyes were closed, his breaths slow and deliberate, but the weight of Xavier’s gaze bore down on him like an anchor. He could feel it—a silent, unrelenting intensity that made his skin crawl.


    '' Why did I even agree to this? ''he thought, the question echoing in his mind like a mocking refrain.


    ---


    A few minutes earlier...


    “So, let me get this straight,” Travis said, narrowing his eyes at Xavier, who leaned casually against the cold, iron bars. “You want me to break my mana pool—which, correct me if I’m wrong, could literally kill me. Did I hear that correctly?”


    Xavier gave a nonchalant shrug, his face an infuriating mix of seriousness and amusement. “Yeah, pretty much.”


    For a moment, silence hung in the air before Travis burst into laughter. It wasn’t the kind of laugh born from humor but from disbelief. Xavier joined in, his chuckle low and genuine, as if they were sharing some inside joke that Travis didn’t fully understand. But the mirth quickly faded, and Travis shook his head, his face hardening.


    “I’m not doing it,” he said flatly. “What if I actually die? From the way you told it, you were practically at death’s door.”


    Xavier grinned, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I mean, yeah. My heart did stop for a few minutes, but hey, I’m still here. I promise, it’ll all make sense when you’re done.”


    “That makes no sense at all!” Travis shouted, running a hand through his hair as he paced the small room. The uneven floor creaked beneath his boots, amplifying the tension in the space. “Ahhh, fuck, why did I agree to this?”


    Xavier straightened, his usually easygoing demeanor replaced with a grim determination. “Kid, listen to me. If I don’t teach you this now, I won’t be able to pass on in peace. You won’t die. The only reason I stopped breathing was because I was alone. But you won’t be. If it comes to it, I’ll pump your damn heart myself, okay?”


    Travis froze mid-step, his jaw tightening. The defiance on his face softened just slightly, replaced by a flicker of something else—curiosity? A yearning to know what Xavier seemed so desperate to teach him? He hated to admit it, but a part of him wanted to take the risk, to see if he could survive and come out stronger, just as Xavier had.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He let out a long, reluctant sigh and nodded. “Alright, fuck. What do I have to do?”


    Xavier’s serious expression melted into a satisfied grin, his eyes glinting with a mix of pride and anticipation. “Good. Now, let me explain what you’re going to do.”


    People’s mana pools grow the more they utilize them, granting greater potential as they expand. A larger pool provides immense power, making those with abundant mana reserves the most formidable combatants. However, this strength comes with a risk: overexertion can drain the pool entirely, leaving an individual vulnerable and ineffective.


    Xavier’s plan for Travis was radical: he wanted him to break through the natural limits of his mana pool, allowing a continuous, unrestricted flow of energy—a feat that bordered on the impossible for most.


    Now, Travis sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, his jaw clenched as he prepared to follow Xavier''s instructions. The room felt oppressive, as though the air itself weighed heavier than before.


    '' Fuck, I hate this,'' he thought bitterly.


    Taking a deep breath, Travis began channeling his energy, diving into the core of his being where the reservoir of mana resided. Mana, the life force that intertwined with every living thing, pulsed within him like a second heartbeat. It was the essence of his existence, yet even now, it felt volatile, untamed.


    The moment he reached out to his mana pool, a crushing pressure surged through his chest, making him wince. Pain spread like wildfire, and sweat began to bead on his brow, trailing down his face in rivulets. His breathing grew ragged, yet he held his ground, refusing to give in.


    Unseen to the naked eye, his mana pool expanded, stretching far beyond its previous boundaries as it pulled energy from the environment. The air in the room thickened, vibrating with raw energy as a swirling vortex of mana particles began to form around him.


    The ground beneath him trembled, faint at first, then growing more violent as the energy intensified. Cracks formed along the stone floor, and the once-quiet room erupted into chaos, with objects rattling and crashing to the ground.


    Xavier stood to the side, arms crossed, watching with a satisfied grin.


    '' I knew it, '' he thought, his heart swelling with pride. '' He’s a natural. It took me a whole year to even come close to this.''


    Then, with an audible crack, the invisible walls of Travis’s mana pool shattered. The energy that had been trapped within burst forth, releasing a powerful gust that sent a deafening roar through the room. Xavier braced himself as a wave of force swept past him, scattering debris.


    Travis’s eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with mana. He gasped as he felt his body flood with revitalizing energy, the previous pain and exhaustion replaced by a sense of unimaginable freedom. For the first time, the flow of mana was effortless, seamless—like breathing.


    “You did it, kid!” Xavier shouted, his voice filled with excitement. “And you didn’t even die!”


    Travis rose unsteadily to his feet, his legs trembling from the aftershock. Before he could speak, a wave of overwhelming sensations hit him. His mind was bombarded with countless presences—pulses of energy, movements, and life forces from an unimaginable distance. The sheer magnitude of it made his head throb, his knees buckling as he clutched his temples.


    “Xavier, what the hell is happening?” he groaned, his voice strained.


    Xavier stepped forward, his expression calm despite the storm of mana around them. Without hesitation, he pressed two fingers to Travis’s forehead. A soft hum resonated as a soothing warmth spread through Travis’s skull, muting the chaos.


    “Relax, kid,” Xavier said. “You’re far from ready to handle that yet, so I locked it for now. When you’re strong enough, you’ll unlock it on your own. But for now, let’s focus on the basics.”


    Travis blinked, his breathing slowly steadying as the oppressive sensation receded. He nodded cautiously. “Uh, sure. I guess.”


    Xavier’s grin returned, sharp and full of anticipation. “Good. Lesson two starts now.”


    TO BE CONTINUED