13 White Forest (07)
After Silver started eating those snacks Zed figured that he ate things with rich mana and energy, at least until he grows up a little. Because even though the meat he first took out was filled with nutrients and lot of energy this little Leo cub did not like it.
After feeding some of those Zed focused on his earlier discovery, now he could see the mana in the surrounding would always flow in an irregular turbulent glow. Even the mana released by him would only flow straight for a small distance and then start flowing in this turbulent flow.
He could to a certain extent make it flow in a straight line but it felt to him as going against a certain flow and affected its effects slightly. But that small hindrance was enough to make Zed uncomfortable.
So he observed and made his mana follow the turbulent flow as it felt a natural and steady road just made for mana.
Now he could feel a lot easier while controlling mana and make it do as he intended to, at least to a certain extent.
Eva too would release mana from time to time controlling it and playing with it.
Zed looked at her and noticed that his way of controlling mana seems to lack in comparison. But he also understood that it was probably because she was more connected to natural energies.
He continued to practice mana control for a few hours and after Silver completely ate his fill he motioned him to come closer.
Silver came near him while licking the leftover taste from his fur near the mouth. He did not bare his fangs against Zed after his mother left it seemed like he considered him as an ally.
Zed produced some mana and controlled it to shape it into small threads. After pointing at them he instructed his companion to do as well.
But his little companion did not even consider his instructions and found a warm place near the fireplace Zed made. Before long he was snoring in a low voice.
Zed looked at him and glance at Eva who was playing with mana liquid she created.
Eva felt his intention and said as if obvious.
"He is a child born not long ago so he only knows to eat, sleep, go poop and hunt when hungry and those are his instincts."
Zed frowned at that explanation because he did not want his companion to just sleep all day long. But he could do nothing about it for now so ignored it and got back to his practice again.
He controlled his mana again and made it float in front of him. He slowly concentrated and made that mana compress slowly.
After compressing it became a little fist size ball of mana but not in liquid or solid form.
It was still in its gaseous form with Zed's unique white colour.
After compressing it, he let it go and it spread quickly in the surrounding. He did that to observe the surrounding mana's reaction to his own.
Then noticed that just like when he tried to control mana to move around; the mana he compressed and release also followed the straight line in the beginning but transformed in turbulent flow midway.
He did that for a few times and felt that he could now absorb and manipulate mana better.
He continued to do that till sunrise. Eva would play beside him for some time then go take a walk in the forest and come back smiling and laughing to herself from time to time.
Zed did not know what she did or where did she go but it was not like he wanted to know everything about her so he did not mind it that much.
After feeding Silver and keeping his camp materials he started walking again in his previously decided direction.
He would observe plants and different trees along the way. Silver would chase some small insects if that caught his attention. Whereas Eva would sit on Zed's head playing with his short white hairs.
She liked how his hair was smooth and soft to touch so she liked to play around with them. It was not just because of his softness but they also would release mana making Eva comfortable.
She made his head as a mobile throne for herself and every time he started walking she would sit on his head.
Zed would observe his surrounding living things and take note of them.
But even though he was looking around he did not stop practising. His grandfather always said to him splitting attention is very important for mages.
Sometimes they would be required to do multiple things at the same time. So he would practice and observe his surrounding by splitting his attention.
This time he was controlling the temperature in his surrounding with mana. Some times he would make it cold and sometimes hot.
He would do so by transferring specific heat away from him by using mana as a conductor or by bringing closer to him from surroundings.
He felt this ability was definitely a convenient way of living so he made a small rune on his clothes. Making basic runes like this was not difficult for him and his clothes were special so he did not have to worry about damaging them.
As long as he wanted to, he could simply erase those runes at any time.
He made strings using mana as a material and shaped them into runes he wanted.
After felling his body temperature stable he continued to walk. because its effects were not only limited to him Eva also enjoyed the refreshing feeling.
Even though this forest was not particularly humid or hot because of constant mana flow she still felt a little uncomfortable, only when she was on Zed's head did she relaxed.
After making the temperature comfortable Zed glanced at Silver his little life partner. He was now feeling a little refreshed so swung his tail and mane slowly, Zed did not know why but this companion of his loved to sway his little mane along his body.
After seeing him walk beside him and instructing Eva to keep an eye on him, he returned to his practice.
This time he controlled the cold and hot air particles in the surroundings making them spin and move around each other.
After moving them for some time he could feel the air being agitated and produce wind. The wind he produced did not follow in one direction but everywhere it found an opening.
He continued to practice and slowly able to control the wind direction. He could not produce wind continuously because the hot and cold air would be spent after some time.
Slowly he started to get the hang of it and was able to use mana again as a transporter and make it bring in hot and cold air particles.
He also found a way to make wind with the help of his heat transfer technique he learned before. By using it he could separate heat and make hot and cold particles at the same time.
He wanted to learn how to produce wind because he wanted to be better at reducing interference while moving at a fast speed.
Of course, he could use mana directly as it was an all-purpose energy and matter combination by making shield or making it move air in the front but he felt it was a little waste to always make mana move around.
He wanted to make use of his own produced wind to reduce friction and make it interfere with the air. Besides, it was pretty much the same work but using wind he could reduce his energy usage and less tiring on his mental consumption.
He still could not use the wind to propel himself forward because of how he could not control its direction but he was learning it step by step.
After having succeeded in producing he noticed that Eva was looking at him displeased a little whereas little Silver as covered in leaves and dirt on his fur. Silver looked very sad as he continued to lick his mane and a small tail.
Eva did not say anything and floated to his head again and sat down but Zed noticed she still was pouting.
Zed waved his hand a little and a water bubble appeared splashing on top little Silver suddenly. He jumped in the air unprepared for the sudden rainfall.
After coming down he glared at Eva as if she was his mortal enemy.
Zed found this funny as he knew that because of him being ally this little fella did not suspect him so the only culprit for his sudden attack was this small bird who flies around.
Eva still angry at Zed glared back at Silver and produced a small water ball. Seeing this water ball made Silver even warier of her as he bared his fangs and glanced at Zed as if to warn him about this enemy.
Zed waved his hand and produced a gentle heatwave around Silver drying him up. Immediately after little Silver glowed his eyes and looked at Zed as he felt that this ally of his was definitely caring, unlike this enemy. He glared at Eva again making her produce two more water balls and make them float around her small head.
Zed stepped in and said breaking their tension a bit.
"Ok now stop this. Silver you were dirty so that water was just t clean you up."
Little Silver calmed down a little and started to lick his fur to comb it neatly. Eva looked at her contracted partner with a more angry expression.
Zed finally gave in and apologized.
"Sorry alright! It was a mistake to play with the wind without knowing anything. Just take it as beginner mistake and it won't happen that much in the future."
Eva was starting to feel better at his apology but frowned at how he said that it won't happen much meaning it was possible to happen nonetheless.
She felt a little worried about her mobile throne. Where would she sit on if Zed always did his practice every time? Suddenly as if realising something she looked at little Silver who was licking his fur and paws and her eyes glowed a little.
Silver immediately felt a gaze on him and became alert again and glared at the most suspected enemy possible. He glared at Eva again.
Zed looked at these happenings felt a little refreshed from his practice.
