That night, after a bath and enough food to feed a family of four, Arn sat down in bed with the book Elder Dannis gave him. Arn chuckled at the pretentious title, “The Path To Power” and flipped the page to the introduction:

One of the great secrets of this world is that while the great mages learn the flashiest uses of the highest concentrations of mana, they often fail to truly master the most basic uses of their gifts. With time, dedication and skill, the common man can perform amazing feats with the magi’s disdained skills. He can learn to extend a cloak of mana around him, gaining knowledge of blades or arrows he cannot see, and, in time, even the ability to deflect them. He can learn to turn mana into light, and, with true dedication, to blind an enemy. While the master mage may cackle with glee while using “Invisible Hammer” to knock down trees, the disciple of this, my life’s great work, will learn to wield his much smaller force with far greater finesse. The Archmage may disdain poking an eye or tripping a foot, but these skills, if mastered, will save your life time and time again. It is a fact that the mightiest mages and wizards often die due to their infatuation with their most powerful arts, felled by an arrow just as their impenetrable barrier falls, or stabbed in the back as they finish unleashing a mighty firestorm. The path we now walk may seem less glorious, but you will live and grow. This is the true path to power.

Arn’s eyes lit up. Hmm, seems the old coot was right. This book and these skills are worth more than their weight in gold. Arn turned to the first chapter:

Every journey begins with a single step. Unfocus your eyes, and see what others do not, the mana all around you. I can give you no further guidance other than to keep trying, although, in truth, you may succeed when you least expect it. For example, some first see mana as they awake. Regardless, you will see mana if you keep at it. Once you do, the trick is reaching for that same state, that same feeling.

The frustration you may feel at this stage is understandable. Understand that you have not chosen an easy path, and that reaching your destination requires, most of all, the willingness to keep walking no matter the obstacles you face. Walk the path with conviction, and you will move forward in time.

Arn was shocked to see that this was the end of the first chapter; two small paragraphs filled with platitudes and little to no real guidance. Turning the page, he saw that the next “chapter” described learning to manipulate mana in equally vague terms.

Having learned to see mana, you must learn to feel it. While there is no one single approach that works for all, I instruct my students to try and extend their awareness into the mana they wish to manipulate. Try and become one with the mana, only trying to manipulate the mana once you can feel it in the same way you feel your arm. You don’t grab, push or pull your arm, for it is yours. Admittedly, many students feel great frustration at this stage. Cast such frustration aside, make consistent efforts part of your daily ritual, and you will succeed in time.

Arn could hardly believe that the so-called guidebook was nothing but platitudes. Great. I like puzzles, but this is flipping ridiculous. Sigh. Nothing for it but to try.

Arn tried various combinations of focusing and unfocusing his eyes, squinting, straining, relaxing and every variation he could think of, but saw nothing unexpected. Exhausted, he laid down to sleep, concluding that Elder Dannis had been right after all; he would curse the old man’s recommendations.