The training ground was a vast, open space just beyond Captain D’Brieck’s office. Towering trees lined its perimeter, their branches swaying lazily in the afternoon breeze. The scent of damp earth mingled with the distant aroma of burning wood from the nearby barracks. It was a place of discipline, of sweat and hardship, where countless warriors had honed their craft under the watchful eye of Eastend Town’s fiery captain.
Jim and Jill sat cross-legged on the ground, their backs straight, mirroring the meditative stance of Captain D’Brieck, who faced them with his arms resting on his knees. Gristie stood nearby, arms folded, watching the lesson unfold with mild amusement.
D’Brieck cracked his knuckles and exhaled. “Right, listen up. Mana isn’t something you can just grab hold of—it’s all
