The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, but the training hadn't started yet. Shilad stood before Marcus with a calm expression, as if everything around him had slowed down while he remained in a state of complete relaxation.
"Alright, Maiko, we're going to begin with the first real exercise now," said Shilad with a smile, though Marcus sensed something strange in the word.
"I think you've got my name wrong, Master," said Marcus, narrowing his eyes, "My name is Marcus, not Maiko."
Shilad chuckled teasingly. "Is it really a problem? Marcus, Maiko... in the end, it doesn't change anything."
"You know it bothers me when you call me the wrong name," Marcus replied, his face serious as he caught his breath.
"Alright, alright, Marcus," said Shilad, waving his hand as if dismissing the issue entirely. "But don't expect me to be precise all the time. I'm more interested in seeing how far you've come in your training."
Shilad began moving his hand through the air, as if something invisible was dancing between his fingers. "Now, let me explain something important before we begin. Sensation isn't just observation; it's living the moment, feeling the energies around you, and understanding everything."
Marcus asked with skeptical eyes, "What do you mean?"
Shilad grinned in his usual mischievous way, "Everything around you has energy. You have energy. But can you feel it? Can you move with it as if it's an extension of your body?"
Marcus closed his eyes, trying to focus, his hands following Shilad's movements that seemed unclear.
"Sensation... just feel it," Shilad said in a quiet tone, then added with a playful note, "You might not get it the first time, or the second, or even the tenth. But you'll get it eventually."
Marcus sat on the ground, completely focused, trying to calm his mind and focus on every speck of energy around him. Then, suddenly, he felt something unfamiliar. There was something hidden, vibrating in the air around him, something moving faintly.
"Well, good job, Marcus. But what you need now is organization," said Shilad, extending his hand to guide him.
"What's organization?" asked Marcus, still feeling frustrated that he couldn't fully grasp the sensation.
"Organization is taking this energy and making it work for you. It's like managing your body. You need to manage your energy. Let it flow inside you like water, but don't let it lose its form," Shilad said, stepping closer to him. "Now, open your hands parallel to the ground and try to draw the energy you felt toward you."
Marcus tried to do as he was told, but felt the energy refuse to gather in his hands. It felt as if his hands were empty, and every time he tried to move the energy, it scattered away.
"Everything depends on feeling, Marcus," Shilad said with quiet encouragement. "If you're relaxed, you'll be able to direct your energy. If you're tense, it will scatter."
Moments passed, and Marcus tried again. Then, suddenly, he felt something change in his body. The energy moved through him more smoothly. In that moment, he felt as if his hands were more sensitive to the air, to the energy surrounding him.
"Good, but don't stop here," Shilad said in a firm tone, as if danger followed every step. "Now, let's move on to reinforcement. This is important because it will ensure you continue to grow."
"Reinforcement? How?" asked Marcus, amazed by the speed of the changes in the training.
"Reinforcement is strengthening your internal energy. It's like building your muscles. Think of your energy as a flexible tool, but to use it more effectively, you need to strengthen it," Shilad said, extending his hand toward Marcus.
Marcus closed his eyes again and focused on reinforcing the energy inside his body. He felt something begin to grow deep within him, as if small roots were spreading, strengthening, and intertwining.
"You're on the right path," Shilad said with a smile. "But there's one more thing you need to learn: vision."
"Vision?" Marcus asked, trying to stay focused on what he was learning.
"Vision is the ability to perceive energy, to see it as part of the world itself. Some people can see energy as light or waves, while others can only feel it," Shilad said, watching Marcus carefully.
Marcus lifted his head, trying to see what was around him, attempting to move beyond the physical to reach the unseen.
In that moment, the energy around him began to take shape clearly. He saw it dancing in the air, moving with the wind. Although his vision wasn't complete, something inside him began to respond.
"You're starting to understand things on a deeper level, Marcus," Shilad said with a smile. "But everything takes time. This is just the beginning."