Six months had passed since the start of the training. Jasper had changed a lot. His eyes, which he once considered a curse, were now under his control. He could activate and deactivate them without significant pain. The mana flowed properly around his pupils and maintained a constant regeneration. His vision was clearer, more precise, and his fatigue had decreased noticeably. He was not yet at full mastery level, but he was progressing every day.

That morning, the sun filtered gently through the leaves of the World Tree. Jasper stood at the center of the training clearing, facing Grandmother Norah. She wore a simple dress of brown fabric and stood straight, with her hands behind her back.

"Today, we are moving on to real practice," she said in a calm voice. "Attack me without holding back. Show me what you have learned."

Jasper nodded. He took a deep breath and activated his Moon Eyes. His silver irises shone with a bright glow. The world around him became sharp. He could see the flows of mana circulating in the air and around Norah’s body. He got into a fighting stance, legs bent, and leaped forward.

His first strike was a direct punch with his right fist, fast and charged with mana. Norah dodged with a simple step to the side. Jasper’s fist cut through the air without touching her. He immediately followed with a circular kick aimed at her flank. She bent down slightly and the foot passed over her head.

"Too predictable," she said without raising her voice. "Your eyes show you the flows, but you always attack in a straight line. Change the angle."

Jasper gritted his teeth and continued. He launched a series of fast strikes, alternating fists and feet. Each movement was smoother than before. His muscles responded well thanks to the months of training. Yet Norah remained out of reach. She moved with economy, no unnecessary gestures.

He tried a feint. He simulated a high strike with his left hand, then pivoted to strike low with his right leg. Norah jumped lightly and avoided the sweep. As she landed, she placed a hand on Jasper’s shoulder and pushed him gently. He lost his balance for a moment and stepped back two paces.

"Good try," she commented. "The feint is good, but your body betrays your intention. Your shoulders tense before the real strike."

Jasper caught his breath. Sweat ran down his forehead. He felt his mana circulating properly in his eyes. It allowed him to see Norah’s movements with a second’s advance over what a normal gaze would perceive. He used this vision to anticipate. He moved to the side and launched a diagonal attack, his fist wrapped in a thin layer of mana.

Norah spun around with flexibility. The strike passed a few centimeters from her back. She continued her movement and gave a light palm strike to Jasper’s back. The force was measured, but enough to send him forward. He stumbled and caught himself just in time.

"You connect your eyes to your movements well now," she said as she positioned herself facing him again. "But you forget that combat is not only a question of speed or vision. It is also a question of rhythm. You attack without pause. That makes you readable."

Jasper wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his hand. He smiled slightly despite the effort.

She extended her hand and activated a similar technique in turn. Her eyes took on a pale tint. Jasper saw the mana circulating around her with fluidity. She had almost no energy leakage.

"Attack again," she said.

Jasper launched the assault once more. This time, he varied his angles more. He ran, jumped, and attempted a descending strike. Norah dodged by stepping back. Then she suddenly advanced and placed two fingers on Jasper’s wrist just before he finished his movement. She applied light pressure. Jasper’s arm went numb for a moment.

"You see?" she explained. "You put too much force into each strike. If you miss, you lose a lot of energy. Learn to keep a reserve. Your eyes allow you to see, not to bet everything on a single strike."

They continued like this for more than an hour. Jasper attacked relentlessly. Sometimes he almost touched her, but Norah always found a way to dodge or deflect.

At one point, Jasper attempted a more complex combination. He activated his eyes to the maximum. The mana surged. He saw a small current of energy around Norah’s legs and decided to attack from above to force an opening. He jumped high and struck with both fists. Norah simply pivoted on the spot. The fists passed through empty air.

"Almost," she said with a slight smile. "You are starting to anticipate my movements. That is good."

Jasper stopped, out of breath. He deactivated his eyes and sat down on the clearing floor. Norah came and sat next to him on a thick root. She handed him a water gourd she had brought. He drank deeply.

"Thank you for the training," he said between two breaths. "Six months ago, I would not have lasted ten minutes like this. Today, I feel that I am really improving."

Norah looked at the trees around them. Her voice remained calm and pedagogical.

"You have a good foundation. Your body has gotten used to the mana circulation in your eyes. The pain has almost disappeared. But true strength does not come only from control. It comes from patience and understanding. Many in the clan gave up before reaching this stage."

Jasper stared at the ground for a moment. He was thinking about his dead friend. That thought still gave him strength.

"If I completely master my eyes, I will be able to protect those who matter."

Norah placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Tomorrow, we will add defensive movements. You will learn to use your eyes to anticipate attacks, not only to attack."

They remained seated in silence for a few minutes. The light mist of the enclave floated around them. Jasper felt his muscles tired but his mind was clear. He stood up first and extended his hand to Norah to help her up. She accepted with a small laugh.

"In two weeks, we will test your progress in a real combat simulation. Prepare yourself."

"I will be ready," replied Jasper with a nod.

They entered the cabin. Norah prepared tea as she often did after training. They sat around the low table. Jasper took a sip and felt the warmth spread through his body.

"Grandmother Norah," he asked suddenly. "I was wondering, have other members of the clan already achieved complete mastery of these eyes?"

She slowly set down her cup.

"A few, yes," she replied.

Jasper looked at his hands. He briefly activated his eyes and observed the slight flow of mana in the room. Everything was clearer. More stable.

"I see," he replied with conviction.

"It is good that you did not get discouraged right from the start," noted Grandmother Norah with a slight smile.