"Before delving deeper into the Wolf's Stance, I need to first improve at basic Elemental Defense…" I muttered under my breath, holding the stance of the wind.
Just as Sheiran told me: don't waste too much mana on one large defensive maneuver. Small swirls are better—they cost less and can be focused on the exact spot being attacked, rather than spreading mana thin over unnecessary areas.
When Kafka and Goldenlaw first taught me this skill—one of the three fundamentals of magical control—they said it only served as training, a way to understand mana flow and prepare for Inner Realm.
But goblins took it further. They made Elemental Defense their main fighting style, crafting a stance that leveraged their smaller, more agile bodies. For them, it wasn't just a stepping stone. It was the foundation. To them, it mattered more than either Manifestation or Inner Realm.
I don't think the consensus is entirely wrong—Elemental Defense is weaker than Manifestation and Inner Realm in most contexts. But goblins found a perfect use for it. In the end, both views can be true.
Elemental Defense strengthens your control over mana in preparation for Inner Realm practice, but it also gives weaker races—those not naturally blessed by mana—a way to hold their own.
It all depends on specialization, and on what you expect to gain when learning mana.
Aurum Academy, and the world at large, favor Manifestation. Flashy, devastating spells are easy to admire. Named attacks that level everything in sight. They capture attention.
Elemental Defense, meanwhile, works best as support in close combat. Its freedom—shifting your mana wherever you wish—makes it powerful, but also far less approachable. The entry skill required just to use it properly is far higher.
Then there's Inner Realm. It's about breakthroughs. Entering your inner realm is the only way to advance your tiers. It can also refine mana flow inside your body, letting spells and energy move faster.
From what I know, Inner Realm is something only high-level mages truly care about. No wonder it's not taught until third year at Aurum Academy.
And then there's the Yellow Tower. Crowbell and Goldenlaw told me it's where Aurum Academy graduates go if they want to truly follow the path of magic.
And beyond that…
Outer Mana.
The thought made me glance at the spider, the necklace still dangling from her leg.
Outer Mana should be uncontrollable, untamable. Yet I had managed to control it—by putting my life on the line.
Whenever I used the knowledge tied to that artifact set—the one that will help Kaida in the future—I brushed against Outer Mana.
There had to be a way to access it without risking my life every time.
Think… recall the past… the game's story… connect what I know… test, and test again…
Inner Realm had let me sense my own mana. But when I cast that sandstorm spell—my own mana scattering into the air—I also sensed Outer Mana around me.
If I could sense it without relying on my own… maybe…
…
…
But no matter how hard I tried, nothing worked. My reserves were too low, and at only Tier Two, my Inner Realm wasn't advanced enough.
I looked around.
Gola was running herself through a set of brutal exercises. Orc genetics were absurd—so strong, and she was still younger than me.
Tinalara was sparring against a dummy, refining her sword techniques.
Sheiran sat cross-legged with a book in his hands, studying spells I'd brought him.
It was a good night to train. Even if we weren't working as one, it was the perfect chance for everyone to prepare for the future.
Eventually, I had to call it. I told them all to return to the cloak—it was late, and I still had classes tomorrow.
Once they were inside, I finally left the room. No one had interrupted me, which made me think Ba had done a great job keeping intruders out.
But waiting in the hallway was a demi-human woman in a maid uniform.
So Ba had delegated the guard duty to her.
"Uh… thanks for your work."
"Just call me Ma, Lord West. We don't use names here in Catlonia's Bar," she replied, her tone cold and professional.
"I'll be leaving for now. I'll return on the weekend to tend to my sector."
"Understood, Lord West. I'll notify the owner and prepare everything for your return." She bowed, then stepped ahead of me. "I'll escort you to the exit."
Her professionalism was almost chilling. Ba was the same way.
At the door, she gave me a polite farewell bow. I answered awkwardly, but made sure to assure her I would be back on the weekend.
Returning to the Golden Dragon House went smoothly. With a few hours left before morning, I collapsed onto my bed.
"I'll take a bath when I wake up…" I muttered, drifting into sleep despite the sweat still clinging to me from standing in place training Elemental Defense.
…
…
And so, the third day of the week began.
As much as I wanted tonight to be the night I struck the drug group—especially now that I had their location—I had something more pressing tomorrow: the Survival Test. I needed to be at my peak.
The drug event would still be available until next week. I had time. Besides, I still needed to strengthen myself and master Krath's Glide before challenging them.
So the plan was clear.
Today: train with Atro, Theo, Silva, Fran, and Cecil after class. Then head to the ports for the fisherman event so I could fight the super boss. At night, return to Catlonia's Bar to train with the Eleventh Songbird Squad.
Tomorrow: the Survival Test. It would take place on a small island southeast of Aurum Academy—close enough to be considered part of the city, though no one lived there.
The test itself was straightforward: students were dropped at random points and had to survive while stealing an important item from one of the teachers. That item served as proof of passing.
The fifth day: confront the drug dealers. Drive them out, disrupt the Montanevian spies, and keep them from securing even a fragment of that drug.
The problem was that I would be alone.
I'd thought of ways to involve Kaida and her group, but I couldn't find a good excuse. The best I'd come up with was leaving a letter in Kaida's room, warning her of the situation.
The timing would have to be on the fifth day, the same day I launched my attack. Even if she didn't go right away, I trusted that she eventually would.
That left only me.
And I was still struggling with a limited set of spells. I lacked a true heavy-hitting attack, and most of my arsenal was designed for one-on-one duels—a flaw I'd already experienced when fighting alongside Clighton.
Still, thanks to those mana stones I'd forced myself to swallow, my reserves had grown. Enough, maybe, to finally learn a Tier Two spell.
"Mister, I got it! The perfect name..." Sheiran told me, his eyes sparking with excitement.
"She'll be called..." He dragged out the moment, building suspense, which had Tinalara, Gola, and me leaning forward in anticipation. "Rachnera!"
...
"Do you no—"
"So cool!" Gola and I shouted at the same time. She was much more enthusiastic than me, though. I was too busy being jealous that he came up with such a badass-sounding name so easily.
---
Day three, week one, month two of the year.
It was a day like any other for the pink-haired girl with golden eyes. She listened diligently to the teacher, taking careful notes while also keeping an eye on her friends.
Despite the whole world knowing her as a sinner, Kaida was overjoyed. For the first time since that incident from her childhood, she had friends. Real friends.
And it was all thanks to a single person.
A boy who had defended her against the bullying of the Montanev princess. A boy who had stepped up for her despite the two of them being complete strangers.
Because of Alen's reckless defense, Yani—the bright, extroverted social butterfly of the E class—had been inspired to befriend her.
Now, a month into their time at Aurum Academy, Kaida had not only gained a circle of friends but also found herself slowly accepted by her whole class. The sting of her reputation hadn't vanished, but acquaintances were forming. Smiles were being exchanged. For her, that was a miracle.
And yet… the thing that hurt her the most—the thing she'd never admit—was that the boy who had stood up for her… was also friends with her bully.
Kaida didn't hate Franchesca Von Themys. If anything, she blamed herself for the incident, carrying the guilt like a brand. She thought the hatred she received from the noble girl had been completely justified.
"I've been having trouble reaching the mana requirement for the second circle…" Yani groaned, letting her upper body collapse onto the table.
"I don't think I'll be reaching the second circle until the end of the year," Cole admitted.
"What do you need magic for anyway? Sword and body are all you need to win a fight!" Tirino—predictably, the worst at magic of the group—puffed up his chest, justifying why he was still stuck on the first tier with only two spells to his name.
"Because we're in a magical academy, duh," Yani shot back, her sarcasm cutting.
Kaida barely heard their banter. Her mind was elsewhere.
"You're already at the second circle, right, Kaida?" Yani asked suddenly.
"Huh?" The girl with messy bedhead blinked, snapped out of her haze. "I… yes, I am at the second tier…"
Her noble lineage and upbringing had demanded excellence in magic. Even after being disgraced and stripped of her status, she had kept training. Magic was the one thing she couldn't abandon.
"Is something wrong? You've been like this all day," Yani pressed, concern softening her features.
Kaida hesitated, then asked quietly: "What… do you think about Alen…?"
Yani blinked at the unexpected question, then chuckled.
"He's not my type. You can keep pursuing him," she teased, waving her hand dismissively.
Heat rose in Kaida's cheeks. She grabbed her friend by the shoulders, shaking her in a flustered panic.
"Y-Yani… n-not like that!"
Yani only laughed harder, long since used to Kaida's nervous habits.
"Pfft, sorry, sorry," she managed between chuckles.
"I… I was being serious…" Kaida muttered.
"I think he's great," Cole chimed in, saving her from Yani's teasing. "Despite being a peasant, he's climbed all the way to the top five of the Academy's first-years."
"I heard he was already training to reach the third circle in the first month! Do you think he's already there?" Yani leaned in, her curiosity reignited.
"He's only ever shown tier one spells, though…" Cole countered.
"I've heard he's never even used his full strength—not even in the three-way duel against Prince Alva and Treyaro!"
"He's the dumbest!" Tirino snapped, slamming his fist on the table. "There's nothing I hate more than someone who holds back. Such disrespect toward your opponent is unacceptable!"
As the conversation shifted, Kaida's gaze dropped to her food. Her thoughts drifted back—unbidden—to the other day.
The Queen of Montanev had struck at Alen, leaving a shallow warning cut across his chest.
He had been utterly alone against someone far stronger. And not a single person had come to his aid.
Kaida clenched her fists under the table.
She owed him so much. He had saved her when no one else would. Yet when the same thing happened to him, she hadn't been able to move. She hadn't been able to help.
What stung worse—her own frozen incompetence, or the betrayal of those who called him friend yet had done nothing?
Her eyes darkened at the memory of Franchesca Von Themys. Always standing beside him. Always calling him her first friend.
Yet she hadn't even stopped her mother from attacking him.
Jealousy twisted in Kaida's chest.
Why couldn't it have been her standing beside Alen that day?
Why couldn't it be her at his side?