After a year
Xavier and Aethra spar.
Aethra suddenly put fire on his hand and feet to gain movement.
Xavier, at an old age, moved swiftly by the use of wind.
Aethra fired small explosions (by concentrating intense heat, introducing ignition, triggering rapid combustion, building pressure, and releasing energy in a powerful blast wave, showcasing precise fire manipulation for controlled or destructive results) to the ground for a smoke screen.
Xavier clears the smoke with wind and predicts his attack. Puts an air on his leg to kick him. Aethra blocks it by putting Mana on his hands.
They continue sparring with swords.
"Your swordsmanship is impressive, lad. Now let's end it."
Aethra puts explosions on his feet and hands, causing him to fly.
The continuous spamming of explosions creates smoke, and then he goes high enough to fall straight to the ground. He bursts towards Xavier's left, ready to swing.
"So that's your plan." (As he prepares to block)
And in a small time before he hits Xavier, he folds his leg and bursts on the other side of Xavier and tries to hit him with a sword,
but… he can't move.
Xavier looks at him; it turns out he's trapped in an air ball or something.
"Cyclone's Trap," the wind user harnesses the power of a swirling cyclone to ensnare and confine enemies within a turbulent and imprisoning vortex.
"Haha, you're strong. You lived up to your gift."
'Tsk, I almost had him.'
'If it's not me, someone will die, hahaha (the kid really got so much potential and he's in for the kill).' "Anyway, you can rest now. Come here, Jack."
"Yes, teacher!"
Jack running towards Xavier.
"Now, show me your special move."
"Yes, sir!"
Jack concentrates and creates a fireball from his wand (basic magic can be created with hands and no casting, but complex skills must be spelled out and should use artifacts because the body might not handle it.
(Remember the saying about the wings of Icarus?)
The ball starts to grow big and more destructive, it's so big, big, and big. And it suddenly becomes small.
Using his wand, Jack throws the small ball at the designated target and says, "Release." And there's a big explosion that can destroy a palace.
"Very good, Jack! You can be one of the main damage dealers for your unit."
Jack blushes.
"Haldrin, fix the ground, and after that, we will train for your earth barrier."
Haldrin: "Yes, sir!"
Xavier: "Ah, my back hurts. (Damn these kids. The kingdom is paying me well. I wonder where they get all this budget even with the war)."
"Tomorrow I'll train the water and air users. Thank goodness.
Those two dark users are not my problem anymore."
Last week
Rethrus: "Sir, I'm planning to teach myself from now on. And I'll teach Lumine too."
Xavier: "You're becoming too cocky, brat. Do you really think you can handle yourselves?"
"Yes, sir. And it's for your own good too. Less stressed, more—"
"Okay, good luck!"
Eliza: "Sir, why did you let Rethrus and Lumine do what they want?"
Everyone: "Yeah!"
Xavier: "Because he's smart enough. And I don't really like teaching that kid (it's a joke). He's so gloomy sometimes and thinks so deeply. Sometimes I always feel that kid is a wind user than a dark one."
Rina: "How about Leo and Aethra? They're so good in their field. Would you let them go too if they want to?"
Leo smirks while Aethra doesn't, since he doesn't want to be on the same level with some non-magic combatants.
Xavier: "No, these two will someday lead an army. Now, let's call it a day. You should be ready because the king will be visiting us next week. And I hope to see you guys. So you should be ready if the King wants to see your ability."
Everyone: "Yes, sir!"
While eating, you can really see how the non-combatant orphans are silent. They already understand and accept the situation, but you can really see it on their faces.
Rethrus thought, "The world is unfair," and continued to eat.
Hans: "Damn, Leo, you're so fast. I bet you're as fast as Aethra."
Aethra's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure in their depths as he continued to eat.
Leo: "Huh, you never saw Finn's strength too."
Jestus: "So, what artifacts are you going to use?"
That night they all bond together and think about their future weapons.
Leo: "I'm going to use a gauntlet."
Finn: "Mine's an axe." (Finn's big for his age. In fact, he's the biggest among the orphans.)
Aiko: "Chain,"
Eliza: "Maybe claws," Owen: "Dual swords,"
Geoffrey: "I'll wear some Mana enhancement and I'll use daggers."
Theo and Silas just continue eating.
Jack: "Are you all going to be assassins or something? I mean, I'm going to buy the best wand in this kingdom, hahaha."
Terra: "As if you can afford one."
Jack: "Hey, don't underestimate me. I'll buy the best wand after I win a big battle!"
Suryu: "Yeah², anyway, how about you, Lumine and Rethrus? We've heard that the Silentvisk Family supports this orphanage right now too."
Geoffrey: "Yeah, that's why we're trying to be assassins to show off with them. But we all know that you two are their priority."
Lumine: "Oh, me? No, maybe Rethrus here."
Everyone looks at him while he's eating.
Rethrus: "Hmm…" (while his mouth is full)
Elizabeth secretly smiles, seeing him like that.
"What?" he asks.
Leo: "You know, we never see you fight. You never join our duels."
Celeste: "Right!"
"Are you scared, Rethrus?" And they were surprised. It's Aethra.
Normally they just talk for convenience… they never really talked since both of them don't really like talking. Both of them act not aligned with their elements.
Rethrus: "No, it's just a waste of time, and Master Xavier already gave me the pass to do what I want."
Everyone didn't answer, and both Lumine and Rethrus went outside after eating.
Jack: "Ha, how arrogant. I'm pretty sure he's all talk and afraid of us. I mean, what can his darkness do with my fire? Eat it?"
And they all laugh except Elizabeth, who was concerned about both Lumine and Rethrus.
Lumine: "Thank you for training me,
Rethrus: " You've been a good help.
Don't worry about it. So, feeling stronger?"
"Yes, in fact… someone always whispers to me."
Rethrus stopped meditating.
"What? Since when?"
"Since we started meditating," she said.
"It was a devil," he thought.
"What does it say?" He asked.
"It always says, 'Sign the contract.'"
He feels shivers in his spine after hearing that.
"Okay, let's stop meditating and let's go to sleep," he said. "And don't agree with it, okay?"