The assessment ended as expected; Cana did not become an S-Class Mage, only Mirajane did.
After Master Makarov announced Mirajane's promotion, a massive banquet erupted within the guild hall. After all, gaining another S-Class Mage meant the guild's overall strength had grown, which was always a worthy cause for celebration.
"Congratulations, Mirajane," Statiw said with a warm smile when the announcement was made.
"Hmph, this was only natural," Mirajane replied flatly, crossing her arms. However, from the distinct upturn at the corners of her mouth, Statiw could tell she was in an exceptionally good mood.
Immediately after, she fixed him with an intense stare. "Also, are you just going to congratulate me with words?"
As soon as he heard her, Statiw knew that Mirajane was not as indifferent to the S-Class title as she pretended. On the contrary, she cared deeply about it, as it not only signified her status as an elite mage of the guild but also officially placed her on the same level as her rival, Erza.
Understanding her hint, Statiw realized he had forgotten to prepare a gift. Thinking quickly, he said, "Of course not. But, I'm a guy, and I don't really know what girls like. My plan was to go shopping with you. Whatever you like, I'll buy it for you. How does that sound?"
"Is that so?" Mirajane looked at him with a skeptical expression, scrutinizing him closely. "You didn't just forget to get me anything and make this up on the spot, did you?"
Statiw's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a calm facade. "How could that be? You know I spent the whole day yesterday shopping, right? I just couldn't decide on anything perfect."
Hearing this, Mirajane looked puzzled. "You went shopping yesterday? I thought you were locked up at home all day, working on your magic circle formulas like always." She then added, "By the way, have you finished that work? It's been so long. Speaking of which, your magic is really complicated with all those intricacies."
"Do you think everyone is like you? Mastering advanced magic circle superposition so early?" Statiw rolled his eyes playfully. "But yes, the foundational work on my magic circles is complete. It was finished the day before yesterday; that's why I had the whole day free to shop yesterday."
"It's already done? Does that mean you now possess S-Class level power?" Hearing Statiw's words, Mirajane's face immediately lit up with genuine joy.
"Not quite," Statiw shook his head. "Although the theoretical framework is complete, my magic power capacity hasn't reached that peak yet. I'm currently waiting for the activation of my Second Origin. Once that happens, my power will truly reach the S-Class threshold."
"Second Origin? What is that?" Mirajane was baffled by the term she had never heard before.
Statiw was momentarily startled, finding it strange that Mirajane didn't know about the Second Origin. Then, after a quick internal recollection, he remembered that the concept of a "Second Origin" was a theory developed and named much later in the guild's history, famously utilized during the Tenrou Island arc. Currently, in this timeframe, besides himself, probably no one else was aware of this potential.
Seeing her confusion, he explained, "It's well known that a mage's body is filled with magic power. But this magic power is actually stored in a source, a wellspring of power. You understand that, right?"
Seeing Mirajane nod, he continued, "This primary wellspring has a limit. According to my research, this limit isn't just a matter of the body, but is tied to the very core of our being—our spirit or soul, if you will. The theory is that there exists a second, latent reservoir of magic power within every mage, a secondary wellspring that remains untapped."
"A second reservoir? Within our spirit?" Mirajane said, startled.
"Yes," Statiw affirmed. "Think of the first wellspring as a brilliant sun. Its light is so bright it makes it impossible to see the other stars in the sky. The Second Origin is like one of those stars—another source of power that exists alongside the first, but is drowned out by its radiance. Activating it involves perceiving and unlocking this dormant potential."
"You just said it's tied to our spirit?" Mirajane immediately interrupted, her expression turning serious with concern. "Are you conducting dangerous research on yourself involving your soul?"
"It's not dangerous research," Statiw said quickly, realizing his mistake in being too specific. "It's more about advanced meditation and perception. It's about understanding the limits of our own magic and finding a way to safely expand them. I wouldn't do anything reckless."
As expected, Mirajane completely ignored his attempt to downplay it. She grabbed his arm, her expression deadly serious. "No. You cannot continue with such risky theoretical exploration, not even just 'perceiving.' You're talking about the core of your being! What if you make a mistake? Promise me you won't pursue this anymore."
"Alright, alright, I promise you," Statiw assured her, surprised by the intensity of her reaction. "Anyway, the current theoretical phase is over. It's not something that requires active, dangerous experimentation."
"That's for the best," Mirajane said, breathing a sigh of relief upon hearing he wouldn't actively research it further. "But what did you mean by 'activating' this Second Origin? If it's not research, how does it happen?"
"That part is supposed to be simpler," Statiw explained carefully. "It's not about forcing it. The texts I've studied suggest it often happens naturally under extreme duress or through a profound breakthrough in understanding—a moment of extreme need or clarity where the body and spirit unlock this hidden potential to survive or overcome a limit. It's like the magic itself finding a new path when the old one is blocked. The key is reaching that precipice, not dangerously poking around in your own soul."
"Is it difficult to achieve, then?" Mirajane asked, somewhat calmer but still curious.
"Extremely," Statiw nodded. "Reaching that kind of life-threatening limit safely is one thing. But the main barrier is perception. How do you focus on finding a single new star when you're standing right next to the sun? The power from our primary magic source is so overwhelming that sensing this dormant potential beneath it is the greatest challenge."