Chapter 23: Departure
A year had passed since Aiden began his training under Rayan—the man who had trained him through countless hard fights, endless lessons, and the kind of pain that brought growth only true training could give.
Aiden was now ten years old. Time had moved fast, like the cold wind in winter. The boy who once shook at his first duel against Rayan had changed into something completely different—sharper, calmer, stronger.
He had just two years left. Two short years to master all ten elements and move up to Stage Two of Mana Cultivation. The pressure sat heavily on his small shoulders.
Aiden's mind often went back to the numbers—the harsh truth and unyielding logic that haunted him. He had already taken three years to master six elements. Six months for each element. If he took the same time for the last four, he would only just finish learning them, and there would be no time left to reach the next stage.
But unlike before, this time he was not just a boy who followed orders. He had learned how to use six different types of mana. He fully understood mana—how it flowed, how it breathed, how it answered his will. He had learned everything about mana.
That meant he could learn new elements more easily now. He would be faster.
The morning was quiet. The soft rustling of leaves danced in the gentle breeze that swept through the Syctes family's garden. Aiden stood in the center, the same place where he had been beaten, bled, trained, and grown for a whole year. His breathing was steady. His gaze was locked on the man who stood across from him.
Rayan.
The man who had beaten him to the ground hundreds of times. The man who had made him understand what real battle meant.
Rayan's blue hair glimmered faintly under the sunlight. His gray eyes were calm but focused, like a storm ready to strike. He looked at Aiden and said in his usual steady voice, "This will be the last time I will teach you anything. After today, we will go our separate ways. So be ready—this will be our final duel."
Aiden nodded silently. His fingers twitched a little with anticipation. The final duel—the end of his harsh yet useful training.
A few meters away, Sara and Jonathan stood side by side at the edge of the garden. Their eyes were fixed on the two shapes in the field. Their hearts felt mixed.
For the past year, they had watched their son survive Rayan's brutal training. He had been beaten black and blue more times than they could count. Every day, Rayan showed no mercy. His blows were heavy. His attacks were merciless—yet his control was perfect, making sure Aiden never got a wound that would not heal.
Still, the pain was real.
He trained Aiden every single day—physically, mentally, and magically—and then dueled him afterward, fighting as if he truly meant to kill him. It was harsh. Ruthless. Terrifying.
There were nights when Sara could not hold herself back. She had wanted to stop it many times. To rush in and protect her son, to shield him from the pain, from the tiredness that pushed him past his limits. But each time, Jonathan had stopped her.
And now, it was the last day.
The final test.
Jonathan took a deep breath and said in a firm voice, "Begin."
The moment those words were spoken, the peaceful garden exploded into motion.
Aiden's body blurred. He had activated **Blitz**, his shape vanishing into a streak of lightning. The sound of air cracking echoed as he appeared beside Rayan, faster than any normal person could even see. His foot lashed out in a sharp kick. His movements were smooth yet fierce.
Rayan's expression did not change. He simply disappeared. A flash of light.
He, too, had used Blitz.
The next instant, he reappeared behind Aiden, his presence sharp and sudden like a flash of thunder.
Aiden's eyes were completely focused.
"**Lightning Blast**!" Rayan's voice was calm yet commanding as he launched a tight blast of lightning at point-blank range.
*Boom!*
The crack of energy filled the air as the attack burst forward.
But before the lightning could strike, Aiden's instincts kicked in. His mana surged violently. He reacted with everything he had—using Blitz and **Flight** together.
His body shot upward, pushed by the combined force of lightning and wind. A burst of air rippled under him as he rose quickly. Sparks flashed across his body as he soared, narrowly avoiding the blast that hit the ground beneath him, leaving a deep hole in the soil.
Aiden's breathing quickened. His heart pounded wildly in his chest.
From his high position, he gathered his mana swiftly and made a **Lightning Cage** around Rayan. Thin, crackling strands of electricity began forming a dome around his teacher, closing in fast.
But Rayan reacted even faster.
Before the cage could seal completely, he vanished again—using Blitz to reappear several meters away. His face was calm. He landed lightly, his cloak fluttering with the motion.
The moment he reappeared, a sharp glint of movement caught his eye—a **Wind Cutter** slicing toward him from the left.
Without waiting, he filled his legs with Wind mana and activated Flight, moving midair in a blur. He narrowly dodged the invisible blade. The attack sliced through the space where he had been, leaving a faint cut in a distant rock.
The two kept moving—flashes of light and blurs of motion.
To a normal person watching, it would have looked like two bolts of lightning crashing again and again in the garden. The sound of thunderclaps echoed with each exchange. Sparks danced across the air as their attacks met—lightning hitting wind, power against power, speed against speed.
The ground under them cracked. Trees shook. The air itself hummed with mana.
Sweat trickled down Aiden's forehead. His lungs burned. Every muscle in his body screamed. But he did not stop.
Rayan's movements were still faster—his control more polished—but Aiden's will did not break. Each strike he threw was faster, sharper, smarter than before. Every trick and movement showed how much he had learned.
Minutes passed like seconds. Then, finally, Aiden's knees buckled. His vision blurred. His mana was completely gone.
He collapsed onto the ground, panting hard. His body shook with exhaustion. Small arcs of lightning still danced across his fingertips, fading slowly.
Rayan appeared in front of him once more. His face was composed, though there was a clear glint of pride in his eyes.
"Well done," he said, his tone softer than usual as he continued. "Your training is complete. You have really done well. I did not think anyone would be able to master even one element, let alone two, in just one year. You truly are one of a kind—a real genius. I cannot wait to see how far you will go when you grow up."
He paused for a moment, looking down at Aiden with a mix of pride and fondness. Then he continued, his tone becoming slightly firmer again.
"After this training, you will be able to beat almost every other Stage One mana cultivator. Even the children of noble families or royalty—none of them would have trained the way you have. "
"They were raised with luxury and comfort, while you have become a fighter. But…" he gave a faint smirk, "do not become overconfident. Always remember to keep training, no matter how strong you become. Even at the highest stage, there is always someone stronger."
Aiden listened quietly, his chest still heaving from tiredness, but every word etched itself deeply into his mind.
Rayan straightened and looked toward the horizon. The wind gently stirred his blue hair as he said, "Okay, child. I will be leaving this village now. So, it is goodbye. If fate allows it, we will meet again in the future. Goodbye, Aiden."
Aiden's eyes widened a little. He was not ready for this. He felt a sudden ache in his chest—the understanding that the man who had trained him so relentlessly, who had been both tormentor and teacher, was truly leaving.
He forced himself to stand, though his legs were weak. His voice came out softer, filled with a hint of sadness.
"Teacher… can you not stay for a few more days?"
Rayan turned his head slightly. A small, amused smile curled his lips. "You brat, do not try to make this emotional. I cannot stay any longer. I have already been here for a year. I have personal matters I need to take care of."
Aiden lowered his gaze for a moment, his hands clenched tightly at his sides. The words that came next were quiet, but filled with honesty.
"Thank you very much for teaching me, and for everything you have done for me. Have a safe journey, Teacher."
Rayan watched him for a short moment—then chuckled softly. "Heh. You have grown up fast, kid."
He turned around, taking one final look at the garden—the place where he had taught his one and only student and where many duels between him and his student had happened, where both pain and growth had twisted together. Then, with a faint smile still on his face, he walked away.
Sara and Jonathan stood silently, watching Rayan's shape fade into the distance. For a long while, no one spoke.
Aiden remained standing in the center of the garden. His body was covered in dirt and sweat. His hair was messy from the breeze. The echoes of his teacher's footsteps slowly faded, but the lessons he had taught, the pain he had given, and the pride stayed carved into his heart.
He whispered, almost to himself, "Goodbye, Teacher…"
The wind blew gently through the garden, carrying the faint smell of rain as Rayan left the village of Aldia.
Author's Note: Aiden's mentor has left, but an even greater challenge looms. With only two years left to master four more elements and reach Stage Two, who will be his next teacher? And with his power growing, will the mysterious Heartbeat hidden below his home finally awaken? If you want to see who arrives to teach him the dangerous arts of Illusion and Parasitic mana, make sure to add this to your Collections!)**