The sun was beginning to set when Saruto emerged from the training ground, his face etched with the profound exhaustion that had completely drained his energy. His steps were heavy, sweat beaded on his brow. Lucien, walking beside him, was in no better shape; both had expended their remaining strength in futile attempts to use Astrazine.
They didn't exchange a word on the way. They reached their rooms at the academy, and as soon as the door closed behind them, they both collapsed onto their beds without even changing their clothes. Within seconds, they were fast asleep.
With the first light of dawn, he slowly opened his eyes, grumbling at the brightness, then sat up on the edge of the bed, clutching his head. He looked at Lucien, who was still sleeping peacefully, stirring occasionally.
He rose quietly and went to the window, watching the grounds from afar, his mind filled with the failed attempts to create Astrazine, the unstable energy, and a feeling of helplessness he hadn't experienced in a long time. He murmured under his breath, "Astrazine… a formation of the soul's essence… but how do I extract it? How do I make my energy materialize?"
Then, as if a spark of thought had ignited in his mind, he remembered Ethan. He smiled hesitantly and said to himself, "Perhaps… perhaps Ethan knows the answer."
But the thought quickly faded, and he shook his head, thinking to himself, "No, that would be cheating. This experience must be mine alone. If it were, the Master wouldn't have made us learn it on our own."
He breathed deeply, then stood up, his decision made. He glanced at the schedule on the wall and noticed it was a holiday. He smiled with a hint of confidence. "Perfect opportunity to begin."
He raised his hand, and in an instant, his body vanished, transported to his destination: his family's mansion. Inside, the corridors were empty except for echoes. He passed the great hall bearing his family crest, then turned toward the passage leading to the deepest point of the mansion, where the Chamber of Time lay.
The heavy door, sealed with energy, opened with a deep rattling sound. He entered the rooms and stood in the middle, then said quietly, "Alright… let's begin, practicing the Astrazine skill."
He closed his eyes and slowly began to draw his internal energy, feeling it flow through his veins. He raised his hands, trying to make the energy materialize around him, but nothing happened except a small swirl of energy that vanished instantly. He smiled faintly and said, "It's okay, this is just the beginning."
He refocused, and this time he pushed his energy with even greater force, until the gray floor began to tremble beneath him. Energy gathered around him randomly, but it didn't take any specific shape. With each attempt, his body weakened further, until he felt his knees could no longer support him, and he collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. The system screen rose before him, and he activated the autohealing function.
Light enveloped his body for a moment, and he felt a gentle warmth spread through his muscles, gradually restoring their strength. He opened his eyes again, sweat dripping from his forehead, and said, "Even if it takes a thousand tries… I won't stop."
He stood up once more, clenched his fist firmly, and raised it, unleashing his full power. Each attempt knocked him to the ground, but he would immediately rise and try again.