Harry woke up at 8 a.m. His body felt rested, but his mind didn't. He had spent the entire night overthinking, and now the mental fatigue was catching up to him. He just didn't have the energy to research resonance weapons anymore.
He brushed his teeth, took a bath, and got ready for breakfast. While eating, he informed his family that his schedule would change starting tomorrow; it would now include fighting classes alongside his regular studies. He also mentioned the optional elemental class offered to non-Aetherbound students. On paper, it seemed helpful. But in reality, Harry knew it would only confuse him and push him deeper into overthinking—especially since he was already an Aetherbound with a unique ability.
After breakfast, he went back to his room and stood by the window, staring out at the sun.
"No progress... that's all," he sighed. "I can't find the source of my power. I've only gathered basic information about resonance weapons. If I want to reach greater heights, I need to study them in depth."
He picked up his notes from the elemental class and started reading. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He grabbed his phone and immediately called Professor Kael Ardent.
This time, the professor answered directly.
"Good morning, Professor. Sorry to disturb you this early, but I need your help," Harry said.
"Oh, no worries, Harry," the professor replied warmly. "I'd be glad to help. Do you want to meet at the same coffee shop, or just talk over the call?"
Harry thought for a moment. "If you're free, I'd like to meet."
The professor chuckled softly. "That's the spirit, Harry. No problem. Let's meet at 1 p.m. We'll have lunch there."
Harry thanked him and ended the call. He got ready and left the house, reaching the coffee shop a bit early. This time, he decided to look around properly. During his first visit, the urgency of the meeting had prevented him from noticing anything but the exterior.
The interior was just as beautiful—vibrant decor, neatly arranged flowers, and warm lighting that gave the place a cozy, welcoming vibe. He walked over and sat at the same corner table where he had met the professor before.
A waiter approached him. "Sorry, sir, but this seat is reserved for Mr. Kael Ardent. He's one of our regular customers. I apologize for the inconvenience."
Harry smiled politely. "Actually, I'm here to meet him. He'll be arriving soon. Sorry, I should have mentioned that earlier."
"Oh, no, sir, I should have asked first," she said quickly. "May I know your name?"
"Harry."
She paused for a moment, then smiled. "Oh! You were with Sir Kael last time as well. Are you his student or a relative?"
"I'm his student."
The waiter, whose name tag read Ananya, looked slightly impressed. "You must be his favorite then. Sir Kael used to come here with his friends... but after the accident, they all stopped coming."
Harry frowned. "Accident? What happened?"
"I'm not sure, sir," Ananya replied hesitantly. "I just know he was in the army. People used to call him Sergeant Ardent." Realizing she had said too much, her expression suddenly changed. "Oh—I'm really sorry, sir. I wasn't supposed to share that. I'll have to apologize to Sir Kael later. If you need anything, please let me know."
She bowed slightly and hurried away.
Harry sat there, surprised. He hadn't expected to learn something like that. It made him respect the professor even more—someone with such a heavy past was now taking the time to guide him.
After a while, Professor Kael arrived, wearing a long coat, a hat, and dark goggles. Harry greeted him, and the professor gave a firm nod.
"Harry, you can ask me anything," the professor said as he sat down. "I'll try my best to answer."
Harry took a deep breath. "Professor... I want to know about resonance weapons."
The professor raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "They already told you about resonance weapons?"
"No, sir. During the retest, I accidentally came across one. Supervisor Clark told me a bit about it."
"How much did he tell you?"
"He said they can store magic and use it against Aetherbound. But it's very difficult, and they can't store physical attacks."
The professor nodded. "He told you the basics correctly. Do you want more details?"
"Yes, sir."
The professor sighed lightly. "Alright. Resonance weapons are extremely hard to craft. They require special runes that can store energy, and these runes come in three types—Hard, Soft, and Balanced.
**Hard runes** have thick walls. They can store very little magic, but they are extremely durable.
**Soft runes** have thin walls. They can store a massive amount of magic, but they are fragile—usually making them one-time use.
**Balanced runes**... as the name suggests, are perfect. They have the ideal balance of durability and storage capacity. Unfortunately, they are extremely rare."
He continued, "Some royal families possess resonance weapons with Balanced runes. Their ancestors fought in great wars, and these families keep such weapons hidden as secrets to maintain their high status. Occasionally, they lend them to organizations or even the government for special operations."
Harry felt overwhelmed. He had never imagined resonance weapons were this complex.
The professor leaned forward slightly. "Let me explain how they're created. The human body has eight key points that help transport magic from the heart to different parts—like the hands and legs. Similarly, resonance weapons are designed with artificial points. For example, a sword typically has four points—two on the handle, one at the tip of the blade, and one at the pommel. A gauntlet, on the other hand, has six—one on each finger and one at the center where the rune is placed."
Harry nodded, trying to absorb every piece of information. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone turning serious.
"Professor... I think I found a clue about my magic. But I'm not entirely sure."
The professor raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"I think... I can absorb energy through my body."
The professor fell into deep thought. After a few seconds of heavy silence, he spoke. "It does make sense, considering what you told me about the fragment repulsion test. But I've never heard of someone absorbing energy directly through their body. Also, Harry... if you did absorb energy, then your element should match Supervisor Clark's."
Harry shook his head. "I don't think so, sir. He used pure energy, not magic."
The professor went silent again, analyzing the statement carefully. "Then the only explanation is that you have a highly saturated core—over 80%. Only people with that level of saturation can absorb energy like that."
Harry sighed, disheartened. "That's impossible, Professor. I can't even control my powers. I don't even know if they're useful."
Both of them fell into a contemplative silence. After a while, the professor changed the topic to break the tension.
"Let's order something first."
Harry nodded. He ordered a chicken sandwich with a cold coffee, while the professor chose a salad with black coffee. Once the waiter took their order, Harry spoke up again.
"Professor... if you don't mind, can you tell me about your past? The waiter mentioned something, and it got me curious."
The professor smiled faintly. "Ah... Ananya. She tends to get carried away." He paused, his expression turning grave as he looked at Harry. "Are you sure you want to know? It's a long story."
Harry didn't hesitate. "Yes, sir. I'm ready."