Morning at the Aetherian Sky Sect felt colder than usual.
The sky was veiled by thin clouds, and the wind carried an invisible pressure. The Outer Court disciples gathered once more in the training grounds, but today's atmosphere was slightly different.
Their gazes were drawn more often to one person, Ken Tarys.
Not because he was strong, but because of what happened yesterday.
"He almost succeeded, they said…" someone whispered.
"Just luck."
Rendo Salvar scoffed. "Let's see if he explodes even worse today."
Soft laughter followed.
Ken walked as usual, neither faster nor slower. His face remained calm, as if none of it touched him.
But inside, he remembered one thing.
That energy had stabilized, even if only for a moment.
The instructor arrived earlier than usual.
Without wasting time, he spoke.
"Today, individual control test."
Some disciples tensed immediately.
"Anyone who fails to control their energy does not need to return tomorrow."
That single sentence made the air feel heavier.
One by one, the disciples stepped forward.
Energy was released, controlled, then withdrawn.
Some performed well.
Some nearly failed.
But none lost control completely.
"Ken Tarys."
His name was called.
He stepped forward calmly.
All eyes turned toward him.
Some filled with mockery.
Others now held curiosity.
Ken stood at the center of the arena.
He closed his eyes.
Took a slow breath.
Inside his body, the four elements began to move once more.
Fire pulsed.
Wind swirled.
Water flowed.
Wood took root.
This time, he did not try to force them all at once.
He remembered Lynea's words.
"The problem isn't that you lack power… it's that you have too much."
Slowly, he restrained the fire.
Restrained the wind.
And allowed one element to move first.
Wood.
A soft green energy appeared in his palm.
For the first time, it was stable.
The instructor frowned slightly.
Several disciples fell silent.
"He succeeded?"
But Ken did not stop there.
He tried to add a second element.
Water.
Water merged gently with wood.
No collision.
No explosion.
The atmosphere began to shift.
"This… can't be…"
Rendo frowned, his expression turning uneasy.
Ken took a deeper breath.
His eyes still closed.
He pushed further.
Fire.
In an instant, the energy began to tremble.
Wood and water remained stable.
But the moment fire entered, the pressure rose sharply.
Sweat formed on Ken's forehead.
His hand trembled slightly.
"Enough."
The instructor's voice cut through the air.
Ken opened his eyes.
The energy in his hand slowly faded.
Silence.
The instructor stared at him for a few seconds, longer than usual.
"Tomorrow," he said briefly.
"Repeat it."
He turned away without further explanation.
But everyone understood one thing.
Ken was no longer the same as yesterday.
Training ended.
Yet the atmosphere did not return to normal.
Rendo walked toward him.
His gaze was no longer purely mocking.
"Whatever that was, it won't be enough."
He tapped Ken's shoulder lightly, but with pressure.
"Don't get your hopes up."
Ken looked at him briefly.
No anger.
No reaction.
"I'm not hoping," he said calmly.
"But I will succeed."
Rendo paused for a moment.
Then scoffed and walked away.
On the other side of the courtyard, Lynea stood watching.
A small smile formed on her face.
"So you really listened."
Ken did not reply.
But his steps slowed for a moment.
"Tomorrow," Lynea said.
"We'll try again."
The wind blew gently.
Leaves rustled softly.
Far above, at the edge of a silent stone pavilion, the silver-blue-haired girl still stood.
Her gaze fixed on Ken.
Unblinking.
"Strange…" she whispered softly.
"Four elements… yet they don't destroy each other."
She turned slowly.
A cold aura spread around her.
"Perhaps… he's not just a failure."