After a half hour had passed, May and James simultaneously peeled open their eyes as if awoken from deep meditation, only to find their backs slick with sweat, as though they had just emerged from a grueling workout in a sauna.
As they exhaled, a cloud of warm mist billowed out from their lips like a miniature fog before gradually dissipating into the surrounding air. Gradually, their breathing slowed down to a steady rhythm.
Suddenly, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, May and James's eyes widened in astonishment as they beheld an incredible sight that lay before them.
"Huh?!" She's breaking through?!" A gasp of disbelief escaped James's lips, but realizing his voice was too loud, he quickly shut himself up.
"To think Second Lieutenant would break through in a place like this..." May softly mumble with a hint of admiration embedded deep within her voice.
'This should be her second star, right?' James contemplated as he felt the density of Ellia's mana signature surrounding him like a cocoon.
Across the world, stars served as the benchmark by which a mage's ability was measured. Each star symbolized a milestone of accomplishment. However, with every star that was attained, the next one glimmered even further away.
Even within the Empire, their highest level was only seven stars. But naturally, the pinnacle of seven stars was not the ultimate peak that one could ascend. It was merely the highest summit that humanity had reached.
As the minutes ticked by, Ellia's eyelids slowly, gradually, and her vision adjusted to the surrounding brightness.
While letting out a deep breath of air, Ellia took a peek at May and James.
"Congradtion on reaching second star, Second Lieutenant." May spoke while helping Ellia off the floor.
Ellia was enveloped in a shroud of confusion, but Ruth quickly explained to the ignorant Ellia about stars and their purpose and importance.
"It's an amazing feat considering you didn't start practicing magic until a week ago." Ruth complimented with an indifferent tone and gave off dry applause. Well, that was what Ellia imagined Ruth was doing.
'Is two stars strong?' Eilla inquired.
"No, it's averge at best." Ruth answerd.
'Oh...' Ellia was quite disappointed with the news.
Ellia's gaze then swept over the system interference that had been lingering before her for quite some time.
----
Intelligence: 13->33
Max MP: 130->330
You have learned all two-star magic casts.
----
In an instant, a torrent of knowledge surged through Ellia's consciousness. Intricate two-star magic formulas flickered in her mind, shimmering with arcane symbols and incantations.
"Isn't this..." Ellia muttered as she stooped to retrieve a dagger from the frosty earth, its hilt icy to the touch.
May and James gazed at Ellia with quizzical expressions etched on their faces, but their puzzlement quickly turned to horror as Ellie's fingers closed around the hilt.
"What are you..." May tried to stop her, but it was already too late by then.
With a sudden jerk, Ellia withdrew the dagger from her palm, its razor edge slicing through her skin. A spurt of crimson erupted from the wound, painting the snow beneath her feet in red.
Out of concern, May rushed toward Ellia in an attempt to heal her wound, but when she reached Ellia, there was no wound to heal.
"Is that healing magic?" Both Hames and May asked, their voice in sync. Their gazes fixated on the pulsating emerald aura that enshrouded Ellia's hand.
"I guess so..." Ellia nodded and brought forth her right hand she had just healed.
Ellia had just received many different casts, so she was normally curious about what they could do.
In her pale white palm, a ball of fire surged forth, blazing like a miniature sun contained within her grasp.
"And she can use fire magic..." James laughed as he examined the ball of fire in Ellia's hand.
But Ellia didn't stop there and raised her left hand. And as if responding to her command, a ball of water materialized above her hand, hovering like a shimmering orb of liquid crystal.
"Sick..." Ellia murmured as she stared at both fire and water.
"And, of course, she knows how to use water magic." James sarcastically spoke.
"Eh?" Ellia looked up at James. Was it not normal for her to cast two different types of elemental magic?
"Having mastery of two elements is defiantly the rare side," Ruth spoke, sensing Ellia's uncertainty.
'Then this should be enough...' Ellia thought, dissipating the water and fire from her palms.
If not for Ruth, Ellia would have planned to show off all the different types of elemental magic she received from the system.
"Do you know any more?" James asked, just in case, but Ellia shook her head.
Although she knew that James and May would probably keep her secret, Ellia felt that unfortunate outcomes would soon follow if she revealed too much.
"Well, two elements are rare on their own," James said. "Not to mention, her two elements are complementary."
"Even I only know fire magic," May added.
James grinned warmly at Ellia, his eyes crinkling with delight as he gently placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring pat. "Now that I know you can use fire and water magic, we're going to be training in magic!"
"Ah..." Ellia gave off a wavering smile, but yet she nodded her head in agreement nonetheless.
She felt it was a waste that she couldn't train her other magic elements, but she could do nothing about it.
As time passed, two weeks quickly slipped by. For nine grueling hours each day, they honed their close-quarter combat skills until sweat poured down their faces like rain. Then in the evening, May and Ellia would train Magic with James for a total of four hours.
But, of course, during that time, nobody else was slacking off.
While Ellia and May were training, the others trained to make better use of their abilities.
Abilities couldn't be improved unless you made a manual upgrade. But there was a way to make it stronger may understanding your own ability. By doing this, one is able to bring out their ability's full potential.
During these two weeks, on the last day of training, Aeire finally landed a proper hit on May during their CQC session.
That's right! She finally landed a hit on May. Congrats Aerie!
Though she did apologize immediately afterward to May, either way, Ellia and James were delighted at Aerie's progress.
And that was also applied to everyone else.
Issac was now able to expand his radar distance by more than a mile than what is used to be.
Levi's right eye had considerably enhanced for better performances in combat.
Mike was able to learn that combat had more to it just than muscles.
Owen was now able to manipulate other different types of metals.
And Alex, on the other hand... was finally able to put up a good fight... with Aerie.
But with that, training was now over.