"So, the Awakening of an element is really the element forming a connection with someone?"
Maya nodded. "Yes, precisely."
An azure light flashed from the water model's head, and a glittering azure route structure formed, forming right up against the Wind Routes.
"Now, allow me to explain the rest, starting with the Water Element. This element tends to connect with people who are level-headed. It connects with people who can keep calm even in the most stressful of situations."
Mikhail nodded, taking an especially large note of that Element's trigger…
Then, a series of pale-yellow routes formed.
"The Rock Element tends to connect with stubborn individuals. People who regularly push past their limits."
A series of cyan routes formed.
"Humans typically have a difficult time awakening the Ice Element since it is not one of the building blocks of our form, yet, it does form connections with us. Only in the most extreme of cases, that is."
Mikhail held his tongue to let her continue her explanation, though he didn't appreciate how she seemed to lead him on to maintain a sense of intrigue.
"Cases of depression, ones so deep a human might end their own lives. It is mostly in scenarios like this where a human might awaken the Ice Element. Without using natural treasures, anyway."
Mikhail narrowed his eyes.
"Say… Is there a natural treasure to awaken the water element?"
Grand Elder Maya nodded.
"Indeed… But I do not carry such items. You'd have to find one yourself, because I don't condone the use of treasures for an Elemental Awakening."
"Why not?" he asked, his tone laced with annoyance
"Because it's cheap. An Elemental Awakening done through treasures is nowhere near the same as forming a proper connection. You would find it extremely difficult to reach the Sage Realm if you used such treasures."
Maya looked at him with a deadly serious expression, but was internally happy to see him let out a sigh of resignation.
"No treasures, then. Got it."
Maya nodded, and the next route formed, this one being pure white.
"This is the Shimmer Route, formed when the Shimmer Element notices strong feelings of pride."
And then a black route formed.
"And finally, this is the Shade Route. This one typically forms when an individual has been humbled in some form or another, which is why many idiots associate it with negative emotions."
Mikhail raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't say anything about that last remark. He simply drank some of the tea he had been offered, enjoying its rich aroma and smooth taste before setting his cup back down.
"So, you'd assume those are all of the elements, right?"
Mikhail nodded.
"Well, you'd be wrong. There is technically one more."
A silver flame flickered to life from where all the routes were spreading out from.
"The Spirit Element. Spiritual Aether as it is more commonly referred to. It is the energy of our soul, and what allows us to interact with the elements. And, it is also extremely versatile, in ways we will discuss another time."
Maya's empty cup disappeared.
"Now, let us talk about the progression of the Elemental Center of Power."
"You should know by now that the Elemental Realms are one of the four Minor realms, yes?"
"Yeah."
"Good. So, the Minor Realm is further divided into three Subminor Realms. Starting with the Elemental Awakening Subminor Realm, going to the Elemental Attunement Subminor Realm, and then ending at the Elemental Savant Subminor Realm."
Mikhail scratched at his stubble.
"Right…"
He then repeated what she said, just to double check that he had gotten all of that. An affirmative nod told him he did, so Maya then continued her explanation.
"The Elemental Awakening Subminor Realm is progressed through by simply awakening all of the elements. And once you have, reaching the next Subminor Realm is a relatively easy endeavor so long as you didn't cheat your way through the previous Subminor Realm."
"That is to say, that progressing through the second Subminor Realm of the Elements, the Elemental Attunement Subminor Realm, you need to comprehend a fundamental aspect of each element. Doesn't even matter which one it is, either."
Mikhail hummed inquisitively.
"Very interesting… Quick question, though. Is there any particular reason you seem to be going out of your way to drill into my skull the names of the Subminor Realms like that?"
Grand Elder Maya looked at him strangely before snorting.
"It's a force of habit."
Mikhail furrowed his brows, but then remembered the crowd of kids the other day… And when he thought about how dumb some kids could be, he couldn't really blame her for such a grating habit.
Recognizing that the side tangent had been quelled, Maya continued.
"Finally, in the Elemental Savant Subminor Realm, you would comprehend every fundamental aspect of all the elements."
Finishing his cup of tea, Mikhail set it down with a satisfied sigh. And the second he let go of the cup, it disappeared.
"So, what do you even mean by fundamental aspects? That means nothing to me. And also, does the Spirit Element count towards the progression of the Elemental Realms?"
"The Spirit Element does not count towards the progression of the Elemental Realms, which is why I prefaced that brief piece by saying 'technically,' in order to avoid confusion."
"You could've just excluded it entirely to avoid confusion."
"...Shut up," Maya said with a glare.
"I'm the teacher here, not you. I will do as I please and you will deal with it."
Mikhail rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure. Did you forget about the first part of my question already?"
Grand Elder Maya rolled her eyes right back at him.
"Did you forget about your manners? Of course I haven't forgotten, I was getting to it."
She then cleared her throat before continuing her lecture.
"When I say the term fundamental aspect, I am talking about Laws. The building blocks of reality."
"...And what happens when one comprehends a Law?"