A week pass by, it seems the result are still the same. Noir just meditate and nothing happen on the Roun barrier just like the first day. As the dusk arrive, Solean get out of his hammock and get closer to Noir.
Solean always stop the test when the night begun, and today is just like the others. But as Solean get closer and closer, he is about to shout at Noir. But today it seems something new happen. The barrier right in front of Solean, crack just a tiny bit. Solean surprise of the scene that is happening right in front of him. Solean eyes widen, as his jaw drop at the crack right in front of his eyes.
"This kid... In just a week he already crack the Roun barrier... This kid is... Such a weakling. I. Solean Pon Phenexia. The Great Guild Master of The Phoenix Guild. Destroy the Roun barrier in just a week."
Said Solean very proudly as he raise his head high to the sky and laugh maniacally. Solean stops his laugh as Noir is looking at him weirdly. Noir stand up as Solean deactivate the Roun barrier. The Roun Barrier can be easily destroy from the outside. It seems the Roun barrier are only effective to trap a creature inside the barrier.
"Alright kid, time to go home."
Said Solean as turn to the rune circle, he walks over to the rune circle to prepare to teleport. Noir sweats all over his face, but he tries to stand up and goes with Solean. Just in a far distance, someone is standing on a tree. The figure is using a dark purple robe, a hood is covering his face making it unable to see who he really is. But on the figure back, there is an eye and surrounding it what looks like to be a devils hand trying to reach for the eye. In a flash, the figure leaves without leaving a single trace.
A month pass by, in the afternoon Solean is not lazing around in his hammock like usual. This time Solean is watching closely on Noir's test. Just a view hours pass by and Noir has made a bunch of cracks all over the barrier. With a serious face, Solean is wondering about something.
"Something doesn't feel right..."
"This kid... He.. Is breaking the whole barrier slowly but surely."
"Never in my life have I seen such thing is possible, the only 2 known method are destroying it in one go by releasing a huge amount of Ether, or destroying it on one spot."
"But this kid... He is destroying the barrier slowly, wouldn't it takes a lot of Ether?"
Ponder Solean as he keeps a very close watch on Noir and the barrier. Cracks can be seen all over the barrier and slowly but surely there is more cracks. But those cracks are not the usual cracks anyone would see from a Roun barrier. Usually when someone tries to destroy a barrier, the cracks is visible on the inside of the barrier. But Noir, the cracks he made is on the outside of the barrier.
"This kid... WAIT! Don't tell me... He knew about Nature Ether?"
Said Solean inside his mind, as he shock himself with his own thought. Solean is backing away from the Roun barrier, as he shivers from the tip of his hair to the tip of his legs.
"It's... Impossible... How could an 8 years old knew about the Nature Ether?"
"Did Sheila taught him? But, I heard Sheila only taught him Flow of Ether and swordsmanship..."
Said Solean inside his thought, he is surprise up to his soul. His whole body keep shaking and shivering from the impossibility of the situation that is happening in front of him. Solean smiles menacingly, awaiting on the surprise of his life that he will see in just a moment.
The Roun barrier starts to shake, pieces of the barrier start to fall. Cracks can be seen all over the barrier, and slowly even more cracks can be seen. All of the sudden, Noir open his eyes and said a single word.
"Release."
After Noir said 'release' the whole barrier is destroyed, barrier pieces all over the ground. As the pieces start to disappear slowly leaving nothing left on the ground. Noir proceed to stand up, sweating all over his face and body. Noir looks at Solean who is smiling nervously as a sweat drip out from his face.
"You... How did you know... how to use the Nature's Ether...?"
Said Solean nervously looking at Noir. Noir proceed to walk toward Solean and stop right in front of him.
"Oh those are called Nature Ether?"
Said Noir as he tilts his head out of confusion. Solean who is surprise, now got even his soul shock.
"W-what? Then... When did you know how to use it?"
Ask Solean with even more sweats appearing on his face. Noir tilts his head to the other side and proceed to answer.
"Oh! I only knew 3 weeks ago. When I tried to use the Flow of Ether Ms. Sheila taught me, I found out about it..."
"That Ether... Also exist on our surrounding..."
Said Noir after releasing an Ether Wave to detect any existing Ether on his surrounding. With Noir Ether wave, he could sense that there is mana all over the place, in the air, in the ground, even on the tree.
"I just attract those surrounding Ether and since it got stop by the Roun barrier, the 'Nature's Ether' seems to start and crack the outside of the barrier, giving me easier time to destroy it completely. Since I am releasing mana from the inside and the outside of the barrier..."
Explain Noir to Solean. As Solean eyes widen and his jaw drop, as it seems his soul leave his body entirely. Solean has a flashback for a moment when he was a kid. At the age of 13, Solean only knew about the existence of nature Ether from his father, Solace Pon Phenexia. Solean father told him that to use magic more effectively and not wasting any Ether, an individual could use the existing Ether around them.
Solace proceed to explain that some individual can have the so called 'Eyes of Truth'. A special eye that can make an individual able to see Ether all around them clearly. Usually people with those eyes are a very strong individual, as those people could easily use the nature's Ether easily. Those so called special people called the nature's Ether differently than normal people. They called them 'The World Ether'. Only those with the 'Eyes of Truth' can understand why it is called the World Ether.
Back to the present, Solean gain back his soul and tap Noir shoulder. His face darken as he gets closer to Noir.
"You... CONGRATULATION! YOU PASSED THE 2ND TEST!"
Said Solean very happily as 2 red magic circle appear behind him and they release some fire that explode on the sky, similar to a fireworks.
"Since you passed my 2nd test, I shall buy you a lot of good foods today."
Said Solean as he raise his head to the sky with all his pride. Noir laugh off nervously as Solean keeps on laughing maniacally. As both of them proceed to go home much earlier than they usually do.
In the night, the crescent moon shines once again on the land of Kortopia. In the Black Bear Inn, Solean, Noir, Sheila and some people in the inn is having a feast. Solean seems to bought all the food and drinks from the inn as everyone cheers happily from the free feast and drinks from Solean and shout out.
"LONG LIVE THE PHOENIX! LONG LIVE THE PHOENIX!!!"
Shout everyone except the owner of the Inn, Sheila and Noir. Solean stand on the table and raise his head to the sky once again with all his pride.
"YES! SHOUT MORE! I. THE PHOENIX GUILD MASTER WILL LET YOU ALL FEAST AND DRINK TONIGHT!!!"
Shout Solean very loudly, as all the patrons starts to cheer even louder than before. On the outside of the Inn, someone can be seen running frantically to the Inn. The figure open the door as they lost their breath from running all the way to here. With the light of the Inn, everyone could see it's Nora, The Secretary of The Phoenix Guild. Nora goes to the canteen and sees Solean, as she sweats heavily she shout.
"Sir. Solean! It's urgent! Outside of Kortopia... A beast is approaching Kortopia extremely quickly."
Shout Nora frantically, as a bullet of sweats is dripping from her face. Solean then drop from the table and walks toward Nora. As Solean tap Nora shoulder he proceed to seriously said.
"Looks like it's time for the hero to arrive."
Said Solean confidently as he lets Nora lead the way. Solean looks back at Noir for a moment.
"Follow me kid. If you want to see the real power of the strongest person in Kortopia."
Said Solean with a smug on his face, as he leaves the place his robe starts to get lit up by fire all over Solean body...