After Akasha made it to the superhuman realm, he is now one of the strongest people without a core.
And that person was currently being severely beaten by Erina, Akasha's master and one of the strongest people without a core.
"Ack."
Akasha was pushed back by Erina's powerful kick. Even though Akasha had entered the superhuman realm, Erina was still far superior in terms of physique and technique.
Thanks to that Akasha still couldn't beat Erina until now.
"You've improved a lot from the first time around, you should realize that, right?"
For most people, feeling one's own development was difficult because they saw themselves developing as if they were watching what was happening from behind a screen but Akasha had a different view.
"Yes, I am able to feel the development of my physical strength has increased clearly this time."
During this training, Akasha had developed another new ability called 'Observation'.
Akasha was able to observe her surroundings and find various evidences that he had improved, ranging from Akasha's attacks, his surroundings, the worldview that Akasha saw.
This was possible because Akasha always observed everything that Akasha could 'understand', not just the 5 senses but also the thoughts that fused in balance.
(I didn't expect her to have entered the superhuman realm in less than half a year, no one I know has entered the superhuman realm in such a short time.
No, even entering the superhuman realm itself is almost impossible if you don't have your own unique body.
There are only 3 people Erina know who have superhuman bodies despite not being knights. And each of them is a person who carved a legend from this world.
Hehehe, I wonder if Akasha will also become someone like them?")
Erina couldn't help but smile at the thought of Akasha's growth and what the future would hold.
Erina herself was one of those people who had a superhuman physique obtained through hard work but had more than 100 years to obtain such a physique but Akasha did it in less than half a year.
Erina herself didn't have the qualities that could make her physique great like the 3 legendary people Erina knew, but she had a unique body that could rival them which was 'infinite lifespan', thanks to that even though it took a long time Erina managed to get a superhuman body.
"So you should be more proud of yourself for managing to become stronger."
Akasha tried to understand what Erina meant and began to comprehend it. What Akasha understood was that Erina was asking Akasha to be as arrogant as Erina had always been.
"I understand, Master."
...
"...Well for now that's today's practice."
Akasha and Erina finished their training early because earlier Erina said that she had some business in a nearby town and had to leave first.
(The stock of salt and some other foodstuffs is running low. Besides, I also need some materials for my research...)
Erina had a contract with Tower Mage. As someone who was hired as a consultant by Tower Mage, Erina had to at least provide research for each year and the deadline was approaching and Erina had yet to complete her research.
That's why Erina is in a hurry to finish her research otherwise she will get into trouble from the Tower Mage officials and will lose Erina's only income which will be a big problem for Erina and Akasha.
Because there was great turmoil in the world at this time due to major changes occurring in the Empire, many changes occurred including in the economy. The cost of food has also increased making Erina's life even more difficult.
Although Erina can take food from the nature around her but there are things that only humans can manage.
Meanwhile Erina had previously spent almost half of her assets to invest in building an academy in a kingdom that specialized in magic, the Magisia Kingdom.
That was why Akasha had to go to the city as soon as possible.
"Hmm... But I'm lazy to move...."
While Erina was conflicted with herself about how reluctant she was to come out of the forest. Akasha came up to Erina with a slightly stiff demeanor.
"Master, you said you were going to the city earlier, right?"
Erina recalled their previous conversation and nodded.
"If master doesn't mind can I come with master? I want to see the city and other humans."
Erina instantly recalled that ever since Erina had made Akasha her student, Akasha had never been out of this forest let alone had not met a human other than the two of them.
Erina had completely forgotten that because Akasha had never once mentioned her desires during this time so Erina thought Akasha liked solitude as much as she did.
(Since his amnesia, he has never left the forest and has only interacted with me. I've heard that people who don't interact with other humans for a long time will have a heavy burden of stress.
I'd better take Akasha too, plus he might find friends there.
I might even find clues about Akasha's parents and why he ended up in that snowstorm).
"That's right, you'd better come too. You might be surprised by the outside world even more because it will be so much different from what you imagined."
"Really?"
"Yes, get ready, we'll be heading to the city soon using teleportation magic."
"Alright master!"
Akasha replied with a slightly excited voice and immediately returned home and changed into the clothes that suited her best.
After finishing changing, Akasha immediately came towards the waiting Erina.
'The way Erina rushed here looks like a pet following its master, too cute!'
Erina could only be shocked by the cuteness of Akasha's animal-like movements.
"I'm ready master."
"A-Aaa...Ahem, good. Come closer and hold my hand."
Erina stretched out her hand and Akasha immediately took a firm hold of Erina's hand.
'Her hand is very small and fragile. Even so she has strong determination in her soul. It is truly a fortune to have her as my student.'
"Alright, hold on tight because this is going to be very nauseating."
'---------'
Erina began to make preparations for teleportation magic, Erina managed to make calculations of every single thing to perform teleportation magic starting from coordination, Ether needed, commands to perform actions, then began to enter the chanting of the spell to execute the actions and complete the magic.
Teleportation spells can be performed by decomposing the components of one's body into formless energy and teleporting them to the destination that has been arranged while setting up the coordination while performing the calculations.
It was simple but very complicated, and had the possibility of failing with dangerous consequences but Erina was confident that she would not fail because she was a Mage who had been around since the Demon King Era.
"...!"
The spell was successfully executed and a light began to transform and reduce Erina's body, the light began to spread to Akasha as well. Akasha's body was successfully transformed and just as it was about to reduce the body and enter Akasha's 'soul' component, the Magic was stopped and shattered until the Ether in the surrounding realm was destroyed.
Ether if likened to energy, has the law of conservation which means that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be transformed into another form.
So when Ether vanished completely, something the witches thought was true became a mistake.
Right now Erina saw this historic moment right before her eyes and could only stare at Ether and her magic that vanished like a dream.
"How is that possible?"
"?"
Erina couldn't help but be confused and uttered the words involuntarily, leaving Akasha confused as well.
"Master, why aren't we leaving?"
Erina was still full of questions and at the moment she didn't even hear Akasha's voice.
Akasha kept trying to get Erina to listen to her many times and kept failing.
"Master!!!"
After almost 3 minutes passed since Erina was pensive and shocked, Erina finally managed to hear Akasha's voice which was so loud that it was the first time Erina heard Akasha's voice that loud.
"Wh-what the hell was that? You can sound that loud? What's wrong?"
"I should have asked, why didn't she continue her journey with the master's teleportation magic and kept silent instead."
"Right, I had forgotten. We changed our plans, we didn't use teleportation."
"Why?"
There was a slight look of disappointment on Akasha's face, Erina felt a little sorry even though it was not her fault the teleportation magic failed to activate.
"Come on don't be so sad, we'll use flying magic instead-, no, hmmm."
Erina felt that flying magic would not be canceled like teleportation magic but flying magic was not something that could be given to others because flying magic was used for oneself not for others.
(Is there another way, a magic that will not be canceled and can be used by both of us.)
Then an idea came up, a tool that Erina had used in the past when she was a student of her master but never used after learning more efficient and useful magic.
'Flying broom.'
Erina immediately went to the basement and picked up a broom that looked crumpled as if it had not been used for a long time.
"We'll go using this."
Akasha's expression at hearing that was something that could only be described by looking at someone miserable.
"Don't look at me like that! Seriously, this broom is great you know."
"----"
After Erina said that, she lifted the broom and threw it into the air while channeling Ether and announcing a short spell.
Then the broom that was supposed to fall due to gravity did not fall and instead floated.
Akasha was surprised to see a broom that could levitate and Erina smiled with a smug expression.
"I told you it's not, it's a magical tool of the Magician of old, though it's almost rarely used now."
(The broomstick is the most appropriate tool for this time where Akasha's abnormal power is dormant and this tool will not touch the existence of Akash's soul.)
Erina then immediately sat on the broomstick and extended her hand to Akasha.
"Come on, sit down quickly. There's no need to be afraid, when something happens this master of yours will definitely do something."
Although a little hesitant, Akasha decided to trust and sat on the broomstick and succeeded.
(As I suspected, Akasha's abnormal power is currently dormant, which means that what canceled the teleportation magic before was because the magic touched Akasha's 'soul'. Then is Akasha's 'soul' the key to that abnormal power?)'
Although it was a coincidence, Erina managed to find a clue about Akasha's abnormal power.
"Then hold on tight, otherwise you'll fall."
They flew into the sky to head for the town near the forest.