The impact wasn't particularly strong, yet I needed a few seconds to regain my composure.
"It's not always necessary to go on the offensive. Sometimes, defending or countering an attack is more effective—especially since you're not using a close combat weapon," Mr. Ronald advised.
I took in his words. My fighting style still carried remnants of my sword training. Those habits weren't entirely unhelpful, but they no longer aligned with my current approach. It was clear I needed to adapt.
Leaving the ring, I joined Nero and Liam, while Mr. Ronald removed his boxing gloves. He turned to us with a final set of instructions:
"You all need to train your individual attack styles until your body acts instinctively. In combat, every second counts. Perfect your techniques, and incorporate your elemental abilities into your attacks. Liam, Nero—your last strikes used elemental enchantment, but you need to apply it consistently across all your attacks, not just as a finishing move.
"Kail, from what I observed, you haven't yet integrated your element into your attacks. For now, learn from Liam's example."
"Understood, "I replied.
"If you have any questions, I'll be in the next room. Train as much as you can; all the equipment here is at your disposal. If you want to organize a duel, inform me first."
We gave a short nod in acknowledgment. Satisfied, Mr. Ronald exited through a nearby door that led to the locker room. The three of us remained behind to continue our training.
"So, it looks like I'll need your help with this," I said, turning to Nero and Liam.
"Sure," Nero replied.
"What do you need help with?" Liam asked.
"I don't fully understand how to properly use the element in my attacks," I admitted.
"Nobody does at first," Liam responded confidently. "It's something personal—an individual process for everyone."
"Exactly," Nero added. "Focus on controlling your element and making your movements precise. Over time, you'll figure out how to incorporate it naturally."
"Precise movements? What kind of movements, exactly?"
"Each of us has a unique fighting style," Liam explained. "For me, it's all about quick, short movements with a rapid tempo. Nero's style, on the other hand, adapts and shifts tempo depending on the situation. In essence, we both maintain the foundational principles of our martial arts, but we shape them to fit our strengths."
Hearing Liam's explanation sparked a realization in me.
Cyclone's Embrace is based on gradually increasing the tempo—not instantaneously, but over time. It's similar to my archery technique, where the arrow gains its greatest impact not upon release, but after it travels a certain distance. Or my breathing technique, which incrementally increases the flow of aether and the speed of my circuit with each stage. Yet, when it comes to close combat, I've been starting with bursts of energy instead of building up. Perhaps that's a remnant of my past training.
Understanding this, I headed toward a punching bag on one side of the gym and began a series of attacks against it.
I started with a simple jab, nudging the bag slightly forward. I waited for it to swing back into place before continuing, but with each strike, my speed increased. The punches came faster and faster, leaving the bag no time to settle. My attacks flowed continuously—straight punches, uppercuts, and hooks—each landing successfully.
I need to activate my circuit, I thought.
Pausing briefly to steady my breathing, I activated my technique.
Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ☆)
Stage 1: Wind Circulation
As mana enveloped my body, I resumed my assault. The punches now had a significantly stronger impact. The small disconnect I'd felt between ManaVentis and my movements disappeared entirely. My strikes became more fluid and coordinated, a seamless blend of speed and precision.
As I reached the limit of my attack speed, something clicked. My left fist, mid-strike, suddenly accelerated, aided by a wind current generated from my aether. When it connected with the punching bag, the impact was followed by a powerful flow of wind, amplifying the force of my attack.
Finally! I thought, exhilarated.
After half an hour of relentless effort, I'd managed to incorporate wind into my attack successfully. It had happened only once and only when I reached my peak speed. Yet, I was certain that speed alone wasn't the key to activation—it was about aligning my attack style with the essence of my martial arts.
Taking a moment to observe the gym, I noticed Nero training on wooden dummies. His movements alternated fluidly between palm strikes and punches, adapting seamlessly to each new angle of attack. Meanwhile, Liam practiced with a pair of weighted rims, focusing on his speed and control.
Seeing them deeply engaged, I returned to "terrorizing" the punching bag.
Over the next 2–3 hours, we continued our training, occasionally switching between different equipment. Finally, we decided to call it a day and headed to Mr. Ronald's office to inform him.
"Good work today. I'll see you next time," he said as we left.
On our way back home, we spotted someone from a distance—a girl who was impossible to miss. Elysia Luxford, a representative of one of the major clans, stood out with her presence.
At that moment, I heard Nero mutter under his breath,
"Ahhh, do you think it's too late to run away now?" Nero muttered.
"Why?" I asked, curious but wary of his sudden shift in tone.
"She's... very hard to understand," he replied cryptically.
Liam chimed in with a tired expression, though it was hard to tell if it was from training or the topic at hand. "Yeah. Good luck dealing with her."
Confidently, I said, "Then that's none of my concern." I was ready to turn and take a different path, avoiding whatever this situation was, but before I could make my escape, Liam's hand clamped down on my shoulder, firmly stopping me in my tracks.
"Oh no, you're not getting out of this one," he said with an unsettling grin.
"But you said it's fine if I don't want to get involved in these... social situations," I argued, hoping to slip away.
"True, but this is different. She has no connection to Cindercrest whatsoever, so you're safe. Plus, she's a fantastic girl with a wonderful personality. Trust me, she won't drag you into any trouble."
I raised an eyebrow. "Do you actually believe what you just said?"
"Yes!" he exclaimed confidently, though he quickly added, "At least the first part."
Realizing I had no way out, I reluctantly walked forward with them toward what I could already tell would be a headache. My "dear friends" had made sure of that.
As we approached, Elysia Luxford greeted us formally, "Greetings, Mr. Frostvein, Mr. Leafblade. How was your day?"
I couldn't help but smirk inwardly. And they laughed at me for introducing myself like that, discrimination!
Liam, trying to maintain an air of politeness while making his exhaustion clear, replied, "Greetings, Elysia. We just finished additional training courses and are absolutely drained."
Elysia nodded, her tone as formal as ever. "You're both very responsible, as expected of the future chief of a clan and the descendant of a major guild." She then turned her attention toward me, tilting her head slightly. "As for this gentleman here, whose identity I am unfamiliar with—might I trouble you for an introduction?"
Her voice, calm yet oddly detached, was accompanied by a perfectly composed expression. It felt like listening to someone read a script, devoid of punctuation or natural pauses. While it wasn't entirely new to me, her delivery was unsettling enough to make my whole body tense as if I were bracing for some unseen threat.
Through the discomfort, I managed to respond politely, "My name is Kail Vaylith. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Luxford."
As soon as my introduction ended, it was as though I had disappeared from existence. She shifted her focus entirely back to Nero and Liam, diving into a discussion about lessons, training methods, and various details about their respective organizations.
The more they spoke, the more visible the stress became on Nero and Liam's faces. Every new question from Elysia seemed to dig deeper, leaving them visibly drained. Meanwhile, I stood there as an uninvolved bystander, watching the conversation unfold like an audience member in the middle of a dramatic play.
This is strange... but honestly, it's better this way. I thought, content to remain on the sidelines of whatever was happening.
When their discussion finally ended, Elysia gave a formal military salute as a goodbye and headed back in her original direction.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked once she was far enough away not to hear.
"I'd still like to know," Liam replied with a shrug. "I only deal with her occasionally, but Nero has to talk to her every time something is organized in his clan."
"She's generally a good person," Nero added. "Hardworking as both a leader and a fighter—she'll go far. But her social skills? Absolutely abysmal. Believe it or not, she's better now. Back when we were younger, if we were alone with her, I had to sit in total silence for hours because she didn't know how to hold a conversation."
Liam nodded in agreement and continued, "And don't read too much into how she reacted when you introduced yourself. She's like that with anyone who she doesn't immediately recognize."
"Good," I replied. "It's better this way. I'd prefer not to get involved with people from major clans anyway."
Hearing this, Nero made a face as though the entire world had just collapsed around him.
"You're a small exception," I added, which immediately brightened his mood.
Later that evening, as I was heading back home, my watch vibrated to signal a new message. Instinctively, I thought it might be from Lia—she'd promised to message me, after all—but when I checked the transmitter, it turned out to be from the academy administration.
|Mr. Kail Vaylith,
You have been chosen as the individual assigned the phrase "with the moon." Ensure that others do not discover this information, and good luck uncovering the phrases assigned to others.|
Astrology, huh? Looks like I'll have to add that as a new hobby of mine for conversations.
Keeping secrets was nothing new to me, and this mission wasn't exactly difficult—just a minor inconvenience. They didn't specify how many people were involved or even forbid disguises, masks, or false identities. With that in mind, it didn't seem too challenging.
As I processed the message, my watch buzzed again. This time, I assumed it was more administrative instructions since the first message had only been sent 30 seconds ago. But when I checked, it wasn't from the administration—it was from Lia.
Why was I waiting for this?
Why her?
What's wrong with me?
The more I thought about Lia, the unclearer my emotions became. And yet, the idea of cutting ties with her—no matter how fleeting or hypothetical—made my chest ache. It wasn't physical pain, but it was real enough for me to dismiss the thought entirely as if this was my stupidest thought ever.
|Lia| Hello, how was your day?
The moment I read her message, every other thought vanished. My mind narrowed to a single focus: imagining Lia typing those words, waiting for my response.
Without hesitation, I plunged into the conversation, exchanging words with her on topics that ranged from profound to utterly mundane. Each question she asked felt genuine, and not once did I suspect any hidden motives or attempts to manipulate me. I answered her honestly, almost instinctively, as if her words compelled an unfiltered truth.
To my surprise, she never asked for anything truly significant—no secret plans, no critical information. It was just simple, everyday chatter that felt inexplicably important.
The conversation stretched well past sunset, carrying me into the hours I typically reserved for meditation. When it finally ended, I set down my watch and stared at the dimming sky.
"What the hell is happening to me?" I muttered, feeling an unfamiliar tangle of emotions that refused to settle.