Yevan's steps were slow and measured, his hands clasped firmly behind his back as he paced in the open ground before James.
His expression was calm, almost emotionless, but his eyes carried the weight of a man who had seen countless battles and mastered their nuances.
Meanwhile, James stood straight, arms folded, his sharp mind already picking apart Yevan's every word before they were even spoken.
He was calm, too, though a growing sense of curiosity flickered in his thoughts.
Yevan finally stopped pacing, his boots digging slightly into the dirt as he turned to face James with the air of a strict schoolmaster about to quiz a student.
"Of the four aspects of battle power," he began, his voice calm yet commanding, "Attainment is the most important and comprehensive. That's why I'll explain it last."
James raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His mind, however, whispered its own thoughts:
'The most important one, and he's saving it for the end? Either he's a master of suspense, or he just enjoys dragging things out.'
Yevan didn't wait for questions. He moved on. "We will begin with the first aspect—Unsealing," he said. His tone was steady and unhurried, yet filled with an authority.
"Unsealing," Yevan continued, his calm voice carrying easily across the empty field, "is the most basic of the four aspects, yet it directly affects the soul master the most. It is the process of refining and purifying your soul weapon within your soul sea."
James furrowed his brow. 'That's all?... does this guy ever simplify anything?'
Seeing the faint crease in James's forehead, Yevan elaborated, though his tone remained as measured as ever.
"Think of it this way," he said. "Your soul weapon is like a rough gemstone, buried in impurities.
"With time and effort, you polish it, remove its flaws, and reveal its true brilliance. That process—polishing the gemstone—is refining.
"Each time you refine your soul weapon, it undergoes a qualitative change. The more you refine it, the closer it reaches it's limits until it undergoes a qualitative change, becoming something far stronger.
"And as it gets stronger, the boost it gives you becomes greater. It becomes sharper, stronger, more durable, and far more effective in battle."
James nodded slowly, his sharp mind piecing the explanation together. "So, if I don't refine it, I'm basically swinging around a blunt blade in a fight?"
"Precisely," Yevan replied, his tone neither approving nor disapproving, as though James's insight was merely expected.
"Skipping this process is like going into war armed with a stick instead of a sword. It is foolish and dangerous. You would be too weak."
"The second aspect," Yevan continued without pause, "is Soul Power. This is a more intricate subject, divided into two key parts: Soul Sea Depth and Soul Sea Purity."
James tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "Depth and purity? Sounds like a swimming pool."
Yevan's calm expression didn't flicker. "If a swimming pool helps you understand it, then so be it," he said, his tone as steady as ever.
"Your Soul Sea Depth determines the amount of soul force you can hold, much like the size of a container.
"A larger depth means you can store more soul force, allowing you to fight longer, use stronger abilities, and sustain yourself in drawn-out battles."
James nodded thoughtfully. 'So, the deeper the sea, the more energy I have to work with. Got it.'
Yevan inclined his head slightly before continuing. "Now, Soul Sea Purity is equally vital. It measures the quality of your soul force.
"A higher purity means your energy is more potent, more efficient. With purer soul force, you can achieve the same level of power using far less energy.
"Think of it as potions. Would you rather have a tank full of low grade potions or a smaller tank of high grade potions that heals faster and lasts longer?"
James smirked faintly. "High-grade, obviously. So, depth is about quantity, and purity is about quality."
"Correct," Yevan said, his tone giving nothing away. "To increase both, you must refine your soul sea.
"This involves emptying your soul sea of all its energy, letting it refill naturally, and repeating the process.
"Each cycle strengthens your depth and clarity. Alternatively, you could use soul-nurturing treasures, though those are rare and expensive. Hard work is often the better path."
"The third aspect," Yevan pressed on, "is Technique. This refers to your level of mastery over the arts and enchantments engraved on your soul weapon. And mastery, Kaelan, is not a luxury—it is a necessity."
James arched an eyebrow. "Define mastery."
"Mastery," Yevan said, his tone as calm and precise as ever, "determines how effectively and efficiently you can use your abilities. It is divided into four stages: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Sublime.
"At the Basic stage, activating an enchantment requires at least three seconds, and even then, there's a significant chance of failure if you're rushed or distracted.
"Intermediate mastery reduces activation time to a single second, though a small risk of failure remains.
"Advanced mastery allows instant activation with no chance of failure, regardless of circumstances. And Sublime mastery..."
He paused, letting the weight of the word settle over the air.
"Sublime mastery," Yevan continued, "is the pinnacle. It represents an enlightenment, a deep understanding of an enchantment that allows you to push it beyond its original limits.
"At this stage, the power of the enchantment becomes extraordinary, almost otherworldly for its level."
James's sharp mind caught on to the implication. "So, the only way to reach Sublime is practice, right?"
"Precisely," Yevan said with a single nod. "Mastery is forged through effort, repetition, and discipline. There are no shortcuts.
"Those who do not practice remain stuck in mediocrity. Those who do, rise to greatness."
James resisted the urge to sigh. "Sounds like a lot of work."
"It is," Yevan said simply, his tone unmoving. "But the rewards are worth it."
He paused again, his gaze steady and unwavering as he looked at James. Then, in that same calm, measured tone, he said, "And now, we move on to the most important aspect—Attainment."
_____
Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Castle - 10 Bonus Chapters!