The morning sun bathed the Training Grounds, birds chirped in the distance, and the rhythmic sound of Austin's footsteps echoed as he jogged along the field.
It would have been a productive start to the day… if not for the snoring lump on the grass a few feet away.
Austin sighed, jogging past Lucian for the third time. "You call this jogging?"
Lucian, lying on his back with his arms crossed behind his head, barely cracked an eye open before leeting out a tired moan. "I'm training my body to recover. Sleep is important for muscle growth." He closed his eyes again.
Austin rolled his eyes but didn't bother arguing. Instead, he picked up the pace, enjoying the morning air—until he spotted Yanika and Archon Alaric in the distance, training with the Valdoris Archeon.
"Hello, Austin!" Yanika greeted.
"Morning," Alaric added.
Austin nodded in greeting.
"How's your progress with the 1200?"
Austin raised an eyebrow. "I'll visit the Mystican Tower again at noon."
"Good luck, Freshie," Alaric teased.
"Are you referring to me?" Austin asked, stopping for a breather.
Alaric didn't answer and instead asked, "I heard you were brothers with Egbert. Could you invite him for a jog so we can train together?"
"I mean, I could, but he's not a morning person. He usually trains at night."
"I see. Thanks for letting me know," Alaric said before turning on his heel.
"He's been obsessed with training with Egbert ever since he almost lost to him," Yanika whispered, covering her mouth.
"I heard that," Alaric said, twisting his upper torso toward them and raising an eyebrow at Yanika.
"Tehee~." Yanika smiled innocently, hiding her hands behind her back as if daring Alaric to do something about it.
Alaric sighed before walking away to jog as well.
Austin glanced at Alaric's back, then looked back at Yanika.
Yanika was also staring at Alaric's back—but somewhere below his waist.
Noticing Austin's stare, she shifted her eyes towards Austin and asked, "By the way, where's your shadow?"
Austin jerked a thumb toward the grass. "Recovering."
Yanika followed his gesture and burst a soft laugh. "Yeah, I can see that."
"My rest is done, I better get going." Austi. said.
"Oh? Then would you mind if I join you?"
"Of course, but I'm not the type who waits."
"You're underestimating me."
Austin smirked before sprinting.
"Hey that's unfair." Yanika yelled before running to keep up with Austin.
Meanwhile, the other members of Valdoris had gathered around Lucian filled with mischief.
One held a stick of charcoal, another stifled a giggle.
Before long, a rather artistic mustache, a monocle, and some questionable doodles decorated Lucian's sleeping face.
Alaric, who had been jogging and observing, let out a soft chuckle before shaking his head. "And what exactly do you all think you're doing?" He said as he was able to stop behind them.
The guilty parties froze mid-doodle. One brave soul cleared his throat. "Enhancing our junior's visual appeal?"
Alaric sighed. "Right. And does 'visual appeal' help in battle?"
A pause. Then, "…Maybe?"
The Archon gave them a long, unimpressed stare before glancing toward Yanika, who was keeping up with Austin's jog from afar.
The entire Archeon followed Alaric's gaze.
Murmurs started.
"Is that Yanika?"
"That's her."
"Well, that's new. She usually doesn't jog like that."
"She's full of energy today. Does she… perhaps like Austin?"
Alaric clapped his hands. "Enough games. Back to training before I make you all spar with me," he said in a strict voice.
"What?" someone asked before sprinting away in a panic.
That was enough motivation to send the Valdoris Archeon scrambling back to their drills.
"Why are Yanika and the Archon acting weird today?"
"I don't know, and I don't wanna know."
"What I do know is that Archon looks pissed."
"Yeah."
Alaric's eyes darted to Yanika and Austin after ensuring the Archeon was back to their drills. His gaze darkened.
Austin chuckled. "Looks like you overestimated yourself."
"Pant… I will show you… pant, pant…" Yanika huffed between deep breaths.
Austin shook his head and continued his jog. Then, he noticed how Alaric was pushing the Archeon through grueling exercises, pointing at them mercilessly.
"Wow, he's a good leader."
"He's acting weird today. I thought today was supposed to be light training," Yanika muttered.
"That doesn't look light to me." Austin chuckled.
The helpless moans and sobs from the Valdoris Archeon echoed in the training grounds that morning.
***
A female professor stepped to the front of the lecture hall.
She has a sculpted face with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline. Her large eyes are emphasized with bold makeup. She has a slender, straight nose and full, expressive lips.
She has a white undercut hair, with one side slicked back to create the illusion of a shorter length, while the other side falls naturally, just below her chin, with the long top sliding gently over it.
She scanned the room before she spoke. "I am Professor Selena Voss, for the Core Principles of Mana and Energy Manipulation. Mana is the lifeblood of the Mystical Arts," she began on the spot, her voice steady and commanding. "It is the fundamental energy that fuels every spell, every enchantment, and every mystical art you will ever encounter. But what is mana, truly?"
She raised a hand, and a faint shimmer pulsed in the air around her fingertips.
"Mana is raw energy from existence itself, present in all living beings but in varying amounts. Beasts with high affinity accumulate it naturally, while others, like us, must train to harness it after awakening."
She paced slowly.
"Mana isn't limitless; it replenishes through rest, meditation, or external sources like potions and absorption techniques—but not instantly. Overuse causes exhaustion, which can lead to unconsciousness, permanent damage, or death. I expect none of you to test those limits recklessly."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.
"Mystians—humans, to be precise—don't possess pure mana. Once absorbed, mana converts into our affinities, becoming elemental energy. We still call it mana, but it's no longer pure. Are you following?"
Silence struck the room which irritated the professor for a minute before she continued.
"The only Mystian that can wield pure mana are those that has no elemental Affinity. But their art is very limited."
The students murmured but was stopped by the professor with a wave of a hand.
"Mana Class and Elemental Class are closely linked," Professor Voss explained. "Your ability to manifest mana determines how effectively you wield your elemental affinity. That's why both classes are scheduled today—you need both to fully understand and control your abilities."
She turned toward the board, writing as she spoke.
"Mana is shapeless and needs a medium—your body, an artifact, or a spell circle—to take form. Techniques like runes, incantations, and movements help shape it.
With a flick of her hand, a thin, sharp tendril of air sliced through the air beside her, vanishing just as quickly.
"This class will refine your mana manipulation skills. Whether Mage or Sage, mastery here shapes your future in the Mystical Arts. Talent alone is useless without discipline. No questions, right?"
She turned, facing the class with a knowing smirk and clapped her hands sharply.
"Quiz time," she announced, a sly smile forming as groans echoed through the room.
Someone blinked. "We just started."
"Exactly," the professor said. "Let's see who was actually listening. There are papers and pens in the hollow compartments below your tables. Use them to answer these questions."
A flick of her wrist sent glowing runes floating in the air. Words materialized:
Question One: What happens to mana when it enters a Mystian's body?
Austin glanced at the other students, who stared blankly at the question.
Ava, however, was already scribbling away.
"You have got to be kidding me," someone muttered.
Professor Voss' smile widened. "Oh, and if you fail, enjoy extra assignments."
That was enough to make everyone scramble for their answers.
It didn't even take long before the question changed.