The next stage of Rei's training involved mastering the remaining basic magic techniques: Earth Pillar, Earth Strike, Earth Slide, Tunnel, Water Wave, Water Strike, and Water Slices. Over four intense months, Rei poured all focus into learning each one. During this time, Rei also created a unique magic—Water Bubble—allowing the creation of an air pocket beneath the water to breathe. It was a groundbreaking idea that showcased Rei's innovative approach to magic.
Emilia watched Rei's rapid progress and couldn't help but feel overshadowed by the brilliance displayed. Determined not to fall behind, she pushed herself harder, delving into intermediate magic. After relentless practice, Emilia achieved a significant milestone: mastering the powerful Earth Tomb spell.
The day after her success, Emilia led Rei to an open field. The air was heavy with anticipation, the sun casting long shadows as it descended toward the horizon. Standing in the center of the field, she turned to Rei, her expression serious.
"Now," she said, her voice steady and resolute, "it's time for the final test of your spirit arts against intermediate earth magic."
Rei nodded, bracing for whatever was to come.
Emilia stepped back, closing her eyes as she began her incantation. The ground trembled beneath her feet, the air thickening with the gathering energy. Her voice carried authority as she invoked her spell:
"Earth, lend me your support, destroy my enemies, and send them to their deaths. Earth Tomb!"
With a deafening roar, massive chunks of earth erupted from the ground, forming a colossal, jagged boulder. It loomed before Rei, its sheer size and density a testament to Emilia's mastery of intermediate magic.
Reacting without hesitation, Rei tapped into spirit arts. The air around swirled as Rei generated a powerful whirlwind, the centrifugal force whipping through the field. Channeling seismic waves into the earth beneath, Rei sent a barrage of rock and soil toward the towering boulder.
As the debris swirled in the vortex of wind, Rei took control, lifting it into the air and turning it into a spinning projectile. The once-immobile boulder was now at the mercy of manipulated forces.
Focusing energy, Rei crafted a new technique—a concentrated Rock Tomb. The dense sphere of compressed air and countless rocks shimmered, pulsing with destructive potential.
With a shout, Rei unleashed the Rock Tomb. It screamed through the air, its trajectory precise and unyielding. The blast struck the boulder head-on, detonating with incredible force. The explosion sent shockwaves through the field, shattering the massive construct into countless fragments.
As the dust and debris settled, Rei stood amidst the devastation, chest heaving with exertion. The field lay in ruins, a testament to creativity and control, as well as Emilia's raw magical strength.
Turning to her, Rei met her gaze with a mix of pride and caution. Emilia's expression was unreadable for a moment before it softened into a smile.
"Impressive," she said, her voice warm with admiration. "You're not just mastering spirit arts, Rei—you're redefining them."
The words struck a chord in Rei, affirming not just the progress but the path being carved through sheer will and determination.
Emilia looks at Rei with a mix of awe and bewilderment, her brow furrowed as she tries to reconcile Rei's accomplishments with her understanding of magic and spirit arts. In just a single year, Rei has not only created an entirely new branch of spirit arts that is Sorcery but also integrated elemental manipulation into it—feats that were once thought impossible.
"I... I don't understand it, Rei. If someone like me, hailed as a genius by my village, struggles to grasp such feats with magic, what does that make you?" she murmured, her voice a confusing blend of pride and envy. Shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts, she adds, "You've taken everything I've taught you and not only mastered it but pushed the boundaries of what's possible."
Suddenly, Rei realized she was going to leave. A foreign sadness settled deep in Rei's chest, a sensation that hadn't been felt in years. Some tears began to form in Rei's eyes, but they never escaped. Still, Emilia noticed the unshed tears shimmering, and her expression softened.
As the realization sank in for both of them, Emilia's expression turned bittersweet. She knew that Rei's growth had far outpaced what she could teach, and the thought of leaving filled her with a deep sadness. "You always are a step ahead of me. I suppose tomorrow is farewell, then," she said softly, her smile tinged with melancholy. "You've learned everything I could impart to you."
Reaching into her pocket, Emilia pulled out a beautiful pendant crafted from a deep, vibrant blue crystal. The krystalite shimmered and danced in the light, catching Rei's gaze.
"Here, take this pendant," Emilia explained, her voice steady as her fingers worked deftly to fasten the chain around Rei's neck. "It's made from the finest blue krystalite I could find. As long as you wear this, you'll be able to use basic water magic—even without possessing any innate magical ability yourself."
The pendant settled against Rei's chest, the hot touch of the krystalite a constant reminder of Emilia's gift and the power it bestowed. Its weight was more than just physical; it was a symbol of everything Rei had achieved and the path that lay ahead.
Emilia's eyes lingered on Rei for a moment longer before she looked away, her emotions hidden behind a practiced smile. Tomorrow, she would leave, but the bond they had formed would remain.
As Rei stands in the house the next day, Emilia enters with a thoughtful expression, carrying a small, intricately crafted object. She holds out a slender, 9-inch long stick made of deep, polished black wood, topped with a swirling, smoky grey gemstone that seems to shift and dance. The intricate symbols on it made it look like a specter instead of a wand.
"Here, Rei. Take this," she said, pressing the object into Rei's hands with a gentle smile.
Rei stares at the wand—or what it appears to be—with a mix of confusion and curiosity. A frown crosses Rei's face as the question comes, "Emilia, I'm not a mage, and I can't use magic. Why are you giving me a wand?"
Emilia chuckles softly, her eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. "Typically, a mage would gift their student with a wand upon their graduation, but your case is... unique. This," she explains, gesturing to the object in Rei's hands, "is not a typical wand. I made this special for you."
She pauses, choosing her words carefully. "It's a conductor for your qi, Rei. The wood and stone within radiate a subtle energy that can help you direct your spirit arts more efficiently and increase the range of your manipulation. Think of it as an extension of your own power."
Emilia shrugs slightly, a hint of a grin playing at the corners of her mouth. "I don't know what to call it since it's the first of its kind. That's why I leave the naming to you. Why don't you choose a name that feels right for this unique tool?"
Rei ponders the object, turning it over in their hands, feeling the smooth, polished wood and the cool, pulsing energy of the gemstone. A name from another life surfaces in Rei's mind, and a soft smile spreads across their face.
"How about... Sceptre? A wand for Wizards and Witch will be called a Scepter and the name of this Sceptre.... I'll call it Chaos. It has a certain... appeal to it," Rei muses, the name rolling off their tongue with a sense of familiarity. In ancient Greek mythology, Chaos is a primordial deity representing the primordial emptiness or void from which the universe and all things emerged, which perfectly describes your Sorcery.
Emilia nods, her smile widening. "It's a bit of a strange name, but it's fitting. The Chaos—a symbol of the unpredictable and chaotic path that lies ahead. Yes, that suits you perfectly. The next time we will meet, we will discuss our adventures that we had, okay?". Rei said "yes we will".
With a final, warm smile and a wave, Emilia turns to leave, stepping out of the house and out of Rei's life, at least for now. Her presence may be gone, but the impact she'd had remained, forever etched in Rei's heart.