Chulsoo cleared his throat loudly, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Alright! Back in line!" he called out.
The students quickly stopped chatting and moved back to their spots, standing in a straight line again.
Chulsoo looked over them and nodded. "Last ti, we learned the basics—how to hold the stick like a sword, how to stand properly, and how to swing with balance. Today, before we move on, I want to see if you still rember."
He turned to one of the boys in the front row. "You Haru. Show us what you learned last ti."
The student stepped forward, holding the training stick with both hands. He took a deep breath and moved into the basic stance—feet shoulder-width apart, one foot slightly forward, knees bent. He raised the stick near his shoulder, keeping his arms steady.
"First, the downward strike!" Chulsoo called.
The student swung the stick straight down in front of him with control and strength.
"Side swing!"
The boy turned his body slightly and swung the stick from left to right, then again from right to left.
"Good! Now thrust!"
He stepped forward with one foot, pushing the stick straight like a sword aiming at a target.
Chulsoo nodded with approval. "Not bad! You rembered the movents. But keep your arms loose. Don't lock your shoulders."
fter the students finished showing the basic sword moves, Professor Chulsoo clapped his hands once.
"Good job, everyone. Now, we move to sothing new."
The students looked up, curious.
"Today, we'll start learning mana control," he said, walking slowly in front of the line. "You've learned how to swing. But what's a weapon without energy? With mana, your attacks beco stronger, faster, and more useful in real battle."
He raised his own stick and held it up for them to see.
"This is just wood, right? But if I add mana—"
A faint glow spread from his hands into the stick. Light blue lines ran along the grain of the wood, and the stick gave off a soft hum.
"Now, this is a weapon."
The students murmured in awe.
"But listen carefully," Chulsoo said, his voice more serious now. "If you put too much mana in too fast, or if your control is poor… the stick will break. Or worse—it might rebound and hurt you."
He held up a cracked stick as an example. "This happened last year. A awakener student rushed it and ended up with splinters in both hands."
"I know its just been a few days since you were teach controlling, Mana control is like breathing. It must be smooth and steady. Don't force it. Feel it."
He looked around. "You might not have awakened yet, and that's okay. Just focus on sensing the flow inside you. For the rest—if you already have mana, try putting just a small amount into your stick."
Professor Chulsoo looked at his students and raised his stick.
"I'll show you how mana flows into the weapon, but I need soone to help . Anyone want to volunteer?"
The students stayed quiet for a mont, looking at each other. Then one boy in the middle raised his hand with a grin.
"How about Professor Jihoon?" he said, pointing at Seojun.
A few students gasped and looked at Seojun with wide eyes.
"Yeah!" the boy continued. "Beast Tars need strong mana control, right? Professor Jihoon must be the perfect partner!"
"Yeah, that makes sense."
"But isn't he new?"
Another student whispered, "Isn't that the professor beast is sli?"
"What? A sli?" soone else said. "That's one of the weakest monsters, right?"
"A sli? Seriously?"
"I heard his mana is really low… no way he can keep up with Professor Chulsoo."
More murmurs followed, so students snickering, others curious.
Chulsoo scratched the back of his head, a little awkward. "Well… I didn't an to put you on the spot, Jihoon."
Seojun stepped forward calmly. "I'm in."
Chulsoo blinked, he rembered the rumors that Seojun had low mana. "Ah—are you sure? We'll be using mana. "
"Yes, I'm fine"
"Then, Don't worry if your mana runs low, I've got potions right here." He patted a small pouch on his belt.
Seojun just nodded, quiet but confident.
"Alright then," Chulsoo said, smiling a bit nervously. "Let's give the class a proper show."
Seojun and Professor Chulsoo stood in the center of the field. The students moved aside, forming a wide circle around them.
Chulsoo looked at everyone and raised his voice. "Alright, class. Pay close attention. Today, we'll learn how to channel mana into your weapon. It's a key skill for future sword techniques."
He lifted his stick. A soft light pulsed from it.
"The stick will glow if you do it right," he said. "But if you rush it or lose control, it'll either stay dull—or break."
He looked at Seojun and nodded. "Let's go step by step. Professor Jihoon will assist ."
Seojun gave a quiet nod, holding his own stick.
Chulsoo faced him and lifted his stick into a basic stance. "First, stance. Solid feet. Balance your weight. Right foot slightly back, left foot forward."
He waited for the students to copy. Many adjusted their feet.
"Good. Now, breathe in. Feel your mana in your chest."
He took a deep breath. "Don't force it out. Just feel it. Let it flow to your arms… and into your hands."
A soft glow lit up his stick.
"Step one—basic swing with mana. Light and slow."
Chulsoo stepped forward with a smooth swing. Seojun raised his stick and blocked it gently.
"Nice. Did you see that, class? Not fast, not strong. But controlled."
He stepped back. "Now, again."
He swung again—this ti a little faster. Seojun blocked it again, still relaxed.
"See? No shaking. His mana stays inside the stick. That's how it should be."
So students tried it with their own sticks, but many struggled to make it glow.
Chulsoo turned again. "Next—timing. You don't swing and then add mana. You do it at the sa ti. Move and flow. Together."
He stepped forward, swinging faster. Crack!
Seojun blocked it smoothly, his stick glowing faint blue.
Chulsoo smiled. "Nice block. See that?"
The students nodded, their eyes locked on the two professors.
"Alright, now—footwork. Don't just stand still. Step in, slide out. Move with your attack."
He slid to the side and swung from a different angle. Seojun blocked again with no effort.
"This is what you'll practice next week," Chulsoo added. "Movent and flow."
Now their sticks started to move faster.
Chulsoo grinned. "Let's add speed. Just a little."
Their sticks clacked louder now. Crack! Crack!
"Notice how our sticks don't shake or break? That's control."
More students started murmuring.
"Woah, look at that…"
"You underestimated Professor Jihoon early guys…"
"His mana looks so stable…"
Chulsoo's mana flared slightly as he raised his stick higher and swung again—this ti with more pressure.
Seojun t it calmly. Thwack!
The sound rang across the field.
"No panic. Just calm reaction. That's what you need," Chulsoo said while still sparring. "Your weapon is part of your body. Don't throw it. Guide it."
Their speed kept rising, stick after stick, step after step—like a dance of light and movent. No wasted actions. No sloppy mana.
"Still with , Professor Jihoon?" Chulsoo joked, panting just a little.
Seojun, calm as ever, simply nodded. "Still here."
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