Not long after I trained with the guard sector for a month, and it was a lot better than expected.
Fletra, l, and even Robert joined in on my mock battles.
My job was to fight all three at once while pretending to struggle.
At first, I held back too much or too little, but eventually I found the right balance.
If I fought at full strength, none of them would stand a chance. But that wasn't the point.
The purpose was to learn how to control myself—to make sure that people like Fletra and l could develop on their own paths without being overshadowed.
I wanted Aethel Academy to be a normal part of life for —sothing I'd never had before.
"Focus!" Fletra's voice rang out.
Her spell shot past as I dodged, but her aim was getting better.
She was a frontcaster, deadly from long range and relentless in her attack.
l charged in close, his elental blade crackling with energy.
WHOOSH!
THUD!
This ti, his attack managed to hit .
"Tch…"
The impact sent skidding back across the training grounds, dust rising in clouds around . They were definitely improving.
"Did we get him?" l asked excitedly.
I coughed through the dirt. "Yeah," I admitted, standing up and brushing myself off.
"He can still talk," Fletra noted dryly.
I guess for a 30 minute session they've held up well, but it's ti to end this one.
HWAM…
I focused my soul core and flowed all the energy to my right arm.
BOOM!
Within a heartbeat I dashed toward l.
"…!"
BAM!
He barely reacted before I struck him lightly in the stomach. His eyes widened as he staggered backward.
"ACKK… My stomach!"
Next was Fletra. She unleashed another volley of spells, each one more precise than the last. I slipped past every single shot and flicked her gently on the forehead.
"Ouch!" she complained, rubbing her brow.
"Ga over,"
l groaned from his spot on the ground.
"You said you were holding back!"
I shrugged, trying not to smirk too much.
"I am."
Fletra shot a skeptical look but didn't argue further. They knew—and I knew—that they were getting stronger because of these sessions.
What they didn't know was how much more they could grow with a little push from soone like who had already walked this path before them.
l sat up and glared at angrily.
"That punch felt like ten percent more than last ti."
"Yeah… pretty sure that flick felt like I got stabbed…" Fletra added with a grin.
They had no idea that ten percent of my best ant getting hit by Soul Arts at full force without any effort on my part.
Though it was true all my attacks would hurt regardless because the difference when using pure mana and soul arts is quite vast.
Because when I use soul imbuent the output is basically multipled by 1.50x damage and in terms of using just a mana imbued attack it's 0.25 less. Vykekard basically explained it that mana can be controlled and given a stronger output with more exertation but the sharpness will never change because it's purely based off genetics.
With Soul Arts, your output is only dictated by the strength of your soul, and the purity of your intent.
Nonetheless intent isn't a simple matter of good or evil. It's about focus, about the direction of your soul's energy.
You see, it's not quite accurate to say that malicious intent 'corrupts' Soul Arts. It's more like… it shifts the focus.
It becos a destructive technique. You can achieve the sa level of power, the sa devastating effects, whether your intent is to protect or to destroy. The difference lies in the nature of that destruction.
A pure intent will channel your soul's energy into a brilliant force of color. It might manifest as a blinding light or a reflection of your own soul.
But a destructive intent, a desire to crush, to dominate, to inflict pain, will channel that sa energy into a force of annihilation. It might manifest as darkness, or a blade that cuts not just flesh, but spirit.
It's still Soul Arts regardless of it all.
It's still drawing from the sa core of your being. But the how and the why dictate the outco. It's like painting.
You can use the sa brush, the sa canvas, the sa pignts.
But the image you create, the story you tell, depends entirely on your vision, your intention.
And just like a painter can create a masterpiece or a monstrosity, a soul artist can create a force of creation or a force of destruction.
It's all about the choice, the focus, the intent.
That's why controlling your intent is just as important as controlling the energy itself.
One wrong thought, one mont of doubt, and you could unleash sothing you never intended.
But they'd figure it out eventually.
***
Julian sank onto a bench, catching his breath as he swiped the towel over his face. Training with Fletra and l had beco a regular routine, but today's session felt particularly intense. Just as he wiped the last of the dust away, a maid approached him hesitantly.
"Ch-Chief," she stamred, addressing him with an awkward bow.
"Lady Ophelia and… uh, soone want to see you in her office."
The nervousness in her voice puzzled Julian. "Is there any reason you're so anxious?" he asked kindly.
Her eyes darted about before she replied.
"An important visitor has arrived. You need to head there this instant."
…
…
…
Julian pushed open the door to Ophelia's office, coming to a sudden stop at the sight before him.
His mother sat alone in front of Ophelia and another woman, her expression was so tense that worry gnawed at him.
He racked his brain for answers, but only one seed plausible: the visitor was an adversary.
As soon as Ophelia noticed Julian, she turned to the woman beside her.
"Principal Kiera," she said smoothly, "it seems your job applicant is here." There was a sly edge to her chuckle.
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