The chamber was quiet, save for the faint hum of mana in the air. The gathered students stood in a loose semicircle, their eyes fixed on Valeron. Unlike Arthur's imposing presence or the structured lessons of previous teachers, Valeron carried himself with an air of effortless calm. His robes shimmered faintly with streaks of green mana—an unmistakable sign of his affinity with pure mana.
"Spirit Magic," Valeron began, his voice steady but not overpowering. "It is the seventh element, the purest form of mana, and the foundation of all magic. It is not fire, not water, not earth or air. It is not even light or darkness. It is mana in its rawest, most untamed form—the very essence from which all magic is derived.
"
The students remained silent, absorbing his words. Even among Awakened mages, Spirit Magic was rare. Few possessed even the faintest connection to it, and fewer still could wield it.
"You may be wondering," Valeron continued, "if Spirit Magic is so rare, why teach it? Why should you, who may never wield it, bother to understand it?"
He raised a single finger, and the air around him rippled. "Because Spirit Magic is the key to understanding magic itself. It is the force that binds the elements, the thread that weaves them together. Without it, you are simply forcing mana into a mold. But with it, you are shaping mana at its source."
He took a slow step forward, locking eyes with each student in turn. "Creatures like Magical Beasts, Emperor Beasts, and even Abominations all use True Magic—magic that is instinctive, bound to their very being. Yet none of them wield Spirit Magic. Why?"
Yurial was the first to answer, his voice careful. "Because they rely on their natural affinity for the elements. They don't shape mana—they embody it."
Valeron nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Their magic is an extension of themselves. But Awakened are different. You do not just wield mana; you command it. That is why only Awakened can use Spirit Magic. It is the language of mana itself."
He lifted a hand, and green streaks of energy flickered to life, swirling like living streams of power. "Spirit Magic is not an element, nor is it separate from them. It is the flow of mana itself. It is the connection between your mind and your magic, the bridge between thought and spell."
Tista frowned slightly. "If Spirit Magic is the flow of mana, then doesn't that mean we've already been using it?"
Valeron chuckled. "Yes and no. You have been using mana, but without understanding its true nature. Consider a fake mage—someone who lacks a natural affinity for mana. They can still cast spells, but only by following strict patterns, relying on formulas and external tools to force mana into shape. But if they understood Spirit Magic, even without an affinity, they could manipulate the flow of mana more efficiently, finding ways around their limitations."
Quilla's eyes narrowed. "So Spirit Magic is… control?"
Valeron shook his head. "Not just control. Understanding. Mastery. If you truly grasp Spirit Magic, you are not just casting spells—you are speaking to mana itself. You are shaping it in its most natural state, unrestricted by the rigid forms of traditional magic."
He let his words hang in the air before finally concluding, "Tomorrow, we will take the first step in unraveling this mystery. But remember—Spirit Magic is not something that can be forced. It must be understood."
As the lesson ended, the students left the chamber deep in thought. The path to understanding Spirit Magic had begun.