The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of scorched earth. Yumina and Alsie stood silently in the clearing, their eyes locked on the blackened patch of land where they had unleashed their newfound powers. The once vibrant trees now stood as charred stumps, and the faint crackle of dying embers lingered in the air.
"Did we really... do that?" Yumina muttered, her voice still shaky.
"I guess we did," Alsie replied, gripping her arm uneasily.
For Yumina, this wasn't entirely new. She had used magic related to three elements before, so the destruction they caused didn't shock her as much. But Alsie was different. Until now, she had only relied on her Boost Null Magic — a supportive ability that strengthened her body — nothing remotely destructive. The power she had just displayed left her feeling both surprised and strangely excited.
Their gazes drifted to John, who stood a few steps away with his arms crossed, his expression thoughtful yet calm.
"You've got some serious power now," John said, finally breaking the silence. "But... it's not as dangerous as you might think."
Both girls turned to him, surprised.
"You mean... we can control it?" Yumina asked.
John nodded. "Yeah. Unlike some unstable bloodline abilities that trigger on their own, your powers are stable. As long as you have enough mana and focus, you can use them freely. But..." He paused, his eyes sharpening. "That doesn't mean you should get careless. If you push yourself too hard or let your emotions take over, things can still go wrong."
The girls exchanged a relieved glance.
"So... we're not a danger to everyone?" Alsie asked.
John chuckled softly. "No. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook." He reached into his satchel and pulled out two books, both bound in fresh leather with gleaming golden symbols embossed on the covers.
The title on each read:
"Magical Runes: The Path of the Star Wizard"
"These are for you," John said, handing one book to each girl.
Yumina flipped open her book and found carefully drawn diagrams of runes, each accompanied by detailed explanations. Fire runes, water runes, wind runes — a wide variety of elemental abilities filled the pages.
"There's so much…" Yumina muttered in awe.
"But that's not all," John added. "I've included something special in the back — you call it Null Magic; I call it the Null Magic Rune."
Both girls paused and glanced at John.
"We know what Null Magic is," Alsie said with a slight smile. "But... are you saying we can use all of these?"
John's grin widened. "Exactly. Normally, Null Magic abilities are rare and highly specialized. Most people can only master one in their lifetime. But because of my method… both of you can use every known Null Magic there is — if you want to, that is."
Alsie's eyes widened. "Every type?"
"That's insane…" Yumina whispered, flipping through the back pages where several Null Magic runes were carefully illustrated.
"Gate… Modelling… Boost… Excel…" Alsie read aloud. "These are all powerful Null Magic abilities."
"That's right," John said. "Gate allows you to create small portals for quick movement. Modelling lets you reshape objects — not just simple things like clay, but even weapons, armor, or walls if you get good enough. Boost strengthens your abilities temporarily — the same one you already use — and Excel enhances your speed to a whole new level."
Alsie whistled softly. "Knowing only one Null Magic can be very helpful, but knowing all of them... it's a game changer. We'll become just like Touya."
"But don't get ahead of yourselves," John warned, his tone turning firm. "These runes aren't easy to master. Each one requires precision and focus. If you try to rush it, you'll just end up exhausting yourself — or worse."
Alsie frowned. "Why would that happen?"
"Because Magic Runes don't just draw on mana — they tap directly into your spiritual power," John explained. "If you overuse it without proper training, you could weaken your mental state… or even pass out."
"What do you want us to do?" Yumina asked, gripping her book tightly.
"For now," John said, "just focus on learning one rune per day. Take your time — study it, memorize its form, and practice inscribing it. First, try to inscribe it inside your spiritual sea."
"Inscribing?" Alsie asked.
"In your spiritual sea," John explained, "once you inscribe the rune, it will become a star — the same as the bloodline rune from before. Once the star is formed, you can practice tracing the rune inside your mind. The more you practice it there, the stronger your spiritual power will become. Two hours a day should be enough at first."
"Two hours…" Yumina groaned. "That sounds like a lot."
John chuckled. "It's nothing compared to what you'll face later. Strengthening your spiritual sea is just the beginning."
His words carried a certain weight, one that made both girls pause.
Finally, Yumina closed her book and nodded. "Alright... we'll do it."
"Yeah," Alsie agreed. "We'll master these runes."
John smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "That's what I wanted to hear."
He turned and started walking back toward the house.
"You two get some rest," John called over his shoulder. "Tomorrow morning... your training begins."
As John's footsteps faded, Yumina glanced at Alsie.
"Can you believe this?" she asked. "We can use all those Null Magic runes… it's like we've just unlocked a whole new world of abilities."
Alsie grinned, her excitement bubbling over. "I know, right? Imagine combining Boost with Excel... we could become unstoppable!"
Yumina chuckled. "If we survive John's training first."
Both girls shared a laugh, the weight of their earlier worries replaced by determination — and a spark of excitement for what lay ahead.