Axilya shook her head with a small grin. "No, no, you did pretty well. Honestly, I doubt I would've done much better myself."
Myrra approached, her gaze shifting between them.
Axilya glanced at her. "What did you think?"
Myrra frowned slightly. "I couldn't even see you guys moving..."
Axilya nodded. "That's normal. It takes time to adjust to this level of speed. After some training, you'll start picking up more."
Myrra folded her arms, thoughtful. "You make it sound easy."
Axilya smirked. "It's not. But you'll get there."
Meanwhile, the shattered floor beneath them shimmered faintly as the cracks began to mend on their own, the surface smoothing out as if the damage had never happened.
After exchanging a few more words, Ian and Myrra made their way back to their apartment. The apartment still had some broken furniture they'd have to pay for, but at least the floor had already repaired itself.
Ian sank into the living room chair, exhaling heavily.
Myrra walked over with two drinks, handing him one. "You look exhausted."
Ian took it with a nod. "Yeah, that fight was draining. Had me on edge the whole time." He took a sip before glancing at her. "By the way, you and Axilya know each other, right?"
Myrra brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "We've met a few times, but never really talked much. Not much in common."
Ian hummed in understanding. After a pause, he asked, "Are you going to take the introductory sessions she suggested?"
Myrra exhaled. "Yeah... I need to get started soon."
Ian leaned back. "I'll join you."
Myrra gave a small nod, and with that, the conversation shifted back to their usual routine.
The next day, Ian and Myrra arrived at the Arcane Engineering sector for their Material Resonance class. The facility was as impressive as ever, high arched ceilings lined with intricate energy conduits, subtle pulses of light flowing along the walls as arcane mechanisms hummed in the background.
As they entered the lecture hall, they spotted Rhys and Varian already seated. Ian and Myrra slid into the seats beside them.
Rhys greeted them with a smirk.
Myrra glanced around at the other students. "Looks like we're the only ones from the group taking this course."
Varian nodded. "Yeah, the others picked different specialties. Makes sense, considering how broad the engineering division is."
Before they could continue, the room dimmed slightly, and the instructor entered. He was tall and lean, with short silver hair and sharp, analytical eyes. His uniform was crisp, a dark high-collared coat lined with thin metallic filaments that pulsed faintly as he moved.
He stepped to the front and placed a small device on the podium. With a flick of his wrist, a holographic display expanded behind him, showcasing complex waveforms and material structures.
"I am Elric Vaylen," he began, his voice calm but authoritative. "This course will cover the fundamental interactions between energy and matter, how different materials resonate with specific frequencies, how those properties can be harnessed, and, most importantly, how to manipulate them effectively. "
A few students shifted in their seats, but he continued.
"You will be working with high-resonance alloys, energy-infused composites, and volatile crystalline structures. A single miscalculation can lead to material failure, or worse. Precision is key."
As Vaylen continued, the hologram shifted to display a layered crystalline structure, its resonance frequencies pulsing in complex waves.
"This is going to be fun," Rhys muttered under his breath.
Myrra smirked. "Or disastrous."
As the lecture concluded, the students began filing out of the hall. Ian, Myrra, Rhys, and Varian exchanged a few words before parting ways.
Ian led Myrra toward the research facility. She followed without question, though curiosity flickered in her expression. It was her first time here, though she knew Ian had secured her permission from High Scholar Durlan.
Inside, the facility opened into a spacious hall lined with specialized workstations. Crystalline matrices floated in containment fields, surrounded by complex instrumentation. Many students moved efficiently between their tasks, discussing theories and running calculations.
Among them, a lone figure stood out, Wiokz. He was focused, carefully adjusting the circuits of stabilizers around an energy core. While no one openly dismissed him, there was a subtle distance in the way the other students moved around him, engaging each other but rarely acknowledging his presence.
Ian approached. "Hey, Wiokz."
Wiokz glanced up, his luminous eyes momentarily wary before softening. "Ah, Ian. You're here earlier than I expected." His gaze flickered to Myrra.
Ian gestured toward her. "This is Myrra. She'll be involved now."
Wiokz gave a slow nod. "A new mind to work with. Nice to meet you."
Myrra also responded politely. "Likewise."
Before they could continue, a group of students nearby took notice. At the mention of Ian's name, a few of them turned, their conversations briefly pausing before they stepped closer.
One of them, a tall elf with neatly tied-back blue hair, approached first. His name was Jandar, one of High Scholar Durlan's students. "Ian, I heard you'd be joining the research teams. Good to finally meet you in person."
Before Ian could reply, three more students joined them, Master Elara's students, all with the composed grace typical of their mentor. Solana, Kael and Dilya.
They exchanged introductions, the conversation quickly shifting toward research topics and expectations for collaboration. Ian went along with the flow, though he wasn't particularly fond of these tight-knit academic circles. He would be working with them, after all, so he made an effort to engage.
Wiokz, meanwhile, had faded into the background, his presence largely ignored by the others. His eyes flickered toward Ian once or twice, but he said nothing.
After the introductions, Ian and Myrra were given an overview of ongoing projects, including access protocols. As the session wrapped up and the group began dispersing, Ian made sure to turn back toward Wiokz.
"See you around, Wiokz."
Wiokz glanced up from his work, a small, genuine smile breaking through his usually reserved expression. "Yeah. See you."
Myrra gave a slight nod in acknowledgment before following Ian out. Wiokz, though still left on the fringes, seemed just a little less alone.
The next few days passed in a blur, with Ian caught up in an increasingly busy schedule. He had been attending various introductory sessions across different Paths, gaining an understanding of their foundations. Each Path offered a unique approach to power and combat, and while he wouldn't necessarily specialize in all of them, it was valuable to learn.
One of the first he attended was Psion, a discipline that revolved around mental refinement and projection. At its core, Psion was about achieving a balance between consciousness and mental energy, allowing one to extend their influence beyond their physical body. Psions trained their minds to manipulate energy fields, reinforce perception, and even influence objects at a distance.
Next was the Wizard path, it focused on constructing and refining spell models. Unlike raw manipulation of energy, Wizards relied on structured frameworks, formulas and sequences, to harness power efficiently. Every spell had an underlying logic, and mastery came from refining these models to be more precise, stable, and effective. It was probably the most comprehensive path Ian had seen till date.
Another one was Mystic Knight, the Mystic Knights spread their mental energy into channels across their body, turning their entire form into a thinking, reacting system. Their bodies didn't just move with trained reflexes, they processed information on their own, responding instinctively as if every fiber of their being was part of a larger, decentralized mind.
Ian also explored a few popular paths, including Innate Sword. The name was somewhat misleading, it wasn't restricted to swords at all. The path's founder, an elf, had developed it using a sword as the foundation, but over time, practitioners had adapted its principles to various weapons. Ian had seen people wielding spears, axes, and even chain weapons, all applying the same underlying concepts. While swords remained the most common choice, the methodology itself was universal. Over the years, different branches had formed based on weapon preference, yet the name Innate Sword remained unchanged.
Then there are other paths, like Bloodline Arts, which focused on drawing power from inherited traits, whether physical or metaphysical, and physique-based Paths, which enhanced the body beyond natural limits through structured conditioning, energy reinforcement, and unique augmentation techniques.
Each session introduced him to new perspectives and methods, broadening his understanding of how individuals in this Universe approached growth and power.
Today, Ian was at the Controlled Energy Flow class, one of the most critical courses in Arcane Engineering. It was mandatory for all students, ensuring that everyone had a fundamental grasp of energy manipulation. The lecture hall was filled with familiar faces; Ian, Myrra, Rhys, Reina, Lirien, Cailen, Varian, and many others, all seated in neat rows as they listened patiently to the instructor.
The instructor, an elf with sharp silver eyes and a composed demeanor, stood at the front. He tapped a crystalline device on the podium, and shimmering energy diagrams unfolded in the air behind him. "Energy is the foundation of everything we do," he began, his voice steady and authoritative. "Without control, even the most potent abilities become nothing more than uncontrolled bursts of force."
The class proceeded with in-depth discussions on stability, refining techniques, and practical applications. Projected models demonstrated various energy flows, making the explanations clearer.
Once the session ended, students started gathering their things, some staying behind to discuss the lecture.
Rhys leaned back in his seat, glancing at the others. "You all going to the ball this weekend?"
Varian gave him a look. "You're actually interested in that?"
Rhys smirked. "Of course. It's a good chance to see who's who."
Cailen chuckled. "You mean it's a good chance to show off."
Reina adjusted her gloves. "It's not just a party. A lot of important people will be there. Making the right connections matters."
Ian exhaled. "Sounds like a hassle."
Rhys smirked. "Says the guy who's already under High Scholar Durlan's wing."
Ian shrugged. "That's different."
As they walked out, Rhys glanced around. "So, who's actually going?"
Everyone gave some form of agreement.
Lirien clapped her hands together. "Good. Now we just need to figure out what to wear."
Ian sighed. This weekend was going to be a pain.
The next day, Ian, Myrra, and Cailen gathered at the combat training grounds for their scheduled class, while the rest had been assigned elsewhere. It was a deliberately mixed group, ensuring that students from various paths could learn not just from the instructor but from each other as well.
Unlike the theory-heavy courses, this one carried a different energy. Some students stretched, others tested their weapons, and a few simply chatted in small groups while they waited for the session to begin. The open-air arena was vast, its reinforced barriers layered to contain even the most destructive techniques, preventing stray attacks from causing unintended damage.
Among the crowd, Ian spotted familiar faces. Sylve, the quiet girl from Runic Casting whom they had first met on the Elysian Line, stood off to the side, observing the gathering students with a calm demeanor. Ian greeted her, and soon, the four of them, Ian, Myrra, Cailen, and Sylve, naturally formed a small group.
The class was diverse, though elves made up the majority. Still, there were a few who stood out. Ian himself was human, though at a glance, that wasn't immediately obvious unless one looked closely, humans and elves looked very much alike. Some elves, however, were even more unusual. A few had faintly glowing patterns on their skin, their energy visibly flowing beneath the surface. Others bore physical traits that hinted at mixed heritage, like a tall figure with smooth, dark green scales running up their arms and partially across their face.
There were also some distinct species. One individual had elongated, chitinous limbs that moved with an eerie grace, their segmented armor shifting subtly with each step. Another had a translucent quality to their body, their form seeming to flicker at the edges, as though they weren't entirely tethered to the physical realm.