Morning came quietly.
A pale golden light stretched across the training fields, brushing gently against the grass still heavy with dew. The world felt calm—deceptively so—like it was holding its breath before something greater began.
Ryusei Ryugu stood alone at the center of the field.
His body still ached from the duel the day before.
Every movement reminded him of it.
The overwhelming force of Professor Hexio's light.
The difference in power.
The gap he could no longer ignore.
Ryusei slowly clenched his hand.
"…I won't stay like this."
A faint glow flickered in his palm.
Unstable.
Weak.
It flickered once—then disappeared.
"…Tch."
He exhaled sharply.
"Still not enough…"
"Of course it isn't."
Ryusei flinched slightly.
He turned.
Professor Hexio stood a few steps behind him, arms folded, expression unreadable.
He had arrived without a sound.
"You're forcing it again," Hexio said calmly.
Ryusei scratched the back of his head.
"…Yeah. I figured."
Hexio walked forward, stopping beside him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was… deliberate.
"You didn't rest properly," Hexio said.
It wasn't a question.
Ryusei gave a small, sheepish smile.
"…Couldn't sleep."
Hexio glanced at him briefly.
"…Thinking about the fight?"
Ryusei nodded.
"…And everything else."
A pause.
"…The necromancer."
"…The people I couldn't save."
"…The power I still don't understand."
His voice lowered slightly.
"…And the fact that I'm supposed to carry something this big."
The wind moved gently through the field.
Hexio didn't interrupt.
"…It doesn't feel real," Ryusei admitted.
"…But at the same time…"
His hand tightened.
"…it feels heavy."
Silence followed.
Then—
"That weight won't disappear."
Ryusei looked up.
Hexio's gaze was steady.
"If anything… it will only grow heavier."
Not comforting words.
But honest ones.
Ryusei let out a quiet breath.
"…Yeah."
"I figured."
Hexio turned slightly, facing him fully now.
"That's why you need control."
He raised his hand slowly.
A soft glow appeared again.
Unlike before—it wasn't overwhelming.
It was calm.
Gentle.
Contained.
"This…"
The light hovered just above his palm.
"…is the foundation."
Ryusei leaned in slightly, watching closely.
"Yesterday, you saw power," Hexio continued.
"Today, you learn control."
The light shifted.
It didn't expand.
It didn't explode.
It simply… existed.
Stable.
Perfectly balanced.
"Light responds to intent," Hexio said.
"Not force."
Ryusei frowned slightly.
"…Intent?"
Hexio nodded.
"You're trying to create light."
"That's your mistake."
He closed his hand—the glow vanished instantly.
"You don't create it."
"You become the medium it flows through."
Ryusei blinked.
"…That sounds… complicated."
Hexio gave a quiet sigh.
"It is."
A pause.
"But we'll start simple."
He stepped back slightly.
"Hold out your hand."
Ryusei did as instructed.
Hexio raised two fingers—
Then lightly tapped the center of Ryusei's palm.
"Close your eyes."
Ryusei hesitated for a second—
Then complied.
The world faded into darkness.
"…Now," Hexio's voice came, calm and steady, "stop trying to control it."
Ryusei frowned slightly.
"…That's kind of the opposite of what I've been doing."
"Exactly."
Silence settled around them.
Ryusei focused.
Not on forcing power.
Not on summoning anything.
Just…
Breathing.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
"…Feel your mana," Hexio instructed.
"Don't grab it."
"Don't push it."
"…Just feel it."
Ryusei's breathing slowed.
At first—
Nothing.
Just darkness.
Just silence.
Then…
A faint sensation.
Warm.
Flickering.
Like a distant star barely visible in the night sky.
"…I feel something…"
"Good."
"Now don't lose it."
Ryusei focused harder—
But not forcefully.
Carefully.
The warmth grew slightly stronger.
Not explosive.
Not overwhelming.
Just…
Present.
"…Guide it."
Hexio's voice softened.
"Let it flow to your hand."
Ryusei swallowed.
The warmth shifted.
Slowly.
Like a current moving through still water.
It traveled—
From his chest…
Through his arm…
To his palm.
A faint glow appeared.
Weak.
Unstable.
But real.
Ryusei's eyes snapped open.
"…I did it."
The light flickered softly in his hand.
Not like before.
Not chaotic.
Not forced.
It was… calm.
For the first time—
He wasn't fighting it.
Hexio observed quietly.
"…Better."
Ryusei stared at his hand in awe.
"…This feels different…"
"It should," Hexio replied.
"You're not forcing it anymore."
A pause.
"You're listening."
Ryusei let out a small laugh.
"…So that's the trick, huh?"
Hexio shook his head slightly.
"That's only the beginning."
He turned away slightly.
"If you can't maintain that state…"
The glow in Ryusei's hand flickered—
Then vanished.
"…you can't fight with it."
Ryusei blinked.
"…Right."
Hexio glanced back at him.
"Again."
Ryusei straightened.
"…Right."
He closed his eyes once more.
This time—
There was no hesitation.
Breath slowed.
Focus sharpened.
The warmth returned quicker.
Stronger.
The light flickered again in his palm.
Then—
Held.
Stable.
A small smile formed on Ryusei's face.
"…I see."
From the edge of the field—
Kayosha watched quietly.
Her hands clasped together.
Relief softened her expression.
"…He's improving…"
Back in the field—
Hexio gave a small nod.
"…Now."
Ryusei looked up.
"Maintain it."
Hexio's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…while moving."
Ryusei froze.
"…Wait what?"
But Hexio had already stepped back.
"Don't drop it."
"Or we start over."
Ryusei looked at his glowing hand.
Then at Hexio.
Then back at his hand.
"…You're serious."
Hexio didn't respond.
That was answer enough.
Ryusei exhaled.
"…Alright."
He took one step forward.
The light flickered violently.
"…Whoa—!"
It nearly vanished—
But he steadied his breathing.
"…Don't force it…"
Step by step—
He moved.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The light trembled—
But didn't disappear.
Sweat rolled down his face.
His focus strained.
"…This is harder than fighting…"
"Of course it is," Hexio replied calmly.
"Anyone can swing a sword."
"But not everyone can control themselves."
Another step.
The light stabilized slightly.
Ryusei let out a small breath.
"…I won't drop it…"
His voice was quiet.
But firm.
"…Not this time."
The sun rose higher in the sky.
Time passed.
Step by step.
Breath by breath.
Failure.
Retry.
Adjustment.
Understanding.
And somewhere along the way—
Something changed.
The light no longer felt foreign.
It no longer resisted him.
It…
Moved with him.
Watched from a distance—
Hexio's expression softened slightly.
"…He's learning."
Not quickly.
Not perfectly.
But—
Properly.
And that mattered more.
As the morning turned to noon—
Ryusei stood in the field.
Sweating.
Exhausted.
But smiling.
A steady glow rested in his palm.
For the first time—
It didn't feel like borrowed power.
It felt like his.
And far away—
Beyond the visible world—
Something ancient stirred quietly.
Not in fear.
Not in anger.
But in recognition.
The light had begun to awaken.
The days that followed blurred together.
Morning after morning, before the sun had fully risen, Ryusei Ryugu stood in the same open field—alone at first, then under the watchful eyes of Professor Hexio.
There were no shortcuts.
No sudden leaps in power.
Only repetition.
Failure.
Understanding.
And then—failure again.
The wind drifted softly across the field as Ryusei stood still, his eyes closed.
His breathing was calm.
Measured.
Steady.
A faint glow hovered above his palm.
Unlike before, it no longer flickered wildly.
It held its form.
Small.
But stable.
"…Good," Hexio said from behind him.
Ryusei didn't open his eyes.
He didn't respond.
Because if he did—
Even for a moment—
The light would collapse.
"Now," Hexio continued, "expand it."
Ryusei's brow furrowed slightly.
Expand it…
Not force it.
Not push it.
He remembered.
Slowly—
The light began to grow.
From a small glow…
To a sphere.
From a sphere…
To something larger.
The air around it shimmered faintly.
Then—
It broke.
The light scattered into particles and vanished.
Ryusei exhaled sharply.
"…I lost it."
"Yes," Hexio replied calmly.
A pause.
"But not completely."
Ryusei opened his eyes.
"…What do you mean?"
Hexio stepped closer, his gaze focused.
"You held it longer than yesterday."
Another pause.
"You're improving."
Ryusei stared at his hand.
"…It still feels far away."
Hexio crossed his arms.
"It is."
No hesitation.
No false encouragement.
"But you're walking toward it."
Ryusei let out a quiet breath.
"…Then I'll keep walking."
By midday, the training had changed.
The calm exercises were replaced with movement.
Footwork.
Positioning.
Timing.
Ryusei stood across from Hexio once again.
But this time—
There was no overwhelming aura.
No crushing pressure.
Only instruction.
"Your stance is unstable," Hexio said.
Ryusei adjusted instinctively.
"No."
Hexio stepped forward—swift.
In a single motion, he tapped Ryusei's shoulder.
Ryusei lost his balance instantly.
"…!"
He stumbled back, barely catching himself.
"You rely too much on your upper body," Hexio continued.
"Your center is weak."
Ryusei straightened, slightly embarrassed.
"…Right."
Hexio walked past him.
"Again."
Ryusei reset his stance.
This time—
More careful.
More aware.
He shifted his weight.
Lowered his center.
Focused on balance.
Hexio watched silently.
Then—
A sudden strike.
Ryusei reacted.
He blocked—
Barely.
The impact sent a shock through his arm.
"…Ghh!"
"Too slow," Hexio said.
He didn't stop.
Another strike.
Faster.
Ryusei stepped back, barely avoiding it.
"Don't think."
Another attack.
"Move."
Ryusei's body reacted instinctively.
He dodged—
Then countered.
His hand ignited with light.
A blade began forming—
Unstable.
Incomplete.
But real.
"Meteor Dragon—"
The light flickered—
Then broke apart.
Hexio stopped.
"…You're rushing again."
Ryusei lowered his hand.
"…I thought I had it."
"You did."
A pause.
"For a moment."
Hexio turned away slightly.
"But a moment isn't enough in battle."
Ryusei clenched his fist.
"…Then how do I make it last?"
Hexio glanced back.
"…By understanding what you're calling."
Silence.
The wind picked up slightly.
"…You keep saying 'Meteor Dragon,'" Hexio continued.
"But do you even understand what that means?"
Ryusei hesitated.
"…It's my Elemental Art."
"That's a name."
Hexio's gaze sharpened.
"Not understanding."
Ryusei froze.
"…Then what is it?"
A long pause followed.
Then—
Hexio stepped forward.
"…Close your eyes."
Ryusei obeyed.
"Forget the blade."
"…What?"
"Forget the technique."
"Forget the name."
His voice lowered.
"…Feel it."
Ryusei swallowed.
Slowly—
He focused.
Not on summoning.
Not on forming.
Just…
Feeling.
The warmth returned.
But this time—
It was different.
Deeper.
Heavier.
Like something vast…
Sleeping beneath the surface.
"…What is this…?"
Hexio watched him closely.
"…That," he said quietly, "is the origin of your power."
Ryusei's breathing slowed.
The sensation grew stronger.
Not violent.
Not chaotic.
But—
Ancient.
"…It feels… big…"
"Because it is."
A pause.
"You're not wielding ordinary light."
The air around them felt heavier.
"…You're carrying something far greater."
Ryusei's eyes slowly opened.
"…Then why can't I control it?"
Hexio met his gaze.
"…Because you're still treating it like it belongs to you."
Silence.
"…It doesn't?"
Hexio shook his head slightly.
"Not yet."
A pause.
"You don't control power like that."
"…You earn it."
By sunset—
The sky burned orange and gold.
The field had grown quiet again.
Ryusei stood alone.
Hexio had already left.
Kayosha sat at a distance, watching silently.
But Ryusei—
Didn't move.
His hand slowly lifted.
A faint glow formed again.
But this time—
He didn't rush.
Didn't force it.
Didn't name it.
He simply…
Let it be.
The light grew.
Slowly.
Naturally.
Then—
For the briefest moment—
It changed.
The glow sharpened.
Lengthened.
Formed.
A blade.
Clear.
Stable.
Radiant.
Ryusei's eyes widened slightly.
"…I…"
The blade trembled—
Then vanished.
But he didn't look disappointed.
He smiled.
"…I felt it."
From the distance—
Kayosha smiled softly.
"…You're getting there…"
Ryusei looked at his hand.
Then at the horizon.
"…I'm not strong yet."
His voice was quiet.
"But I will be."
The wind passed gently through the field.
And for the first time—
The power within him didn't feel distant.
It felt…
Closer.
Like something waiting.
Watching.
And slowly—
Beginning to respond.