The night had barely faded when Ryusei returned to the training field.
A thin mist hovered just above the ground, glowing faintly under the pale light of dawn. The air was colder than usual, carrying a quiet stillness that made every sound feel distant.
Ryusei stood at the center once more.
Alone.
Or so he thought.
"…You're early."
Ryusei turned.
Professor Hexio stood beneath the shade of a lone tree, arms folded, as if he had been there long before Ryusei arrived.
"…Couldn't sleep again?" Hexio asked.
Ryusei gave a small smile.
"…Something like that."
Hexio studied him for a moment.
Then—
"…Good."
Ryusei blinked.
"…Huh?"
"If you're going to walk this path," Hexio said, stepping forward, "you won't have the luxury of comfort."
The morning breeze passed between them.
"Today," Hexio continued, "we move forward."
Ryusei straightened slightly.
"…Forward?"
Hexio nodded once.
"You've learned how to feel your power."
"You've begun to control it."
A pause.
"…Now you need to understand how to use it."
Ryusei's expression sharpened.
"…I'm ready."
Hexio didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he raised his hand.
Light gathered—but not like before.
Not a glow.
Not a blade.
The space itself… distorted.
Ryusei's eyes widened slightly.
"…What is that?"
The air shimmered.
Like heat rising from stone.
Then—
It folded.
Just slightly.
A faint circular ripple formed in front of Hexio's hand—like a tear in reality itself.
"…This," Hexio said calmly, "is not a spell you're ready to learn."
Ryusei stared.
"…Then why show me?"
Hexio glanced at him.
"…Because you need to understand what lies ahead."
The ripple expanded slightly.
Then—
In a single step—
Hexio walked forward.
And vanished.
Ryusei's eyes widened.
"…What—?!"
The ripple collapsed instantly.
The field fell silent.
No trace.
No presence.
Nothing.
"…He's gone…?"
Ryusei's heart began to beat faster.
That wasn't speed.
That wasn't movement.
That was—
"…Teleportation…"
"Correct."
Ryusei spun around.
Hexio stood behind him.
Unharmed.
Unbothered.
As if he had never left.
"…How did you—"
"It's not about how."
Hexio walked past him calmly.
"It's about understanding the principle."
Ryusei turned, still stunned.
"…You didn't move… you just… disappeared."
Hexio stopped.
"…Distance," he said, "is only a concept."
Ryusei frowned.
"…That doesn't make any sense."
Hexio gave a quiet sigh.
"Of course it doesn't."
A pause.
"You still perceive the world linearly."
Ryusei crossed his arms.
"…Okay, now you're just making it more confusing."
For a brief moment—
Hexio almost smiled.
"…Watch closely."
He raised his hand again.
The air shimmered.
But this time—
Ryusei focused.
Not on the light.
But on the space itself.
The ripple formed again.
But now—
He could feel it.
Mana.
Not expanding outward.
But folding inward.
"…It's compressing…?" Ryusei muttered.
Hexio nodded faintly.
"Space isn't being crossed."
Another ripple.
"It's being connected."
Ryusei's eyes widened.
"…Connected…?"
"In simple terms," Hexio continued, "you're not moving from one place to another."
The ripple expanded—
Then shifted.
"You're bringing two places together."
Silence.
Ryusei stared at the distortion.
"…That's… insane."
Hexio lowered his hand.
"And dangerous."
The ripple vanished.
"If your control falters even slightly…"
A pause.
"…you won't arrive where you intend."
Ryusei swallowed.
"…What happens then?"
Hexio looked at him.
"…You don't arrive at all."
A chill ran down Ryusei's spine.
"…Right."
Silence settled between them.
Then—
Ryusei's expression shifted.
"…You said I'm not ready."
Hexio nodded.
"…You're not."
Ryusei clenched his fist slightly.
"…Then what do I need to learn first?"
Hexio turned fully toward him.
"…Precision."
"Control."
"And most importantly—"
His gaze sharpened.
"…awareness."
Ryusei nodded slowly.
"…Then teach me."
Hexio studied him for a moment.
"…You're impatient."
"…Yeah."
"…Reckless."
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…But you're learning."
Ryusei gave a small smile.
"…Trying to."
Hexio turned away slightly.
"…Then we'll begin."
He stepped back, creating distance between them.
"Before you can bend space…"
His voice steadied.
"…you need to understand your position within it."
Ryusei blinked.
"…What?"
"Close your eyes."
Ryusei hesitated—
Then obeyed.
The world faded again.
"…Feel your surroundings," Hexio instructed.
"Not just your mana."
"…Everything."
Ryusei focused.
The wind.
The ground beneath his feet.
The faint warmth of the rising sun.
And—
Something else.
"…I can feel you," Ryusei said quietly.
Hexio didn't respond.
"…You're… ten steps away."
A pause.
"…Slightly to my right."
Silence.
Then—
"…Good."
Ryusei opened his eyes.
"…Wait, really?"
Hexio nodded once.
"You're beginning to sense space."
Ryusei looked around.
"…So this is the first step?"
"Yes."
Hexio's expression remained calm.
"If you can't understand where you are…"
A pause.
"…you'll never control where you go."
Ryusei exhaled slowly.
"…This is going to take a while, isn't it?"
Hexio didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
A small laugh escaped Ryusei.
"…Figures."
From the edge of the field—
Kayosha watched quietly.
Her eyes softened slightly.
"…He's pushing himself again…"
But this time—
There was something different.
Not desperation.
Not fear.
But purpose.
Back in the field—
Ryusei looked at his hand.
Then at the space around him.
"…Light…"
"…Space…"
He clenched his fist gently.
"…I'll learn it all."
The wind picked up slightly.
The mist began to fade.
And as the sun rose higher—
A new path unfolded before him.
Not just toward power.
But toward something far greater.
Something deeper.
Something—
He had yet to fully understand.
The sky was clear.
Too clear.
Not a single cloud dared to drift across the vast blue above, as if even the heavens had chosen to watch what would unfold below.
Ryusei Ryugu stood alone at the center of the training field once again.
His breathing was steady.
His focus—sharper than it had ever been.
But today…
There was something different in his eyes.
Not just determination.
But curiosity.
Ambition.
And just a hint of recklessness.
"…You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Ryusei flinched slightly.
Professor Hexio stood behind him, as always, having arrived without a sound.
Ryusei scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Maybe."
Hexio sighed.
"…You're going to try it anyway."
"…Yeah."
No denial.
No hesitation.
Hexio closed his eyes briefly.
"…Of course you are."
A pause.
"…Then at least fail where I can see it."
Ryusei gave a small grin.
"…Got it."
He stepped forward.
Raised his hand.
Closed his eyes.
The world faded.
He remembered everything Hexio had shown him—
The distortion.
The connection.
The folding of space.
"…Not moving…"
"…Connecting…"
His breathing slowed.
Mana gathered.
Not outward.
But inward.
Compressing.
Condensing.
The air in front of him began to shimmer.
"…It's working…"
A faint ripple formed.
Unstable.
But real.
Ryusei's heart began to race.
"…I can do this—"
The ripple twisted suddenly.
Violently.
"…Wait—"
The space distorted unevenly—
Then—
BOOM!
A burst of energy exploded outward.
"GAH—!"
Ryusei was thrown backward, skidding across the ground before crashing into the dirt.
Dust scattered into the air.
Silence followed.
Then—
"…That went exactly as expected."
Ryusei groaned, lying flat on his back.
"…I almost had it…"
Hexio walked toward him slowly.
"No."
He stopped just beside him.
"You didn't."
Ryusei turned his head slightly, wincing.
"…Harsh."
"Accurate."
Hexio looked down at him.
"You didn't fail because of lack of power."
A pause.
"You failed because you skipped the process."
Ryusei stared at the sky.
"…Yeah…"
His hand clenched slightly.
"…I figured."
Hexio turned away.
"…Teleportation isn't something you try."
"It's something you arrive at."
Ryusei sat up slowly.
"…So I'm not ready."
Hexio didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
The rest of the day changed.
No more talk of space.
No more attempts at distortion.
Instead—
Hexio shifted the focus.
"Stand."
Ryusei immediately got to his feet.
"Raise your hand."
He obeyed.
"Channel your light."
A faint glow formed.
Steady.
Controlled.
Better than before.
"Good."
Hexio stepped back.
"…Now release it."
Ryusei blinked.
"…Just release it?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"Without forming it into a blade."
Ryusei frowned slightly.
"…So… just raw output?"
Hexio nodded.
"For now."
Ryusei inhaled slowly.
Then—
He pushed.
Light burst from his palm—
But it scattered instantly, breaking apart into harmless particles.
"…That didn't work."
"No," Hexio replied calmly.
"Because you pushed it."
Ryusei scratched his head.
"…So I'm not supposed to push it… but I'm supposed to release it…"
Hexio nodded.
"…Exactly."
Ryusei stared at him.
"…That makes no sense."
Hexio turned away slightly.
"…Then figure it out."
Silence.
"…Great."
Hours passed.
Attempt after attempt.
Failure after failure.
Light burst.
Flickered.
Collapsed.
Vanished.
Ryusei dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
"…Why is this harder than making the blade…"
Hexio's voice came calmly.
"Because a blade gives your power form."
A pause.
"This requires you to give it direction."
Ryusei looked at his hand.
"…Direction…"
He closed his eyes.
Slowed his breathing.
Felt the warmth again.
Not forcing.
Not pushing.
Just…
Guiding.
"…Flow…"
The light gathered.
Calmer.
Denser.
Not spreading wildly.
But focusing.
"…Move…"
He extended his hand forward.
And this time—
He didn't force it.
He let it go.
FLASH!
A concentrated burst of radiant energy shot forward—
Striking the ground several meters ahead.
A small explosion of light erupted on impact.
Ryusei's eyes widened.
"…I did it."
Hexio didn't respond immediately.
He observed the mark left behind.
"…Again."
Ryusei nodded.
This time—
Faster.
More confident.
The light gathered.
Condensed.
Released.
FLASH!
Another blast.
Stronger.
More stable.
Ryusei's breathing steadied.
"…This feels right…"
Something clicked.
Not forced.
Not chaotic.
But aligned.
"…Again."
And again.
And again.
Each attempt—
Stronger.
Sharper.
More precise.
The blasts began to form a pattern.
Not random.
But intentional.
Like falling stars striking the earth one after another.
Ryusei smiled slightly.
"…Meteor…"
The word slipped from his lips.
"…Yeah…"
Light gathered once more.
This time—
More intense than before.
The air around his hand shimmered violently.
Not unstable—
But powerful.
"…Meteor Dragon…"
Hexio's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…He's naming it…"
Ryusei stepped forward.
His voice steady.
"…Impact."
He thrust his hand forward.
BOOOOM!!
A massive blast of radiant energy erupted from his palm—
Far stronger than before.
It tore across the field, carving a glowing path through the ground before exploding in the distance.
Dust and light scattered into the air.
Silence followed.
Then—
Ryusei exhaled.
"…Meteor Dragon… Impact…"
He looked at his hand.
"…That's it."
Behind him—
Hexio watched quietly.
A faint shift in his expression.
"…So you've found it."
Ryusei turned slightly.
"…Found what?"
Hexio crossed his arms.
"Your first real attack."
A pause.
"…One that's yours."
Ryusei stared at his hand again.
"…Mine…"
For the first time—
It didn't feel borrowed.
It didn't feel incomplete.
It felt…
His.
As the sun began to set—
The field was marked with craters of light.
Signs of progress.
Of effort.
Of growth.
Ryusei stood at the center of it all.
Tired.
Exhausted.
But smiling.
"…I still can't teleport…"
Hexio glanced at him.
"…And you won't for a while."
Ryusei laughed softly.
"…Yeah…"
A pause.
"…But I'll get there."
He looked at the horizon.
"…One step at a time."
The wind passed gently through the field.
And for the first time—
That step didn't feel impossible.