Azrean and Sumi stood side by side in the center of the training room.
Everything unnecessary had been cleared away. Chairs, boards, and equipment were pushed to the edges, leaving a wide, open space around them.
A short distance away, Invanne placed the last chair neatly against the wall. Azrean leaned slightly toward Sumi, lowering his voice.
"Just in case... If it feels like your mana isn't draining at all, pretend like it is. I don't think our mana capacity is normal either."
Sumi gave a small smile and nodded.
"I was thinking the same thing. And be careful with stacking if we overdo it, we might expose ourselves."
Invanne turned and walked back toward them.
"Now let's begin practicing magic."
She raised her right hand, palm facing upward.
"To stack mana and create a magic opening, you must rely on imagination and visualization. Picture your strength gathering in your hand or wherever you want the opening to form."
Her voice remained calm and steady.
"The same applies to mana expansion. Imagine your power flowing outward from your body, stretching as far as you intend."
She closed her eyes briefly. A red rose bloomed in her palm, petals unfolding smoothly. She reached out and gently held its stem.
"Then shape your magic based on your aptitude."
Her gaze lifted to them.
"Now… try it yourselves."
Azrean and Sumi exchanged a quick glance.
"It really sounds simple," Sumi said, a faint grin forming.
She raised her right hand and focused. In her mind, she gathered power into her palm, shaping it carefully—then she imagined a bolt of lightning forming, sharp and crackling.
Tiny sparks flickered above her fingers. A clear surge ran through her hand.
'So this is it...' she thought, eyes narrowing slightly. 'It's so simple once you understand how it works... Wait! I think I've already stacked almost three layers.'
She flicked her hand to the side. A bright bolt of lightning shot forward with a sharp crack, striking the far wall. A dark scorch mark spread across the stone where it hit.
Invanne, Azrean, and even Sumi herself looked surprised. Invanne's eyes rested on her.
"You did that on your first attempt..." she said quietly. "And it was quite a stable tool."
Azrean let out a small, impressed breath.
"So just imagine fire, right?"
He raised his hand. The moment he did—Flames erupted. Fire burst across his entire body in an instant. His clothes, his hair, even his skin were swallowed in bright orange flames.
Sumi's eyes went wide.
"Ice!" she shouted without thinking.
A thick block of ice formed around him immediately, sealing him inside. The flames vanished as quickly as they came, leaving only his frozen figure trapped within the clear cube—his shocked expression still visible through it.
Invanne moved without hesitation. She stepped forward and struck the ice with a sharp, controlled punch. The entire block shattered at once.
Azrean stumbled out, coughing lightly, steam rising off his body as the last traces of cold and heat clashed around him. He steadied himself, still trying to process what had just happened, his face completely stunned.
Sumi rushed forward the moment the ice shattered, panic written all over her face.
"What happened?! Are you okay?!"
Invanne steadied Azrean with one hand, her gaze calm but sharp.
"Lord Azrean what exactly did you do?"
Azrean coughed, still trying to catch his breath. Steam rose faintly from his damp clothes.
"I just imagined fire as you said…"
Invanne lifted one finger, her tone turning slightly stricter.
"You need to visualize it properly. If you only vaguely think of fire, it will spread to anything it can—your body included. You should form a clear image. For example, a fireball floating above your palm not flames covering your entire body."
Sumi bit down on her lip, trying to hold it in. Her shoulders trembled. Azrean noticed immediately. His eyes narrowed.
"Oi... what's wrong with you?"
That was enough. Sumi burst out laughing.
"You can't even imagine fire properly! Hahaha!"
Azrean's face tightened, a faint flush creeping up his cheeks.
"Don't make fun of me, you little—"
He raised both hands in front of him.
"Watch this."
A bright orange fireball formed between his palms, steady and controlled this time, floating quietly in the air.
For a brief second, he looked satisfied. Then Sumi casually flicked her finger. The fireball froze instantly, turning into a perfect sphere of ice mid-air. Azrean blinked, staring at it.
"What…?"
Invanne's eyes widened just a little. She turned to Sumi.
"Were you already expanding your mana?"
Sumi nodded. Invanne shifted her gaze to Azrean.
"You as well?"
Azrean gave a small nod.
"Yeah but not that far. About the same range as Sumi."
Invanne fell silent, her brows knitting together slightly.
"I couldn't sense it at all."
Azrean and Sumi both paused, surprised. Invanne spoke again, her voice calm as ever.
"Mana expansion cannot be sensed if the difference is too extreme. Either the mana is so dense that it exceeds perception or so faint that it cannot be detected at all."
Both of them stiffened for a moment. Then Sumi quickly waved her hands with a bright smile.
"Big sis Invanne is just too strong! Of course, you wouldn't notice something as weak as ours!"
Azrean grinned right after.
"Yeah. We'll train hard so someday you can sense it."
Invanne studied them quietly for a few seconds then gave a slow nod.
"Yes... that must be it."
Sumi let out a small breath, then looked up again, curiosity returning.
"What happens if I try to use a type of magic that isn't my aptitude?"
"Nothing will happen," Invanne answered simply.
Azrean smirked.
"Yeah, why are you asking something so simple? You cannot make a shadow if you don't have light, hahaha."
Sumi turned to him with a flat, unimpressed look.
"Damn you."
Invanne clapped her hands once, bringing their attention back.
"Practice this repeatedly. Next week, I'll teach you more advanced techniques—multiple magic openings and about original magic."
Both of them froze for a second.
"Original magic..."
Invanne nodded.
"At the pace you're learning, you should be able to create your own magic within a few years."
Their eyes lit up at the same time. They nodded eagerly. Invanne gave a small bow.
"I'll take my leave now. I have other matters to attend to. Continue practicing what you've learned, and later, please go to your sword training with Sir Jaek."
"Yes!" they answered together.
"Take care, big sis!" Sumi added with a bright wave.
Invanne nodded once and walked out of the training room. The door closed behind her with a soft click.
Silence lingered for a moment. Then Azrean slowly turned his head toward Sumi. At the same time, she looked back at him. A mischievous grin spread across both their faces.
"Well then," Azrean said quietly, "shall we play?"