"...A mage?" Eren asked.
"Yes," the towering figure replied.
His voice was deep—fitting for his massive, two-meter frame.
"Is it different in your world? Where I come from, those who can manipulate elements are called mages."
Eren hesitated for a moment.
"How should I put it… I'm still new to all of this. My world doesn't have things like magic or energy."
"Hm."
The bull-like man nodded slowly.
"So you're from a low-level world."
A pause.
"That's quite rare, my friend."
Then he suddenly laughed.
"So this is your first time seeing a talking cow, then? Hahaha!"
Eren blinked, then relaxed slightly.
…He reminds me of someone.
"Heh… yeah," Eren replied with a small smile.
"You're the first non-human I've met."
"Good!"
The man grinned.
"A new friend at this school—that's always a good thing."
His gaze shifted to the book in Eren's hand.
"But since you're new…"
A hint of curiosity entered his tone.
"How did you manage to manipulate the elements?"
Eren raised the book slightly.
"I was just reading this and… tried to follow it."
The bull frowned.
"…You're quite lucky, my friend."
A short pause.
"If you failed, you might've ended up in the infirmary."
He let out a low chuckle.
"One of the elders in my tribe is an array master."
"The chieftain scolds him all the time for blowing up his own hut."
"My name is Caine. Caine Bloodhoof."
He smiled slightly.
"A new student."
"Eren. Eren Vale," I replied.
"Also a new student."
Caine nodded, studying me for a moment.
"For someone new to magic and elemental control…"
A brief pause.
"Your control is quite refined."
'So it isn't normal' I thought hearing his words
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"But don't try it again for now."
He gestured toward the book.
"I suggest you finish reading first."
"Alright, thanks."
I let out a small breath.
"I'm still new to all this… I just got excited trying something different."
Caine hummed.
"…Why does that sound familiar?"
He rubbed his chin.
"That's exactly what my uncle says before blowing up his hut."
I couldn't help but understand what he meant.
"So what about you?" I asked.
"Are you a mage too? Since your uncle is one."
Caine shook his head.
"No. I'm a warrior."
"We use plana to strengthen and reinforce our bodies."
He paused slightly.
"That's how it's described in my world…"
His expression shifted.
A hint of confusion.
"But after coming here…"
"…things feel a bit unclear."
Caine frowned slightly.
"In the book Introduction to the Path, it says plana is just another name for the energy around us… and within us."
Eren thought for a moment.
"…Then maybe it's not the energy itself that's different."
He looked at Caine.
"Maybe it's the quality… or even the nature of how it's used."
Caine froze.
"…Quality…"
His eyes lit up.
Suddenly—
He stood up and grabbed Eren by the arm.
"Good! If that's the case—"
A wide grin spread across his face.
"Let's test it at the training field!"
"Wai—"
Before Eren could finish—
He was lifted off the ground.
The world blurred.
Caine moved fast.
Far faster than his size suggested.
…Definitely the action type.
Eren let out a quiet breath as he was carried over Caine's shoulder.
Arriving at the field—
Eren finally got a clear look at it.
Students moved in and out constantly.
Some trained with partners.
Some sparred in duels.
Others practiced alone.
The field was massive.
Large enough to be divided into specialized zones for different paths and techniques.
Caine didn't hesitate.
He walked straight toward a control panel and began inputting something without pause.
A moment later—
A portal opened.
Without a word, he stepped through.
Still carrying Eren over his shoulder.
…Is this normal?
Being carried around by a three-meter-tall bull…
Eren let out a quiet breath.
On the other side—
"We're here."
Caine finally put him down.
"This is my favorite place."
He spread his arms slightly.
"We can customize the environment however we want."
"They even provide free weights for training."
Eren glanced around.
"This place is… advanced."
"Of course!"
Caine's eyes lit up.
"Space folding, adjustable gravity—none of that comes cheap."
"And we get to use it for free!"
…Yeah.
He's going to be fun to be around.
Eren shifted his focus.
"Since we're here…"
He looked at Caine.
"I want to test something."
Caine leaned forward slightly, interested.
"While you were carrying me, I was thinking about what we discussed earlier."
"The difference between plana and what I've been using…"
A brief pause.
"I think it's not just about quality."
Eren narrowed his eyes slightly.
"It's about properties."
Caine blinked.
"Properties?"
Eren nodded.
"I suspect plana is… rigid."
"Dense. Stable."
A brief pause.
"While the energy I used—"
"…is more fluid."
Caine stared at him for a moment.
Then—
He grinned.
"Alright."
"Let me show you."
He stepped back slightly.
Then—
He took a breath.
Energy surged.
His muscles tightened.
The fabric of his clothes strained—
Then tore slightly under the pressure.
A white glow spread across his body.
Layering over him like armor.
The air around him felt heavier.
Denser.
"This is plana."
His voice was steady.
"Most warriors have different colors, depending on their affinity."
Eren watched closely.
Then—
He raised a hand slightly.
"…Can you gather energy outside your body?"
"Like I did… using a structure?"
Caine paused.
Then shook his head.
"No."
"Even those stronger than me—like my father—"
"Can only extend it through their weapons."
A brief silence followed.
Eren's gaze lowered slightly.
…So it can't leave the body freely.
Rigid.
He looked back up.
"…Then it seems my assumption isn't completely wrong."
A small pause.
"Your plana is structured through the body."
"And mine…"
"…flows outside of it."
Eren took a slow breath.
Then—
He moved.
Energy surged through his body.
Not outward this time—
But inward.
His muscles tightened.
His skin felt reinforced.
A rough imitation.
"…Then what if I use it like yours?"
He looked at Caine.
"How about a test?"
"I'll attack. You tell me the difference."
Caine grinned and lowered his stance.
"Come."
Eren stepped forward—
Then burst into motion.
The ground pushed back harder than before.
His body felt lighter.
Faster.
In an instant—
He closed the distance.
His fist shot forward.
Caine didn't move.
He raised his palm—
And caught it.
Boom.
A wave of force rippled outward.
Dust lifted from the ground, scattering in all directions.
Then—
Silence.
As the dust slowly settled—
Caine stood unmoved.
The glow around his body faded.
Returning to normal.
"…Interesting."
He flexed his fingers slightly.
"Your energy is still too fluid."
"When plana clashes with plana…"
A brief pause.
"The impact alone is enough to shatter the ground."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Yours imitates it…"
"…but it lacks the density."
"Not tough enough."
Eren paused for a moment.
"…One more test."
Caine looked at him.
"If I'm right…"
A small breath.
"This might help you improve your plana."
Caine's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
He nodded.
Once again, he clad his body in plana.
The white glow returned.
Dense. Stable.
Eren did the same.
Energy flowed inward.
Wrapping around his muscles.
Then—
He stepped forward.
A punch.
Caine raised his palm—
And caught it.
But this time—
Eren's energy shifted.
It trembled.
Then rippled—
Like waves across water.
The force didn't stop at the surface.
It traveled.
Through Caine's palm—
Into his arm—
Caine's expression changed.
His body slid back.
One step.
Then another.
Silence.
"…What was that?"
Eren lowered his fist slowly.
…It worked.
A faint smile formed on his face.