In the middle of the day with the sun at it's peak, Logan stood in a large courtyard, anxiously awaiting Dormain's arrival.

He stared at a majestic water fountain positioned at its centre, admiring the Lanexian sculptures around it. Suddenly, a flash of purple light startled him. Following the flash, he felt an immense weight around his entire body. He glanced at his chest and noticed rows of thick purple chains wrapped around him, from his shoulders down to his ankles.

"What the…this again?" he said.

Unable to maintain his balance due to the enormous weight of the chains, he fell backwards onto the ground.

He wriggled around the courtyard attempting to break free from the energised chains, however, they would not budge. He continued struggling, flexing his muscles using all the strength that he could muster, but the deep purple chains would not budge.

‘I should have expected this type of treatment from him.’

"Damn it!"

"No amount of physical strength will allow you to break free from these bindings. They are not the same as the simple restraints you encountered before." Dormain said, walking towards him.

"High Councilman Greinier, what is the meaning of this?"

"What ever do you mean? You requested that I train you to become stronger, did you not?"

"Yes I did but-"

"But nothing." Dormain said, "If you cannot break free from these bindings, we shall not commence your training."

Logan's eyes widened, he understood the severity behind Dormain's words. His traumatic flight training flashed in his mind, a cold sweat ran down his face.

He gulped. This situation was far worse than before, just the thought of being stuck in that position for a few days, he shuddered.

"I don't suppose that you will offer any advice on how to break them, right?"

"I shall.”

‘Really?’

"Create a clear image in your mind, an image of these chains.”

"You mean right now?"

"No, tomorrow morning, shall I leave you here until then?"

"No, I'm sorry. I'll get right to it.”

Logan closed his eyes and began creating the image.

"Your image is to be precise. The size of the chains; it's colour, weight and density. What sensation do you feel against your skin?"

Logan focused his attention towards his exposed forearms. He did not feel it before as he was solely focused on breaking free from the chains, but now that his body was relaxed, he felt it.

"It feels…warm.”

"Good, collate all of the sensations and visual information into one crystal clear image.”

Logan followed Dormain's instructions and created an exact replica of the chains in his mind.

"I have the image.”

"Now then, envision those chains coming apart. Every single link separating from one another, intricately and precisely."

"Understood.”

One hour passed, Logan was still on the ground wrapped in purple chains.

He learned not to make excuses nor complain to Dormain about how difficult a task was, it would only result in harsh punishment. Thus he kept trying, silently, focusing all his energy to methodically separate the chains.

A faint clink caught Dormain's attention, he walked towards Logan to confirm the cause of the sound.

Looking at the chains, he did not see any immediate changes, however on a closer inspection, he noticed a small crack in one of the links.

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He grinned. "It is as I suspected.”

The next moment, the purple chains burst into thousands of tiny fragments before disappearing.

Logan opened his eyes in surprise.

"What happened, did I do that?"

Dormain chuckled. "No, I released the bindings.”

"Why sir?" Logan said with a look of confusion.

"They served their purpose, thus they are no longer required.”

"I thought their purpose was for me to separate them."

Dormain laughed. "We could spend ten years in this courtyard, and you would still not separate those chains.”

"Then why did you?-"

Logan got to his feet and took a deep breath, composing himself.

"High Councilman Greinier, please tell me that you did not restrain me for amusement."

"Do not be foolish, I simply required confirmation.”

"Confirmation of what sir?"

"Your Altherian classification.” Dormain said, "I noticed it during the final serum trial. Your voice had an effect on the barrier, naturally it was not your voice per say, rather, your will to break free from the restraints. None the less, you interacted with the barrier.”

"I intended to test my theory some time ago, however, at that time you lacked basic control over your body, thus I waited until you gained a fair degree of control before I commenced my test.”

"Those chains…that was Eleon Arts right?"

Dormain raised his brow. "You have knowledge of Eleon Arts?

Logan shook his head. "I've only seen it in passing, but it hasn't been explained to me as yet.”

"Is that right?" Dormain said, “Eleon Arts are quite complex and varied.”

"The Eleon Arts you experienced is called Zexyl. It involves the manipulation of pure energy, as well as the manifestation of pure energy into physical objects. It has many variations and sub-divisions, however, that is the simplest explanation.”

"Pure energy…"

Dormain nodded. "Although you did not separate the chains, your efforts most certainly resulted in a reaction in one of the links. As an intelligent young man, I am certain that you have deduced my conclusion based on everything I have mentioned."

Logan paused, then nodded. "I am Lumus.”

Dormain grinned. "Indeed. You truly are fascinating, have I told you that before?"

Logan sighed. ‘That expression of yours is as creepy as ever.’

"What happens now sir?"

"I believe that to be apparent, we will commence your Lumus training.”

"Understood, I am ready.”

"Good, return to this courtyard at sunrise.”

Logan wanted to question why he had to wait until morning, but he decided that it would be best not to question Dormain's decision.

He lowered his head. "Yes sir.”

Dawn the following day, Logan made his way to the courtyard with vigour. He eagerly anticipated the start of his Lumus training, in spite of the fact that it would be filled with many absurdities.

He resolved himself to persevere, regardless of what Dormain may have him do.

He entered the courtyard on high alert, surveying his surroundings in the event of another surprise attack.

"You have arrived, excellent." Dormain said as he entered the courtyard through the archway ahead of him. He wore a tailored grey sleeveless waist coat and black robe, the same as what he wore on the day that he and Logan first met.

"Good morning sir." Logan said with a straightened posture.

Dormain nodded. "Indeed it is.”

"Are you prepared to commence your Lumus training?"

"Yes sir, I await your instruction.”

"I am pleased to see your eagerness, however, I need to inform you of a slight change to your instruction."

Logan returned a look of confusion.

"Do not fret, it shall not lessen the quality of your training, rather, it shall be of the highest quality in that respect.”

"What are you suggesting sir?"

"I am merely informing you that you shall no longer receive training under my instruction."

Logan furrowed his brows. "Wait, I don’t understand, why will you no longer be instructing me?"

"You shall commence your training under the instruction of a new mentor. The mentor that I have selected is more capable than I to guide you through the fundamentals of Eleon Arts.”

"No! The only reason that I am here is to receive training under your instruction!"

"The matter is not up for discussion! You either wish to receive training under the mentor that I have selected for you, or you may take your leave to find another High Councilman to aid you in that regard.”

"Now then, decide."

Logan lowered his head. "I apologize. I will stay."

"A wise decision." Dormain said, "As I have stated, your instructor may be more capable than I to guide you through the fundamentals of Eleon Arts, however she is not as patient. Thus you would be wise to keep that in mind.”

‘Your non-existent patience.’

"Wait, she?" Logan said with a puzzled look.

"Indeed, you shall be instructed by my most accomplished apprentice, Celyse."

Logan’s eyes widened and his heart raced. Nervously, he glanced at the archway for confirmation.

As she stepped into view, the first detail Logan noticed was her auburn hair resting over her right shoulder. She wore a black robe similar to that of Dormain, however, hers was loose-fitting with intricate embroidery on her chest and sleeves.

Logan smiled as their eyes met, however, Celyse returned an impassive expression, and continued walking down the steps into the courtyard.

Logan cleared his throat.

Dormain grinned wryly.

"That concludes my business here, Celyse, if you please."

Celyse lowered her head.

"Logan, do your best to follow her instruction without fail, for your own safety that is... Farewell." he said and left through the archway before Logan could stop him.

Logan wrinkled is brow as he stared at Dormain's back, getting smaller by the second before disappearing from view.

He relaxed his expression, and took a deep breath.

"Good morning, Celyse." he said, glancing at her.

"Good morning." she said bluntly.

"Did your mentor leave you with babysitting duties so that he could go and play around in his tower?"

Celyse narrowed her eyes.

"I do not comprehend the reference, however, High Councilman Greinier has a great number of important matters to attend to, he does not have the time to teach a child how to crawl."

‘It sounds like you understood it though.’

Deciding not to dwell on it, he nodded.

"We should commence with your training.”

"Right, I’ll do whatever you say.”

"Before we proceed, I wish to know your reason for training.”

"What do you mean?"

"What motivates you to become stronger? Could it be...revenge?"