Elianna sat cross-legged on the black leather couch of her father's office in the headquarters building. She appreciated the silence, as it allowed her to concentrate on her mana core. Feeling and drawing in the ambient mana around her, she could see her radiant star behind her eyes and feel its warmth thrumming with power.

This process was always difficult for Elianna since she wasn't fond of staying still. But if it meant improving, she would work as hard as she could, just like she did with everything else. She could feel the atmospheric mana all around her, drawing it into her body and feeling it flow through her channels to her core. The mana in her core swirled around, filling her core to the brink.

Elianna's brows furrowed as she began to feel a strain in her mana core. She stopped absorbing mana and the refinement process, opened her eyes, and let out a deep breath, releasing all her physical tension. She raised her arms above her head in a deep stretch and stood up from the couch.

Growing bored, Elianna's eyes fell to her father's desk, wondering when he would return. She remembered how when Hector told her father they had something to discuss, her father told her to wait in his office. She watched as her father, Hector, Maurus, and Mathew entered the meeting room together before she went to her father's office, where she had been waiting ever since. She wasn't sure exactly how long she had been waiting, but to her, it had been forever.

Feeling impatient and wanting to go practice with the new wooden sword her father gave her, Elianna grumbled and plopped back down on the leather couch. Leaning her head against the couch's backrest, Elianna stared at the ceiling, wondering what her father and the others could be talking about.

With her boredom reaching its peak again, Elianna returned to her cross-legged sitting position. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on feeling the mana around her and drew it in. The mana was warm with energy as it traveled through her channels, flowing into her core again. She felt the strain from before once more, watching as the radiant light from her star flickered.

Elianna's brows furrowed. She was not exactly sure why she was feeling this strain, but she continued to train her mana core just like her father taught her. Refining the mana in her core was always a strange sensation, almost like a raging energy inside her becoming tranquil. With the mana swirling around in her mana core, the strain began to grow. Elianna winced a little at the strain and was about to stop when her brows raised in surprise.

Elianna watched her radiant core, seeing its light fluctuate until it began to dim. She thought something was wrong until she saw it: the second star. No longer did she have one radiant star, but two shimmering stars sitting parallel to each other. Her eyes shot open, a wide, excited smile forming on her lips.

Elianna jumped off the couch, throwing her arms into the air, and cheered. Her father had explained to her the progression of mana cores, and she knew she was close to reaching her second star, but seeing that second star appear still came as a pleasant surprise. Looking down at her arms, Elianna channeled mana through herself. Her brows raised, feeling the significant difference of power flowing through her and her two stars working in tandem. It was almost like someone had increased the flow of water from a faucet, increasing the strength of the water pressure.

Elianna smiled proudly, feeling a sense of excitement and accomplishment. The first thing that popped into her mind was that she wanted to tell her father. She dashed for the office door and swung it open. Stepping out into the open area, the first thing she saw was her father's assistant, Lewis, sitting at his deck.

Lewis looked up and smiled at Elianna, seeing her walk out, "Good afternoon, Lady Elianna. Did you need something?"

Elianna nodded excitedly, "Have you seen my dad?"

Lewis hummed and looked toward the double doors to the meeting room. "I believe he is still with the others."

"Thanks!" Elianna chirped and ran toward the room.

Lewis yelled something after her, but Elianna was too excited to notice what he said. She approached the double doors, noticing it was slightly cracked open. She peeked inside and smiled, seeing her father in the room, but he wasn't alone.

The meeting room was large and elegant, with dark gray wooden flooring and white walls. On the left side of the room were paintings hanging on the wall, depicting Mages performing magic. On the right side were more paintings depicting knights in valiant combat. A large brown wooden table was situated in the middle of the room, with six black leather chairs on each side and two more black leather chairs at the end.

Lucian stood at the end of the table, with Hector, Maurus, and Mathew standing to his left. To her father's right were two individuals in mage apparel, minus their cloaks, both of whom Elianna recognized: Matilda and Alric. Alric was an older elven man with dark charcoal gray hair and brown eyes. The olive branches on his collar signified he was the High-Mage of the Tri-Union City Mage Order and Matilda's second in command.

"This is the seventh encounter with them, and we have no idea what they want?" Matilda asked, looking at the papers scattered on the table. She looked up at Hector with a concerned look.

Hector looked at Matilda and shook his head, "No. We just know their name."

Lucian leaned forward, bracing his hands on the desk, stared at the paperwork, and said, in a darkened tone, "The infernal cult."

Hector looked at Lucian, "Olkar outpost is looking more into this last encounter as we speak."

Lucian nodded, "Good. I want to be kept up to d-"

"Lady Elianna!" A voice hastily whispered.

Elianna looked away from the confusing conversation, seeing Lewis standing beside her with a worried look. Lewis held his hand out to her, "Lady Elianna, please. Let's go back to Commander Vail's office. You're not supposed to be standing out here."

Elianna looked at Lewis, confused, "Why not?"

Lewis looked at the double doors, seeming uncomfortable, before looking back at Elianna. "These meetings are confidential. Secret. No one is supposed to lis-" Lewis stiffened and stood straight as an arrow at attention as the double doors opened.

Matilda peeked her head out and looked at Lewis curiously. Her eyes flicked down, and she smiled, seeing Elianna standing there, "What do we have here?"

Elianna smiled and waved, "Hello, Aunt Matilda."

Lewis swallowed hard, looking nervous, "A-Apologies, Arch-Mage Matilda. I was trying to get her to go back to Commander Vail's office and not listen to the meeting."

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Matilda humorously raised a brow, "Eavesdropping, are we?"

"Who is it?" Hector called out from inside the room.

Matilda smiled, moving to the side and opening the door wider, looking into the room at everyone else, "We have a visitor."

Elianna peered inside the room, seeing everyone looking at the doors curiously. Lucian's eyes widened in surprise before he smiled and sighed. His eyes flicked to the side, seeing Lewis standing straight.

Lewis flinched as Lucian's eyes fell on him, "S-Sorry, Sir. I-"

Lucian waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry. You can go back to work."

Lewis nodded and hastily turned around, making his way to his desk.

Hector crossed his arms and chuckled, "What brings you here, little one?"

Matilda motioned for Elianna to come inside and walked back into the room. Elianna moved into the room as Matilda approached and stood by Alric.

Approaching the table, Elianna's eyes flicked to the papers, seeing several of them scattered. Atop the papers was a piece of red cloth with a symbol of a black dead tree that was surrounded by a black circle.

Hector followed Elianna's gaze and quickly flipped the papers over, covering the cloth.

Noticing the motion, Lucian nodded to Hector in thanks before smiling at his daughter, "I thought you were going to wait for me in my office."

Elianna looked at her father and smiled brightly, remembering why she was there, " I was! But then something happened, and I wanted to come and tell you!" Everyone in the room smiled, seeing how excited Elianna was, thinking she was cute. Elianna stood straight and with a proud expression, "See anything different?"

Lucian tilted his head, looking at his daughter curiously. He looked her up and down, not seeing anything obviously different. Seeing how enthusiastic his daughter was, Lucian knew it couldn't be something simple.

Inquiringly, Lucian looked at his daughter's mana core, and his eyes widened in surprise. But his surprise was soon replaced with pride as he yelled, "You reached the second star?!"

Everyone's brows raised in surprise, and they looked at Elianna's mana core. Disbelief washed over them, seeing her two shimmering stars side by side.

Elianna nodded jovially, "I got it in the office!"

"Ha!" Lucian cheered. He ran around the room at lightning speed, and Elianna giggled as Lucian picked her up and held her high. "That's my daughter!"

"That's..." Hector began, nearly speechless. He finally chuckled, shaking his head, and smiled. "That's amazing."

Alric looked at Elianna with an impressed expression, "She's eight, right?"

Lucian set Elianna back on the ground and nodded, "That she is."

"Most kids would be awakening at your age," Mathew commented, smiling at Elianna. "My daughter didn't even awaken until seven. Congratulations, young one. It's a remarkable feat."

"Remarkable indeed," Matilda said, smiling at Elianna but also looking at her curiously. She had always been impressed with Elianna ever since Lucian called her the day she had awakened. But to see her reach her second star at age eight, she could barely believe her eyes.

"So," Maurus began, crossing his arms, looking at Elianna inquisitively. "Which element are you going to choose?"

Elianna's smile faded, and she looked at Maurus confused, "Huh?"

Lucian chuckled and looked at Maurus, "We haven't discussed elemental cores yet."

Hector smiled at Elianna, "You're in for an amazing lesson, little one."

Hearing Hector, Elianna looked at her father excitedly, "Can we start now?"

Lucian's smile faded, and he looked back at the paperwork on the table. He sighed, knowing there were more things to discuss.

"Don't worry," Hector began, and Lucian looked at him. "I'll contact Olkar Outpost and get further details. We can then discuss everything tomorrow."

Lucian smiled appreciatively and nodded, "Thank you."

Hector returned the smile, "Don't mention it." He looked at Elianna and winked, "Have fun, little one."

Elianna nodded excitedly, "I will!" She excitedly grabbed her father's hand and pulled, "Come on!"

Lucian chuckled, letting Elianna pull him out of the room, "Slow down, munchkin. We have time."

Elianna nodded, letting go of her father's hand, and walked beside him. She had a wide, excited smile on her face as they made their way through the headquarters building and stepped outside. Elianna squinted as the bright sunlight flashed before her, and the warm temperature outside was significantly different from the spell-cooled inside of the headquarters building.

"Follow me," Lucian said.

Elianna followed her father down the steps of the headquarters building and onto the lush grassy area. Lucian turned to face his daughter fully and sat on the grass, gesturing her to do the same. Elianna sat down, facing her father, smiling eagerly.

Lucian smiled, seeing how Elianna was anticipating this lesson. In truth, so was he. "As Maurus mentioned, now that you have reached your second star, you can choose an element."

Lucian raised his hand, and Elianna's eyes widened in awe as she watched Lucian coat his hand in fire magic. Lucian chuckled, seeing his daughter's expression. The flames dispersed and were quickly replaced with water magic, then earth, then wind.

Once Lucian demonstrated the four basic elements, he put his hand down, dismissing the magic. "Once an augmenter obtains their second star, our mana core and channels become strong enough to form and sustain a single elemental core, giving you access to an element of your choosing."

Elianna's brows raised in surprise, "I can choose?!"

Lucian smiled and nodded, "You can."

"Can I use all four like you?!"

Lucian chuckled and shook his head, "Only eight stars and above can use all four elements."

Elianna's eyes widened in wonder, "You have eight stars?! That's so cool! It's so many!"

"Actually, I have nine," Lucian winked, and Elianna's admiration increased. "As we grow stronger, the more elemental cores we can have. At the second star, we can have one. At four stars, two. Six stars, three. And eight stars, all four. Now, close your eyes."

Elianna nodded and closed her eyes.

"Listen to my directions. First, focus on the mana flowing into you," Lucian began.

Listening to her father, Elianna focused on the mana particles she was absorbing, seeing their different colors of ruby, sapphire, silver, bronze, and emerald. She knew these were the colors of fire, water, air, earth, and nature mana.

Lucian continued, "When we draw in the atmospheric mana, we direct it to our core to refine into pure mana and fill our mana cores or strengthen them. To create an elemental core, we need to direct the elemental mana, any of our choosing, to our abdomen."

Elianna's brows furrowed, "Abdomen?"

Lucian reached out, poking Elianna in the abdomen, and she giggled. Lucian smiled, "Right here." Lucian sat straight. "The way we do this is to focus on a single type of elemental mana, be it fire, water, earth, or air. Like directing your pure mana through your body, you direct this elemental mana of your choosing to your abdomen. Once there, you gather the elemental mana and your pure mana will naturally surround it, and it'll solidify into an elemental core. Just like how there are four elements, there are four different types of elemental cores. Ruby for fire, sapphire for water, bronze for earth, and silver for air. Make sense?"

Elianna nodded energetically, "Makes sense." Her smile faded, and she curiously tilted her head to the right. "But what about nature mana? There is nature mana, too. Can I make a nature core and use nature magic?"

Lucian shook his head, "No, our bodies, no matter how strong we are, can't handle the raw power of a nature core. Many have tried, and all have died in the attempt. Do not try and make one."

"Hmmm," Elianna hummed. "What about ice magic? I've seen knights use it."

"Ice magic is a higher element; the same goes for lava, plant, and lightning magic. Fusion magic is required to access these elements."

"Fusion magic?"

Lucian chuckled, "I'll explain later when you're ready to learn it. For now, focus on the four elements I demonstrated earlier to decide what elemental core you want."

Elianna's brows furrowed, feeling indecisive, "Which element should I choose?"

"Open your eyes, munchkin."

Elianna opened her eyes and saw her father sitting across from her, smiling warmly.

"Choosing your first element is a big deal. It's the first one you will be trained on and the only one you will have for a few years until when or if you get stronger."

"A big deal?" Elianna asked, And Lucian nodded. Elianna's eyes flicked down, feeling unsure which one she should choose. She looked at her father curiously, "What was your first one?"

Lucian chuckled and shook his head, "I'm not going to influence your answer. This is something you need to figure out."

Elianna's brows furrowed, her mind racing. She remembered her father holding up his hand, showing her all four elements. But she couldn't decide which one she wanted.

"Can..." Elianna looked at her father. "Can I think about it?"

Lucian smiled warmly, "Of course, munchkin."

Lucian got to his feet and gestured for Elianna to stand up.

Elianna got to her feet and looked at her father inquisitively, "What are we doing now?"

Lucian smirked and removed his wooden sword from his spatial ring, "We're going to continue our sword training. Ready?"

Elianna smiled jovially and nodded ardently, taking out her wooden sword, "Ready!"