The next day, the group split to do their own things: Aurora and Cleo were working on the Grand Realm, Ci and Itsuki were training, and the others were helping Benjiro with minor tasks.

Cleo: Are we done yet...?

Aurora: Patience, sister...

Cleo: Ugh..this is so boring!!!

Aurora: Focus on the spell, then you can go back to Benjiro-

Cleo blushed and glared at her.

Cleo: W-W-What on earth do you mean by that?!

Aurora just giggled as she kept producing the spell with Cleo. Ci was browsing the Book of Witchery while Itsuki sat beside her in the outside area he trained in with Benjiro.

Ci: You say you read this every day, yet your skill range is lacking...

Itsuki: I-I just forgot to try stuff, is all! There are so many things to learn...plus other things I have seen that I want to try, like that dragon thing Calvin used...

Ci: Oh, Ryu?

Itsuki: You know the spell?

Ci: Encha is a group of four spells, each with its advantages. Ryu, the dragon with no limbs, is what he used on you. There is also Byak, the tiger with incredible speed; Suzu, the phoenix with no limits in her flying ability; and Gen, the turtle that makes the water his domain. They are unique because you must pass their trial to gain their trust to use the spell.

Itsuki: Trial? Meaning Calvin passed Ryu's?

Ci: Correct, they are some of the few sentient spells in a sense. You have to summon them first, and upon completion of the trial, they allow you a piece of themself to call for your own needs.

Itsuki: So it isn't just something I can learn then, huh?

Ci: No, they each have a shrine in the world that summons them. Like Conversion and your Spell Smith, they are Ungraded spells.

Itsuki: Why are they Ungraded?

Ci: It is mainly due to them all being ancient spells, which most nowadays would not use. Honestly, it's shocking to me that a member of the AWF would even resort to such a spell. After all, the four Encha Spirits are loyal to the Witches.

Itsuki: T-They are?!

Ci: Indeed, the Mages that created them initially made them that way due to their loyalty to us. Enough talk of these matters, we need to start your training.

Itsuki: Y-Yeah...what do you want me to do?

Ci: That is a good question. Let's start by seeing your knowledge of the spells and combinations you know.

Itsuki looked at her as she got a few feet away from him and summoned a Pyroball and Galewind in each hand.

Ci: I assume you are aware of these two?

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Itsuki: Of course, I used Pyrowind multiple times!

Ci: Pyrowind? Intriguing that they named the combinations...

Itsuki: Do they not all have names?

Ci: Well, think of it this way, most of the Spell names wouldn't work as well as these two, now would they? I'm sure you could think of something, but it would be a waste of time anyway.

Itsuki: I guess that's true...once you get strong enough with a spell, you don't even have to say its name to use it anymore.

Ci: Precisely...now, why do these two combine together?

Itsuki: Why? Can't all spells be combined?

Ci: Don't be a fool, of course not! For example, when you used Luminsa on the Shade Ryu with your fight with that AFW Commander, it completely evaporated that dragon, correct?

Itsuki: Yeah, it did, but what does-

Ci: So if you were to combine those two spells, would it not make sense to counteract each other?

Itsuki: Oh...I see what you mean now! I guess that makes sense; I used Pyro and Chill together for a quick water solution a few times.

Ci: Not only that, but some spells cannot be combined with anything at all. Luminsa is one of those spells.

Itsuki: So no matter what, Luminsa can't be combined...that kind of sucks. It would be convenient to have different element swords...

Ci: It's great you bring that up...because such a spell does exist like that.

Itsuki: It does?!

Ci: It works like Encha except for a bit more adaptability. It is a Grade 5 spell known as Souldier; it allows you to summon multiple weapons that can be enchanted with different spells. They also float around you like Luminsa, making them useful in battle.

Itsuki nodded as Ci finally got rid of the two spells and crossed her arms.

Ci: Now, I'm sure you know that Grades can be learned by any Rank, correct?

Itsuki: Yeah...Benjiro mentioned that to me before; why do you ask?

Ci: Like I said yesterday, you can learn up to Grade 6 spells... Chamber is a Grade 7 while Link is a Grade 8, meaning I am going to push you to your limits to learn those two spells.

Itsuki: W-Will it really be that tough?

Ci: Of course, it will be; you are expanding past your skill level.

Itsuki: But I don't have any diagrams or anything to tell me how to do the spells...

Ci: Yes, it is a shame you don't have a Witch who knows said things.

Itsuki blushed and looked away a bit as she sighed heavily.

Ci: We will start with Chamber first.

Ci snapped her fingers as the snow fell to the ground and froze. Itsuki looked down to see that Ci showed everything he needed to know in the snow and froze it so it wouldn't get blown away by anything.

Ci: Don't worry about running out of time; you should know by now my ice doesn't thaw out quickly. Practice for a bit while I check on my sisters.

Itsuki nodded as Ci headed to Aurora's bedroom to see her sisters doing different things: Aurora worked on the spell while Cleo watched her on the bed.

Ci: What pray tell is going on here...?

Aurora: Oh! Hello, sister! Cleo needed a small break~!

Cleo: Yeah, doing magic is too hard.

Ci: How long has this break been...?

Aurora: O-Oh well...I'm not...exactly sure-

Ci grabbed Cleo by the arm and threw her into the wall, the two sisters glaring at each other.

Cleo: What the hell was that all about?!

Ci: Do you not realize the importance of all of this?! Could you at least try to care for a change?

Cleo: I am caring!

Ci: You are being a brat like always!

Aurora: S-S-Sisters, please...-

Cleo: Well, Miss "I'm the best magic user here" why don't you deal with this?!

Ci: Because you don't want to help Itsuki train, so you have to do this!

Ci looked at her and put her hand over her mouth, smirking.

Ci:...Oh, I get it.

Cleo: Get what?!

Ci: You are mad that you didn't get picked to run with the guard dog-

Cleo blushed as she tried to claw at Ci's face, yelling at her, while Aurora sighed heavily at the two. Meanwhile, the others were helping Benjiro out in the fields outside of the city. Akeru took a detour as she went to the remains of the village that she helped rebuild. On the ground was still Matsuri's bunny as Akeru picked it up and hugged it tight, crying.

Akeru: Matsuri...I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry this all happened to you and your mother! To you and your village!

Akeru looked up and saw a thin woman with a grey dress and long white hair. Her whole body was glowing quite literally as she looked at the ground.

Akeru: W-Who are you?!

The woman just looked at Akeru and smiled faintly at her. Akeru started to walk to her as Benjiro came up from behind her.

Benjiro: There you are...thought something got ahold of you! Hmm? Is something wrong?

Akeru turned to him and looked back at the woman who had vanished. Akeru just shook her head.

Akeru: I thought I saw a woman...but I probably saw things. I just wanted to come back here...one last time.

Benjiro: Well, come on, we are heading back.

Akeru: R-Right...

Benjiro walked away as Akeru followed, holding onto the bunny plush. She glanced back to see the woman didn't return. Akeru looked down at the plush while walking, wondering if she really did see someone there.