"This place is amazing!" Ivy said joyfully.

Igneal frowned as he looked around. "This is the practice room? I really should confer with Aunt Selena about her interior design choices. It's plain and not well maintained, but no matter. It will do, I guess."

Tyrus, Igneal, and Ivy walked through the door of the practice room. As soon as Ivy stepped foot, her eyes gleamed, and she rushed toward the training dummy.

“Oh my Sthito! Tyrus, have you seen this yet? It’s called a Power Reflector Dummy! I read all about it in Sorcery Techniques and Machines, and I couldn’t wait to see one in person. This thing is incredible! See that cube in its chest? That’s a mana cube, specially designed to measure the intensity of magic. It absorbs the energy you put out and, depending on how strong your spell is, the cube changes color! Isn’t that cool?”

Tyrus barely had time to blink before Ivy continued her explanation, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses.

“So, it starts out gray and then green once you start. Green means, ‘Eh, your spell's okay, but maybe try harder.’ Then it shifts to yellow, which is, like, ‘Pretty decent!’ and if you push more power into your spell, it turns orange! That’s when you know you’re getting somewhere. But! If you go all out, it turns red. Red means, ‘Whoa, you’re really packing a punch!’ Oh, and if you’re really powerful—like, seriously strong—it goes black. But I read that hardly anyone can make it go black, except powerful Advanced Sorcerers.”

She takes a breath, and then leans in closer to the dummy, as if expecting it to move.

“You see how it’s made of eberdbark? That’s to prevent it from breaking apart when spells hit it, which is brilliant. Eberdbark is an extremely rare material only found on the borders of Askalid and the Beastfolk Kingdom; a place called Eberd Forest that receives little to no sunlight yet infested with powerful beasts!"

Tyrus, looking mildly overwhelmed, tries to speak, but Ivy barrels on.

“—And I bet if you trained on this every day, you’d be able to cultivate your spells in no time. Just imagine! You could figure out exactly how much mana you’re using for each spell and get super precise about it. Isn’t that amazing? I’ve read about a few sorcerers who figured out eberdbarks' uses and combined nature and sorcery to create this specimen! Judging by its appearance, this Power Reflector dummy seems to be one of the earlier vers—"

"I've heard enough of this commoner prattle on about useless information," Igneal snarled. "It is like listening to a flock of birds chatter for hours on end.

Ivy's mouth dropped open. She stood there, stunned. Her glasses slipped down her nose, and her face flushed with embarrassment as she muttered a few apologies.

"Don't mind him," Tyrus said. "I don't think your words were useless information. I didn't know that wood was called eberdbark or that it was a Power Reflector Dummy. You really do know a lot, Ivy."

"It was just common knowledge she spouted," Igneal snorted.

Tyrus ignored him and said, "Anyway, thank you for telling us."

That seemed to have brightened her spirits, and her smile reappeared. "You're welcome! I promise to be more mindful of my words. My mother used to caution me I might talk someone's ear off. I do my best to limit myself, but when it comes to anything related to sorcery, I simply can't resist. I mean, who wouldn't be excited by studying its fundamental rules and secrets?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean. The manor library is where I spend most of my nights at. Because I don't know a lot of things, I try to find answers there."

"I can help with that," she said cheerfully. "If there's something you don't know or you need my help for anything, then you can always count on me."

"I'll hold you to it. For you as well; if you ever need my help, then I'll be there."

Igneal gagged, his voice laced with annoyance. "Is this some sort of support group? If you two are going to be all friendly, take it elsewhere. I cannot afford any distractions right now, especially since it is my turn to handle the power reflector."

Tyrus was going to head to the manor library after the Blue Dawn meeting to do some studying, but Igneal's intentions caught his interest.

Just how strong are Igneal's flames, anyway? Now that Tyrus thought about it, he hadn't seen Igneal use his full power against anything. There were times Tyrus was face-to-face against the flames, but he had never seen Igneal try his hardest in causing severe damage.

Igneal couldn't help but notice the expectant gaze in Tyrus's eyes, prompting a chuckle from him. "I understand your curiosity about my full strength, and I'm more than happy to satisfy it. It is only natural that the powerful show off for the masses."

The noble strutted over to the power reflector and stopped a few steps away. He lifted his arms and aimed his palms toward the training dummy. His lips curled as his eyes gleamed, his hand releasing a faint orange glow. Through mana sense, Tyrus could see that Igneal was controlling the mana inside his body and gathering it in his hands.

"Unless you're in the market for a new hairstyle," Igneal advised, "you might want to take a step back for this."

Tyrus and Ivy retreated toward the corner of the room and watched from a distance. Before long, flames erupted from Igneal's palm. A stream of flames burst forth and enveloped the training dummy in a rush of fire, its roar ringing throughout the area. Tyrus watched in awe, feeling the scorching heat prickling his skin, his eyes squinting and wavering from tears.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

After about two seconds, the flames stopped, and Igneal waved his hand away. The power reflector's cube shifted into an amber color, and then returning to gray.

Igneal puffed out his chest and whirled around, a smug look on his face. "You see that? Amazed by the strength of my fire, aren't you? I expected to reach a higher color, but this will do, for now. I expect to reach red soon."

"Actually," Ivy interrupted. "Because this is an earlier model, the accuracy of the power reflector isn't as precise as newer versions. I've read about a recent version that is able to reach the exact level of a spell's output. That amber color might actually mean the strength of your spell is one level lower."

Igneal gazed at her momentarily before shifting his focus. "I shall disregard your words, commoner. I am well aware of my own might and capabilities."

"I was just trying to help," she mumbled.

The fact that Tyrus had been using outdated training equipment came as a surprise to him, but he didn't view it as a major concern.

Although his strength was slightly below his expectations, he was confident that he had made significant improvements. From the time he first began his journey as a sorcerer to the present, he can confidently claim that his mastery over the elements has greatly improved.

Yet, it still wasn't enough. Not even the slightest. Despite everything, he maintained the belief that he was still extremely weak. It would be foolish of him to think otherwise. Throughout his battles, that notion only solidified itself further, and it would remain so until he reached a point of fulfillment.

One step at a time, Tyrus thought to himself. What he should be focusing on was his training during the winter, and preparing for the entrance exams. After what Fiona, Reo, and Grant told him about the academy, he had a pretty good idea of what to expect and what steps he should take next.

Tyrus turned to Ivy. "You mentioned you were studying for the entrance exams. Are you thinking of going to the Valis Academy of Sorcery too?"

She nodded. "Y-Yes! I'm aiming for the Theory Department. I've been studying for as long as I can remember to get accepted into the academy. Mother attended the same institute when she was my age, and I want to follow in her footsteps."

"That's the most difficult department to be accepted in," Tyrus said. "Well, it doesn't matter. You'll get accepted in the drop of a hat."

"What about you, Tyrus? What department will you be joining?"

Tyrus smiled, jabbing his thumb toward himself. "The Combat and Sorcery Department. I'm not the smartest, and I don't trust myself to know a lot like you do. But if it's that department, then my chances are high. At least, according to Fiona, Grant, and Reo."

Not long after his boasting, Igneal joined Tyrus's side and said, "As I expected, you have made a splendid choice. I too will join you in the combat department. That is where the most fun will ensue, I presume. Together, we shall top the charts and display our strength against the other students!"

Igneal erupted into a fit of sinister chuckling, his voice reverberating across the room. Tyrus, on the other hand, did not share the same sentiment. He had no interest in sharing the spotlight with Igneal.

He had not forgotten the number one worry that still plagued his mind: the students. If he had anything to go off on about the deliberation, it was that the students would treat him the same way the adults had. It was the main reason he was hesitant to join the academies in the first place.

However, the reality remained unchanged - there was no other place for him to acquire knowledge. The library in the manor had its limitations in terms of information, whereas the academy boasted a much larger library with a broader collection, thanks to its funds and support from well-known contributors.

Tyrus didn't want to be limited to his strength, and the academy would surely allow him to reach new heights. As such, he had decided. He would enter the academy and then leave as a person unrecognizable from before. A person who attained a strength and knowledge that warranted respect.

No longer would people look down on him solely because he had Beastfolk blood. If he had managed to endure all those years, what made him any different from them? The more he pondered, the more the idea seemed like a challenge. And it was a challenge he wouldn't refuse. A life of mediocrity and ignorance would await him. He had already sworn to Wanderer that such a life he would not live.

Tyrus felt his fist clench in determination. "Igneal, we should begin our sparring sessions here tomorrow. From midday we resume, and around the evenings I will train my magic. In the mornings, I'll be in the library, reading."

"A splendid idea," Igneal exclaimed, smashing his fist together. "I do miss our daily duels. It was the only fun activity to do around here. Beating you every day is a great form of entertainment."

"Must be a big deal to beat me, isn't it?" Tyrus grumbled. He looked over at Ivy. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask you. Are you an Elemental Sorcerer?"

Ivy nodded. "Yes, I've been blessed by Sthito and awakened when I turned eleven, around the beginning of autumn. My primary affinity is water, just like my mother, and I've been practicing with her the whole time."

"How good is your control over the element? Can you use silent casting?"

She stared at Tyrus as if he had grown a second head. "No, definitely not! Silent casting, for Fledgeling Sorcerers, calls for intense concentration to mold your mana without uttering any incantations. My spells may not be as great as with normal casting. I would need to concentrate on reaching my desired result, shaping the flow of mana, and then releasing it!"

"Is that so? When you put it like that, it seems really hard."

Between him and Igneal, they were able to use silent casting relatively well. Ivy, who seemed like the smart type, had trouble doing so even though she had been training with an experienced sorcerer like Erza.

From what he knew about silent casting so far, it was a difficult method that not everyone was able to accomplish in their earlier years.

Not only did the sorcerer need a deep understanding of their element, but their bodies would need the required amount of mana for it to work. That is why a sorcerer used the skill of silent casting mostly with their primary affinity than others. Through all that, how come he and Igneal could use the method without many problems?

I'll probably learn about it at the academy.

Tyrus shrugged it off and said, "You'll be heading back to the shop later, right? In the meantime, how about I help you with your sorcery practice? And I would love for you to help me with a few things as well. There are some things a power reflector can't do with what I have in mind."

She gasped, her eyes sparkling. "Of course! I would love that very much. When do we start?"

"Since we're not busy, how about now?"

With an infectious eagerness, she bobbed her head in delight and joined Tyrus and Igneal's side. Tyrus and Ivy proceeded to discuss various ideas about their training as Igneal stayed quiet and listened, sometimes chiming in and demanding a few things during the conversation.

As the hours ticked away, night drew closer with each passing moment. Ivy, Grant, and Reo were accompanied home in a carriage, bidding farewell to Fiona and Tyrus. Once they departed, Tyrus retired to his quarters, taking rest until morning arrived.

He resumed his daily routine, starting with morning reading, followed by afternoon sparring sessions with Igneal, and concluded with evening elemental training.

This continued relentlessly for several months, until the snow outside began to melt, and the song of birds returned.

At the drop of a hat, a fateful day arrived.