“Wow…” Towan muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the faint hum of energy that seemed to pulse through the hall.
Sylra glanced at him, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Surprised?” she asked, her tone light but slightly teasing. “I expected as much from someone like Professor Rheon.”
Her gaze shifted to the far end of the hall, where Rheon sat at a sturdy desk, a thick book open before him. He looked utterly absorbed, his brow furrowed in concentration as his fingers idly traced the edge of a page. Despite his relaxed posture, there was an aura of authority about him—like the air itself was heavier in his presence.
Towan followed her gaze, noting the professor calm demeanor
Sylra smirked, her eyes narrowing slightly. “The strongest ones don’t have to try and look it. right?”
As they stepped further into the hall, the faint buzz of conversation from the other students died down, their attention shifting toward Rheon. Without lifting his gaze from the book, the professor closed it with a soft thud and stood, his movements unhurried yet purposeful. The room seemed to grow quieter, the hum of energy now a low, steady rhythm that matched the rising anticipation
“Hello, class,” Rheon began, his voice calm yet commanding as he stepped forward, the sound of his boots echoing faintly against the reinforced floor. He moved with deliberate ease, his gaze sweeping across the students like a predator assessing its territory.
Without a single word of instruction, the students instinctively shifted into a loose line. His presence alone demanded order—an invisible weight pressed against their shoulders, urging them to stand at attention.
“I chose to teach Elemental Mastery Techniques because I assumed there were no natural Essentia users at this academy,” Rheon said, his voice steady and clipped as he strolled along the line.
Towan tensed as Rheon came to a halt between him and Elliot. The air around the professor seemed to ripple with energy, subtle yet undeniable. Towan’s chest tightened, a shiver running down his spine as if the man’s presence was peeling away every layer of his confidence. What does that mean? he thought, his mind racing.
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Rheon tilted his head slightly, as though sensing Towan’s unease, but he made no comment. Instead, he continued, his tone softening ever so slightly. “But I suppose I’ll think on that later,” he added, the pressure in the air easing just enough for Towan and Elliot to draw steady breaths again.
Rheon resumed his measured pace, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. “For now, we’ll focus on something far more important: how to use your elemental Essentia effectively in battle.” His voice carried across the hall, resonating with authority.
He stopped near the center of the room and turned to face the students, his sharp gaze locking onto the group. “Raw power,” he began, his tone sharp and deliberate, “is useless without control. I trust you’ve all learned that much by now.”
The students nodded, some with confidence, others hesitantly, as if unsure they truly understood.
“That,” Rheon continued, his voice hardening, “is what we’ll focus on today. Mastery. Precision. You’ll learn to wield your element as an extension of yourself, not a tool. Because in battle, anything less will leave you vulnerable.”
The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Rheon’s gaze swept over the class one final time before he gestured toward the elemental conduits scattered across the room. “Let’s begin.”
Rheon gestured toward the elemental conduits scattered across the room, each glowing faintly with its respective element—flames flickering, water swirling, air shimmering, and earth pulsing with quiet strength. The energy in the room seemed to hum with anticipation, as if the conduits themselves were ready for the students to prove their worth.
“For today’s lesson,” Rheon began, his voice steady but sharp, “you’ll be working in pairs to refine your control and coordination under combat conditions.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. “Each pair will be tasked with creating and countering elemental techniques in tandem. This will test your ability to adapt and think critically in real-time, not just rely on brute force.”
Sylra crossed her arms, her confident smirk growing as she glanced at Towan. “Sounds easy enough,” she whispered, the challenge in her tone unmistakable.
Towan shot her a wary look but said nothing, his thoughts still racing after Rheon’s earlier comment about natural Essentia.
Rheon continued, his sharp gaze scanning the class. “Raw power alone is not mastery. If you believe overwhelming your opponent with sheer force is enough, you’ll be a corpse before your second battle. True mastery comes from understanding your element’s strengths—and its weaknesses. If you don’t know how to counter yourself, someone else will.”
Elliot straightened, his lips curving into a self-assured grin. “Guess that’s good news for me,” he muttered, just loud enough for Alira to hear. “No one’s countering me anytime soon.”
Alira rolled her eyes, brushing her hair back.
Rheon’s gaze flicked to them, his piercing eyes silencing their whispers instantly. “Some of you may think you already understand control,” he said, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “Let me assure you—you don’t. Not yet.”